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.

Source : http://www.npr.org/2011/11/26/142758000/at-lapd-predicting-crimes-before-they-happen

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.

Source : http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/28/142857540/kansas-gov-teen-doesnt-need-to-apologize-for-tweet

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.

           

Source : http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/21/142600494/former-aig-exec-sues-federal-government-for-25-billion-over-takeover

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

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.

Source : http://www.npr.org/2011/11/03/141951756/college-students-borrowing-hits-an-all-time-high

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.

Source : http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/11/14/142301379/supreme-court-to-decide-constitutionality-of-health-law

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. 

Source : http://www.npr.org/2011/11/05/142058047/who-benefits-when-a-private-prison-comes-to-town

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 

Source : http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/03/141970482/occupy-oakland-strike-turns-chaotic

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