A Neighbor With A Criminal Past

In the New York Times today an article titled, “Neighbors Hidden Criminal Past Stuns a Tennessee City” seemed interesting. I decided to read it, learning that a lady named Linda McElroy who lived in Pulaski, Tennessee had a criminal past. She was very close with many neighbors so it was a shock when police cars arrived on her street. She was arrested for the murder of her husband Charles Darby and has been a fugitive ever since she escaped from an Indiana prison in 1972. Of course the neighborhood was shocked. The feelings are mixed towards this situtation. Some neighbors say she shouldn’t have been arrested because she has been a good citizen for so many years. Linda McElroy, who was known as Linda Darby has denied killing her husband but said she did escape from prison. I know that if I was a neighbor there and was a good friend of her I would be terrified. It just goes to show that you really don’t know anyone that well. I wonder what took the police so long to find her. This whole situation is pretty sad, but if she really did kill her husband she deserves to go back to jail.

Global Warming…

In the editorial pages of the New York Times on September 27th, I read an article that talked about global warming.  The article is about how because of global warming the Earth is slowly changing, but the concern of the author is will we be able to survive as the Earth is changing? The author is focused on the people not so much the Earth. In this article the author uses the logical fallacy argument by rhetorical question. For example when the author asks this question, “…aren’t we simply wasting time when we could be taking measures that are relatively painless compared to those we would have to adopt after further delays?” The obvious answer to this question is yes. Another example of argument by rhetorical question is when the author says, “Is it necessary to know that to the last percentage point, though?” The obvious answer the author is pointing out is no. By using the logical fallacy, argument by rhetorical question, the author tries to make the article more believable and more authentic. Asking questions in an article, gets people motivated and pointing towards the answer you want makes some of the audience agree with you.

The Arrival of Microsoft’s Game, Halo 3

“Reward for Fans and Microsoft,” was the title of the article in the business section of the New York Times on September 26th. So many people have been desperately waiting for Halo 3 to come out and it finally did. Before the game came out, millions of people preordered the game which comes in three different versions. The game’s price ranges from 60 to 130 dollars. People camped out in front of stores like Best Buy to get their hands on the game. The video game is rated M for mature which means you can’t buy it unaccompanied unless your 17 or older. That doesn’t exactly mean parents don’t buy it for their children. Video games are an obssession and an addiction. People camping out to get their hands on the game is sad. What happens when you get the game? Do you go home and simply play it for hours or even days. I think it is a serious waste of time and money. I know so many disagree, but how can you sit and waste hours and days just to move around a character and kill other characters in the game. This is just ridiculous. Too many are sucked into this addiction and these companies are making so much money. I guess everyone has some kind of addiction and these people clearly have one, which is being sedentary for long periods of hours to beat a game.

The Burden of Homework All Over Again?

In the New York Times on October 4th I read an article with the title, “A Teacher Who Spreads the Burden of Homework, to His Student’s Parents.” Damion Frye teaches ninth graders literature at Montclaire High School in New Jersey. He came up with an idea to make parents more involved in their child’s education. He started a blog and asks parents to respond to literature assignments that their children have responded to in class that day. If the parent refuses to do so, the child will lose points and it will be the parents fault. I think this is a good idea because parents need to be more involved in their children’s education. A lot of parents are not aware of their child’s grades and whether or not their child is doing well in school. With this new idea, parents can now discuss the child’s assignments and ask how they responded to the piece of literature. The results that Damion Frye are getting are pretty good. Parents are finding time to complete their homework assignments. I must say I was kind of surprised when I didn’t read that many complaints about it. I don’t see how parents can find the time, especially if they work. I think that Damion Frye’s idea is for a good cause, but I know I wouldn’t want to come home from a long day of work and respond to a piece of literature. It is an interesting approach to teaching and it might turn out to be very successful.

What Will The Internet Provide Us With Next?

“TV Online: Prime Time Any Time,” was an article I read in the business section of the New York Time on October 18th. The article talks about how networks such as, Abc, CW, Fox and Nbc are providing viewers with their shows online. The episodes of the shows are full length and you can watch them for free. The shows are good quality and the amount of commercials vary depending on which network website your watching from. Each commercial runs for about 30 seconds. So you can watch TV online now, but it still isn’t live. Also, the episodes online play on this little mini screen that doesn’t even compare to a TV screen and the networks don’t provide every show. Even though watching these shows online isn’t the best option, it still is pretty convenient for some. There are the positives and negatives about everything, but do you think that the internet will eventually take over the TV’s spotlight?

An Environmental Friendly Resort off The Coast of Libya?

When reading the science section of the New York Times on October 16th, the last thing I expected to read was an article about Libya. The article stood out because I am half Libyan. After so many years of hiding, the country is trying to come out. When I visited in the summer, they were in the process of demolishing all the old buildings and little clubs by the beach. It seemed like they were tearing down everything. I did see change though. I definitely saw more tourists this time than the first time I went in 2004. They actually have workers cleaning all the trash off the side of the roads and people sweeping up the cigarette buds in the airports. I guess that is a start. “A Green Resort Is Planned to Preserve Ruins and Coastal Waters,” was the title of the article I read. The President, Muammar el Qaddafi, plans to create an environmental friendly resort in Cyrene, where there are the remains of a rich ancient Greek society. He wants to preserve the ruins, cater to tourists, make money, and open doors that haven’t been opened in Libya. The project so far is called Green Mountain. If Libya’s plan follows through I will be amazed. It seems like a really good idea and is good for the country, but we’ll see what happens. One comment that really got me that a lot of my family made while I was there over the summer was ,” By 2010, it will be like Dubai.” Now I find that really hard to believe, but it could happen. The country does have potential; lets see how close it can come to Dubai.

Not Aware of What’s In Store, Parents Send Their Troubled Children to the Middle of Nowhere

In the editorial pages of the New York Times, on October 16th an article titled, “When ‘Tough Love’ is too Tough caught my eye. Because so many parents have a hard time dealing with their troubled kids they decide to send them to boot or wilderness camps to straighten them out. These camps offer a whole variety of difficult activities to supposedly teach their kids a lesson and maybe build them some character. The interesting thing is these parents don’t know that these camps can cause great danger to their children. These children or youth might be at risk of abuse, injury or even death. The Government Accountability Office did recent study and found out that there have been thousands of claims of abuse and neglect at these camps over the last 17 years. The G.A.O. report centers on the tragic death of 10 teenagers. The parents of a 15 year old girl, made the decision to send their daughter to a wilderness camp in Utah because she was a victim of date rape. They thought by putting her in a program it would help build up her confidence and improve her self esteem. The girl died of dehydration while on five day hike. The trained counselors accused her of faking it and couldn’t get help because they were not carrying radios. I was terrified when I read this article. If parents are having trouble raising their child, sending them to the middle of nowhere is not a solution. Try counseling, give your child space and be there for them, but sending them off to go hiking with the bears is a bit drastic especially if your child has been through a traumatic event. These camps don’t seem to do any good and if parents really want to send their children to a camp in the middle of nowhere do some detailed research and make sure the camp is reliable.

“The Use of Internet to Spread Jihad”

In the New York Times today, there is a large article that talks about a young Muslim, named Samir Khan that strongly believes in displaying his views on the war on Iraq through his blog. Samir Khan is providing people with links to the latest bloodshed in Iraq and promotes violent Jihad. He is a very opinionated and makes comments that are quoted in the article that are kind of extreme. I think that it is good that he wants to display his views and has strong belief for them, but I think that there is a point when you draw a line.

A few deaths, and several injuries from a spray?

Posted in the New York Times today, an article about a spray product, that caused the death of a few and severely injured some. Walter Friedel planned to waterproof his hot tub room using Stand’ n Seal and wasn’t expecting to be rushed to intensive care. The spray caused his lungs to be chemically inflamed. It seems as if though, there are many situations occurring around the world involving people becoming injured from simple products, like toothpaste. So are we, the consumers responsible for buying the products or not being aware of these situations? Or are the Consumer product agencies and government not doing their jobs?