Kimber

Progress: Breaking a Cycle

2009-06-01T11:11:00.006-05:00

See:

-43 consecutive white presidents
- 44th president is of color

Think:

-Cycle repeated for hundreds of years
-44th president shows the cycle being broke
-US finally looking past race, accepting the individual on his merits, progress

Wonder:

-Will the US regress and return to its prior cycles
-Will the US progress and “change” the future

Themes (relating to class):

1. Relationship between whites and blacks (Huckleberry Finn)
2. Smith calls for change relating to racism and a persons “identity” (Fires In The Mirror)
3. Exploring into new frontiers—exploring westward (Manifest Destiny)
4. Obama's "green light" = successful presidency solving our countries problems (Gatsby)

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T16:56:00.001-05:00

I was very taken by a story in the Chicago Tribune today, Memorial Day. In the small town of Sullivan, Illinois, the people of this small town of 4,400, honor each of their residents that are serving abroad in the United States Armed Forces. For each person service they have a sign with their name, the unit they are serving with and an American flag. I am always happy to honor those who have served or are serving our country every Memorial Day, but I also feel remiss the other 364 days of the year when I am not giving these brave people the acknowledgement they desire for their time and service. The plan that the small town of Sullivan has in place helps everyone remember every day.

What do you think? Is this something we should consider doing in our home towns?

Does a Picture Tell a Thousand Words?

2009-05-17T12:28:00.005-05:00

This past weekend, my brother returned from college and over dinner I was explaining the presentation given by Louis Masur related to the photograph “The Soiling of Old Glory.” Mr. Masur commented that the picture does not tell a thousand words, but you actually need a thousand words to accurately explain what was happening when it was taken. My brother mentioned a photograph project he did in English class last fall on a photograph call “Trolley” taken in New Orleans around 1955 by Robert Frank and published in The American. In contrast to Masur’s “The Soiling of Old Glory,” “Trolley” shows a picture that reveals much about the racial situation in New Orleans just before the Civil Rights Movement and Rosa Parks famous bus ride.

Take a look at the photograph. Do you agree that the "Trolley" photograph “tells a thousand words”?

American Flag and Sports

2009-05-10T12:17:00.008-05:00

As we discussed in class and the study of our book, The Soiling of Old Glory, the American Flag can be used for a number of meanings and serve many purposes. While watching the Blackhawks game I observed a number of fans using the American flag as a object of pride and to support and cheer on their team. This is much different from the American flag being used as a symbol of distress or used during protests. Furthermore, this support of the American flag contrasts that of how the German’s feel about their flag.

Next, while play a game at Duke Child’s softball and baseball fields I observed the American flag located behind center field. This flag is used when singing the national anthem. In addition, this flag is used for the purpose of checking the direction and intensity of the wind. Rarely, is the American flag acknowledged as a patriotic symbol with the singing of the national anthem.

It is interesting to contrast the different uses of the flag. It can be used to show patriotism, to serve a purpose, as protection or a weapon, or even used to support a sports team and country.

What other ways have you observed the flag being used?

It's a Matter of Class

2009-05-10T10:25:00.005-05:00

Our class discussion this past Friday was very interesting as it appears that New Trier students have a warped perception of “upper class,” “middle class,” and “lower class.” When we determined the social class of Mr. Bolos based on profession, income, education, and overall wealth, many students were surprised to see that what they see as average “middle class” on the north shore is in reality the top of the “upper class” worldwide. I believe that our perceptions are skewed and related to two main things. First, we live in a predominantly “upper class” area but still try to divide it into “upper,” “middle,” and “lower” classes. Second, I believe the media has contributed to our perception of the different classes. Through television and advertising, we are exposed to the “upper class” on shows glamorizing the lives of the super rich and famous. This upper class is a very elite group but the media portrays them to be the norm. In contrast, the media under-represents the middle and lower working class. This is illustrated in a video narrated by Ed Asner and based on the book by Pepi Leistyna, “Class Dismissed” that shows how the media have negatively portrayed the working class.

Watch and see what you think about how shows such as “The Jerry Springer Show” “Beavis and Butthead,” and “Goodtimes” portray the middle class. What do you think of the comments made in the “Class Dismissed” video? Do you think their point is valid?

American Flag

2009-05-07T11:04:00.009-05:00

Yesterday in class, we had a discussion on the American Flag. When I was home I was talking to my mom and discussing the importance of the American Flag to our family. She told me that my brother has a framed American Flag that was once draped over the casket of my Uncle Andy, who served in the military. It is an honor that my brother has this special belonging, and furthermore, the American flag holds a personal meaning for our family. Next, I asked my mom what she thought of when she saw the American flag. She told me that it reminded her of her family member that traveled to the United States from other countries. She said it reminds her of her heritage and ancestors.

On the drive home from my practice I was stopped at a train. On the train there was a picture of a flag. What is the reason that the American flag is placed there and who puts it on the train? The train manufacturers, the government?

Currently I am sitting in a computer lab at school. Behind me hanging vertically, in the front of the room, is an American flag, but you are only able to see the bottom of it because the overhead projector screen covers the stars. This projector screen is not pulled down, it is merely sitting rolled up waiting to be used. Why is the flag hidden behind it and not displayed to the public?

Universal Health Care During Obama’s First Term?

2009-05-05T23:13:00.003-05:00

David Wessel, in his article “Moment Is Ripe for President to Fix Health Care,” from April 30ths Wall Street Journal, states that it appears that Obama is aggressively developing a health care plan. Wessel believes that there are four reasons that the time is right for a successful new health care plan. Unlike 1994 when Clinton presented his Health Security Act, there has been a significant downturn in the economy with an increase in the number of uninsured Americans and an increase in the cost of health care so that it now is approximately 17.6% of the U.S.’s spending. Thus, the general public is unhappy with “the status quo.” Next, Obama’s White House team has learned from Clinton’s mistakes, that his plan cannot be complicated and complex. Third, the Democrats have a majority in congress and appear to be united in their support of health care legislation to provide coverage for the American people. Finally, “the price tag” to fund health care does not seem to be such a significant issue anymore. Compared to the cost of the bank bailout, more than 750 billion, funding health care now seems to be doable.

Do you think Obama will present a new health plan by the end of 2009? If so, do you think it will pass congress?
How will the United States pay for all these expensive plans and bailouts?

Health Care for the Poor and Uninsured

2009-04-26T17:44:00.002-05:00

As I have been working on my junior theme, “Why doesn’t the United States have a universal health care plan that provides affordable access to all its citizens?,” I came across an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune called “Are hospitals passing off their low-profit patients?” The authors report that patients are not getting fully treated at nonprofit hospitals and are sending them on to Cook County’s Stroger Hospital. Despite nonprofit hospitals receiving millions of dollars in tax breaks and benefits for helping the uninsured, these hospitals are sending the patients to the already over-crowded Stroger Hospital. Unlike a private hospital, Stroger Hospital acts like a “safety net for the poor and uninsured,” but the hospital is struggling financially.

How do we solve the health care crisis? Wouldn’t a universal health care system help pave the way?

REVISED INTRO!

2009-04-23T21:49:00.002-05:00

“Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once remarked (“About”). For decades, health care has been a main topic in elections and a major concern for all Americans. Every attempt for the United States to enact a health care reform plan that would provide universal coverage has failed (Quadagno 201). In a nation that spends sixteen percent of its wealth on medical care (Cohn 225), why can we not come up with a successful universal health care system? Health care needs to be treated as a right, not a privilege, and work needs to be done to provide affordable health care to all American citizens. Why is universal health coverage so important? There are 50 million Americans without incurance (Moore). Without coverage people do not have access to healthcare. Uninsured Americans tend to be diagnosed with later-stage tumors and do not receive preventative care (Cohn 23). It is estimated that 18 thousand Americans will die because they do not have unsurance (Moore). Throughout the history of the United States, there have been numerous failed attempts and only a few incomplete successes in providing universal health care due to the opinions and influence of propaganda, lobbyists, special interest groups, political groups and the public. A clear understanding of the reason for these failures may allow current advocates of universal health care to devise a plan that is successful in the United States.
Is the map easier to follow?

“Harry and Louise” Influence Public Opinion in 1993-94.

2009-04-19T22:01:00.002-05:00

“Having choices we don’t like is no choice at all!” exclaims Louise in the 1993 TV advertisement funded by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) in response to President Clinton’s Health Security Act of 1993. The HIAA is a lobbying group for the Health Insurance Industry that felt threatened by Clinton’s Plan. A study by Goldsteen et al., published in Journal of Health Politics, reveals that the HIAA felt that the public was embracing Clinton’s Plan and mounted “commercial-style mass media campaigns” to turn public opinion against the proposed healthcare reform. This campaign was successful in inciting “Fear” of the government controlling our access to health care. Along with oppositions from other special interest groups, uncompromising Republicans, and complacent Americans, Clinton’s Plan failed.

Do you have concerns about allowing the U.S. Government taking over the health care industry and creating a single-payer system? In these times of economic troubles, would a single-payer plan that does away with business like Health Insurance Companies and HMOs further jeopardize our countries economic recovery or is it the way to go?

Junior Theme Intro:

2009-04-12T15:29:00.001-05:00

Introduction Paragraph:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once remarked that “Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane,” (Healthcare-Now! 3). For decades, health care has been a main topic in elections and a major concern for all Americans. Every attempt for the United States to enact a health care reform plan that would provide universal coverage has failed (Quadagmo 201). In a nation that spends sixteen percent of its wealth on medical care (Cohn 225), why can we not come up with a successful universal health care system? Health care needs to be treated as a right, not a privilege, and work needs to be done to provide affordable health care to all American citizens. This proposal seems simplistic, however throughout the history of our country there have been numerous failed attempts and only a few limited incomplete successes. We need to learn from the outcomes of these attempts, along with the successful systems working in other countries, in order to create a plan in which every American has access to health insurance.

*Please comment on what you believe I am planning on talking about in the body paragraphs of my paper, aka the map. I am unsure if this is clear enough. Also, does the beginning flow together connecting my grabber, background, and question, to my thesis and map?

Why Don’t Americans Have Universal Health Care? Why is Health Care treated as a Privilege, Not a Right?

2009-04-05T17:01:00.002-05:00

My Junior Theme focuses on the United States’ Health Care Crisis. As I was reading an article that I found on the CQ Researcher Online, I was stunned to find out that in the year 2007 about 45 million Americans lacked health insurance. Incredible, devastating stories of average Americans being unable to afford their medical care or obtain health insurance are told by Jonathan Cohn in his book Sick. Health insurance was one of the main issues throughout the recent presidential campaign and it has been a problem throughout history. My question is: Why don’t Americans have universal health care? And, why is health care treated as a privilege, not a right?

Do you think it is the right of every American citizen to have health care? Should health care be provided by employers or the government?

Is There Justice?

2009-03-30T22:05:00.002-05:00

I was shocked to read the headline in Jeff Coen’s article, “He Killed 14 People. He got 12 Years,” from the March 27th in Chicago Tribune. Nicholas Calabrese, a mob hit man, killed 14 people over the years and because he is cooperating with police officials will only receive a 12 year sentence. In fact, since he has been in jail since 2002, he will only have about 4 more years to serve. Families of the victims were outraged. However, without Calabrese’s testimony, mob bosses such as Joseph Lombardo and James Marcello and their “enforcers” Paul Schiro and Anthony “Twan” Doyle would be free. In a companion article by John Kass, “Leniency to Calabrese vs. mob and its justice,” Kass suggests that the “fear” or the mob getting back at him for informing on them will be punishment enough.

What do you think should be the policy on murderers who cooperate with officials? Should they get a lighter sentence in order to encourage others to come forward and cooperate? Is the “Fear” of retribution enough of a punishment?

"Symbolic Interactions"

2009-03-26T16:29:00.002-05:00

Recently in American Studies we discussed “symbolic interactions” and how people that believe in these interactions feel that everything in life is a symbol. An example of this was stated in the book, The Soiling of Old Glory, and the picture on the front cover that carries so many different meanings and interpretations. Mr. O’Connor brought up an example of a symbol that he saw when visiting different court rooms. He was able to identify the stance that a judge has by the artwork that he/she places around his/her office or court room. I thought that this topic was really interesting, and I started to look for symbols in my life. They were everywhere! Some symbols seemed meaningless, but others surprised me and I was amazed at how many connections I was able to make.

What symbols do you see in your life?

Our Future Exploration into Space

2009-03-15T18:28:00.005-05:00

James Janega, the author of “Orbiting the Moons of Jupiter,” in the Chicago Tribune, discussed how NASA recently planned a mission to travel to Jupiter. This “massive, multibillion-dollar interplanetary mission” would be aimed to launch in 2020. Two spaceships are going to be pit into orbit around two of Jupiter’s moons. The mission will take nine years to complete and the space crafts will travel through the solar system for 2.7 billion miles. These space orbiters will study Jupiter and its moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Io. When their mission ends, they will crash into one of Jupiter’s moons or Jupiter itself.
Jupiter and its numerous moons store an amount of liquid water that is thought to surpass all that exists on Earth. Therefore, this mission is going to be a very important part of space exploration because scientists believe that the mission would explore the “most likely pocket of the solar system besides earth where there is a plausible chance for life to exist.”

What are your thoughts on the mission?
In times of economic disaster should our country be spending money on space exploration missions?

Remembering the Past

2009-03-09T22:57:00.002-05:00

With President Barack Obama, an African American, in the White House, there has been much talk on NPR and talk shows about abolishing Black History month and banning books such as Huckleberry Finn. I found this top very interesting as we just finished reading and analyzing Huckleberry Finn, and it relates to a number of class discussions. In this week’s edition of Newsweek, Allison Samuels refutes these ideas in her article, Rethinking Race in the Classroom. Those in favor of the banning of the books want to remove the “N—” word from history and any negative connotations regarding African Americans. While I am against the prejudices revealed in these books, I feel they should remain in the curriculum. We should not shut them away in the closet and ignore history. This topic is an important part of our country’s history. The atrocities of the past should not be forgotten, while at the same time our current progress should be applauded. Black History month and these controversial books help us remember the past and work for a better tomorrow.
~Check out the link to the article. It is really interesting.~

Do you think Huckleberry Finn should be banned?
What are your thoughts on continuing Black History month?

Should Dora Grow Up?

2009-03-08T16:29:00.002-05:00

Throughout the weekend, I spent much of my time with my younger four year-old cousin. Her favorite cartoon icon is Dora the Explorer. Tons of her toys, clothing, and materials have Dora the Explorer on them. She was wearing a shirt with Dora and Boots on it and even her tennis racket had a picture of Dora painted on the side. This morning I was looking at the Chicago Tribune newspaper at a funny illustration called "Recessionista Barbies." Below this, the title, “Just what is new Dore exploring,” caught my eye. The author discusses how the spunky shorts, backpack, and purple t-shirt wearing “childhood fixture for millions” is being transformed into a “tweenage Dora” that wears short skirts and pointy shoes. A mother of two young girls, Stephanie Raleigh states that, “Dora ‘growing up’ in the stereotypical way just reinforces the issues that young girls face today.” Personally, I really liked this doll because she didn’t follow the typical long hair, stick thin, mature doll motif that is so common today. This doll is such a large part of many children’s lives, such as my cousin, that it will change the way they see their role model. I would rather have my cousin look up to the nature loving explorer than this “tweenage Dora” model that can push kids towards the wrong path. James Oliphant closes the article asking, “And what’s in store for Dora’s animal loving cousin, Diego? Perhaps he becomes a hip-hop star with plenty of bling and an appetite for gunplay? Or a rough-around-the edges street-racer?”

What do you think about this topic? Should Dora follow through with this transformation?

The Hidden Messages New Trier Portrays to the Public

2009-03-05T12:12:00.003-06:00

Today in class we discussed the numbers of different signs posted around the school and the meanings that they hold. From this discussion and observations I have made throughout the day, I came to the conclusion that New Trier’s goal is to portray its success to the public. It seems that a large portion of this goal involves sharing our achievements. I have found that the greatest of our achievements have been placed in very public places throughout the school. For example, there are signs, banners, and posters that support our sports teams and our academic success. In the gymnasium we have flags that list all of the years that our sports teams have made it to state. In the front of the school we post HUGE banners that say, “Good Luck at State” where a welcome sign should be placed. Also, when you walk through the halls many teams post flyers on lockers wishing their teammates good luck at their upcoming game and every saying relates to winning. Next, we show our academics in the lists of important people that have graduated from our school, and in many of our showcases placed around the school (for example, science Olympia). Finally, we display our positive students’ behavior with posters showing the drinking and smoking rates. Our school focuses on the successes that we have had in the past and the successes that we hope to have in the future.

Do you agree that we portray our success and achievements to the public? If so, where else do you find examples of this in our school?

What’s Next?

2009-03-01T19:34:00.001-06:00

Recently I was reading an article from the Chicago Tribune titled “Obama sets Iraq timeline.” Julian E. Barnes, the author discussed President Barack Obama’s plans for the future. Obama has stated the procedures that he wants to take to retrieve the U.S. troops from Iraq. He has created a timeline that expects the number of U.S. troops to decrease from currently 142,000 to 35,000-50,000 by August 31, 2010. He also confirmed that all the U.S. forces are scheduled to be out of Iraq by December 31, 2011. There have been many mixed feelings about Obama’s troop timeline. Many are expressing that they believe that 35,000-50,000 is too large of a group to remain in Iraq. Furthermore, many of the Sunni lawmakers are upset over the departure of the forces, who are seen as “a buffer against Shiite persecution.”

Do you think that it is a good idea to leave troops in Iraq to “advise Iraqis, protect civilians and conduct counterterrorism missions?”
Do you believe that August 31, 2010 is a reasonable date for the Iraq combat mission to end? And is December 31, 2011 a reasonable date to have all forces out of Iraq?

Audacity of Hope or Audacity of Greed

2009-02-22T14:44:00.006-06:00

My thoughts stem from an ad in the Chicago Tribune from February 2nd which asks:

“Why is Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) proposing to use your money to bail out Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), Carlyle, Blackstone and other private equity firms?”

The concern is that Obama’s stimulus plan may provide money or tax cuts to these private equity firms and companies with CEOs receiving HUGE salaries and massive bonuses.

Shouldn’t the stimulus plan be helping main stream America, as the candidates reiterated in the presidential debate?

Will Obama’s stimulus plan be successful or has greed and mis management gone too far to be turned around?

The Perils of Nature

2009-02-16T21:03:00.008-06:00

From the time of the Wright Brothers, in 1903, to NASA’s trip to the moon, man has mastered the art of flying. Despite the advances in technology, there are numerous risks with every takeoff and landing. Continental Flight 3407 took off from Buffalo Niagara Airport on Februrary 12th. Along the way the pilots noted ice on the wings. The crash ended in a fireball(link to video of plane an fireball), with a loss of 49 lives. Earlier this year, another flight, US Airways flight 1549, was scheduled to land in Charlotte, N.C., on January 15th, encountered a flock of birds which caused the engines to fail. Miraculously, Captain Sullenberger managed to glide the plane into the Hudson River, saving everyone on board. It seems that most of us take for granted such technological advances and our safety. In both of these instances it seems that nature stepped in with disastrous consequences.
How can we come to terms with the loss of lives in Flight 3407? What can we learn from these events? What other perils has nature created for us?

What's Next After the Cowboy President?

2009-02-09T21:46:00.002-06:00

Recently I read an article in the February 8th Chicago Tribune, “State of the uniform,” discussing Obama’s clothing choices. The article stated that, “Few presidents’ fashion choices have attracted as much attention as Barack Obama’s, yet each has left an impression in the annals of style.” The author, Constance White, goes on to discuss six presidents’ clothing choices. I found her analysis of George W. Bush the most interesting. White commented, “Evoking oil and swagger, George W. Bush’s cowboy boots and belts now seem emblematic of the Wild West Mentality.” This directly relates to our in-class discussion dealing with cowboys and furthermore the post similarly dealing with the “Myth of the West” and how several presidents have capitalized on this myth to give themselves and their administration an air of strength and purpose. White states that Obama’s “uniform” can be described as dapper, modern, classic, big-city polish, and confident. However, there is currently no theme like the “Wild West” associated with him as of yet.
What do you think Obama’s style will evolve into? What do you think his style will be called?

Messages Behind First Lady’s Clothes

2009-02-01T01:18:00.002-06:00

I discovered an article in the Wall Street Journal titled “The First Lady Sends Messages With Dresses.” The author discussed the interesting style choices Mrs. Obama wore and the messages she portrayed through the designers she chose.
“The designers embodied multiculturalism, the universal immigrant’s success story and the quest for the American dream- and their frocks, as a result, were much more than just pieces of silk and crystals stitched together. They provided a powerful visual symbol of the struggles and triumphs that Barack Obama has spoken of in his sweeping speeches about this country,” stated Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan.
Obama’s day dress and jacket were designed by Ms. Toledo, a small fashion business owner born in Cuba who left for the U.S. as a child in search of a better life.
The evening gown she wore was created by Jason Wu, a 26 year old Taipei-born designer who lived in Paris and Vancouver before launching his own line in 2006.
Also, messages were sent out by the outfits of the Obamas’ daughters. They were designed by J. Crew, not high-end outfits. This was in an attempt to send a message regarding the challenging economic times.
As our class discussed, secret messages appear in all artifacts of history. These immigrant designer’s success stories and search for the American dream echo the messages presented in President Obama’s speeches.

Do you think that Mrs. Obama’s designer choices will continue with this style in the future?
“Will she be less likely to take chances on the Jason Wu’s of the world?”
How can these messages help our country?
What other ways is the Obama family sending positive messages to the public?

Guantanamo Bay- the Unknown Future of Our Country

2009-01-26T23:07:00.002-06:00

Today our class discussed President Barack Obama’s decision to get rid of Guantanamo Bay. It reminded me of the January 22nd Wall Street Journal article, “Obama Set to Undo Bush’s Gitmo Policies.” The authors Bravin and Meckler discussed Obama’s plans for Guantanamo Bay with the aim of closing the facility within the year. In our discussion, many questions arose from classmates that I thought were interesting. We discussed what could occur if these people that have proven to be innocent were let free. Mr. O’Connor brought up the case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The article stated, “The order directs officials to recommend detainees who safely can be released, while identifying others who should be prosecuted in federal courts for crimes they may have committed. That seems a likely outcome for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and several other prisoners charged under the Bush military commission system.” Other questions that are still uncertain are:
Will the released detainees feel such hatred towards our government that they will want to rebel and retaliate? Did we create our own terrorists? Furthermore, who will take responsibility? Will other countries accept transfer of their citizens into their jails if found guilty of terrorism or other crimes? Will convicted terrorists be transferred to other prisons? What do you think?

“What if Uncle Sam Takes Over Your Bank?”

2009-01-24T14:57:00.002-06:00

This morning I was reading and article from the Wall Street Journal. The author discussed “bank nationalization,” or a bank being owned and run by the government. This process usually occurs when a bank is in danger of failing. “Bank nationalization” could make it easier for some bank customers to get a loan. Also, its customers will still be protected by federal insurance. The downsides to “bank nationalization” include more branch closings, more standardization across bank products, and a deterioration in customer service. Other countries have nationalized their banks, such as France and Sweden. After, “bank nationalization” there should be very little change to consumers’ bank accounts and insurance- protection levels. Also, nationalized banks are more likely to loosen the lending regulations and people will still be able to get loans. The biggest disadvantage of “bank nationalization” is the expense of taking over our countries banks. Therefore, they would only nationalize a portion of our countries 8,000 banks.

What do you think about the U.S. considering nationalizing their banks? Should the government have its hand in our banks?

Inauguration of the 44th President- Launching an Era of Responsibility

2009-01-20T22:58:00.002-06:00

While watching the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, I was impressed by his “call to action.” Despite the economic crisis and current state of war, President Obama has requested all citizens to step forward and work together to solve these problems. He and Michelle have created a website to encourage all citizens to get involved with community service, http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/future. The website is called “Organizing for America” and President Obama is asking for everybody to pitch in.

What can we do?

An Economic and Social Contrast

2009-01-04T12:15:00.002-06:00

For the last week, my family and I spent the holidays and New Year at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. As I was walking to dinner one night, located by the marina, I was amazed by the huge yachts that lined the dock. One in particular caught my attention. Located on the lower back of the yacht was a small submarine. On top of the yacht was a dance floor. The ceiling that covered the dance floor changed colors with the beat of the music. Furthermore, the side of the boat carried jet skis. To top it all off, on the back top deck was a helicopter. I was amazed at the size of the boat and the number of expensive accessories it carried. The cost of this boat must have been close to a hundred million dollars. (Yacht= 45 million, submarine= 10 million, plus all other accessories, including the helicopter) With our failing economy how can someone afford to live like this? The lifestyle sharply contrasts to that of many people struggling in the United States, and throughout the world, to pay their mortgages and put food on table as they have lost their jobs. They are concerned how to put their kids through college and struggle to support their families.
How can this dichotomy exist? Do these wealthy people give anything back to society?

Blagojevich Investigation: "Pay to Play" on gBay

2008-12-14T11:44:00.009-06:00

On the cover of every major Chicago paper, over the last five days, has been the investigation of Governor Blagojevich. In Friday’s Chicago Tribune the article “Blagojevich fundraiser held by Jackson allies Saturday,” Davis Kidwell, John Chase, and Dan Mihalopoulos discuss what exactly happened with the Blagojevich fundraiser.
Money, more than one million dollars, was being raised to help encourage Blagojevich to pick Jesse Jackson for Illinois’ next U.S. Senator. The article states that, “Blagojevich and the congressman met to discuss the senate seat on Monday, one day before federal prosecutors arrested Blagojevich and charged him with trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-Elect Barack Obama.”
The Blagojevich situation directly relates to my perilous times essay, “Executive Branch Power in Perilous Times.” My essay in particular, along with the chapter “Democracy in the Balance” from Al Gore’s The Assault on Reason, both focus on cases in which the executive branch (presidents in particular) has overstepped its constitutional boundaries. In the Blagojevich situation, it is the executive branch of the State Government instead of the Federal Government.
In cases, such as Blagojevich’s, politicians are abusing their power. What steps should the government, and our country, take to insure that in the future, power will not be misused? Should it be Governor that chooses the replacement for the U.S. Senate position when it is vacated during the term of office?
Can you explain the meaning of "gBay" in the title?

A Veterans Challange

2008-12-07T17:14:00.002-06:00

On Sunday morning, Tom Brokaw interviewed Barack Obama on Meet the Press. During this interview, a topic arose that I found very interesting. Obama brought up some of the issues that veterans have when returning from foreign service. These courageous men leave their homes, families, and jobs, to travel to a foreign land during times of peril to defend and protect our country. When they return from military duty, they are faced with many challenges. First, some of them are recovering psychologically from living with terror and death. They may be permanently physically injured as well. They have been separated from their families and friends. These men left their jobs to protect our country. When they return they are confronted with finding work. Some are fortunate to have their jobs held for them. For others this search could take months or years. This disruption of their lives continues as they job search. Without a job, their lives continue to lead them to the path of financial debt, and who knows if they will be able to support their families.

How can we repay these loyal Americans? Should they be guaranteed jobs when they return? What about health care for them and their families?

Perilous Times in India

2008-11-30T12:23:00.002-06:00

The tragic terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India reveal how vulnerable we all are any where in the world. According to the article, Terrorist Strike on Mumbai adds to U.S. perils in region, on the front page of Sunday’s Tribune, at least 195 people were killed during the attacks. Indian officials believe that Pakistan based militants coordinated and executed the attacks. Some believe that this action stems from the conflict over the land of Kashmir. According to Saturday’s Tribune, India and Pakistan have already fought two wars over this province. More recently however, with the encouragement of the United States, India and Pakistan have been moving slowly to mend their relationship.

Do you think that the governments of Pakistan and India will be able to move forward after this attack?

Obama’s Treasury Choice

2008-11-23T13:40:00.002-06:00

Saturday morning I read an article from the front page of the Chicago Tribune. It was titled “Markets soar on Treasury choice.” The article discussed how Obama’s selection of Timothy Geithner for his treasury secretary solidifies his economic team. Geithner has extensive experience with the Treasury Department and has been active in the current administration in trying to sort out the economic crisis. Also, the article mentioned the affect of his selection on the financial markets.
“Word of Geithner’s appointment Friday afternoon sent the Dow Jones industrial rocketing up. It closed up 494 points, or 6.5 percent, erasing Thursday’s drop of nearly 450 points.”
It is interesting that one choice of a cabinet member can change the markets that drastically. The hope is it will sustain an affect, but only time will tell.
What do you think will happen? Do you think Timothy Geithner was a good choice for Obama’s Cabinet?

Change: Obama’s Transition Team

2008-11-15T17:29:00.002-06:00

The cover of Time Magazine this week has super-imposed a video image of President Elect Barack Obama into a hat, coat, and car that resembles that of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In this cover story, “Change. What It Looks Like,” Karen Tumulty discusses the transfer of power from Republicans to the Democrats. She also reflects that “not since Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in the midst of the Depression has a new President faced a set of challenges quite as formidable as those that await Obama.” She goes on to evaluate Obama’s transition team and cabinet choices. It appears that Obama is moving quickly to put his team in place and has already announced his transition team which includes Valerie Jarrett, Peter Rouse, John Podesta, Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff, and Robert Gibbs as Press Secretary. Each individual has an impressive background, but only time will tell if it is a winning team and if it can put into action the changes Obama promised during his campaign: stabilizing the US economy, investing in renewable, innovative energy sources, withdrawal from Iraq, universal health coverage, a shift in taxation, immigration reform.

What do you predict will be the actual changes? When should Obama’s efforts be evaluated – at one year or at the end of his term?

WSOD? (What Should Obama Do?)

2008-11-09T18:08:00.006-06:00

Earlier today I was reading an article, written by Patrick T. Reardon, from the Chicago Tribune. It was called WWLD? (What Would Lincoln Do?) and stated that Abraham Lincoln seemed like the perfect model for President Elect Barack Obama. The article’s main question was, “what lessons can Obama learn from what Lincoln did- and didn’t do- in the time between his election and inauguration?” To answer this question Reardon consulted two Lincoln scholars, Harold Holzer and James McPherson. Their lesson plan involved eight parts. Here it is:
1.“Keep your cards close to your vest.”
2.“Avoid empty rhetoric.”
3.“Court the opposition media.”
4.“Pick Cabinet members who have skills and knowledge you lack.”
5.“Use your Cabinet to bring diversity into your administration.”
6.“Use your Cabinet appointments to unite your party behind you.”
7.“Get any resentment or bitterness off your chest in the first draft of your inaugural address- then cut it all out.”
8.“Use your inaugural address to set the tone for your presidency.”
These were some of the key steps Lincoln took during the time he
was in office. Each of these helped make him the great President
that he was. Do you think that if Obama follows the lessons taught by Lincoln he will be prepared for taking office while also avoiding making a misstep?
Many of the lessons stated by Holzer and McPherson involve Obama’s choice of Cabinet members. Who do you think Obama will choose to appoint to his Cabinet?

"Curiosity did not kill this cat"

2008-11-02T08:44:00.007-06:00

On the evening News the other night and then in an article in the Chicago Tribune, I read a story about Studs Terkel. Studs Terkel was a prize-winning author and radio broadcaster who focused his work on the thoughts and lives of the average America. Terkel’s book Division Street: America was compiled from interviews from Chicagoans from all walks of life: prostitutes, ordinary workers, whites, blacks, Hispanics, businessmen. Terkel is also remembered for several of his books such as Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression, in which he captured the views during the Depression of people spanning the socioeconomic spectrum from inmates in a prison to the wealthy. His book, Working, reflected the feelings of the typical working class about their jobs and what they do all day. Studs Terkel passed away October 31, 2008. The story of Studs Terkel and his life and work, reminded me of our recent speaker, LeAlan Jones. Both of these men have worked as journalists in Chicago. Both have used the radio as a media to tell their stories. Both men have written about the simple, lower-to-middle class, the downtrodden. I wondered why I had not known about either journalist until this fall. Instead, our typical media promotes the lives of the rich and famous through People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, News Week, and television news stations.

What does this say about our values as a society?

How do we go about learning of these journalists and radio shows?

Can anyone explain the significance of the quote that is the title of this blog?

A Student's Influence in this Election

2008-10-26T17:13:00.003-05:00

In an article in today’s Chicago Tribune, Jim Tankersley discussed which states are predicted to have a majority of votes for Obama versus McCain. He mentioned several states that have the potential to go either way. Specifically, Colorado appears that it could go either way. Looking at past history and changes in voter registration, Tankersley goes on to say,
“President George W. Bush won Colorado by 100,000 votes in 2004. Democrats have surged to match Republicans on the voter rolls, and young people have registered in record numbers. If the ’04 election were held today in Colorado, and all demographic groups performed as they did then, strategists say John Kerry would win by 75,000 votes.”
It appears that new young voters have the potential to make a significant impact on this election. My brother is a freshman at college in the state of Indiana and he was thinking of switching his voter registration to that state, a political swing state, where his vote would have more significance. Many of his friends have done just that. With the tens of thousands of students in “out of state” universities, I am wondering if they shift their location to vote, could they have a significant outcome on the election?

Do you think that college students should be able to change their voter registration from their home state to the state they are studying in? Do you think that college age voters will have a significant impact on the outcome of the election?

The Health Privacy Act and Vice Presidential Candidates

2008-10-19T13:32:00.008-05:00

While reading the Chicago Tribune this morning I encountered an article titled “Candidates guard details about their health.” This article discussed how both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin have denied access to their medical records. The article contained information stating that in 1988 Joe Biden had a brain aneurysm rupture and this resulted in two surgery procedures. Since then, Biden has remained in good health. In the article, David Wade, Biden’s spokesperson stated that Biden “leads an active lifestyle, works out regularly even as he campaigns, and his wife and family always make sure he drinks plenty of water and eats right. After a health scare over 20 years ago, he’s been blessed with excellent health.” Also, Sarah Palin's representatives said, "We are not going to participate in this piece," but the article shared that in April of 2008 Sarah Palin was pregnant with her fifth child. Just after realizing that her water broke and knowing that her baby was one month premature, Palin decided to take a plane 3,000 miles from Texas to Alaska. This was not only dangerous for the child’s health, but it was also taking the chance that Palin could have been forced to deliver the child in the air. I believe that the general public benefits from knowing this information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) passed by Congress in 1996 gives each of us privacy in terms of our health information. I completely understand that the vice presidential candidates’ wish for privacy; however, should an exception be made for these individuals running for the highest offices in our country to make public their health information? Should the voting public have all the information and not have any secrets kept from them especially when serious health conditions could affect the security of our nation? I think that it is important for the voters to know as much as possible about each candidate so that they are able to make the best decision when determining who they want to vote for. Do you think that the public should have access to health records?

How much does the public’s knowledge of topics affect their perception of the Presidential Debate?

2008-10-19T12:15:00.005-05:00

(time: 28:50 to 29:00)

In class we had a discussion on the Presidential Debate that took place at Hofstra University. We were talking about how some of the facts that the candidates stated were not true. A specific example of “slanting the facts” came up in our discussion on abortion and stem cell research. In the third debate, McCain reprimanded Obama for an ad stating that he is “opposed to funding stem cell research.” As we discussed it in class, I had the impression that the ad was about McCain being against abortion but supporting stem cell research. I was thinking that Obama made a good point. However, as I re-watched the third debate (time: 28:40 to 29:00) and tracked down the transcript from Obama’s radio ad, it did indeed state that McCain has “opposed stem cell research.” Using other articles, factcheck.org, and politifact.com, it appears that McCain changed his mind in 2001 and has supported both embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research ever since. In fact, both Obama and McCain voted in support of bills funding embryonic stem cell research that Bush vetoed. Both candidates misrepresent the facts. Obama’s ad falsely represents McCain’s position. However, it seems like McCain is trying to hide the fact that he supports “embryonic” stem cell research for two reasons. First, it goes against his party’s position on abortion, Pro-life. Second, Palin is against embryonic stem cell research. Thus, both candidates change and manipulate the facts to support their claims. I believe that the public audience needs to know more about the topics being discussed and the past history of the candidates. If the public knows this, they would be able to evaluate whether the candidates' comments are true or false.

Do you think that there is any way that people can be informed while the debate is occurring to find out the truth? Do you think that this is important to keep in mind when watching a political debate?

Has Our Economy been flushed down the Toilet? : U.S. Deficit

2008-10-13T21:25:00.007-05:00

(political cartoon scanned on from the Chicago Tribune Newspaper.)

While watching the “Real Time with Bill Maher” show, I listened to a democrat from California, Maxine Waters, and a republican journalist, Stephen Moore discussing politics, the economy, and taxes. During this discussion, Bill Maher made a comment about our countries debt problem. When Clinton was leaving office, our country took down the debt clock because we had a surplus of money. Currently, as Bush is preparing to leave office, again our country has taken down the debt clock, but this time for a different reason. We need to add another digit to the clock because our debt has exceeded ten trillion dollars (ten thousand billion dollars). To eliminate this debt, each household would have to provide 480 thousand dollars. If this trend is not reversed our country could go bankrupt. Where does our country even start when approaching the task to defeat this debt?

Palin vs. Biden Debate: Was this a Debate?

2008-10-05T17:29:00.001-05:00

Debating can be viewed as a formal discussion or argument regarding a specific topic. The moderator introduces the question the debaters are to discuss. Throughout the debate I found it interesting that Governor Palin seemed to purposely get off topic. She would be asked a question and her answer would be about an entirely different idea. This did not happen on every question, but it occurred frequently during Palin’s portion of the debate. It seemed like Palin had a number of pre-rehearsed speeches that she was determined to give. It also appeared as if the questions were irrelevant and not important as long as she could cover another one of the topics on her list.
I vividly remember watching the portion of the debate where Palin was asked to say what promises her party has made that cannot be kept. Her response had nothing to do with the question; she spoke about energy instead. Gwen Ifill, debate moderator, had to ask the question again after hearing the response. You can see this in the short video clip below. The event I am describing takes place between 3:10 and 3:40.
What other examples have you noticed where Sarah Palin swayed to a different topic when answering a question?
What other interesting things did you notice occurring in the debate?
Did you consider this hour and a half to be a debate for both candidates?

How clean is our air?

2008-09-30T16:09:00.007-05:00

Chicago's Toxic Air Despite the shocking stock market and housing market crash, The Chicago Tribune's lead article on Monday, September 29, 2008 was about "Our Toxic Air." According to this article, Cook County ranked the worst in the United States for dangerous air pollution. This data, based on a study by the EPA performed in 2005 is just becoming available. Local industries are pouring to toxic chemicals into our air which can cause cancer, lung disease, and other problems. One of the worst offenders, Avery Dennison company, is in the nearby community of Niles. If the EPA is supposed to be protecting us, how come this data was not available several years ago? What can we as local residents do to protect our air and environment? We also need to look out for underprivileged people living close to these major polluting industries.

Secret Messages

2008-09-26T09:16:00.001-05:00

Authors use specific words to communicate secret messages. By investigating the text and analyzing the author’s diction, you will discover many “secret massages” that you did not notice when first reading it. Specific words that an author uses can reveal their perspective or bias. In the historical text that we discussed in class there were a number of works that revealed the author’s perspective. We can see some examples in the titles of each passage. For example, “Indians are CHEATED,” points out that the author favors the Indians over the Americans. It shows that the author believes that it was an unfair victory and that there was some reason that they should not have originally won. Also, another example would be, “Chivington MASSACRES the Cheyenne.” Massacres is a strong word that has a negative connotation. It portrays the idea that innocent people were wrongfully killed, or it was genocide. Next, in the phrase, “The Indians wars have SKILLFUL leaders,” it is interesting to notice the author’s word choice. Skillful has a positive connotation. The reader could think that the leaders could be dangerous because they know how to use tool to hurts others.
What other Secret Messages are discovered from word choices made by an author appear in this historical text or other texts? What about political speeches?

America has been living beyond its means: Who's going to pay?

2008-09-21T10:35:00.003-05:00

On September 20th, President Bush asked Congress to agree with his plan to bail out the United States Financial Markets. Over the last year we have been watching mortgage companies allow clients to acquire mortgages without putting any money down. When the housing prices fell, these clients were left paying a mortgage much higher than the current worth of the property. Many of these clients defaulted on their loans and the financial institutions were stuck with them. This has lead to a downward spiral of financial institutions throughout the United States with a huge drop in the stock market. President Bush proposed that the U.S. Treasury buy up $700 billion in mortgage-related bad debts, making this “the largest financial bailout in U.S. history,” and to raise the national debt ceiling to $11.3 trillion (from 10.6 trillion). Why should we, the United States tax payers, have to pay for the financial mistakes of our greedy financial institutions?

SNL

2008-09-14T17:58:00.002-05:00

The Presidential Elections

2008-09-14T17:29:00.006-05:00

It seems that the election has veered away from the Presidential candidates, and is now focused on the newest arrival to the scene. Unlike Barack Obama’s choice of Vice-President, the well known Senator Joe Biden, John McCain’s choice of Governor Sarah Palin was unexpected. It appears that both parties have had a women candidate. Hilary Clinton, although not nominated, was a strong presidential candidate who captured the attention of men and women alike. Hilary had been visible in the political scene for years. In contrast, Governor Palin has risen from obscurity. With less than two months until Presidential Election Day, will we have time to learn enough about her? It also seems that the Republican Party chose Palin in order to capture the votes of women. Isn’t it presumptuous of them to think that women will automatically vote for a woman candidate? The Saturday Night Live video gives a comical but poignant portrayal of Palin and Clinton. What do you think?

Who Killed the Electric Car?

2008-09-14T16:10:00.005-05:00

With the disasters of Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Ike, many people question whether they are a result of global warming. If this is the case, then what are we doing to decrease emissions and prevent global warming from progressing further? One technology that appears to have the potential to decrease emissions is the electric car and hybrids. I was shocked to learn that General Motors actually invested around $1 billion in the technology and produced an electric car, EV1. However, a little over 1,000 EV1s were produced by GM before it ceased production. A number of reasons have been sighted. They may have thought this car would “cannibalize” their current vehicles. Another is that they were pressured or bought out by the oil companies. They attached video trailer introduces the subject. This month Business Week reported that Ford’s Fiesta ECOnetics, which gets 65 miles per gallon, is being launched. Unfortunately, we won’t see it in the United States. Ford is only marketing it in Europe at this point as it’s too expensive to import. It seems that our government should get involved and perhaps subsidize these cars that save on emissions. As consumers, we need to support this new technology. How could GM have scrapped production of “The Electric Car” that would have made the company a leader in this new field of technology?

Subliminal Messages

2008-09-03T23:25:00.004-05:00

Subliminal messages are messages that are recognized subconsciously by the brain. These messages can have a negative or positive influence on a person’s thoughts. Subliminal messages are commonly found in advertising. Subliminal advertising commonly uses visual or audio messages. You can find these messages in signs or commercials. An example is the Fed Ex logo. If you look at the photo you will see an arrow that is located between the “E” and the “x”. What do you think the purpose to this arrow is? Where do you see other examples of subliminal messages throughout your day? How do these messages affect a persons thoughts and alter their behavior?

Pictures

2008-09-03T09:44:00.005-05:00