tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82855483423294446082024-02-19T00:00:47.422-08:00American StudiesJonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-90991481699838685582014-06-06T21:22:00.002-07:002014-06-06T21:22:37.655-07:00Right Decision, Wrong Consequence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8dAYfwaP8Du6H_0LJrHC43G4QGV6HR8LZ7fNHaRQa6XniuaLSceInD1kOvSeQgFao1kpDDk16-Oi7043zlLZB4_dIaY-QESfEk4nuTLyAXFRm18zP_oYdDVrGBZRe7V5LrBEC-yb3xeB/s1600/Child-in-handcuffs-300-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8dAYfwaP8Du6H_0LJrHC43G4QGV6HR8LZ7fNHaRQa6XniuaLSceInD1kOvSeQgFao1kpDDk16-Oi7043zlLZB4_dIaY-QESfEk4nuTLyAXFRm18zP_oYdDVrGBZRe7V5LrBEC-yb3xeB/s1600/Child-in-handcuffs-300-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Darin Simak, a 7 year old from Pennsylvania is currently suspended and could face expulsion for doing the right thing. A bit confusing, isn’t that? Little Darin’s mother gave him a backpack to bring to school that unbeknownst to both of them had a toy gun in it. As soon as Darin saw the toy at school, he brought it to his teacher to let her know of the mistake. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Normally, people don’t get in trouble for things they didn’t do. Darin did not choose his backpack or even know what was inside it. And right when he realized that there was something wrong, he immediately reported it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So how did the school react to his integrity? They slapped him with a suspension and possibly an expulsion along with it to come.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is absolute insanity to me. The boy, who we should remind ourselves is only 7, did something that most adults wouldn’t do. He was honest to his school when he discovered something that wasn’t allowed. This kind of behavior from a little kid is something that should be rewarded with ice cream or a new toy. Instead he was forced to stay home for his horrible offence.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To me, Darin Simak is someone that should be looked up to for his brave actions. Both young and old can learn from this boy. I just hope that the next time someone faces this kind of situation, they will choose the same route as Darin but not get punished for it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/06/boy-7-faces-expulsion-after-telling-teacher-accidentally-brought-toy-gun-to/?intcmp=latestnews" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below to weigh in.</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-18149515481973505912014-06-06T20:43:00.003-07:002014-06-06T20:43:49.841-07:00Everyone's Watching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGjg7LpCEAN9rO7TehoHpnwimf1moQWuSOF8akj7HVpogiGwnwVGNk7ggii4447i3QYVq-et-jpsYWGF7RFFgfR5H7JXapF0Kxt2wddlvL1Y3WUPNfz-TJ9yeOT2CoPhW3nnph2Kn2q3i/s1600/kobe_bryant_trayvon_martin_comment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGjg7LpCEAN9rO7TehoHpnwimf1moQWuSOF8akj7HVpogiGwnwVGNk7ggii4447i3QYVq-et-jpsYWGF7RFFgfR5H7JXapF0Kxt2wddlvL1Y3WUPNfz-TJ9yeOT2CoPhW3nnph2Kn2q3i/s1600/kobe_bryant_trayvon_martin_comment.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are in the public eye, just about every part of your life can be scrutinized by the media. Everything you do will be judged. We see this all the time with politicians, musicians, and athletes. The fact that millions watch you means that you have an extra responsibility to conduct yourself in a presentable way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kobe Bryant, one of the best basketball players of all time, knows this full well. Back in 2003, he was accused of sexual assault in a huge scandal that drew the attention of just about everyone in the country, basketball fan or not. Kobe knows the pressure and the invasion of privacy by the media.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fact that millions watch you means that you have an extra responsibility to conduct yourself in a presentable way. Young kids look up to those in the spotlight as role models.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what did Kobe Bryant do this time to get some negative attention? Smush Parker, an ex-teammate of his from 2005-2007, recently told ESPN of comments that Kobe had made to him during their days together. Here is the report from Parker: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I tried to talk to him outside of basketball . . . And he looked at me in practice and was dead serious and said, ‘You can’t talk to me. You need more accolades under your belt before you come talk to me.'”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kobe Bryant completely disrespected and shut down his teammate who wanted to have a simple conversation. Kobe thought he was too good to waste his time speaking with someone who hadn’t achieved the same greatness on the court that he had. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what kind of message do the kids at home take with them after hearing this? They learn that once you’re the best, you don’t have to respect anyone. They learn that it is cool to be arrogant. They learn to be rude. Kobe Bryant’s true self was exposed by Smush Parker, and I don’t think he will be too happy about it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www2.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201406/smush-parker-says-kobe-bryant-said-not-talk-him-during-practice?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing11%7Cdl21%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D485059" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-29975490997888142442014-06-06T20:08:00.001-07:002014-06-06T20:08:05.636-07:00'Till Death Do Us Part<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7PFqAldr-XygEFWAxZgS2QoB0RL6cWovMXCyuQJmV88MivgPjNxtCbOso22AMS6JFUMe99gcwYD8PWR9INhrGaqS4vIkLYc4Ab7wGZRAPbIGOlOYa3N4RPrAS6clH3a6F7U5rotKJBxi/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7PFqAldr-XygEFWAxZgS2QoB0RL6cWovMXCyuQJmV88MivgPjNxtCbOso22AMS6JFUMe99gcwYD8PWR9INhrGaqS4vIkLYc4Ab7wGZRAPbIGOlOYa3N4RPrAS6clH3a6F7U5rotKJBxi/s1600/images-1.jpeg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“‘</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Till death do us part</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. Perhaps one of the most recognized lines from a marriage ceremony. This is a promise to stick together through thick and thin. The best and the worst.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sadly, many Americans do not follow through with these vows. A shocking 41% of 1st marriages end with a divorce (McKinley Irvin). Yet all of those people said the exact same phrase on their wedding day: “‘</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Till death do us part</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. This high divorce rate sadness many people, including me. That is why it is so encouraging to hear stories of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">successful </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">marriages.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rocky Abalsamo was the man whose story encouraged me earlier today. Rocky Was married to his wife Julia for an astonishing 55 years, until her death in 1993. How did Rocky respond? for the next 20 years he would walk to the cemetery she was buried in every morning, set up a lawn chair, and sit beside her grave. When asked about his amazing devotion he responded, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Being here makes me feel better. Not good, but better. I do it for Julita, and for myself." Rocky’s love was so deep for his wife that he was willing to sit by her for 2 decades as a symbol of his feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This act of love for his wife sends a powerful message to the world. If you make a commitment, stick with it. Divorce rates have been falling since 1996, but 41% is still too high </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(McKinley Irvin)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Maybe Rocky’s story can help the divorce rate to continue to fall and American marriages to become healthier. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20780776,00.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing11%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk1%26pLid%3D485116" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below to weigh in.</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-88619752022492985552014-06-05T23:48:00.000-07:002014-06-05T23:48:19.658-07:00Worth it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSy-I_kcpuPh2OaifUm8zawpcaVf-IJARDWYP-uiH2RZLfTd2KRQs1aMxaAf0_jb9SNbqJk7A2mszNAMiDhMM2Q5VzJDxeCrMDrkq06W9kTyVtdzJw6wTYVAxXFdfhj3JKkvTHbcdBCaF/s1600/weighing-up-options.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSy-I_kcpuPh2OaifUm8zawpcaVf-IJARDWYP-uiH2RZLfTd2KRQs1aMxaAf0_jb9SNbqJk7A2mszNAMiDhMM2Q5VzJDxeCrMDrkq06W9kTyVtdzJw6wTYVAxXFdfhj3JKkvTHbcdBCaF/s1600/weighing-up-options.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How far should you go to save the life of an American soldier? That was the question president Obama was recently faced with as the situation with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl unfolded. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bergdahl allegedly deserted the U.S. Army and was captured by Taliban forces. There are reports that while in prison, he converted to Islam and taught Taliban members certain skills in making bombs. His search led to the deaths of multiple American soldiers. Obviously there is a large amount of controversy surrounding this man.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what did the president of our country decide to do? He released 5 Taliban Guantanamo Bay prisoners to get back the deserter.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Fazl" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mohammad Fazl</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khairullah_Khairkhwa" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Khairullah Khairkhwa</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Haq_Wasiq" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Abdul Haq Wasiq</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norullah_Noori" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Norullah Noori</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Nabi_Omari" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mohammad Nabi Omari</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The “Taliban Five”.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was done in the name of sticking to the no man left behind rule. I happen to agree that we should not leave our own soldier behind. I also believe that if the soldier abandons the army, converts to the religion of the enemy (note: I firmly support our right to choose any religion. What I am pointing out here is that Bergdahl converted to the religion of those who captured him, which obviously means he connected with them in a way that a soldier should not connect with the enemy), and helps them make bombs, the person is not a “hero” and should not be celebrated and is not worth releasing 5 Taliban members. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s great that he is safe now, but his safety comes at a hefty price.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read a similar editorial <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/obama-makes-worst-trade-since-indians-sold-manhattan-for-24/" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-25249921037016949772014-05-11T21:54:00.001-07:002014-05-11T21:54:54.138-07:00Junior Theme Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzFV8VK9ganSWmUt8I9txJ3ZY0DaKfChg7QD9tgA_QQVSw8InVJOqitoNhWPHdyX4L2lfTWDsyp4yTRrybuDB_QnFK093z6T7yiOQOvxEIKuropCN-jwJi3FhxxlSShEacTRk3gi08AY4/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzFV8VK9ganSWmUt8I9txJ3ZY0DaKfChg7QD9tgA_QQVSw8InVJOqitoNhWPHdyX4L2lfTWDsyp4yTRrybuDB_QnFK093z6T7yiOQOvxEIKuropCN-jwJi3FhxxlSShEacTRk3gi08AY4/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On tuesday of last week I turned in my Junior Theme final draft and it felt great. All the hard work had finally come to an end. I felt very proud because this was the biggest paper I have had to write so far in high school.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-86438738-eec6-701b-da5e-d2003749b466" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I learned a lot throughout the whole writing/editing process. The peer editing day helped me realize the value in letting others criticize your work. I thought my rough draft was fine and there wasn’t much to change, but the peer edit quickly helped me realize I was wrong. My partner Colin showed me some passages that weren’t very fluid and could use some word changes. He also showed me places where he was confused with the point I was trying to make. I was able to expand in areas that were a bit under explained once I saw where these areas where. I learned that letting a peer look at your work will have a positive impact on the quality of the work.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also learned that it is important to stay open minded and not put too much prind into my work until it is finished. What I mean by this that It isn’t good to hold onto ideas that won’t help. For the first three weeks of the research process I was determined on including a section in my paper about the way in which we eat our food as an example of change in the American diet. I had come up with this idea completely by myself and I really wanted to include it in the paper. I started doing research on this topic and couldn’t find much. After three days I should have just given up and looked for a different subtopic, but I kept looking. And looking. And looking. I wasted so much time searching for something that just wasn’t there, and I couldn’t let go of the pride in my idea. I learned that I need to be able to realize what is good in my writing, and not blind myself with what I want to be good.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Junior Theme paper was a great experience for me. I believe I became a smarter and better overall writer because of it. I am looking forward to getting my final draft back so that I can make the appropriate edits and improve my work.</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-55367950867971529652014-04-20T19:56:00.003-07:002014-04-20T19:56:57.677-07:00Junior Theme Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyZL8ooctsuig9RZ75INDXeHkleYmeaiKuXu7tGhysKdJguWRRGoDon_QNuSymHbo95P_9xU62EBBfdkT2Rj1L4qEf02vWTOqCbkm01XvEldcoX5a30rUpnR0nM9VMRXuOH_GGJvxTETN/s1600/feel-healthier-bodymind-fresh-food-better-than-canned_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyZL8ooctsuig9RZ75INDXeHkleYmeaiKuXu7tGhysKdJguWRRGoDon_QNuSymHbo95P_9xU62EBBfdkT2Rj1L4qEf02vWTOqCbkm01XvEldcoX5a30rUpnR0nM9VMRXuOH_GGJvxTETN/s1600/feel-healthier-bodymind-fresh-food-better-than-canned_32.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My topic has not changed since my last post, but my view of it definitely has. I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the American meal as I have researched it. My Why question I will be answering in the paper is “Why does the American meal look the way it does?” To answer this question, I will be diving into 4 different sections.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. The way we eat</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is referring to how we eat our food. Over the years, this has changed. In my introductory paragraph I reference a statistic about the percentage of meals eaten outside the home. The number grew from 2% in 1900 to %0% in 2010. This plays a large role in our diet.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-a4c11652-8235-4d13-b327-3059ae4da9d9" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Changes in industry</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This section is about how the way food is made is completely different. The amount of GMOs in food is one of the big topics in this section. Food today is much more highly processed than it was just 20 years ago. Industry and technology have completely changed what our food is made of</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Social changes</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As society changes, so does the manner in which we eat. The family plays a big part in deciding how one eats. With the traditional family intact, there are more at home meals with everyone present and more organization. Where the family is scattered, meals are quicker and less important.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Public policy</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The government makes many policies and laws that affect what we eat in ways that we don’t see. This can range from price floors to school lunches. The government has great influence over our diets.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am excited to continue my research and begin the writing process of the body paragraphs. I will keep you updated with my progress.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-25467586371932517162014-03-27T22:12:00.000-07:002014-03-27T22:12:31.181-07:00Junior Theme Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgH7Q0rJcmF9OPSNl3Mr5Ze-q_CKYYKUngP2_bFHKSfbzR043WW8rzrGdxg6V_Twar_ysDFkLeG02ce4w_du9WBO-g6varXAC2aAC9KCl3i5nibT-vKR2vdolnQjXpAIdHc9YwCBmp-4U/s1600/writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgH7Q0rJcmF9OPSNl3Mr5Ze-q_CKYYKUngP2_bFHKSfbzR043WW8rzrGdxg6V_Twar_ysDFkLeG02ce4w_du9WBO-g6varXAC2aAC9KCl3i5nibT-vKR2vdolnQjXpAIdHc9YwCBmp-4U/s1600/writing.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week in American Studies has been completely focused on kick starting our Junior Theme papers. I have dreaded the thought of this assignment since I was in 8th grade when my brother did his. Now it is my time to write this monster of a paper.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-fd3d6fa6-0717-fb9f-488a-9f418a72da73" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started the week browsing around for topics and has a list of 5 possible directions to send my paper in. They were abortion, gun control, minimum wage, laziness and technology, and nutrition labels. I am a very passionate advocate for the pro-life view on abortion, and thought that this would make a fantastic topic to write my junior theme on. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did a good amount of research to get arguments from both sides on the issue of abortion and thought that there was no possibility of doing any other topic. Mr. O’Connor then shut that topic down because of how difficult it would be to make the paper NOT an argument for my side, and instead a more balanced and historical look at abortion.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had no idea what to do from here because I had banked so much into the abortion topic. I later met with Mr. Bolos to discuss ideas with him. I had written “nutrition labels” basically just to have a 5th topic so it looked like I was working harder. Bolos saw this and explained to me some unknown details about the food industry that really fascinated me. He showed me a book called </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Omnivore’s Dilemma</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Michael Pollan, which goes into an in depth analysis of the food industry and how it works. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right now I am thinking that my paper will be based around the question, “Why does the American diet look the way it does?”. I’m guessing this will change, and will keep posting blogs as my topic takes different forms. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-11027566553059951972014-03-27T21:27:00.002-07:002014-03-27T21:27:11.309-07:00Why do You Stand?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8g0Uy78rQsulCPgUG6i991lCWtDRBDKhOKpxFavu4ydF5ao169_KHRJnKCaq8xvD28Juec6QFYEmEtZ_mQz2dvmyFGWywFgeQBFavNu_ZQao6NtVBTuQbTdYcvfTLrLz783WTzX5kl_r/s1600/nba_g_bryant-24_mb_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8g0Uy78rQsulCPgUG6i991lCWtDRBDKhOKpxFavu4ydF5ao169_KHRJnKCaq8xvD28Juec6QFYEmEtZ_mQz2dvmyFGWywFgeQBFavNu_ZQao6NtVBTuQbTdYcvfTLrLz783WTzX5kl_r/s1600/nba_g_bryant-24_mb_600.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is not often that you hear an elite level athlete make a statement about society that angers many people. Statements that athletes make are normally minimal and not detailed, so that there will not be too much controversy attached to their name. Kobe Bryant did just this recently, calling out black America, specifically the Miami Heat, for collectively taking one side in the Trayvon Martin case.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-ec50e318-06ee-7edb-2432-670b60224214" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bryant said about the situation, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I won’t react to something just because I’m supposed to, because I’m an African-American. That argument doesn’t make any sense to me. So we want to advance as a society and a culture, but, say, if something happens to an African-American we immediately come to his defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we’ve progressed as a society? Well… then don’t jump to somebody’s defense just because they’re African-American. You sit and you listen to the facts just like you would in any other situation, right?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bryant’s words carry a lot of truth. He says that his reason for doing things will not be because his fellow African-Americans do it. That would just create more stereotypes and be counterintuitive to any anti-racism movement. Bryant says that people need to defend others based on evidence, not based on skin color.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not here to take a side on the whole Trayvon Martin case. Obviously I think it is horrible that someone died. I do happen to agree with Kobe, because his words are so insightful. I see people all around me in my life make decisions and take stances without actually looking at evidence, and instead going with the crowd. This lesson that Bryant gives transcends the world of racism and can be applied to many different things. Some people hold political views without doing any research as to what exactly they believe and why they believe it. Instead, they let other people think for them, like the media. If you take a stance on an issue, make sure you are taking the stance intelligently, and not just going with the flow.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/03/27/kobe-bryant-slammed-refusing-back-trayvon-martin" target="_blank">here.</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below to weigh in.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-35725258666799718692014-03-26T23:27:00.002-07:002014-03-26T23:27:11.695-07:00Freedom of Religion in Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWS-bS_hQ26kuMHq_7nYiKxRontSFa-XHV55MGXVE0jJ9TTRRV6vikcZHkT4E-xK70OEuTFa_qQ91qt2Z4DXbuqK6a6dkeeFObW3j_sqC_XchumcDn-c0gErXzG2PrVqguBBPI4VghNsq/s1600/HobbyLobbyStowOhio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWS-bS_hQ26kuMHq_7nYiKxRontSFa-XHV55MGXVE0jJ9TTRRV6vikcZHkT4E-xK70OEuTFa_qQ91qt2Z4DXbuqK6a6dkeeFObW3j_sqC_XchumcDn-c0gErXzG2PrVqguBBPI4VghNsq/s1600/HobbyLobbyStowOhio.JPG" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right now Hobby Lobby is waiting on a decision from the Supreme Court. The controversial issue right now is whether or not companies can refuse to pay for certain contraceptives based on religious reasons. Hobby Lobby does not wait to pay for two forms of contraceptives, IUDs and morning-after pills, because they see those as abortion.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4ba8975d-0236-aad2-e37e-e76805c5d5eb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Tuesday, the Hobby Lobby lawyer Paul Clement was questioned intensely by the Supreme court. Here are a few of the questions and responses:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Justice Sonia Sotomayor: What about employers who have religious objections to health plans that cover other basic medical procedures — blood transfusions, immunizations, medical products that include pork?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clement: Each would have to be evaluated by the courts to see if it is fully justified and accomplished by the least restrictive means.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sotomayor is taking Clement’s logic to the extreme, and asking what would happen if a company opposed to something on religious grounds that was considered basic by all. Clement responded that every instance would have to be handled in a case by case manner, weeding out cases that are obviously preposterous from reasonable ones. He applies the same argument moments later when another justice jumped in.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Justice Elena Kagan: Using that reasoning, an employer might have a religious objection to complying with sex discrimination laws, minimum wage laws, family leave laws and child labor laws, to name just a few.</span><a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/03/25/293956170/hobby-lobby-contraceptive-case-goes-before-supreme-court" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: #e0e0e0; color: #6d8ac4; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clement: Just because claims are being brought doesn't mean that they will all win. The courts, he said, can "separate the sheep from the goats."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think this is a great defense because it shows that Hobby Lobby’s view really is reasonable and down to earth. Yes, they are taking a stance on a controversial issue, but it is not as if their side cannot be defended through logic and reasoning, like the instances Kagan brings up. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clement continues to do a very solid job defending this viewpoint, and you can continue to read the dialogue <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/03/25/294385167/birth-control-mandate-goes-under-high-court-microscope" target="_blank">here.</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I agree with Clement’s claims and I believe that a company needs to have religious freedom like individuals have. Companies are individuals working together, and everything that comes out of a company is from individuals. If a company cannot voice an opinion and exercise the freedom of religion, then we need to take a look at our government is using the Constitution. “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. It’s right there in the Constitution. The free exercise of religion is not to be prohibited, plain and simple. Forcing a company to pay for something it has moral issues with because of religious standards it hold itself to is unconstitutional and un-american.</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-37548909325489385792014-03-26T22:16:00.001-07:002014-03-26T22:16:21.563-07:00Collegiate Compensation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJRTnUhk94POVGEy0AZ1KGalNehRfWZtON_KBmb46P3UYKuxOgLauNqqQz-Jinm6T6pjM3HnZWlpEtBOiXR5Skp3hSmwZHesUnohL-W_FU0VPZmRePJsUdIDjqrjUIeJDBN_WAqBF751v/s1600/Ryan-Field-Northwestern-University-Football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJRTnUhk94POVGEy0AZ1KGalNehRfWZtON_KBmb46P3UYKuxOgLauNqqQz-Jinm6T6pjM3HnZWlpEtBOiXR5Skp3hSmwZHesUnohL-W_FU0VPZmRePJsUdIDjqrjUIeJDBN_WAqBF751v/s1600/Ryan-Field-Northwestern-University-Football.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today the Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board decided that football players at Northwestern University qualify to be employees and can unionize. This decision is highly controversial, being that many people agree with this decision, while others find it terrible. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-62980611-01f3-fa89-63c9-4858c8ed2a26" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The side that agrees points to the amount of time spent playing football by the players, and that their scholarships are determined by on the field performance. They argue that since the universities rely on the players to generate the billions of dollars that come from college athletics, the role the students hold is that of an employee. Former Northwestern QB Kain Colter, an avid supporter of the ruling, said “For me this was just an opportunity to make things right and stick up for future generations and make up for the wrongs of past generation.” Obviously, he sees the potential of unionization and salaries as a good thing.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand are those who would end up with less money, those that work for the NCAA and the individual universities. Northwestern released a statement shunning the ruling saying “Northwestern believes strongly that our student-athletes are not employees, but students.” The advocates of the current system note that the way things are have helped millions of students attend college. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I happen to agree with the universities and the NCAA. Student-athletes willingly go to college to play sports, but to also be students. They are students who play sports. Not employees who go to school. Should high school football players unionize as well? Tickets are sold to attend the game, and money is made through those tickets to watch the students play. Obviously the answer is no, and the answer should be the same at a collegiate level. Student athletes are still students attending school who play sports. Until someone becomes a PROFESSIONal, when it is their PROFESSION to play a sport, they should not receive monetary compensation. Sports are extracurricular activities at schools. School is first, sports are a game on the side. No matter how hard you work at the game or how much time you put into it, it is still 2nd to education.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10677763/northwestern-wildcats-football-players-win-bid-unionize" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below to weigh in</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-78906208480977892782014-03-16T22:35:00.001-07:002014-03-16T22:35:19.388-07:00Enabling the Disabled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGlxlTNa8SVM2_V0UCF7mmVIxlgfcYwB3IA5YMVUqDFyz_xTvQnzkcHn4fo9NfDtwUqg_zXcvWO9RE_Ca7Ei8O6E8gYm_Cm1gkw-7Jh7qvlZG1WecJvdhcO-t9XtU1FmnvKK68qyudpwo/s1600/children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGlxlTNa8SVM2_V0UCF7mmVIxlgfcYwB3IA5YMVUqDFyz_xTvQnzkcHn4fo9NfDtwUqg_zXcvWO9RE_Ca7Ei8O6E8gYm_Cm1gkw-7Jh7qvlZG1WecJvdhcO-t9XtU1FmnvKK68qyudpwo/s1600/children.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few days ago on friday March 14th, our school got a great opportunity to watch a basketball game between New Trier and Lake Forest. It was not a varsity game though. It was an exhibition between students from both schools’ special needs programs. Every fan cheered as the players performed for a large crowd of faculty, students, and parents. Activities like this are so important if we want to respect and encourage those with special needs.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-6512e075-ce83-277c-8391-1e72ef4be17a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that here at New Trier High School we do a fantastic job of supporting people with special needs, and it is fantastic that those people are so accepted here. However, that is not necessarily the case across the country. Mentally handicapped individuals are made fun of and laughed at in many places in our country. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two teenage girls in Maryland were recently accused of physical abuse on an autistic 16 year old boy. The horrible acts committed include sexual harassment, forcing the boy into a frozen pond, threats with a knife, kicks to the groin, and dragging the boy by his hair. Reading about this story completely blew me away, that somebody could be so insensitive as to bully someone in that way, let alone someone with autism. The two accused girls recorded the whole incidence on a phone, so fortunately they will not get away without some sort of punishment.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have no clue where these kids go to school or what the attitude towards mental disabilities are in their area, but I do know that these acts were wrong in every sense of the word. The school that the students attend needs to re-evaluate exactly how they promote the respect of those with special needs. I think the way New Trier does it is a fantastic model. Kids with special needs aren’t locked away in some isolated room. They instead are completely integrated into the everyday life of high school. I have been able to sit with some of these students at lunch and gotten to know different people that I would have never gotten to had it not been for this system. There are a lot of things I disagree with about my high school, but one aspect I know they have gotten right is the special needs program.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts? Comment below</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/2-maryland-girls-charged-with-abusing-disabled-teen-boy/" target="_blank">here</a></span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-73345032998926921512014-03-02T23:04:00.003-08:002014-03-03T00:17:02.456-08:00Discrimination or Protected Expression?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKQaegTDUCsqa5yo5yUiJc1qgByun9CyAoAKav6ZGzRnUHS-cd9DRrcXm5OpfjFiE1GBZ5MUnLrSzJ-Go5AsMWAEYAJorGvyat-QXxhHH1EstrX-tzNAPoAj0nxFKsH1V36uyahBaPBN0/s1600/gay-vs-christian.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKQaegTDUCsqa5yo5yUiJc1qgByun9CyAoAKav6ZGzRnUHS-cd9DRrcXm5OpfjFiE1GBZ5MUnLrSzJ-Go5AsMWAEYAJorGvyat-QXxhHH1EstrX-tzNAPoAj0nxFKsH1V36uyahBaPBN0/s1600/gay-vs-christian.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I was completely shocked when I read an article by an openly gay woman, Tammy Bruce. In the article she defended Arizona’s religious freedom bill, that just got vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer. This bill would protect businesses if they chose to deny services to homosexuals. The main places where this applies is with wedding photographers and bakers who do not want to serve gay couples.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-250122d7-86be-fd2b-f5e7-6f3e7e9d0ec0" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many see this bill as allowance of direct discrimination against homosexuals. One person who holds this view is Jan Brewer. She did not feel like religious freedom was being restricted in any way, saying </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I have protected religious freedoms when there is a present concern. And I have a record to prove it.” Forcing religious businesses to serve homosexuals was not a concern to her.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tammy Bruce completely disagreed. She compared what people who believe homosexuality are going through is wrong, to what homosexuals have to go through, saying “Of all the people in the world who should understand the scourge of living under constant threat of losing life, liberty or the ability to make a living because of who you are, it’s gays.” She defends these businesses because she does not want to see civil liberties stripped from people, even if it might affect her in a slightly negative way.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that Tammy Bruce is right here. The first amendment guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression without the government restraining them in any way. If a business does not want to condone the actions of an individual, based on their religious views, the business is guaranteed that right. Not offering service is their way of expressing their religion. Some people see homosexuality as ok, while others do not. If those who opposed the religious freedom bill wanted to show tolerance at all levels, they would tolerate the other point of view and not force their own views. Selective tolerance is not real tolerance, it is just the pushing of an agenda. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would change one key part to this bill though. I only think it is ok to deny service to someone based on a specific action of theirs if the seller finds the action to be morally wrong and the service or good being provided would enable/help the buyer to do said action. For example, if a baker believed homosexuality to be morally wrong, he or she could refuse to bake a wedding cake for gay couple's wedding, since it would condone homosexual actions. However, if a gay couple went to the same bakery for a birthday cake, the baker could not deny that good since it does not enable or condone homosexuality. Along those same lines, if a Christian church approached a Muslim construction manager to build a church building for them, the construction manager could deny them that good if he or she felt morally compromised. A 7-11 owner </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">could deny the selling of contraceptives to people who are not married if he or she</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> believed that pre-marital sex is wrong. This would protect people's religious rights and rights to expression, while eliminating ignorant discrimination. </span><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feel the need to weigh in? Comment below with your thoughts</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/02/28/why-veto-arizonas-religious-freedom-bill-is-alarming/?intcmp=trending" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-21750209945981922642014-02-18T21:38:00.001-08:002014-02-18T21:40:52.974-08:00The Controversy of Minimum Wage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMjg4rKX_NaaviQihYK3D67usqxdVfm_moyl-1kEiPwJvZ2vFP-fMryyJQda7FqY88ZI4A6A7B7lZ-n9HtD_y01lMsFwGrBBB4q6J0ECECAk3V8BTUWubwnngrXiYSl-I6lhiI4iQc-TP/s1600/minimum_wage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMjg4rKX_NaaviQihYK3D67usqxdVfm_moyl-1kEiPwJvZ2vFP-fMryyJQda7FqY88ZI4A6A7B7lZ-n9HtD_y01lMsFwGrBBB4q6J0ECECAk3V8BTUWubwnngrXiYSl-I6lhiI4iQc-TP/s1600/minimum_wage3.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Congressional Budget Office has recently released a statement saying that raising the minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $10.10/hour could cost around 500,000 jobs. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid--845d2ab-48a3-2c7e-df97-bbf481ef5c9e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do people on each side have to say about this?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supporters of the wage increase point to the figure that says this increase would put 900,000 families above the poverty rate. Also, many agree that those who make over $10.10/hour could see increases in their pay as pay scales are adjusted by bosses. The author of the legislation, Sen. Tom Harkin D-Iowa, points to different research contrary to the CBO’s, stating higher minimum wage would increase the number of jobs.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those against the wage increase look to the CBO statement and Economics 101 about what happens when minimum wage is increased. Jobs will decrease. When the price of work goes up, the demand of work goes down. Companies are in the business to turn a profit, and as the minimum wage increases, the less money they are able to walk away with. This motivates them to cut low end jobs. Those against also say that our goal is to get more Americans out of unemployment, and raising minimum wage would hurt that goal. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way I see it, it all depends on what you value more. If you are looking to pay people more for doing less prominent jobs, raise minimum wage. If you are looking for more jobs, keep the minimum wage lower. I think that it is better to bring more people out of unemployment than to raise people’s pay for doing the same job, but I recognize both sides have solid arguments.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/18/hill-budget-office-wage-hike-would-lift-pay-but-cost-jobs/" target="_blank">here</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/12/03/so-lets-look-at-what-happens-when-they-raise-the-minimum-wage-in-bangladesh/" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts? Comment below to weigh in.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-54669065485260973412014-02-09T22:01:00.002-08:002014-02-09T22:13:30.412-08:00Who Actually Pays for the Crimes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8BDuEMHcAjonE0SVBfeAO4l3tWXGT_pe-4kSer3KmtXZVLylaHZPP14TgKAG93JmfLxNajWcA3QKRD8vEkPB4a-mOg76hLkV2WnfQRp-sDgT2QdeeWIamnjRm8UphuRvKaUGX1c3DdLP/s1600/criminal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8BDuEMHcAjonE0SVBfeAO4l3tWXGT_pe-4kSer3KmtXZVLylaHZPP14TgKAG93JmfLxNajWcA3QKRD8vEkPB4a-mOg76hLkV2WnfQRp-sDgT2QdeeWIamnjRm8UphuRvKaUGX1c3DdLP/s1600/criminal1.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we examine civil liberty issues from the past and present in our American Studies class, it is interesting to see similar events unfold before our eyes. The civil liberty in question today comes out of Elko County, Nevada. The county’s Commission and Sheriff agreed to start charging inmates for their stay. $6 daily for meals, $10 for a visit from a doctor, and an initial $5 charge for admission into jail. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-73d9efe9-1a60-4319-3395-380ec0c29ded" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is taking issue with this. The ACLU is a non-profit organization whose mission statement is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." Basically they defend people in court who they believe are having their civil liberties taken from them. In this case, they believe it is the right of a prisoner to get free food and health care from the county. The ACLU believe that if a jail charges its inmates, it takes rights from them.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand, there are people like Elko County Commissioner Grant Gerber, who believes the fees should be even higher. He says, “Why should the people of Elko County pay for somebody else's meals in jail?" Elko County Sheriff Jim Pitts reports the numbers for inmates is $85/inmate per day. This covers food, services, housing, and utilities. The capacity of the facility is 120, which means a total of $10,000 is spent each day on the prisoners. The prisoners don’t have to pay if they work for the jail, or if they are in prison under 24 hours. Also, those found innocent in the future get fully reimbursed. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some might say this law would only feed the “Prison-Industrial Complex”. Arguments could be made that the prisoners would be exploited as either sources of income, or sources of free labor. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My line of thinking is completely opposite from that. I don’t think that civil liberties are being abused. I think this is criminals monetarily paying for their crimes.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, we know that the prison system can be abused. Anyone who doesn’t want to work/can’t find work can easily commit a crime and get thrown into jail to get their needs met. Charging inmates would make this practice disappear, because crime would no longer be a free ticket to food and shelter. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, this would take a load off the backs of innocent taxpayers. Why would an innocent person have to pay for the crimes of others? That doesn’t make sense. Unfortunately, because prisons are government run, taxpayer dollars go towards that. Implementing this system would share the load between the taxpayer and the offender. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are other reasons for my stance on this issue, but those are the two main ones. If you would like to weigh in, feel free to comment below.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/feb/07/elko-county-charges-inmates-meals-aclu-upset/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-77614753474698013212014-02-02T23:22:00.001-08:002014-02-02T23:22:26.884-08:00My Thoughts on the Super Bowl<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl9ObWkmp8R4bTo6079STRbOtIp1Rht9WcHgr-fdmlEvwWaXwlBVrCl2b7kjQYa3xHR7xe0MiqNngYtNNCWVBgG8Pekh8OVgkpIJwG4OlUhDI0r4mtRiWDM74UQQOQDciybSpEddVwwrr/s1600/i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl9ObWkmp8R4bTo6079STRbOtIp1Rht9WcHgr-fdmlEvwWaXwlBVrCl2b7kjQYa3xHR7xe0MiqNngYtNNCWVBgG8Pekh8OVgkpIJwG4OlUhDI0r4mtRiWDM74UQQOQDciybSpEddVwwrr/s1600/i.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you did not get a chance to watch the Super Bowl, I’ll fill you in on what happened. The Seattle Seahawks demolished the Denver Broncos 43-8. A matchup between the league’s best offense (Denver) and best defense (Seattle) turned into a clinic by the latter of the two. Many were shocked, being that this year’s MVP, Peyton Manning, was in the losing squad.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-25d3aa40-f69f-d92f-20f7-6e0f2c05462e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was rooting for the Seahawks the whole game, but heading into Super Bowl Sunday I was convinced Manning would lead the Broncos to a championship victory. The Broncos came into the game as of one of the most potent offenses to ever play the game. Peyton Manning and his boys together broke 14 different offensive records during the regular season. With credentials like that, you would expect them to put up some large numbers in the Super Bowl, but that was not the case on sunday.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks came to play. They held Denver to only 27 rushing yards, and forced 2 fumbles on the way. They also made two interceptions, one for a touchdown. To start the second half, Percy Harvin took a kickoff 87 yards to the end zone to extend the lead by 22 points.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall, I don’t think this game is going to help the popularity of the NFL. The past 6 super bowls had all been nail biters, which kept the TV audience captivated. Fans don’t like blowouts. Fans don’t like to watch one-sided football. Fans don’t like to see one of sports’ biggest icons (Peyton Manning) get humiliated. Another let down to the fans was the the ads. In recent years, many people only watched the game for the commercials, which were mostly comical. This year, a lot of fans were let down with the scarcity of humorous commercials.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was disappointed with the Super Bowl this year because of the quality of entertainment. It wasn’t very competitive, and the commercial breaks were boring. I’m still going to watch next year, but not because of anything that happened this year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anything you want to say about the game? Comment below</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-77726729065100965832014-01-20T18:14:00.001-08:002014-01-20T18:14:00.916-08:00Electronic Home<b id="docs-internal-guid-64b67d78-b293-e9c2-bba1-dbc006fe3ff5" style="font-weight: normal;"><img height="194px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qYQCH85Ffmzb9Dvq4fV1W6-b18EV8yCwskudJDz_v80tMRokDruzbQX4g6e79EGTEbZirsoA94hZg91XqBFYUuoItBf6MU6F2CV628djcgi4ITil1oZLrKLOjg" style="border: 0px solid transparent;" width="259px;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you think our already technology rife world could use a bit more gadgets? Look no further than to Google, who just purchased Nest, a home automation company in California for a grand total of $3.2 billion.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What exactly does Nest do? So far they have released two home products on the market. A thermostat and a smoke/CO detector, both going for $249. doesn’t sound like much.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google made this purchase was because they were investing in the future. Nest had been trying to take everyday objects, like a refrigerator or an oven, and make it more efficient, and integrated into a whole electronic system. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This whole new market has been called the “Internet of Things”. Everyday objects all interconnected. Lowe’s, AT&T, Belkin, LG, and Samsung are among the giants who are beginning to invest in this new market. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some products getting ready for release are the LG HomeChat washer that you are able to text, A Crockpot from Belkin that can be used with an app, and home locks that can be opened or closed with an app.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right now the biggest block in the road to the future of electronics is the amount of independent systems existing already, that do the job these bigger companies are trying to do. The way I see it, that is really good. Instead of a company like Samsung prematurely releasing a product to make some quick cash, They are going to have to wait a bit until what they make is better than what is already available. Hooray for consumers! </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m personally looking forward to the arrival of this technology. Many people are afraid of what this would mean in terms of privacy, but I don’t think that will be much of an issue.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more at </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/01/14/from-washing-machines-to-crock-pots-connected-home-is-coming/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/01/14/from-washing-machines-to-crock-pots-connected-home-is-coming/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts? Comment below with whatever you want to say about this.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-61492161164499530692014-01-20T16:46:00.000-08:002014-01-20T16:46:07.139-08:00Doodle More!<b id="docs-internal-guid-68b4528f-b242-3719-63b5-f0822643ae91" style="font-weight: normal;"><img height="266px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Nnesuw0FIK9fC2wQODM7a06dHaXLAl507ibQbi7I30bfmUwB6ekSuTM1Xlr_c2O7jBElfz_xMndLWrJlYlpXbdODIVo2jVbqofoNQcA_oji0jDcZShoSWlA6OQ" style="border: 0px solid transparent;" width="190px;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s something that will catch you off guard. Doodling doesn’t mean you aren’t paying attention! Some studies have shown it is actually a good thing to do. That is exactly the opposite of what I’ve been taught and what teachers have said to me when they’ve scolded me for doodling in class. In a recent article I read on CBS News, I learned some interesting theories about doodles and some evidence to go along with it.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many psychologists are starting to believe that doodling actually engages the brain. Many people who doodle claim to have improved problem solving skills because of it. Visual techniques seem to help explain ideas or plans to people struggling to see what you see. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One piece of evidence in the fight to encourage doodles is from a study in 2009. Two groups of people were played a long voicemail. The first group just listened to the voicemail, and nothing else. The second group were instructed to doodle during the voicemail. After the voicemail was played, The group that doodled remembered 29% more details than the group who only listened. Doodling seemed to IMPROVE memory in this case. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some psychologists believe that doodling is not the distraction itself, it is instead a way we protect ourselves FROM distraction. It acts like a barrier so that distractions can’t get through to our heads</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesse Prinz, a professor teaching philosophy of the mind at the City University of New York, has this to say about doodling. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Think about mindless drawing as a way to take all those things that distract you, all those subjects that you ruminate on, and clearing them away, and opening this space where information can get in. Doodling is the attentional sweet spot."</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He says when we doodle, we are open to learning. If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. When we doodle we aren’t taking in distracting information like we would if an iPad was put in front of us. The only information you receive is the information being shared by others around you. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then again, we could benefit greatly from NOT doodling. Who knows?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more at </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-higher-purpose-of-doodling/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-higher-purpose-of-doodling/</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202022; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think you know? Comment below to weigh in.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-15919924620342321862014-01-20T15:54:00.002-08:002014-01-20T15:54:41.567-08:00Murderer or Hero?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1592081b-b211-32ae-4c71-e10b749bd13c" style="font-weight: normal;"><img height="231px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/J-5ELl8mPOBRaMI-mQw1JaemGfnwbPuikDAgtufx_QfR2q21xFCV-3q5CqohbgSENgJi3iTumzagHyeRhJsEbev56PQ6Ls51Gp8AZiElEvmkPyYnApl3g_YyfQ" style="border: 0px solid transparent;" width="308px;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I just learned of a court ruling in New Mexico one week ago that could legalize physician-assisted suicide in the state. This would let patients who are mentally stable and terminally ill to choose death via the physician. The patient would take a drug given to them by the physician that painlessly kills them. New Mexico would be the 5th state to allow this.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obviously this creates a large controversy.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On one hand you have the people who support this law. People like </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judge Nan Nash</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the man who passed this ruling. Nash says, </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Court cannot envision a right more fundamental, more private or more integral to the liberty, safety and happiness of a New Mexican than the right of a competent, terminally ill patient to choose aid in dying. If decisions made in the shadow of one's imminent death regarding how they and their loved ones will face that death are not fundamental and at the core of these constitutional guarantees, than what decisions are?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nash raises good points. He wants people who know they are going to die soon, possibly in a very painful way, to have the right to end their lives without pain. He sees this as a right. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand you have those who oppose this. People like Leon Kass, MD, PhD, a doctor against assisted suicide. He brings up the Hippocratic Oath, saying, </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #efefef; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The prohibition against killing patients... stands as the first promise of self-restraint sworn to in the Hippocratic Oath, as medicine's primary taboo: 'I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect'...”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: #efefef; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hippocratic Oath is a set of guidelines that practicing physicians swear to abide by in their work. People against assisted suicide bring this up because it is in direct contrast with what the law would bring about. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am still not sure about where I stand, as it is an enormous statement about yourself to take either side</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many more arguments for and against, and you can find them at </span><a href="http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000126" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000126</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts? Want to voice your opinion? feel free to leave your comments below.</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-63605678908062360862014-01-20T14:46:00.004-08:002014-01-20T14:46:23.463-08:00Labels<div style="text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-620b513d-b1d0-543b-e0ae-81a8050c3be0" style="font-weight: normal;"><img height="222px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2EiPe7-eTo7yiUNJzawNuVoC46J5-5utyrMwhhJ42_tnvwpSTt8Cyd92ar3CVkbscbQZyOeBnALv9Gc2eFXaowWIwQG5Eac1IUXJgFib342nlY88jXnhwkhW1Q" style="border: 0px solid transparent;" width="333px;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I saw a quote from Governor Cuomo (D) of New York, who was angered with people who had views opposing his.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are."</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Governor Cuomo was angered at conservatives who seemed to be undermining their Republican counterparts. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not here today to pick a side on abortion, gun control, or gay marriage. I want to just analyze the last half of the last sentence in the above quote. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ . . . they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are."</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is what I am going to take issue with, for two reasons.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, I don’t think it is ok to tell someone who believes something different than you that they have no place in whatever establishment you are in. That is called intolerance. U</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs (Dictionary.com). If Cuomo doesn’t like what the conservatives believe, he should be trying to change their minds, not alienate them. I think Gov. Cuomo could use a lesson from my local pastor. I attend church on Sundays, and I know that one of my pastor’s goals is to convert people to his side, Christianity. He doesn’t kick people out who have contrasting views, he instead preaches his views and is willing to have civil conversations with people who don’t like what he says. Alienation is not a good way to get your method across.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, I don’t think it’s good to categorize the people of New York as having one view. New York is a Democratic state, meaning they have been voting Democrat for a while. That does not mean that everyone in New York shares those views. As of 2006, 59.1% of New Yorkers identify themselves as Democrats, while 33.6% say they are Republican. Based off of those stats, I don’t think it is fair to state that New Yorkers are pro-abortion, pro-gun control, and pro-gay marriage. Yes, a majority are for those things, but clearly not everyone is. That would be like saying “Americans are white”. Yes, most Americans are white, but obviously not all are. According to the 2010 census, 72.4% of Americans are white. The same logic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughts? Comment below with whatever is on your mind</span></div>
Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-5052545297547822312013-11-10T21:56:00.001-08:002013-11-10T21:56:50.904-08:00Punished for Self-Defense?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLfgqPSOgfEu6wKJaGuSMrzEhm7M5-UQyoaRWhXxMt2K44-vJh-hqkMFwfjOPczXIpKjflTDGZT3lTeJc-4Q5VqZWLyoO2ti6mp9revxAGuhA01md5CTsaO7lGgEHGqrwrqCtc7D5usdy/s1600/tumblr_m8qnsrTAXK1qjxigxo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLfgqPSOgfEu6wKJaGuSMrzEhm7M5-UQyoaRWhXxMt2K44-vJh-hqkMFwfjOPczXIpKjflTDGZT3lTeJc-4Q5VqZWLyoO2ti6mp9revxAGuhA01md5CTsaO7lGgEHGqrwrqCtc7D5usdy/s320/tumblr_m8qnsrTAXK1qjxigxo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I came across a story this weekend that I am still puzzled with and not completely sure where I stand with my opinion as to how it should be handled. Two students, Erik Fagan and Dan McIntosh, at Gonzaga University were in relaxing in their off-campus apartment when someone knocked at their door. Fagan answered the door and saw John Taylor, a convicted felon. He demanded money and turned down Fagan’s offer for food and a blanket. Fagan called to McIntosh who came to the door with his gun and got Taylor to leave the property. The two then called the police and told them what happened.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-31c24ee0-45b8-8b86-3b96-59be8c188ada" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would say that the two of them handled this situation in a fantastic way. Even though the man demanded money, they still kindly offered him food and warmth. They didn’t really have any other choice than to drive him off with the gun. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hours later, the police came to the apartment and came in to confiscate the gun that belonged to McIntosh. He did have a concealed weapons permit, but the Gonzaga student handbook states that students may not have guns on university owned property. The two students now face discipline from the school, which could possibly include expulsion.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obviously there are two sides to this argument. People defending the students will say that the gun saved their lives, and they shouldn’t be in trouble for self defense. The other side says that rules are rules and if broken, there has to be punishment handed out.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is my thinking. The students were not in the wrong to defend themselves. They were, however, in the wrong to break the school’s gun policy. I think a good way to handle the situation would be to discipline the students, but not expel them. Then, I think the school should re-evaluate their current rules on guns on university property. Some good ways they could adjust their rules could be to state in the handbook that if you have a gun on school property, you must be licensed (a bit obvious, but I think a necessary addition). Also, if they are aiming to keep their campus safe, limit gun possession to only off campus residencies. I think that would be the best route to take because it keeps the main student population gun free, but still allows the people who would actually need a gun to have one.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more about this story and watch a video about it <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/10/wash-college-students-face-possible-expulsion-for-using-gun-to-ward-off/?intcmp=trending" target="_blank">here</a><span id="goog_524965753"></span><span id="goog_524965754"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feel free to comment below with your opinion </span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-90394665205116289612013-11-03T22:33:00.003-08:002013-11-03T22:33:45.624-08:00Shocked enough<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvflqDaH2ipcvOmfN1q99BD5eb8t7COgXE30nVXtnMcgzCjianStwFerWsNBndAb1lGET4kgJ4xP0ddCUXa4aiFn7ZNGWVQnQhF5fm2ijpyipTOr4xh3BTfpdJtI5fJ1Ar0KDJUV8m39z/s1600/o-SNORESTOPBILLBOARD-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvflqDaH2ipcvOmfN1q99BD5eb8t7COgXE30nVXtnMcgzCjianStwFerWsNBndAb1lGET4kgJ4xP0ddCUXa4aiFn7ZNGWVQnQhF5fm2ijpyipTOr4xh3BTfpdJtI5fJ1Ar0KDJUV8m39z/s320/o-SNORESTOPBILLBOARD-570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine seeing this ad on the highway for 1 second as you drive by going 70 mph. A lot of thoughts would go through your head. Most people aren’t used to seeing a couple like that, so something like this would turn a lot of heads. And that is exactly what Snore Stop wants to happen.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-36b7bdc8-21cd-86cc-6dd2-ffb853aabcf8" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Snore Stop is a company that sells products to prevent and get rid of snoring. They mainly advertise to couples, because they want to help them be able to sleep together without snoring causing any barriers. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So why use such an out of the ordinary couple? Melody Devemark, a company spokeswoman, said that Snore Stop is trying to “grab people’s attention” with these ads. They want to show people something that they are not used to seeing. This is being done in hopes that they can shock their customers into looking into the product. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many people disagree with this method. On social medias, the ad has been called “offensive” and “a slap in the face to our military.” I can see why someone would be offended at first, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it is harmless and shouldn’t offend people. Nothing inappropriate, illegal, or racist is being portrayed in the ad.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, do I think this is a good idea for Snore Stop? No. All this ad does is make drama. It does turn heads, but I don’t think it will help them out much. People driving by on a highway don’t have time to analyze billboards. They get a quick look and have less than a second to take in what they see. Most people will see that and be puzzled and confused, some even angry. Not very many people can see an ad for half of a second and immediately understand and appreciate the message. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think there is nothing wrong in the ad itself, but I do think it will not be helpful to the company.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more about the story <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/03/controversial-billboard-shows-us-soldier-embracing-muslim-woman-wearing-burka/?intcmp=trending" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/soldier-muslim-billboard-ad-snorestop_n_4192238.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below to share your thoughts or opinions.</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-53806061599316865492013-10-27T21:27:00.001-07:002013-10-27T21:27:49.776-07:00Giving to Thieves <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggvC3L_A9HEb_rPY_RwHH_KW9OLVO3M95Jl49lzaU4wuAa1K__f69mNe2GJhxW0arVeaX5STaLgPj02Ca_2c7ZcNY-JEIxVf_2oFgEEi2OnOE1CYyaUTqSLwQbSCwcj4zMZSjemL_grVk/s1600/woman-getting-pickpocketed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggvC3L_A9HEb_rPY_RwHH_KW9OLVO3M95Jl49lzaU4wuAa1K__f69mNe2GJhxW0arVeaX5STaLgPj02Ca_2c7ZcNY-JEIxVf_2oFgEEi2OnOE1CYyaUTqSLwQbSCwcj4zMZSjemL_grVk/s1600/woman-getting-pickpocketed.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I read something that really encouraged me. A story of a mother of 4 who showed mercy to a man who had robbed her. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-43e07200-fd47-8d14-c843-d116944e45c8" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica Eaves of Oklahoma was shopping for her family when she noticed her wallet was gone. She knew who had stolen it, so she approached the man. “You can either give me my wallet and I'll forgive you right now, and I'll even take you to the front and pay for your groceries” she said to him. The other option she gave was to call the police. He gave back the wallet and burst into tears and confessed how desperate he was and that he was sorry.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I'll never forget tonight. I'm broke, I have kids, I'm embarrassed and I'm sorry". These were the last words the man said to Eaves before he left. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am absolutely shocked at how this women handled the situation. In a good way. To have the patience and understanding this woman has blows me away. If I knew someone tried to steal my wallet I would have probably freaked out and called the cops. To have the presence of mind and calmness that Jessica Eaves had is amazing.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope that reading this can inspire people to show mercy to others. I know that I am going to be looking for ways in my life to do what this woman did. I challenge anyone who reads this to do the same.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/27/woman-buys-thief-groceries-after-steals-her-wallet/" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below with your opinion </span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-23358845404119202612013-10-20T20:37:00.002-07:002013-10-27T21:32:37.650-07:00How far does the 2nd Amendment go?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4_sBVRiywtiQPS5VA_qjvWfm4MgqAqCoS8txxrxUhSdvkRFSNqMIPEesJDrw3ju7fd-hWQo7AYmNpgaDGMLAJPhqDQ_zYQsp_7aRMTsWM9kVGIspAr70Pd0loXtixBI6yh7o_wrJPXKH/s1600/mgcg18_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4_sBVRiywtiQPS5VA_qjvWfm4MgqAqCoS8txxrxUhSdvkRFSNqMIPEesJDrw3ju7fd-hWQo7AYmNpgaDGMLAJPhqDQ_zYQsp_7aRMTsWM9kVGIspAr70Pd0loXtixBI6yh7o_wrJPXKH/s320/mgcg18_002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today a video caught my eye that I could tell would spark much controversy. “Debate builds in Iowa over gun permits for the blind." My initial reaction was why on earth would a blind person have a gun? I watched the video and read the article about it, and it really made me think about my view. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obviously, the 2nd amendment was brought up. The 2nd amendment basically protects the right to bear arms. The argument that the blind make is that there is nothing in the Constitution that says anything about blind people not being able to own or carry guns. One blind man, Michael Barber, says “The Second Amendment does not say we have the right to bear arms unless we're disabled. I should be able to protect my family just like you can, just like anyone else can.”</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70e61a92-d912-8e13-ed91-215e96d52ca7" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barber makes a good point. In the Constitution, it is not exclusive as to who can have a gun, so why are people trying to add to it?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Currently in Iowa a blind person can legally do the same things with a gun that a person with normal sight can. Many of the police officers in Iowa have a problem with that. One county sheriff, Jerry Dunbar, says “If you can't see where that bullet is going to wind up then that's our concern, maybe you shouldn't be carrying.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I happen to agree with Dunbar. I don’t think anyone who can’t see where they are shooting should be armed with a gun in public. That seems like common sense to me. I do think it is fine for someone who is blind to own a gun and keep it on their property, because then it is in a familiar place for self defense. Once they are in public, they put people around them in danger because they have no clue where the “target” is.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recognize that it is up to the individual states to make these decisions, and not the federal government. If I were a governor though, I would push for my state to not allow those who were blind to be armed with guns in public.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more about the article <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/15/sight-not-required-for-gun-permits-in-iowa/" target="_blank">here</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below to weigh in with your opinion</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-44727951354644187502013-10-14T23:20:00.002-07:002013-10-14T23:20:32.395-07:00If You Dream it, Make it Happen<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"If you dream it, make it happen."</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-20d461a4-bac3-4174-93b2-79675480635d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those are the words of 38 year old Maickel Melamed of Venezuela after finishing the Chicago Marathon. Melamed suffers from muscular dystrophy, a muscle disease that distorts muscle tissue and hinders the ability to move.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melamed was the last runner to finish the marathon, with a time of 16 hours and 46 minutes. 100 people waited for him to finish and cheered him on. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I read about this man I was in shock. This man has an enormous amount of character and courage to do what he did. His quote shows that he did this to inspire others, not to prove himself. “If you dream it, make it happen”. That is how Melamed wants to help people. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wa7qqiJxiMQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This video shows some of the hardships that people with muscular dystrophy have to go through, but it also shows how people are helping those afflicted with the disease.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading about Maickel Melamed and watching that video changed me in two ways. It makes me realize how stupid and petty a lot of my “problems” are. The stuff I complain about is nothing compared to what these people have to go through. They put a smile on and live their lives with the mindset that nothing can get in their way of living. I also am inspired by Melamed’s words to the world. He pushed himself to complete a marathon, with a disease that keeps most people from being able to even walk. He had a dream to run races, and he made it happen through perseverance and determination. That is something I can apply to my life in so many ways.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I challenge you to learn from these people the same ways I have. Put your problems in perspective, and make your dreams a reality. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the full story on Maickel, click <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/14/venezuelan-man-with-muscular-dystrophy-finishes-chicago-marathon/" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feel free to comment below</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285548342329444608.post-6218243029195272572013-10-06T21:54:00.001-07:002013-10-06T21:54:23.218-07:00Punishment for Bullies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEWSwyAOGsSJxEykSMdyaWbfsAantqTazElFf2xzRn0yljTBgplUwp5aJbD7anomA9JCFEze29nJMjyuoBEx5UcIZ2tCWkg1Kc6yyUAPKlQTtI3asWSR6Oqq9rRETrIxQkD5nnk3kzkCf/s1600/authoritarian-parents-angry-parent-yelling-at-boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEWSwyAOGsSJxEykSMdyaWbfsAantqTazElFf2xzRn0yljTBgplUwp5aJbD7anomA9JCFEze29nJMjyuoBEx5UcIZ2tCWkg1Kc6yyUAPKlQTtI3asWSR6Oqq9rRETrIxQkD5nnk3kzkCf/s200/authoritarian-parents-angry-parent-yelling-at-boy.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently, a story about a father's punishment for his son made national news. The father, Jose Lagares made his young son put on a sign with the words, "I am a bully. Honk if you hate bullies." The boy is in fourth grade, so he is very young. According to the father, his son was a repeat offender as a bully at school. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid--6f0b1a6-9140-a95e-f6e0-2a4f3a717984" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Maybe he understands that when he humiliates someone publicly that doesn't feel good. Hopefully he'll take that with him so the next time he tries to bully someone he'll think about it twice," said the father. Lagares was trying to teach his son a lesson about how wrong bullying is, and how much it hurts to be on the victim of it.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can understand why Jose Lagares did this. His son is very young and impressionable. If he can correct his son’s bad behavior now, it will probably stick with him the rest of his life. The punishment was tough, but ultimately out of love. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand, I can see how this is out of line. The bullying that Lagares’ son did at school could not have been nearly as scary or public as what he had to go through. The kid is only in fourth grade, and in my opinion, probably needs mercy and a light punishment more than an extreme punishment like this.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m only in high school, so I obviously have no experience or training as a parent, but I really don’t think it was the right thing to do to publicly humiliate his son in that manner. He’s in fourth grade! I don’t think bullying should be fought with more bullying. Be more gracious and soft on him if that’s what you want him to be like to others. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe the young boy will learn something that will change him positively for the rest of his life. Maybe he will just go back to his old ways. I don’t know. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the video and read more about it <a href="http://www.wwlp.com/news/national/bullying-boy-publically-punished" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comment below if you want to weigh in with your opinion.</span>Jonathan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444494564166284971noreply@blogger.com6