Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Great Moon Hoax

I know that there are many people out there and mainly kids who have a place that they would like to go too. Some would say Hawaii or the Bahamas, but some would also say the Moon. Back in the late 1960's there were 12 astronauts that worked for NASA and had the chance to go to the moon and leave their markings. Well there was a rumor out there on Fox News that NASA didnt have the technology to even get up anywhere near the moon. So I guess the main question is, is Fox News telling the truth?

Im sure there are many people out there who dont believe that we landed on the moon and most of them may have good arguments why. One of the things that was brought up was that NASA didnt have the technology to send a spacecraft into space and then safely send them back. Another reason was that in the photos with the astronauts there are no stars in the background, so it could easily be made up. The next thing is that the flag in the picture is moving which can only happen by wind, which there is no wind in space. The last reason these people dont believe this is that they dont believe that the rocks they brought back are real. These people could be giving a good point but lets see what NASA has to say about this.

Now NASA had a really good excuse to backup these problems that were mentioned. Like the flag, the reason the flag is moving in the picture is because the ground was rather tuff and they had to twist the pole back and forth to get it in the ground which in turned got the flag moving. NASA also gave a good explanation for the rocks. The rocks had small glass particles on them that got there by meteorites that land there over 3 billion years ago. The last thing that NASA helped prove with the rock problem was the water. The water on Earth breaks down the volcanic glass that is found on these rocks , it would take millions of years to get this low. NASA brought up some very interesting points in backing themselves up.

The last argument that was brought up didnt have to come from NASA, it was just basic common sense and this brings up the argument about the stars in the picture. Now those who had a problem with it couldnt really give a good reason why they didnt trust the picture, they just didnt think it was real. Photographers are the ones who were able to back this reason up. The main reason why there arent any stars is because the astronaut's suits are really bright and the brightness of the camara had to be focused in closer which in turn eliminated the stars from the picture. I guess they just thought that nobody would care much about the stars in the background so they just put their main focus on the astronaut and the suit they were wearing.

Well it seems to me that some people had some good points here about us really landing on the moon in 1969 and how they didnt believe it. But the thing that blew me away was how NASA came back to prove that they really did go on the moon with their interesting points. If there are people out there who still have trouble believing this, there are still nine of the astronauts who were on that space shuttle who are still alive to this day. I am sure they would love to share the awesome experience they had while they were on the moon.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Lake McConaughy

A childhood memory of mine that sticks to my mind most of all is Lake McConaughy. I would spend a lot of weekends at Lake McConaughy during the summers with my family. This was the time that I loved most because my entire family was there to spend time with each other and just have a great time at the lake, water skiing and hanging out on the beach.

When I was just a young boy, my entire family on my dad's side would all meet up every summer, (5 or 6 weekends during the summer) and we would just have a blast together. My grandparents had a 3 bedroom trailer at McConaughy and we would all cram into it. We would get 2 solid days out on the lake to do whatever we wanted too. My grandpa had a big Bayliner boat that we would all get on and we would cruise over to a good spot on the beach and spend hours baking in the sun.

Another thing that stuck out in my mind while we were in McConaughy was the bbq's. My dad and grandpa would go out on the deck and grill cheeseburgers and brats. While that was going on my mom, grandma and my aunts would be getting things ready in the kitchen. Then after dinner when it had gotten dark, we would go out on the deck and my grandpa would shoot off his potato gun towards the lake. The potato gun was a must to do everytime we went to the lake.

In conclusion, this is my best childhood memory because we had some fun family times together. The reason for this sticking to my mind is because my grandparents sold their trailer almost 10 years ago and we dont get family time like that anymore. Going to Lake McConaughy was one of the highlights of everybodies summer and it was times that we wish we could still have together.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

1. Should English be the Official Language of the U.S.?
I do believe that English should be the official language. I don't mean to be racist or anything but I just think it's hard for people to understand those who don't speak English who work in places that serve other people. I think that everybody should learn the English language because I think those who don't speak English will be respected more as Americans if they spoke the main language of the United States.

2. Should cell phones be prohibited while driving?
I think this is one of the big talks going on around America right now. I personally think that this should happen because it is turing out to be a lot of the causes for accidents. Honestly, I shouldnt say anything because I use my phone while I drive, but there have been times where I have almost caused some accidents to where I no longer use my phone because I don't want to put other drivers in danger. I also understand where people have to travel places for work and need to use their phone from time to time, but I think there are items out there that they can buy to use for work where they can still concentrate on the road.

3. Should the death penalty be used for all murderers?
To be honest, I do believe this should take affect. The reason I believe this is because if a person is going to kill another person for whatever reason, I don't think they shall live either. The reason for this is because if they just get sent to prison for the rest of their life, they will be getting meals everyday and showers and other products, so they will basically get to do anything they want but behind bars. I don't think that is right because people are also paying for them to be in prison, so its basically a free ride for them forever. I can see how some of those people are innocent and I don't quite know what to say about that.

4. Should juveniles be tried as adults?
I think this is another one that is hitting big. In my opinion I think that it depends on what crime they got busted for. If it was for drugs, I think they most definitly should get tried as adults because they are putting other people in danger by selling these substances or by harming themselves with them. If they were caught joy riding without a license I think they shoud just get hit with a big fine and maybe have to wait on getting there license until their eighteen or something. I just believe it all depends on what the situation is.

5. Should children be required to attend school after sixteen?
My opinion for this one is that I think it should just remain how it is. The reason I believe this is because if they choose not to go to school after sixteen that should be their parents choice not the schools choice. It could be any such thing as a parent is sick and the other parent needs help by bringing more income to do what is best for the family and that student needs to get a full time job. There could be many different reasons why high school students drop out of school, not just that they don't care about their education and their future, though that is a big part of it.

6. Should high school graduates take a year off before college?
This is one that I don't believe should happen for a couple of reasons. One reason is the majority of those graduates won't probably go back to school because they won't be motivated too. Another reason is because some will have found full time jobs then and most may aquire things like new cars, maybe rent on a house or apartment or other big things, and they won't be able to afford to go to school. There may be some that are a big help to their boss and won't want to leave them in the dust and they will just end up staying and working for them for however long their there.

7. Should all adults Americans be required to vote?
I believe that all adults should vote because I think it is very important and that everybody should be involved in it. I know that there are times where someone doesn't agree with any of the canidates and they are just in the middle. There are also those who don't really care who gets elected and don't want to be apart of politics and just leave that to the ones who really get carried away with it.

8. Should pornography be restricted by law?
Now I know that this has become a problem too. I don't believe it should be restricted because there are thousands out there who are making a living off this stuff and for some of them it is all they know and if it gets restricted and they loose their job, they may never find a job. On the other hand, I think that they should have a different system, something that will keep minors away from them. I also believe that there should not be any pornographic websites because they are full of viruses and they trash peoples computers.

9. Should violence and sex be restricted in movies?
In my opinion I believe that they should not be restricted because this is how a lot of the movies are getting popular and the sex and violence is how they make their money, that kind of stuff is what interest people and they go to spend money to see the movies in the theaters, then they end up buying it for 20 dollars or more because they liked it so much. If this was to happen, most creators wouldnt be able to afford to make anymore movies because it just wouldnt sell.

10. Do children need to learn all languages?
I believe that children should learn some languages, but not all of them. The reason for this is because lots of people are going out of the country for either vacation or work and learning that countries language might help their job career if they do lots of things outside of the country. I know there are some people who wish they would have taken french classes or spanish classes because their job entitles them to going out of the country. I understand that children cant see there future career but it could be a thing where it is better safe than sorry. But it could be something they could learn in the future if they needed too.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Remembering 9/11

What happened on September 11, 2oo1 will forever be in the minds of Americans. This was a horrible tragedy that changed lives forever, especially those who had family that were killed in the New York attack. Every year there is a remembrance at the sight were thousands lost their lives on 9/11. Many Americans will never be the same after this terrible event.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, between 8:46 a.m. and 10:28 a.m. in New York City, New York 2 airplanes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Centers causing an extreme amount of damage and killing thousands. The planes were hijacked by 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists. The terrorists were on a suicide mission. During this same time there was another plane that was crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia and soon later that was a plane that crashed near Shanksville, Penn. that was in the attempt of being taken over by the passengers when it crashed. This plane was in route to Washington D.C. to the White House. These four planes were from two airlines and the were American and United. No passengers were saved in the plane crashes.

In 2001, when the attacks were happening, I was in the 5th grade and I was attending Hagen Elementary School here in Sterling. I remembering being outside before school was starting talking with my math teacher Mrs. Hanson and she was explaining to a group of us what was going on and at the time neither one of us knew what she was talking about. I first understood what was going on when I turned on the TV when I got home from school that day. At the time I was scared thinking that there might have been a plane heading to Colorado to hit one of the skyscrappers but I wasn't to sure what to think, I honestly was just feeling bad for the people in New York. After things cooled down more that afternoon, I realized how bad it was and that there was 2,993, nearly 3000 people that were killed in the attack.

Some of those that were involved in the attack were Cantor Fitzgerald who was a investment banker on the 101-105th floors. Cantor was able to make it out but 658 of his employees were not able to make it out. Another American that was involved in the attack was Bob Jenkins, Bob was on the 39th floor of the second building when the first one was hit. He was able to get out before the second tower was hit. A fire fighter by the name of the Bill Butler was named a hero when he saved a elderly woman by the name of Josephine Harris who had walked down nearly 50 stories to escape the crash. Butler came upon her on the 28th floor where she was exhausted and didn't think she could go on. Mr. Butler was the strongest of the men in the building and was able to help her out of the falling building before it was too late. Another hero was David M. Weiss who worked for the NYC Midtown Rescue 1 company lost his life inside the building while trying to save others. The last hero I will mention was a police officer by the name of Cesar A. Borja who went in to save people with no protective gear and ended up dying from causes of not wearing a mask with all the particles floating around.

The 9/11 attack is something that I will never forget because it was an event that happened that I was old enough to remember when it happened and what all went on. I feel real bad for the ones who lost their lives and left their families behind. It could have easily been one of us if anything like that would have happened around here. I just hope that most of them will go on with life but I know that they will never forget what happened that Tuesday morning in 2001 that left them one or even two family members short.

http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2007/02/20/debunking-911-heros-story-a-story-of-escalating-spin-arises/

http://www.firehouse.com/terrorist/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Louisiana Man Looses Cool and Shoots Family and then Himself

A 50 year old man from Livingston Parish, Louisiana shoots his family killing three and injuring one and then turning the gun on himself. Dennis Carter Sr. shot and killed his son 26 year old Dennis Carter Jr., his grandson Mason Carter 2, and his wife Donna Carter 49. A 16 month old baby was not harmed. Police were called to the seen Saturday night after 10:30 p.m. in Holden, Louisiana.
On September 5, 2009 at 10:40 p.m. shots were heard from a Holden home, and a man by the name of Dennis Carter Sr. was found getting into a red Chevy El Camino with a gun in his hand. Police were dispatched to the house after Carter had left the sceen and found three bodies shot to death and an injured woman Amber Carter, the suspects daughter-in-law. At 11:30 p.m., an officer saw the suspects El Camino entering Interstate 12 heading east. The officer followed and pulled over Carter where he pulled out his pistol and shot himself in the presence of the officers. Records have been shown that Carter has been jailed on three other occasions, one charge for aggravated assault (domestic) and three other charges for violation of a protective order.
The suspects daughter-in-law Amber (25) was trying to escape out a two story house from the gunmen with her 2 year old son Mason when he shot her in the back and possibly once again when she got onto the ground. The 2 year old was not able to be saved from gunshot wounds. The 25 year old pregnant women was flown to Baton Rouge, Louisiana which is about 35 miles from Holden, and was put in critical condition as of today (Sunday).
In Conclusion, nothing much more has been released on this subject other than that Mrs. Carter is still in critical condition and that there are no other vicims or suspects in this ongoing investigation.

Summarizing

After reading these two essays, i realized how you can set up your essays in really anyway that you want. The first essay, the author decided to use 6 paragraphs instead of 5. Maggie Bandur decided to add one more body paragraph because she had another point that she wanted to cover. Bandur still had her essay set up the same by supporting her main topic from the topic sentence. Now the other essay is structured differently. In the beginning before the author, Jeffrey Marx, starts on his topic, he puts some rather unusual words that he uses in his essay at the top and puts the meaning of that word so readers don't have to stop and wonder what that means and he puts which paragraph that you can find that word in. In his essay he has the same idea as a topic sentence, body and conclusion essay, but he has it all broken into parts so that it could be understood better. These two authors have there own ideas on how they like to right essays in which they are very much alike.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Wireless Electricity

The CEO of a huge electrical company called WiTricity is on there way to getting wirless electricity in every house hold. Eric Giler of WiTricity is helping his company to make this wireless electricity dream happen. Hopefully in 5 years, everybody will be used to it, said Giler. For those who drive smart cars, it will be nice to have this so that you wont have to plug in your car every night.