The U.S. unemployment rate drops from 9 percent
to 8.6 percent in November. The President said 140,000 people were hired in the
private sector last month. The reason of the dramatic drop can be found in that
315,000 people stopped looking for a job, not that new jobs were created, said
Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial at Chicago. Statistics is a
funny thing. As shown in the unemployment rate, numbers can be easily
manipulated. Even though the number says the rate went down, the reason might
not be because more jobs were created. The unemployment rate in South Korea is
about 4 percent last quarter, which indicates near full employment. Despite the
number, many young people have difficulties finding a job. They argue that the
number they feel is more than 20 percent. Like the U.S., many people give up
looking for a job and the government and the ruling party take advantage of the statistics to promote their propaganda.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Week7 Reading Journal - 1
Tokyo Electric Co. running the Japanese
nuclear plants in Fukushima said that they found another leak of radioactive
water over the weekend. It was estimated that 45 tons of water had been
contaminated outside the cooling system and about 300 liters of it had leaked
into the sea. Although the amount of radioactive water leaked into the sea is
not so much, the leak needs to be considered seriously because the water
contains about one million times as much radioactive strontium as the maximum
safe level. Even worse, it may cause tissue damage and increase the risk of developing
cancer if a human absorbs it. I believe that the Japanese government and the
company are doing their best to prevent leakage, but I am expecting more. The
radioactive water leak is not only Japanese’s problem. The water may have a fatal impact on some nearby
countries’ ecosystem.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Week6 Reading Journal - 2
LAPD starts using crime statistics to
predict and to prevent crimes before they happen. They expect a computer
program would help the force to be the scene where criminals will strike.
According to Capt. Sean Malinowski, the program points out areas where a crime
will occur and informs officers in the areas to pay a lot more attention. He
said there was a 50 percent decrease in crime rate compared to last year.
Despite the success, some people worry how the data will be used and there would be some possibilities that innocent people who happen to be in the areas are suspected. I also worry that the program might use racial profiling methods to
predict possible crimes. As stated in the article, at what cost are we willing to pay for
reducing crime to a certain degree?
Vocab.
Muster - Noun
a formal gathering of troops, especially for inspection, display, or exercise.
gathering, assembly
ex) A daily muster is for checking each officer's firearms.
Week6 Reading Journal - 1
While she was listening to the governor's speech at a Youth in Government program last week, an 18-year-old schoolgirl, Emma Sullivan,
tweeted that Kansas governor, Sam Brownback, sucked. Governor's media staff
found the tweet and notified it to the school authorities. She was ordered to
send a letter of apology to the governor, but she refused to follow because she
thought such an apology would not have been sincere. The governor said she did
not need to apologize for her tweet and added, “Freedom of speech is among our
most treasured freedoms.” Definitely, freedom of speech must not be infringed.
However the thing which drew my attention in this case was not the constitutional right, but
the fact that governor's staff monitored twitter, Facebook, and other social
network sites. Even worse, the staff alerted the school officials and had them
done something to the girl. The person who should apologize is not Emma Sullivan, but the
governor's staff. Not to mention the right, we have our own private lives online as well as offline.
Vocab.
Decorum - Noun
behavior that people consider to be correct, polite, and respectable.
propriety
Decorum is an idle word in some cases like having a quarrel with irrational people.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Week5 Reading Journal - 2
The former CEO of AIG, Hank Greenberg sued
the government, arguing that the takeover in 2008 was unconstitutional. He,
particularly, pointed out that the takeover violated the Fifth Amendment, which
prohibits taking private property for public use, without just compensation.
When I heard of this news, I could not believe what I just heard. This is the most
frivolous lawsuit ever. The government poured 182.3 billion – not million- to
save the company as well as the global financial system because it believed AIG
was too big to collapse. He must express some kind of gratitude to taxpayers instead of suing the government and taking more money from taxpayers. Thanks to the taxpayers’ money, the company
could survive and stockholders, executives, and employees of the company could enjoy hundreds
of millions of bonuses. The government should have let the company fail. The financial aid brought
only moral hazard.
Vocab.
Prop - Verb
If you prop an object on or against something, you support it by putting something underneath it or by resting it somewhere.
uphold, bolster
ex) Bailout does not always prop up the economy.
Week5 Reading Journal - 1
Despite Michelle Obama’s hard work to
prevent children from taking too much food causing childhood obesity, the
Congress passed a revised agricultural appropriations bill that allowed the
tomato sauce on pizza to be served in school lunch programs nationwide.
According this bill, it may be possible to count pizza as a vegetable. When a
certain amount of tomato paste is used in making a pizza, the pizza can be
served as a vegetable in schools. By the way, tomatoes are a fruit. Often, politicians pass some ridiculous bills
and make us laugh, but this bill is beyond ridicule. Politicians are supposed
to serve people and pursue the public interests, not the groups of people or
organizations that contributed to their campaigns. I do not think those
politicians want to teach their own children “pizza as a vegetable.” Is it too
much to ask them to have common sense?
Vocab.
Douse - Verb
pouring a lot of water over something
quench, blow out
ex) several firemen were dousing the fire on the Pacific beach park while I was driving by.
Concoct - Verb
inventing one that is not true
cook up, make up
ex) You will be surprised when you figure out how much offal is concocted to make chicken nuggets.
Source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/18/pizza-vegetable-congress-says-so
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Week4 Reading Journal - 2
New data revealed that the amount of student loan hit a record high in 2010 and each student has $25,250 debt averagely. Although people might expect students who enroll in expensive schools to have more debt, but that is not always the case. Graduates from some public schools like Alabama A&M have an average debt of $31,000 because of the decrease of state support. Experts predict that these numbers will not decrease any time soon. I believe everyone is entitled to get equal education and the responsibility for this crisis rests squarely on the government. If we do not fix this problem, economic inequality between social classes will be intensified and demonstrations like Occupy Wall Street will be unceasing.
Vocab.
Pell Grant - Noun
Money that the federal government provides for students who need it to pay college
ex) You can't apply for a Pell Grant as long as you drive a Ferrari.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Week4 Reading Journal - 1
It depends upon the Supreme Court’s decision
whether President Obama’s Medicare Reform is constitutional or not. There are
three major questions the justices will take a close look at. First, whether
Congress had the power to enact the “minimum coverage” provision of the act.
Second, if Congress did not have the power under the constitution, whether
mandate provision can be considered separately from the rest of the law. At
last, the justices want to examine whether all of cases against the law are
premature or not. I do not know much about the Medicare Reform President Obama proposed
last year. However, I do believe a nation has responsibility to protect its
people, and protection here does not mean only protecting people from a war.
Judging from information that a director, Michael Moor, provided in his movie, “Sicko,”
a large number of Americans did not receive appropriate medical care because of
high prices of medical insurance and wanted to have nationwide medicare system.
Supporting the reform, still insufficient, does not mean supporters are
communists. They just want a social safety net which protects them when in
need. Are people eligible for that at least?
Vocab.
Muster - Noun
If someone or something passes muster, they are good enough for the thing they are needed for
gathering, rally
ex) Lady Gaga's new music video narrowly made a muster.
Inextricably - Adverb
If two or more things are inextricably linked, they cannot be considered separately
inseparably
ex) Alzheimer's disease and brain activities are inextricably linked.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Week3 Reading Journal - 2
A number of state governments have made contracts with private
companies to run prisons and detention centers. Statistics suggests that ten
percent of prisoners are housed in private prisons. Proponents of private
prisons say that private prisons are cost effective and bring some economic
vigor to the communities where private prisons are built. Although there are
some possibilities that the communities could have some small economic benefits from
private prisons, critics argue that private prisons could deprive the communities
of the lager economic boost, which may creates more jobs. Additionally, there
are increasing concerns of the safety and security of private prisons. Private
prisons usually cut the cost by paying less to their employees so that there
are much higher rates of turnover in private prisons. We often consider matters
from the economic point of view. However, some issues like Medicare or
education must be dealt by the government, not by private companies. A
correctional institution is not one of them that should not be controlled by
the private sector.
Vocab.
recoup - verb
If you recoup a sum of money that you have spent or lost, you get it back
recover
ex) A friend of mine who bought a restaurant last year is hoping to recoup his initial investment in the first year.
eerily - adverb
inspiring inexplicable fear, dread, or uneasiness
spookily
ex) While I was walking down the corridor, some spooky sounds echoed eerily.
Week3 Reading Journal - 1
The local Tribune reported Occupy Oakland protest, which began as a
most peaceful strike, turned chaotic. Early in the morning on Thursday,
protesters started to take over a vacant building and police, immediately,
suppressed the protest by firing tear gas and rubber bullets according to the
Tribune. Along with marches and tent encampments, protestors shot down the Port
of Oakland because they wanted to stop the “flow of capital.” I’m against
violent demonstrations, but police brutality should not be overlooked at the
same time. Furthermore, the government, politicians, and, more importantly,
“the one percent” must understand why “the ninety nine percent” is so angry and
who they are mad at.
Vocab
Clog - verb
When something clogs a hole or place, it blocks it so that nothing can pass through.
impede, hinder
ex) Kalakaua Avenue was clogged with traffic
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Week2 Reading Journal - 3
Despite beverage companies’ voluntary
agreement that they would improve advertising directed to children, children were
exposed to soft drink ads twice from 2008 to 2010 according to the Rudd Center
for Food Policy & Obesity. The center also reported that black and Hispanic
children were beverage companies’ main target. The American Beverage
Association, however, argued that soft drinks are not the only cause of
obesity, and claimed that they decreased advertisement for soft drinks by 98
percent between 2004 and 2010. The Rudd center asserted that it seemed like beverage
companies’ self regulation did not work, so the government should take action
to regulate beverage companies’ advertisement for soft drinks which may lead
children to consume sugary beverages. Although soft drink ads may not have a
great impact on childhood obesity, I believe there must be some regulations
that limit the amount of soft drink ads exposed to children because, in a way, soft
drinks cause disease such as obesity and diabetes in childhood. Better safe
than sorry.
source : http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/10/31/141859893/kids-and-teens-see-more-ads-for-sugary-drinks
source : http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/10/31/141859893/kids-and-teens-see-more-ads-for-sugary-drinks
Monday, October 31, 2011
Week2 Reading Journal - 2
I think the human rights situation in china is pretty bad no matter what its excuses are. Most recently, a 20-year -old Tibetan nun set herself on fire and died because she believed the Chinese government repressed Tibetans' cultural and religious freedom. Additionally, an artist Ai Weiwei was taken into custody without proper legal procedure. At the same time, I also think the U.S. is not free from the criticism that human rights have been violated by the U.S. government. For example, a number of alleged terrorists have been detained in Guantanamo Bay Camp without charge or trial. Even worse, some of them were waterboarded, which was approved by the former President Bush. I believe human rights are entitled to all humans and they must not been violated.
source : http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/reaction-news-20-year-old-tibetan-nun-tenzin-wangmo-set-herself-fire-and-di
source : http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/reaction-news-20-year-old-tibetan-nun-tenzin-wangmo-set-herself-fire-and-di
Week2 Reading Journal : 6,999,999,999 people and me
As of today Oct. 31, 2011, the UN estimates world’s population will reach seven billion. According to the UN, the rapid population growth mostly happens in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Particularly, modernization enables Chinese and Indians to live longer and to lower the infant death rates. Not only is the world’s population growing dramatically, but also the speed of growth is getting faster than ever. The articles points out that the global population was only one billion in 1804, but better health care and the development of medicine result in higher life expectancy. Therefore, it took only two centuries in order to multiply the global population seven times. It is still hard to predict, but the UN forecasts the world population could reach 10 billion by 2100.
you may also be interested in this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15391515
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