Final Post - Senior Reflection 4

This will be my final post. These are my final moments. I will no longer be posting here, my faithful readers(that's you, Mr. Stroud). Farewell is all I have to say to you. Farewell and good night. Speaking of night, did you know that the only reason night comes by is because the Earth slowly rotates, thus causing the Sun's light to shine on the other side of the Earth, leaving us in the darkness of the night. And to think, after all this time, I thought Helios was just flying his chariot of flaming horsies across the skies. No wonder the other kids on the playground would alway ostracize me for talking to Helios, I mean "the Sun." Well I have a question for all of you scientists, why does the Sun rotate, huh? I mean, why does bother to just sit there, in the center of the Solar System, rotating and circling the galaxy's centers at the same time? See, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever! I mean Helios would do it because he has a sense of duty to circle the Earth. But a big ball of burning gases, are you for real? Is this what the higher levels of education leads to, a bunch of crazy loons trying to prove that our solar light comes from a big ball in the blackness of space. I bet outer space is some pathetic mumbo-jumbo of their's too, huh? Whatever, I'll leave them to their misery. Now remember my children, Hail Zeus!

The Great Outdoors - Senior Reflection 3

Well, looks like the school year is about to end, and the summer about to begin. I have quite a few plans for this summer.

• First of all, preparations for college! I will need to prepare myself both mentally and physically for this new phase in my life. I will need to buy all of the equipment and products I will need in the next four years. I will need to be ready to fight off anyone who so much as looks at me menacingly. I will need to protect my ideals and my origins from utter exinction. I will need to become an all-around perfect hero of complete epicness in order to truly succeed throughout the rest of my life.
• Secondly are my plans for vacationing and relaxation. I will need to keep these plans as jolly as can be. I will need to keep myself happy as I train for the battle of my life. I will need to be completely prepared for the upcoming contest of manliness and valor as I fight for my place in my college. I will need to destroy all of my opponents in reaching my final goal of getting into any and all classes I desire to be in.
• Finally is my final goal, the one I will strive to for the rest of my life. I will need to be extremely spiritually prepared for this one as it's a hard one. I will need to stop creating exaggerated pieces of bull for my educational institution-related blog assignments...
  

My Life is Great/Bad - Senior Reflection 2

The life of myself is great as of late,

however, there still are some things I really hate.

Finals are coming and I'm not very happy,

but at least after graduation I can take a long nappy.

So now I hope for these next two weeks,

to pass me by without no leaks.

College is so close I can smell the Hokies,

let's hope I get to go to the Smokies.

Common Ground - Senior Reflection 1

• Obama's speech on Thursday in Cairo University, Egypt, addressed one of the most critical issues facing the people of the world today: the prejudice of others based on religion. He said all people of all faiths must come together to create a better society. He specifically mentioned the Torah, the Bible, and the Qu'ran, stating that the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have common roots and thus should be totally natural in their relations. I believe this speech served as good, long-awaited introduction Obama wanted to make to the Muslim and it served as a good display of the new administrations fresh, new policies towards the Muslim world.
• The speech was also the first time the US government has rebuked Israel's invasive actions towards Palestinian land, in a long time. This came as Obama was talking of how a two-state could be made to create a compromise between the two, long-warring nations of Israel and Palestine. This is an issue that I believe is of great importance as well, because Israel's abuse of their superior firepower in the Middle-East region is spitting in the face of any possible peaceful compromises. Israel really needs to calm down and try to negotiate with Palestine and Hamas to reach a solution to the problems they both face. Though I'm still angry Israel's bombarding of Palestine a few months has still gone unpunished. I guess the superpowers really don't need to follow the international laws against war crimes and abuse of power.

Current Event 4 for the 4th Quarter

• An Airbus A330-200, part of the Air France fleet, carrying 228 people reported electrical problems in stormy weather before it lost contact and possibly crashed in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere off the coast of Brazil. The flight was supposed to be from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, but the Airbus A330-200 sent an automatic message signaling an electric circuit failure as it hit turbulence early in its 11-hour flight. The last known contact with the plane was reported at around 8:33 pm Eastern Time on Sunday night. Brazil says it has launched two air force squadrons to hunt near the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha in the Atlantic Ocean, 226 miles from the Brazilian coast, although the plane vanished outside the country's radar coverage. France's ambassador to Senegal also said that French military aircraft had been dispatched to search the West African country's coast for any remains of the plane as well. French president Sarkozy said authorities were also seeking the help of satellites that might be able to pick up signs of what happened to the 4-year-old Airbus 330. Among the passengers on-board the doomed aircraft were 126 men, 82 women, seven children, and a baby, in addition to the 12 crew members.
  
• This tragic event shows that even with the advanced technology of today’s aircraft, the forces of nature should still not be underestimated in their destructive force. The fact that the A330-200 aircraft has been touted as being a "reliable, ultra-modern, state-of-the-art airplane, with an impeccable safety record” shows that even the very cutting edge of today’s technology can be usurped with some well-placed natural fury. Overall, the article was well written though a little sparse on the information, which is understandable considering how recent the malfunction occurred.

Current Event 3 for the 4th Quarter

• The country of Pakistan is quickly become engulfed in the Taliban’s terror tactics as bombings continue to rock the country. The most recent bombing occurred today, May 27, 2009, as an emergency response center was bombed in Lahore, Pakistan. The police building was attacked by a well coordinated group of gunmen and an explosives-packed van thought to be the Taliban’s work, though no proof has been found of this being the Taliban’s attack as no one has claimed responsibility yet. At least 23 people were killed, as well as more than 250 injured, as the police building was demolished and the nearby hospital was also damaged. The attack came as a Pakistani military offensive went in to remove militants from their haven in the northwestern part of the country. Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistan Taliban, had threatened to target major Pakistani cities if the operations did not cease and this may well be his work. The attack came in one of Lahore's busiest areas. The passenger van, laden with explosives, broke through a security barrier and was headed toward the police building when guards opened fire to stop it. The two sides exchanged gunfire, with the attackers hurling grenades. But eventually, the van, carrying 100 kg of explosives, exploded slightly before reaching its intended target, though still causing extensive damage.

• I believe this informative article does a good job of presenting a view of the current situation in Pakistan. This country’s condition is quickly deteriorating as the Taliban slowly extend their influence across the country. The attack’s location being Lahore, Pakistan is particularly disturbing due to the fact that Lahore is Pakistan’s cultural capital and has been far from the Taliban’s influence. But now the Taliban’s grip has extended far beyond its previous range of influence. If it actually is the Taliban, of course.

Current Event 2 for the 4th Quarter

• The drug wars that are getting more and more violent by the day are starting to really spill over the border into the United States now as the Mexican drug cartels are trying to take control of the border trade of these drugs. If nothing is done in the near future, we could see these cartel wars, which are now predominantly in Mexico, spilling into our own country, having battles break out in our big cities, such as the growing violence in cities close to the border like Phoenix, Arizona. Right now, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, the 54-year-old leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, is the most wanted man in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the US. He has also recently upped the stakes of the cartel wars by ordering that his associates use lethal force on any law enforcer if necessary, to get their goods to their proper destination. This move is considered very brazen, as the cartels have usually avoided confrontation with US forces.
  
• This article, featured on CNN.com, is fairly informative and well-written, serving as a good update on the current situation of the drug wars on the border. I believe this article to be important not because of its direct impact on my life, but due to the fact that these cartel wars could become a very serious issue in the areas in direct contact with the cartels, especially the border lands. Major cities are another area where these cartels may have great influence. These battles with the cartels are also important because they have and will continue to raise the issue of marijuana and its legality. Due to the fact that marijuana is illegal in the US, these cartels make a big profit from taking over the drug trade and monopolizing the sale of marijuana over a large area. If the government legalizes marijuana, taxes it, and thus allows the free sale of it, these cartels would lose much of their business, while making a few bucks on the side. Though the money made from the taxation of marijuana may not make much of a dent on the national debt, if it ends the violence it may be well worth the harmful effects of legalization.