News Log # 32

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/us/13sailor.html?ref=us

Article: Teenage Sailor Is Rescued From Her Damaged Boat

Summary: 16-year old Abby Sunderland set out to sail around the entire world- alone. This past Saturday a French fishing vessel rescued the California teenager from her crippled sail boat in the Indian Ocean. “She got out of her vessel with the clothes on her back, and we are just really excited and ecstatic that Abigail is in safe hands,” her father, Laurence Sunderland said. “She was in good spirits. She talked to her mother.” Abby had been stranded since Thursday when the mast on her boat collapsed and knocked out her satellite communications. In an interview with "The Today Show", her father stated he was proud of her and would let her try the voyage again. Abby set out of the Marina del Rey in L.A. on January 23rd, trying to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe. The record was previously held by her brother, Zac, at age 17.

Conclusion: It is ridiculous that Mr. Sunderland would allow Abby to do the same thing that almost had gotten her killed again. Maybe he thinks that just because his son had successfully circumnavigated the globe, his daughter can too. I feel like Abby felt pressured to live up to her family expectations even if she wasn't ready to complete such a treacherous journey.

News Log # 31

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/business/04lawsuit.html?hp

Article: Lawyers Warned Wal-Mart of Risks Before Bias Suit

Summary: Six years before the drug store behemoth was sued for gender discrimination, they hired a prominent law firm to analyze their vulnerability to such a suit. The law firm found many gender preferences in pay and promotion in the chain of stores and urged the company to do some basic things in order to avoid being sued, such as creating specific goals to promoting women and minorities. The 1995 report said that women working at Wal-Mart earned less than men in several job categories, with men in salaried jobs earning 19 percent more than women. In 2001, seven women filed a law suit on behalf of all women working at the company. The largest retail company in the world has denied any gender discrimination. After the lower courts ruled the case to proceed as class action, Wal-Mart has plans to ask the Supreme Court rescind the class certification this summer.

Opinion: It is horrendous that even in the year 2010 there is still gender discrimination against women. What's even more disturbing is that Wal-Mart already knew they were discriminating, so they hired lawyers to determine their risk of being sued six years before the seven women came forward. Even a seemingly reliable and family friendly store like Wal-Mart cannot be trusted. They may seem to be trying to put the "best" person in the position (a man) so there service looks better, but instead they are viewed as backwards and biased.

News Log #30

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/business/27bugs.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1274962020-QV8CznyoZ3AmbWF7vnCSFg

Article: In E. Coli Fight, Some Strains Are Largely Ignored

Summary: Over the past two decades, the main focus for food industries and the government has been a virulent strain of E. Coli bacteria, known as E. coli O157:H7. They have been ignoring six rarer strains of this toxic bacteria. those other strains are now emerging as a serious threat to the food industry. In April, romaine lettuce tainted with one of them sickened at least 26 people in five states, including three teenagers who suffered kidney failure. Although the federal government and beef and produce industries have known about these strains, they have done very little to prevent it. For three years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been debating whether to make selling ground beef with these six less known E. coli strains illegal. Now with the severity of the outbreak in April, they are reconsidering their consensus. Meanwhile, beef and produce industries are doing their best to keep the food bacteria free.

Opinion: The fact that such major companies are ignoring something as important as public health is deplorable. How can the U.S. Department of Agriculture just sit around and watch Americans get extremely sick as a result of their poor evaluation? It is time to reassess their previous observation and make stricter laws about what can be sold. Healthy Americans are vital to keep this country going.

News log # 29

Article: The 3 Facebook Settings Every User Should Check Now

http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/01/20/20readwriteweb-the-3-facebook-settings-every-user-should-c-29287.html?src=me&ref=technology

Summary: This past December, Facebook made some bold and controversial changes to the privacy settings on their website. The internet behemoth used to be only available to college kids. Now, it seems, they desire to become more competitive with open privacy sites such as Twitter. During this time of transition Facebook posted a "transition tool" on their homepage in order for users to update their privacy info. If you ignored this and opted to go with the recommended settings, then you should take a look again. By doing this you gave Facebook the right to publicize your private info. Everyone should immediately revise their settings and focus on areas such as who can see the things you share (photos, status updates, videos, etc.), who can see your personal info (where you live, job, school) and what Google can see (keeping your data off the search engines). This privacy glitches shouldn't be missed and corrected by every Facebook user immediately.

Response: Right after reading this article I altered my privacy settings on Facebook. I never knew how many corners they cut just to gain more. These types of articles always interest me because I feel like they affect me directly. I never think what other people (people I'm not friends with) can see when I post a new status about what I'm doing this weekend. Everyone should take into consideration what they post on Facebook because you never know who might be viewing it, especially with these new privacy changes.

News log #28

Article : Man Is Charged With Aiding Suicide Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14suicide.html?pagewanted=1&hp

Summary: Over the past few years, William F. Melchert-Dinkel, a 47-year-old husband and father from Faribault, Minnesota, has been posing as a young female nurse named Cami online. He visited sites and chat rooms that were pro-suicide. Melchert- Dinkel urged people to take their lives and "techniques" on how to do it. Investigators have said that the male nurse had an "obsession with death and suicide" and "loved the chase". He is being charged for two aiding two known suicides. One was in Britain in 2005 and another in Canada in 2008. This case brings up many legal issues, some even including the First Amendment. First, many states have laws against aiding suicide, but they don't include instances when the person is across the country from you and when words, instead of pills or guns, are used to promote this atrocity. Regarding the limits of speech, can you blame someone who shares thoughts with people that are already considering suicides? The fact that it is over the internet is also an issue because the most vulnerable people are usually found online seeking attention or answers.

Response: In my opinion, it is completely awful that a person could urge another human being to end their life. It's sick that individual you go to work with or hang out with can be committing silent murder. Also, regarding the fact that there are pro-suicide chat rooms (similar to pro-ana (anorexia) chatrooms) out there is disturbing on another level. Who creates these type of things? I recently read another article about people that watched another person commit suicide on a webcam. I think that someone needs to put a stop to this immediately. Thankfully, there are some groups that help people dealing with suicidal thoughts, such as To Write Love On Her Arms and Papyrus.

News log # 27

Article: Teenage Insults, Scrawled on Web, Not on Walls

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/us/06formspring.html?pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me

Summary: This article talked about how much impact the newest social network website, Formspring, has on teenagers' lives. Most people post invasive and sexual comments or questions on others' Formsprings. The catch to this new phenomenon is that you can post as many nasty things as you want for one reason: it's anonymous. Many guidance counselors and parents are noticing teenagers' addiction to Formspring. They have observed that the kids find it interesting to hear what someone usually wouldn't say to your face. While this may seem like all fun and games, Alexis Pilkington, a 17-year old from Long Island committed suicide in March after receiving many nasty comments. According to Quantcast, more than 28 million people visit the site each month.

Response: In my opinion, Formspring is a total waste of time. Yes, I admit that it is sometimes entertaining to read other people's ( I don't have one ) after a while the posts get old and you become disgusted from the things your supposed "friends" write. Then again you will never know if that person who wrote that you have ugly teeth is your worst enemy or your best friend. The thing with anonymity is that it is extremely cowardly. If you really feel that way about someone you should be able to own up to it. Hiding behind your computer shows that YOU are the one that is self-conscious and insecure and by writing mean comments on other people's Formsprings, you make yourself feel better. Also, when people complain about all the mean comments they receive, they should know that when they make a Formspring they are basically asking for it. Once you receive that first mean comment you begin to crave reading more and more to see what everyone thinks of you. Formspring is an unhealthy, and sometimes dangerous, way of expressing yourself. Next time, own up to your beliefs or keep them to yourself.

News log #26

Article: Schools in New Jersey Plan Heavy Cuts After Voters Reject Most Budgets

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/education/22schools.html?hpw

Summary: After 58% of districts' budgets were rejected by voters this past Tuesday (the most in 35 years), school officials need to look at the future and see what happens now. They will most likely have to lay of hundreds of teachers, increase class sizes, eliminate sports teams and AP classes. As a result of the lack of financial aide the schools are receiving because of Governor Christie's new plan to reduce state aide by about 5% because of the 11 million deficit he needs to make up, the schools need to make up the difference by increasing property taxes of residents. The voters became angry and felt that "enough is enough". The rejection of the budgets results in school officials trying to prepare another plan to present to their town councils immediately. At Teaneck High School, students marched around their football field for one hour protesting the budget's defeat. Many other schools and superintendents feel apprehensive about what's to come in the future.

Response: In my opinion, the Pascack Valley District is very fortunate that the budget passed. While it may seem that budget rejections aren't near our area, the town of Hillsdale rejected their school budget. On the other hand, while we may be very lucky that we won't be sitting in 30-student classes next year, I see why some towns may have rejected their school budgets. Their property taxes are already high enough and with another raise, people may not be able to afford them. Also, Governor Christie may seem like an evil man for taking away state aid, but the state of New Jersey has an $11 million dollar deficit to close. How are we supposed to get out of debt (and prevent from going deeper in it) while spending more? This is a very complicated issue and I, myself, don't understand everything about it. It is unfortunate for some schools that will need to make severe teacher cuts because class sizes will grow and even some sports teams may be eliminated. I think people should just realize that money doesn't grow on trees and we have to get out of debt before we can spend more.