Current Events- Wii have a problem

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061207/ts_nm/nintendo_dc

I’m sure most everyone has seen the commercials on TV with the two asian guys who go to the house and give them the Wii Nintendo system. I love it, I think it looks like so much fun and I really want one. But, the article is saying that they could be dangerous. I guess people are complaining that even though there’s a strap, if they lose their grip on the control/remote, the wrist strap breaks and breaks things. So far, there’s been some complaints about broken televisions, as well as laptops.  Hmmm. I think that can happen with pretty much any system, just maybe not as extreme. Stuff like this always happens when there’s new products out on the market. Everyone gets anxious and wants to get one right away, and then complain about something not being right, or something going wrong and causing serious issues. I just assume wait a little while. Much cheaper, and probably later makes updated as well. Seems smart. Although, I’d have to say that if someone got me a Wii Nintendo System today (or tomorrow) I probably wouldn’t turn it down. Why do people take the time to complain anyway, it’s probably not going to do them any good. Anyone could complain about anything then. One time I was unloading the dishwasher and the glasses were still a little wet and I dropped one- so I guess that means that I can complain about that type of dishwasher, for not drying the glasses enough. Oh boy. Things could probably get a little out of hand if people starting do that crazy stuff.
Anyway, just another silly little article that I took the time to read. I’ve read better.

Current Events- Serious use for silly string

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/silly_string_to_iraq

I guess you learn something new every day. How funny. The article is about how military troops over in Iraq have started to use silly string to detect trip wires around bombs. Supposedly, if the silly string falls to the ground, then the troops are safe, there are no bombs around. If the silly strings floats in the air, then the soldiers know that they’re in a dangerous place. Pretty cool if you ask me. I’m not sure who ever came up with the idea of trying silly string for something so serious, but props to them. It’s amazing how things you would never think could save lives, could really have an effect. It’s pretty awesome how everyone in the same community and even elsewhere as the shrivers have even joined in to help donate. It’s nice that even though we aren’t all soldiers and don’t fight for our country, there are little things that we can do to help the people that actually do.
Also in the article, it talks about other every day supplies that the military has learned to use to aid the soldiers. For examples, the use of tampons to control the bleeding of wounds until they can get further help, or scraps of metal and bulletproof windsheilds on the top and sides of their vehicles to give more protection. I was really impressed when I was reading. It’s really cool that people come up with things like these all the time. The article makes me want to go out and buy a couple cans of silly string, which I have to say, I would only spend money on in very few circumstances,  and do my share of donating.
I suppose in cases like these, every little bit counts.

Current Events- Tom and Katie have another wedding party

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_en_mo/people_cruise_holmes

 I’m jealous. Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are having yet another wedding party, for the people who couldn’t make it to their actual wedding. They already got to spend huge amounts of money on their actual wedding, which occured in Italy, mind you. I want to get married in Italy. I guess I’ll have to marry a movie star, huh. Also, I’m confused because every single time I’ve read about them in magazines or heard stuff about them, it’s always pretty negative. It never sounds like they have a really decent relationship, they should have for spending so much money on all this wedding nonsense. Either he’s controlling her, calling her fat, making her lose weight, complaining that she doesn’t have nice enough teeth. You name it, it’s probably been said about the two of them. Another thing, maybe I don’t keep up good enough, but I’ve only seen like, one picture of their baby, who is now seven months old. Why don’t they show pictures? Most couples are anxious to show off their hollywood babies. Not Katie and Tom though. Maybe she just shouldn’t be with him, because I like her. Dawsons Creek used to be my all time favorite show.
Must be nice to have unbelievable amounts of money.

Current Events- Taco Bell Removes Green Onions

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/e_coli_outbreak

Well, One thing I want to say is that these articles make me thankful that I don’t like onions (or vegetables for that matter). This one is about how Taco Bell was ordered to remove all of their green onions, or scallions from a good chunk of their fast food chain restaurants after yet another E-Coli break out in three different states. What’s with the E-Coli break outs everywhere, and in everything? It’s pretty disappointing. I really enjoy Taco Bell. Whether I eat their onions or not, it’s scary for me. It makes me want to second guess eating there. Isn’t there like, tests and stuff that are supposed to be done before food is shipped out all over the world to places where people eat on a regular basis. Why aren’t we on top of these things? The same thing with the Spinach. That wasn’t long ago at all. Everytime I went to the store the Spinach section was taped off do to bad Spinach outbreaks. Come on people. My mom makes a killer spinach soup and i’m disappointed that I have to be nervous to eat it. I guess I have a good arguement for my mom next time she moans and compains that i’m not eating my vegetables. On a more serious note, I guess I’ll stay away from Taco Bell for a little while, and maybe spinach too, we’ll see. I didn’t even know that things like that could carry E-Coli. hmmm.

Current Events- Finding of mummified remains

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_sc/egypt_mummy

The news article is about how archaeologists find the remains of a doctor, in all it’s orginal remains and wrappings. The article fascinated me because I think that it’s really cool how today we are able to go around to places like Egypt, etc. and have the tools (and I have to give credit to the people who actually have the patience to do work like this) to find amazing things like this. It’s amazing that even though it was so long ago when this doctor lived, they were able to do things like make tombs and decorate them with amazing designs, and preserve bodies so well that when we find them over 4,000 years later, we’re able to identify who they were, and how long ago they lived, even what their names were. I love how the Egyptians always believed in an afterlife. They always burried they’re people with things they would need or want for their next life, and death wasn’t so bad. They had such positive attitudes about death and I think it’s really cool. Today, it seems like death is seen as more of a really negative thing rather than a good thing. That probably has something to do with why it’s so hard for people to cope with losing loved ones. I give credit to those people way back then (Although, I’m not sure I would want to have lived back then myself). Anyway, neat article. It’s pretty interesting stuff.

Current Events- Lighting a match while on a plane

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/plane_passing_gas

 Pretty funny story. It’s about a lady on a plane who passed gas and lit up a match to cover the smell. I had to write about it because it made me laugh. I don’t understand why anyone would do such a thing just to cover something like that up. The plane had to make an emergency landing and everything. So, instead of dealing with the smell for however long, she decided she’d light a match and make everyone go through so much more of a hard time. Absolutely silly. What a pain in the neck. I know that when I’m flying and I have somewhere to be, the last thing I want to have to do is have to go through an emergency landing and get off the plane and then get back on and re situated over something so stupid. Plus, the the lady wasn’t allowed back on the plane after the emergency landing, so she had to find another flight to wherever her destination was, which means more money and more hassle. Probably not worth it at all. It’s funny how people really just don’t think and do stupid little things like that. You hear about silly things like these quite often. I guess we’re all guilty of it though. Maybe not so extreme, but whatever. I know I’ve done my share of nonsense things.

Nickel and Dimed

Ok, let me start off by saying that I don’t have my book with me right now, so I’ll have to do a direct quote tomorrow. So far in the book, I’ve gotten past where she does all her work in Florida, and has now moved to Maine. When in the beginning she sums up what exactly she’s going to be doing, I thought it sounded pretty interesting. Definitely rough, but interesting life to lead for a little while. I’ve watched movies during high school about similar things. People in foreign places that work and work and have no money to show for it, with a family to support. It really is sad. I’m not completely through the book yet, as I said, so I’m curious to find out what is going to happen. One thing that sticks out in my head is at one point when she’s waitressing and she faints. I don’t know if I would be able to continue on with the “experiment” knowing that I could back out whenever I felt it was necessary. She says she’s an olderish lady as well, so automatically I would automatically question things, I think. Another thing that caught my attention is the fact that she’s moving from place to place, I might have skipped over the reason she’s doing so, but it doesn’t seem to me that people with a low income and hardships can move around as much as she does, and how come she doesn’t try the public transportation, which is probably generally the way of getting around for families who lack.
That’s all I can comment on for now. I’ll pick a quote out later. I’m definitely curious to see what happens.
One other thing caught my attention that I liked- I found most of the facts that are at the bottom of some of the pages to be quite interesting. Some pretty crazy.

Current Events- OJ Simpson

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061115/ap_on_en_tv/simpson_interview

This is just a brief article about an upcoming event with OJ Simpson. I guess they’re going to interview him on how he would have committed the murders, if in fact he had committed them. A little weird, I think. I don’t see why anyone would want to interview someone about how they would have committed a murder. I remember hearing a lot about the case. I think that my gram might have followed it prety closely, but I don’t have an opinion strong enough to support about whether or not he had actually committed the murders. Either way, when I was looking for a news article this one popped up, so I read it. I would feel weird talking about something like that, especially on television, after having being tried for murder already. Plus, who just sits down and thinks about how they would kill somebody? That makes it seem, to me anyway, that if he didn’t actually committ the crime, he was considering it, or had atleast thought about it on occasion. It seems pretty sketchy to me. Also in the article it says that he has told someone that he doesn’t believe two people could be murdered without both being covered in blood. I dont think that necessarily has to be true. So his way of killing these two people would obviously be really gruesome.  There’s some pretty crazy people out there…

Current Events- Man pleads guilty in ’84 college assault

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061114/ap_on_re_us/uva_rape

So, this article is about a man who sexually assaulted a woman 22 years ago at a fraternity party in college, and is finally coming forward and pleading guilty. Apparently the man has had some issues his entire life, since the reason he was coming forward was due to a 12 step Alcoholics Anonymous program. I’m kind of iffy about my opinion on the entire thing. First, they both have different stories. Either way though, I could go both ways on whether or not it’s a good thing. My first thought it that maybe we’re getting somewhere if people who have done something so long ago are willing to come forward and admit it, even though it’s been put in the past. If only we could get a few more people to do that, we’d be off to a good start. At the same time, though, I kind of question it. It’s been tucked away for so long, and they’ve both moved on with their lives, so maybe it’s not really worth it to open old wounds.
On an entirely different note, it’s kind of scary. You hear all the time as college students, or kids going off to college to always watch what you drink, and where your drink is. You hear that people can slip something in your drink, or to watch who you hang out with because something like sexual assault could happen. Normally, I’d say the majority of kids listen at the time, but don’t really think about it much when they’re actually out and in the scene where its most likely to happen. Then you hear about things like this. It’s scary to think that not only can it happen to anyone, but that it could happen and nothing could be done about it. 22 years is a really long time.
Watch yourselves when you’re out, kids.

Current Events- Greeks becoming obese

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061114/ap_on_he_me/diet_greece_obesity

The article that I picked, I got off of yahoo news. Figured I would switch it up a little bit since I normally use nbc.  The title itself caught my attention. “Greeks suffer higher rates of obesity.” It seems that obesity if definitely a huge problem that’s been going on for a while in the United States, but you don’t really hear much about it from other countries. Atleast I don’t, or I don’t seem to pay much attention.  It talks about a study that was done of fifth grade students, and it states that of 312 fifth-graders in Greece’s northern Ioannina region 29.4 and 11.8 percent of boys were overweight and obese, while the figure for girls was 39.0 and 7.5 percent. That’s a pretty high percentage. It’s funny because for some reason I always thought of places like Greece to be pretty conscious about what their diets consist of. Maybe that was a long time ago?
It’s pretty disturbing in an over all view of things that there is such a weight problem circling around everywhere. There is so many things that we all are so aware of that we can do to stop ourselves from getting to that point, but I guess less and less people take those things into consideration. You wouldn’t think that just having a healthier diet plan, or working out for 45 minutes once a day would be such a hardy task. Everyone seems to have such a goal to modernize societies, but they look over the bad things when they do it. Fast foods and things like that aren’t things that anybody needs. Just because the Greeks are trying to westernize themselves, they should take a look at what really goes on over here, and learn from it, instead of trying to repeat it.
I can’t imagine that anybody enjoys being overweight. It sucks that in an over all picture, there’s really only a pretty small percentage of people who care enough to do something about it.