1. The house of representatives passed a law this thursday that implemented more stringent screening procedures for Syrian refugees. This measure is popular due to the Paris attacks instilling a sense of terror in all of the western world. The senate is soon to take up this bill, but president Obama has promised to veto it. Syria and Iraq's refugees pose no threat, so this is unnecessary and makes it seem like we are being taken over by terror.
2. The Austin City council passed a decision this Thursday making it easier to build "garage apartments" the two benefits of which were that they provide additional housing options and provided homeowners with supplemental income. Kathie Tovo doesn't like the ordinance because the new places for garage apartments are mostly located in her district, which will negatively affect her and her house rates. Tommy Ates says that the bill will make his income higher, and the only way for him to live in his current neighborhood is through this supplemental income. Sabino "Pio" Renteria can only live in his house because of the tenant living in his backyard cottage. I don't have an opinion on the matter due to the information provided not being enough for me to make a decision.
3. Ora Houston
4. The FDA announced that a genetically modified breed of salmon was marked safe to eat, and it may now reach dinner tables. Opponents say that the studies were inadequate, and if the fish were to escape into the ecosystem, it could be permanently damaged. The Obama administration has been accused of delaying the decision due to the political backlash it may cause, but the FDA says it took so long due to it being the first of its kind.
5. Don Zimmerman made a proposal to prevent Austin from spending money on relocating Syrian refugees. Greg Cazar and Steve Adler called the measure Xenophobic, and didn't agree with it. 1225 refugees arrived last year. Sid Miller, racist old coot, compares refugees to snakes in a controversial facebook post. Texas Democrats accused miller of fanning the flames of fear and xenophobia.
6. Raphael Holiday was convicted of setting a fire that had 3 kids killed. He is the 13th convicted killer to be executed this year in Texas, the other 49 had convicted 13 combined this year. Gretchen Sween thinks the case should be appealed because his court appointed attorneys abandoned him after his case wasn't reviewed. The trial lawyer filed an appeal due to both the conviction and trial testimony were both improper.The attorney general's office overturned both of these appeals.
7a UnitedHealth may end Affordable Care plans
I feel like there's some shady dealings in the healthcare business, as I believe healthcare shouldn't have a goal for profits, only a goal for lives helped. The fact that this corporation is doing poorly due to the staggering number of people getting help is good, but no healthcare is very bad. It's a fine line, and if we can get a good balance for profits and people helped, then we as a society may progress.
7b Film censors to mr bond; No kissing please.
Censorship is pretty stupid, and hypocritical as well. I know we aren't affected by India's censorship policies, but I truly feel that it is something that needs to be stopped. If you don't want to see two people kissing, you should at least try to not want to see the depictions of people dying in cruel ways. Sexual activity or implied sexual activity has such a social stigma while everyone is totally okay with death. It's unreal.
7c Syrian refugees turn themselves in at texas border
LET THEM IN!!!!!!! THESE ARE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THAT AMERICA KEEPS OUT DUE TO THE REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS MONGERING FEAR AMONG THE RANKS OF MANY TO KEEP A FIRM HOLD ON THE GOVERNMENT. IF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP CAN GET IT FROM US, ITS OUR OBLIGATION TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
1. Alfred Dewayne Brown was convicted for the crime of killing Charles R. Clark and Alfredia Jones during a bungled robbery.
2. Alfred said that he did not kill those two people, and that he was at this girlfriend's house at the time of the murders.
3. The closing argument was heard and the decision was rendered in October 2005.
4. Her article was published May 14th, 2014.
5. Brown's alibi was that he was at his girlfriend's house, and he placed a call to her there.
6. At the original trial, there was no evidence he was actually there, and people claim all sorts of things on death row.
7. A homicide investigator "found" some phone records placing Alfred at his girlfriend's house.
8. Another record showed that the prosecutors had requested these records and said nothing about it.
9. The appeals court has done nothing in response to the recommendation.
10. The author wants the appeals court to make up their mind, hopefully giving him a second chance.
11. I'm hopeful that he makes it out of this alive, however, this is Texas, and I don't think he did.
12. The piece is short, tries to convince you of something, and was written by an editor. This makes it a typical piece.
2. Alfred said that he did not kill those two people, and that he was at this girlfriend's house at the time of the murders.
3. The closing argument was heard and the decision was rendered in October 2005.
4. Her article was published May 14th, 2014.
5. Brown's alibi was that he was at his girlfriend's house, and he placed a call to her there.
6. At the original trial, there was no evidence he was actually there, and people claim all sorts of things on death row.
7. A homicide investigator "found" some phone records placing Alfred at his girlfriend's house.
8. Another record showed that the prosecutors had requested these records and said nothing about it.
9. The appeals court has done nothing in response to the recommendation.
10. The author wants the appeals court to make up their mind, hopefully giving him a second chance.
11. I'm hopeful that he makes it out of this alive, however, this is Texas, and I don't think he did.
12. The piece is short, tries to convince you of something, and was written by an editor. This makes it a typical piece.
Monday, November 16, 2015
SUPER FOOD INDUSTRY INJUS TICE
1. The lead starts out by describing the work that a dishwasher does, humanizing them, then stating the injustice of their low pay. This is a good strategy because it strikes close to home with many ill compensated average workers.
2. The two related trends are the widening of the income gap and the explosion of the food industry.
3.Kingsbury puts down the argument that raising wages will decrease jobs by citing an example in califoria where an increase of wages will most likely lead to an increase in jobs.
4. Kingsbury uses fairness, the large amount of the workforce restaurant workers take up, and increases in the job market in result of higher minimum wages to argue her point.
5. Her statistics say that restaurant workers take up 10% of the jobs, and a huge amount of low wage workers in paragraph 5. She also says that restaurant workers have a poverty rate 3 times the average in paragraph 7.
6. She encourages consumers to pressure the industry and lawmakers to stand up to the demands of the NRA.
7. The NRA made Massachusetts make a "tipped minimum wage" which allows restaurants to give jobs with tips a lower wage.
8. Restaurants blame low wages and poor working conditions on low profits among large competition.
9. She counters these claims by saying that raising the minimum wage across the board would have no affect on competition, as everyone would have the same rules to play by.
10. Many restaurant workers have families to feed and will use every hour to do so.
11. Filiberto's paragraph adds another layer of human interest into the article, making it more relatable.
12. Restaurant workers violate the law very routinely using wage theft.
13.Wage theft is very common in Boston.
14. Kingbury wants the mayor of Boston to pass an ordinance that prevents former wage thieves from renewing their license to operate a restaurants.
15.The conclusion paragraph ends with a quote and a one-liner, which I think i pretty neat. Usually, it's only a quote, and feel the author really went the extra mile on this one..
2. The two related trends are the widening of the income gap and the explosion of the food industry.
3.Kingsbury puts down the argument that raising wages will decrease jobs by citing an example in califoria where an increase of wages will most likely lead to an increase in jobs.
4. Kingsbury uses fairness, the large amount of the workforce restaurant workers take up, and increases in the job market in result of higher minimum wages to argue her point.
5. Her statistics say that restaurant workers take up 10% of the jobs, and a huge amount of low wage workers in paragraph 5. She also says that restaurant workers have a poverty rate 3 times the average in paragraph 7.
6. She encourages consumers to pressure the industry and lawmakers to stand up to the demands of the NRA.
7. The NRA made Massachusetts make a "tipped minimum wage" which allows restaurants to give jobs with tips a lower wage.
8. Restaurants blame low wages and poor working conditions on low profits among large competition.
9. She counters these claims by saying that raising the minimum wage across the board would have no affect on competition, as everyone would have the same rules to play by.
10. Many restaurant workers have families to feed and will use every hour to do so.
11. Filiberto's paragraph adds another layer of human interest into the article, making it more relatable.
12. Restaurant workers violate the law very routinely using wage theft.
13.Wage theft is very common in Boston.
14. Kingbury wants the mayor of Boston to pass an ordinance that prevents former wage thieves from renewing their license to operate a restaurants.
15.The conclusion paragraph ends with a quote and a one-liner, which I think i pretty neat. Usually, it's only a quote, and feel the author really went the extra mile on this one..
Thursday, November 12, 2015
QUIZZIZIZIZIZIZkZiZiZIZiZ
1. A Texas abortion law may be reviewed by the supreme court over whether it is constitutional to close up clinics. We will know if it has been reviewed by next Monday. The Texan attorney general said that it is within the state's power to pass medical regulations.
2. The charges against the detective were dropped after the judge used a century old legal precedent to rule not guilty. The Supremacy clause is that legal precedent, it exempts federal officers from state law. This ruling will make it easier for the police to kill people in Texas and get away with it.
3. Texas did less cultural preparations than Washington for the trip to China. It is historic in that it is the first regular season inter-collegiate game featuring U.S. teams out in China. There are some concerns as to whether UT is actually ready for the game, coming from mostly Coach Smart.
4. Myanmar may be less military after the vote Sunday. It was a remarkable day, full of energy and excitement. The main fight is between Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and the ruling Union's Solidarity Development Party. Suu's party is expected to win, which will be historic in that it will be the first change of government in 50 years.
5. Pope Frank has said that the leak of financial debauchery of the Vatican was a crime, but he will push for reform among their ranks. two books were released, "Avarice" and "Merchants of the Temple" detailing the financial mismanagement of several priests. I think the pope is trying to play the middle road by condemning both sides, which will probably not play out well.
6. "Sanctuary Cities" is the term used for cities that are used as safe havens for illegal immigrants because they do not have to enforce immigration laws. Matt Mackiowack thinks that these cities are bad, and enforcing immigration on a case by case basis is absurd. Ed Espinoza thinks that the Republicans are using immigration only to support their political standings, using it to garner votes and not really caring about the policies as a whole. Ed used the Republican hypocrisy to support this, Matt used a woman's murder by an immigrant as a go-to for deporting all of the illegal immigrants. Scott Byers uses not wanting criminals in America to the same effect as Matt. I agree with Ed on this one, I don't want immigrants to be deported willy-nilly.
The format is different from what we discussed in that it has two dueling opinions, rather than the one meant to represent the paper. It's a decent idea, but it requires someone to play the unpopular opinion, which might be dangerous for a public newspaper.
2. The charges against the detective were dropped after the judge used a century old legal precedent to rule not guilty. The Supremacy clause is that legal precedent, it exempts federal officers from state law. This ruling will make it easier for the police to kill people in Texas and get away with it.
3. Texas did less cultural preparations than Washington for the trip to China. It is historic in that it is the first regular season inter-collegiate game featuring U.S. teams out in China. There are some concerns as to whether UT is actually ready for the game, coming from mostly Coach Smart.
4. Myanmar may be less military after the vote Sunday. It was a remarkable day, full of energy and excitement. The main fight is between Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and the ruling Union's Solidarity Development Party. Suu's party is expected to win, which will be historic in that it will be the first change of government in 50 years.
5. Pope Frank has said that the leak of financial debauchery of the Vatican was a crime, but he will push for reform among their ranks. two books were released, "Avarice" and "Merchants of the Temple" detailing the financial mismanagement of several priests. I think the pope is trying to play the middle road by condemning both sides, which will probably not play out well.
6. "Sanctuary Cities" is the term used for cities that are used as safe havens for illegal immigrants because they do not have to enforce immigration laws. Matt Mackiowack thinks that these cities are bad, and enforcing immigration on a case by case basis is absurd. Ed Espinoza thinks that the Republicans are using immigration only to support their political standings, using it to garner votes and not really caring about the policies as a whole. Ed used the Republican hypocrisy to support this, Matt used a woman's murder by an immigrant as a go-to for deporting all of the illegal immigrants. Scott Byers uses not wanting criminals in America to the same effect as Matt. I agree with Ed on this one, I don't want immigrants to be deported willy-nilly.
The format is different from what we discussed in that it has two dueling opinions, rather than the one meant to represent the paper. It's a decent idea, but it requires someone to play the unpopular opinion, which might be dangerous for a public newspaper.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
current events qquiz
CUERRRRTEBT AEVEJJFR QUIS S JSJ
1. Processed meats have a connection to colon cancer. It can marginally increase the risk.
2. The meat energy denied any consensus of the chance, Environmental groups want a sticker on the bacon.
3. It means that there was sufficient evidence found that bacon has a connection to several types of cancer, however it is still less dangerous than smoking.
4. Randy Bish portrays it as not having much of an effect on american diets as it should.
5. I think he's taking the opinion that although this may be a significant discovery, it wasn't really all that surprising and that as long as the FDA stays out of it no changes will happen.
6. I eat meat whenever I gosh darn feel like it, highest quality, once a month.
1. Processed meats have a connection to colon cancer. It can marginally increase the risk.
2. The meat energy denied any consensus of the chance, Environmental groups want a sticker on the bacon.
3. It means that there was sufficient evidence found that bacon has a connection to several types of cancer, however it is still less dangerous than smoking.
4. Randy Bish portrays it as not having much of an effect on american diets as it should.
5. I think he's taking the opinion that although this may be a significant discovery, it wasn't really all that surprising and that as long as the FDA stays out of it no changes will happen.
6. I eat meat whenever I gosh darn feel like it, highest quality, once a month.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Tech Overhaul at McCallum-Final
Tech Overhaul At McCallum?
Most of the computers at public schools tend to be unreliable, with the standard computer used being ( ) It's a day to day hinderance that most students tolerate, and school still goes on with it, but have you ever considered the possibility of a technology overhaul at McCallum? Many teachers actually feel the same way. Mrs. Carrasco, the Pre-AP World Geography/AP Human Geography teacher, was all in favor of a computer overhaul. "We can't have online textbooks without a reliable way to access them." she said, "We have needed an update since about five years ago." Mr. Fidelman, who teaches the Business Information Management class said, "It's funny that you should ask that. The teacher meetings the school has periodically actually have that as a topic of conversation. AISD tends to be more on the reactionary side of things in terms of technology, very slow on the upkeep. The rules actually say that the computers of an AISD school must be updated and replaced once every five years, and many labs such as this one are in desperate need of an overhaul."
Several students offered their opinions on what McCallum's tech department needed. "Aside from free iPads for all the students?" Elsa Roberts jokingly replied, "I think that a more organized and united way to access class papers and resources is necessary, along with faster wifi, if possible." Rachel Williams thought that if the school felt that the school felt that this was needed, then that's where the funds should be going. Ting Goodfriend felt that the library's computers were in need of an update as well, as they run very slowly. A student who wished to remain unnamed voiced against the possible overhaul, saying it would take valuable funds into an unneeded area. "Ok, unpopular opinion here, I don't think that the technology at McCallum is really in need of an update. If you need to get your homework off the internet because you didn't prepare for it in class, you deserve to struggle with the system for your irresponsibility. Please don't put my name in this."
Although the prospect of giving all the McCallum technology an overhaul is a nice one, there is still another side of this story. Is this plan within the budget? Even if it is, is it really the best way to allocate the scarce school funds? Perhaps it would be better to spend that money on the teacher's paychecks, or the special needs program, or even the lunches. 87% of the schools budget is spent on paying the teachers paychecks, much bigger than the 1.1% spent on supplies, which governs the computer allowance. This means that the same boost applied to supplies will have a much bigger effect than on the teacher's paychecks, or on much of anything else. The point is moot anyhow, as AISD rules specifically state that we will have another technology update, whether we need it or not.
Although the prospect of giving all the McCallum technology an overhaul is a nice one, there is still another side of this story. Is this plan within the budget? Even if it is, is it really the best way to allocate the scarce school funds? Perhaps it would be better to spend that money on the teacher's paychecks, or the special needs program, or even the lunches. 87% of the schools budget is spent on paying the teachers paychecks, much bigger than the 1.1% spent on supplies, which governs the computer allowance. This means that the same boost applied to supplies will have a much bigger effect than on the teacher's paychecks, or on much of anything else. The point is moot anyhow, as AISD rules specifically state that we will have another technology update, whether we need it or not.
Sam Trickey
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