Shooting leaves son dead, father wounded in NE Philadelphia

I read the article "Shooting leaves son dead, father wounded in NE Philadelphia" by Morgan Zalot. This article was about how the police are investigating a shooting that left a son dead and the father wounded. An argument was the reason for the killings. The 26-year-old son and the 50-years-old father were in Frankford when his killing took place.  The killing happened on 1200 block of Adam Street. The shooting took place right in front of the son's house. The older man was shot once in his left arm. The son was shot three times. Both the father and the son were taken to Temple University Hospital. The son Edwin Pagan died at 11:30 p.m. The father was an off duty corrections officer, and his wounds were more minor than the sons and he was treated and let out of the hospital. The investigators said the father was drunk when they came. Witnesses said they saw the father shooting in the air with a gun, but unfortunately the witnesses didn't see or know who shot the two men.

I believe that even though I don't know what Edwin did that pissed his dad off so much I feel like it didn't have to reach this point. I think the police need to investigate more because it doesn't have any detail about what really happened. The story is missing a lot of information that needs to be found out. I hope when the detectives investigate the case they can find out more facts about what happened the day of the shooting and prior to that. I think that the father was wrong ether way you out it, no one deserve to make another persons life, that’s just wrong!

Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing

In class we read the article "Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing" by Cecilia Munoz it was about how someone making her angry gave her the determination to become the Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza. It all started when a close friend of hers said to her that he thought the U.S. might someday go to war in Latin America. He looked her in the eye and told her that if it happens, he believes my parents belong in an internment camp just like the Japanese-Americans during World War II, according to the article. She was outraged that someone said that to her and the fact that it was someone that was her friend. She was born in America but her parents weren’t, they moved here and are immigrants. Since that has been said to her it gave her the perseverance to become a member of the civil rights movement. Now, she works to promote immigration rights to help poverty and discrimination of Hispanic Americans. She actually used her angry in a positive way that lead to help other immigrates like her parents. I think she did a smart thing, instead of just being mad she found a way to make her anger into a good thing. She should be proud of herself and I think she is doing a good job even though she doesn’t feel like what she does is enough. Instead of letting her anger get the best of her she took it upon herself to help immigrants so no one had to feel like how she felt.

Broadcasting a World of Whiteness

In class we read the article "Broadcasting a World of Whiteness" by Jon Caramanica it was about how television shows don't have diverse cast. The show "Girls" shown on HBO has brought some attention about a certain issue people have. This show and plenty others lack diversity in its cast. The particular races they have in shows are usually white. The article explains how a lot of the shows are an example of a university in cast members. . This show has an all white cast and they sometimes make racist comments. This issue has causes so much controversy about race. Not only the cast of different shows are not diverse enough but also the scriptwriters and even the back stage crew are not diverse as well.

I don't think T.V. is diverse enough because of the shows that are shown on T.V. everyday. I believe producers are the main reason why the cast are not diverse, they are reasonable for who is on the show. I think that producers just put on shows with cast that they think will get the most views. All white cast has come to be such a normal thing on T.V. shows that producers have not found anything wrong with that. I think T.V. shows should make more diverse shows because the world isn’t made of just one race. If shows were more diverse more people would get use to it and it might be a good way to bring everyone together as one. 

New fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun

In "New fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun" Matt Richtel explains how many different clothing companies are starting to make clothes and garments that are stylish but also have features that allow them to carry a weapon but without any difficulty trying to pull it out. This allows them to dress clean and not look as if they have a gun at all. But this new fashion isn't just for guns, it’s for finding weapons such as, knifes or flashlights. Woolrich is the company that is creating these "chino" pants that is great for hiding a gun that is not only stylish but is comfortable and flexible. You can also find this gun hiding clothing with jeans, shirts, jackets, and waistbands. This came about because more people are getting permits to have and carry a gun with them because laws are becoming harsher on carrying around a licensed gun. 

If everyone that carries a licensed gun have these clothing’s it would be a great way to protect the selves. I think only the people with licensed guns should be able to purchase this clothing’s. Also, since the crime rate in America is very high it is a good way for people to defend themselves. If people use this in a good way it can become very popular and it can lead to a good thing. On the other hand, if store let anyone purchase this clothing’s then it can be a bad thing because a robber or murderer could look like a regular person and attack you. Because the clothing’s are stylish and look regular a victim won’t be able to identify the person as an attacker. 

Health Fair

   On April 13, at Parkway West High School, we had a health fair in the auditorium held by the seniors. It was about their senior projects that they did research and worked very hard on. The seniors came around to classrooms presenting their PowerPoint presentations to us with their mentors teaching us about their topic and answering the questions we had. Senior Matisse Hill came to our classroom and talked to us about how drugs can have a big impact on someone's life. He told us stories about people who were affected by drugs and also included some statistics. Following that, we went down to the auditorium and there were seniors sitting behind tables handing out pamphlets and telling us about the topic they chose. The first table was about eating healthy and some healthy habits we should engage in. They talked about the good things eating healthy could bring you and they even supplied us with a piece of fruit. The next table I visited was about abortion. Their goal was to help end abortion and they talked about how there are other options to chose rather than abortion such as adoption. The next table I visited talked about how the bad affects of athletes drug abuse. The next few tables I visited basically talked about diseases you can get from having sexual intercourse such as HIV, STD and more. To help us prevent getting any diseases they supplied us with condoms and pamphlets on how to have safe sex. 

   I think the health fair was fun and informative at the same time. I honestly learned a lot of things I didn’t know. I hope we have more because I really enjoyed myself. One day I hope to be the person behind the tables answers the questions that freshmen have. 

13-year-old drives school bus to safety after driver passes out

In Journalism class, I read an article online called 13-year-old drives school bus to safety after driver passes out published by FoxNews.com. This article was about a middle school student that steered a school bus to safety after the driver apparently had a heart attack while driving. It was a normal Monday morning for students until thirteen year old Jeremy Wuitschick noticed the bus driver was strange. This quote from the article stood out to me "I was just thinking I don't want to die," Jeremy said "I turned to the right. Turned to the side of the road. Took the keys out of the ignition. We started slowing down, and I said, `Somebody call 911!"' Quickly thinking Jeremy and another student, Johnny Wood, gave the bus driver CPR while other students called for help. John McCrossin, school administrator, saw the bus on the side of the road minutes later and also performed CPR on the bus driver. Soon the police and paramedics came. Paramedics carried the driver off the bus; they state that on his way the hospital he was breathing. The 43 year old bus driver is in "grave condition" while at the hospital. Jeff Short, Deputy Schools Superintendent, says that students go over what kind of things to do in emergences such as if a bus driver is incapacitated and that he thought they did an outstanding job. 

I think that Jeremy acted quickly and he did a smart thing by taking actions into his own hands and saving everyone. He should get an award for doing what he did because all of them children would be dead and so would the bus driver. It’s a good thing that they learn about that in school and I think all schools should teach that in case of an emergence.

Trayvon Martion

   The biggest new right now is the case of Trayvon Martin. I read the latest article pertaining this case, called Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman is held pending arraignment, by Michael Muskal. In this article it says that George Zimmerman was charged with second degree murder for the killing of seventeen year old Trayvon Martin. On Thursday in Sanford, Fla., Zimmerman made his first court appearance and has a set arraignment by the judge to be referred to the highest jurisdiction for all matters. The neighborhood watch captain, Zimmerman, claimed to be acting in self defense in the shooting of, unarmed, Martin on Feb. 26. Angela B. Corey, the prosecutor who charged Zimmerman with second degree murder, which means he will have to do life in prison if he is convicted. The defense team for Zimmerman will make a self-defense claim that will be hear before a judge that could possibly dismiss a case. Zimmerman's layer, Mark O'Mara, said he will use Florida's "stand your ground" law, which means "a person can use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight." The situation happened in Florida, where Trayvon was staying with his father. Zimmerman spotted Martin while walking back from the store and he called the police because he looked suspicious. Even though the police dispatcher told him not to Zimmerman followed the teenager and got into a conflict. Zimmerman allegently was punched in his nose and had his head hit against the ground several times by Martin. In fear for his life Zimmerman shot Martin. The night of the shooting, Sanford police took Zimmerman in custody but was released without charge. 

   I think that if Zimmerman would have just listened to the police Trayvon would still be living today. Zimmerman didn’t have to kill him; he could have handled the situation in a better manner. It isn’t even like Trayvon was armed; he didn’t have any weapons on him. I’m glad that people all around the U.S. are trying to get justice for Trayvon. A lot of people are protesting for him and that Zimmerman to get put away for a long time. People walk with their hoods on with an Arizona ice tea and skittles because that’s what Trayvon had on when he got shot.

For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage

In Mr. Petro's Journalism class we read the article "For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage" by Jason DeParle and Sabrina Tavernise. The article was about how most women under the age of 30 are having children before they are married. This article includes fact and percentages, rates and statistics of this topic. One fact was that when children are born without their parents being married they tend to have behavior problems and face greater challenges than with parents that are married. The article also stated that students in college are more likely to have children when they are married. They also discuss the reasons why women are having sex with out being married. Some reasons are they have birth control now so they don’t have to worry about people finding out so they can still live with respect. Also the government came up with welfare and it supply them with food stamps. Many women don’t feel as forced to get married because they work so they can support themselves. In the article women felt pressured to marry a man when they were pregnant. 

I believe that less people are marring before they have children because they want to make sure they find the right person and there soul mate. They don’t want to be tied down just because they are having a child. I don’t think it is a good thing of having children outside of marriage but if they do they should make sure they both play a role in the child’s life. My parents aren’t married and I don’t have behavior problems so times I snap but so does everybody once in a while. Sometimes I can be bad but at the same time I appreciate my mom more because I know its hard raising a child while being a single parent.

Teacher apologizes for calling student 'b-word'

In "Teacher apologizes for calling student 'b-word'" Mr. Lewis, a math teacher at Pencader Charter School in New Castle was caught on video tape calling a student the b-word. The teacher was taking his frustration out on a student by using profanity to call her out of her name. In the video, Mr. Lewis didn’t seem like he was sorry for his actions in front of the class. His actions also showed that he didn’t care if a student would tell on him because he didn’t have a problem with denying what he said. "If Mrs. Lewis or Mrs. Frazier come to me and say 'did I call her a b-----? I'll say yeah. I said she acts like spoiled b---- and she does," Lewis said on the video. When sat down with Action News, Lewis apologized for his language. The student, India Gibson, said that she was only asking for some help with her math and the teacher snapped on her. India Gibson and other students said that this is not his fist time he used inappropriate language in class. The student’s mother, Tiffany Gibson, said “That's abuse. You don't curse at a child because you are having a bad day. You got into the educational profession to teach and instruct."

I absolutely agree with her, that teacher was very disrespectful and should be fired. The teacher was out of line to curse at a student. Never should a teacher stoop so low and curse at a student no matter how out of control they maybe, that shows that he is immature and he needs to know where he stands, and that is as an adult. This is a big issue that needs to be resolved because lots of teachers use inappropriate language in front of their students and if they see that a teacher lost their job from it, they would stop. Even teachers at my school use inappropriate language towards students and I think that is unacceptable.

Facebook Is Using You

In “Facebook is using you” Lori Andrews, a law professor, explores how whether you can get a job, credit or insurance can be based on your online profile. Government agents get information about what people do on social networking sites by a product called Accurint for Law Enforcement. This product helps them to connect with each other, share experiences and gain insights to help them work more effectively. Companies’ stereotypy you by the things that you post online, send in an email, or even research on. One thing that stood out to me was that “The term Weblining describes the practice of denying people opportunities based on their digital selves…You might be shown a credit card with a lower credit limit not because of you credit history, but because of your race, sex, or zip code or the types of Web sites you visit.” The article includes a poll taken of 2,000 people and 93% thought Internet companies should always ask for permission before using personal information. This shows that we need a do-not-track law that will keep companies from using our personal information to discriminate us from getting declined for something.

The main point of this article is that what you post online and what you research determines what companies think of you. Companies look at online data to find out things about you that lets them know if you can or cannot be approved for something. After reading this article, I have become more concerned about what I put online because I didn’t know that companies look at your personal online information to approve of deny you. Now I will watch what I research and post online in the future because I don’t want to be penalized for carless actions. 

The New iPhone 5

In the article "The New iPhone 5" rumors have it that the 5th version of the iPhone is on its way to being born. Predicting to be released in June, this version of the iPhone is said to be better, more futuristic, and everything more than the iPhone 4s was. It’s also included to have doubled the storage, and faster downloads. Fans and supporters of the apple company are eager to find out what the iPhone 5 has in store for them. The iPhone 5 is also expected to be a new design. It's also heard to hold two A5 chip processors, which will deliver higher more powerful video resolutions, and will make it easier to multi-task. The phone's new screen is bigger 4 inches wide. More cool features are that it may have 3-D images, a face recognizing security, and up to 20 hours on video chat. The iPhone 5 is an amazing invention.  

I think the new iPhone 5 will be its best one yet and I hope that Apple keeps up with the new inventions because iPhone's are at its best right now. If Apple continues to make new and improved phones’ more people will continue to buy them and Apple profits will increase gradually. Even with the death of Steve Jobs, Apple continues to keep up with all the new technology that the future brings us. This article makes me wonder are these rumors true and if they are what possible inventions could Apple bring us next?

I'm a criminal and so are you

In Journalism class, we read the article “I’m a criminal and so are you” by Michelle Alexander. This article was about a woman named Michelle expresses her feelings about how criminals have a second-class status and get denied full citizenship because they were felons but we are all criminals just like the felons but haven’t be branded for life. She talks about how everyone has broken a law once before but just because you haven’t been caught doesn’t mean you are any better than the felons that are branded for life. She believes people shouldn’t be discriminated because they are felons. One quote that stood out to me was, if you are a felon “You can be denied the right to vote, automatically excluded from juries and legally discriminated against in employment, housing, access to education and public benefits -- forms of discrimination that we supposedly left behind.” This shows that discrimination is a real problem.

I think that felons should be able to have full citizenship because they already did the time in jail and most people learn from their experience in prison. If everyone got caught for breaking a law no one would be able to do anything. She stated in the article that “I doubt Barack Obama thinks of himself as a criminal, though he should. He has admitted to using illegal drugs during his college years -- lots, in fact.” If Barack Obama was caught for doing drugs in his college years, he wouldn’t even be our president today. This article makes me wonder are any of my teachers’ criminals, and what if they got caught would they still be teaching at my school. I agree with the article, it made me think about how I should be more careful about my decisions because they can have a big effect on my future. 

Photoshopped or Not? A Tool To Tell

   In Journalism class, we read the article “Photoshopped or not? A tool to tell” by Steve Lohr, a writer for the New York Times. This article was about two computer scientists, Dr. Farid and Eric Kee Ph.D. students, who want to create a software tool that lets you know how much a photo has be altered from a 1 to 5 scale range. As one being the least altered and five being the most altered. 

   The photographs of models and celebrities that are in magazines and bill boards are being buffed with Photoshop. Photoshop helps you retouch the photo to make a pimple go away or to brighten it and other editing tools. The article includes quotes from computer science professors and professional photo editors. A survey was taken in women’s magazine and readers said they want celebrities to “look great but real.” This shows that it’s better for people to be their natural beautiful self rather than to display something they aren’t. 

   I think that super-skinny, overly perfect images of women in magazines, the internet, and TV encourage eating disorders and low self-esteem because they see perfect bodies and faces and they want to be just like what the pictures they see. These models and celebrities are portraying the wrong things into peoples head because they think that they are really perfect they actually aren’t. If they see people on magazines with perfect bodies they might start eating less and do other things to make their body look like what they see. I think that altered images should be labeled so that those who look at magazines can know how much the image has been changes because it would make people feel better about themselves and it could build their self esteem. 

In journalism class, we read the article “In China, Human Cost Are Built Into an iPad” by Charles Duhigg and David Barboza in The New York Times. This article was about how works in the assembling iPads, iPhones and other Apple devices and accessories, work under harsh conditions, unsafe buildings and lack of safety equipment. The article includes quotes from plant works and safety and health experts. One thing that stood out to me was that employees were working 24 hour shifts and was standing all day until the point where their legs were swollen. This shows that they weren’t getting treated with respect.

          This article changed my expectations on Apple. Before, I thought Apple was a good company and that they were the best in the game. Now I think they should change they work environment or people may stop buying their supplies when this news gets around. I think is an important topic because lots of people buy Apple produces and they might second think their choice when people find out about how they’re treating their works. If people began to protest and stand against Apple I believe Apple will make their buildings safer and treat employees better.

          This article makes me think that many companies go to China and build factories because they know that Chinese people would work under them kind of circumstances that Americans won’t. If they just stand up for themselves and have protests against the way they have been treated I believe they could make a change. I always wondered why everything always says “Made in China” and I believe this is the reason. 

Kobe Bryant Divorce

    Kobe Bryant’s soon to be ex wife has scored big in their divorce settlement. Vanessa will be receiving $75 million, as well as all three of the former couple’s properties in Newport Beach, California. Vanessa gets the property where the couple was living, where her mother is living, and she also will be getting a new property that had been under construction for two years and just was completed. Vanessa may have the right to half of her NBA star ex’s earning, during all the ten years they were married. This is because the couple didn’t have a prenuptial agreement and California is a community property state. Kobe Bryant is expected to make over $25 million this year, according to ESPN. Vanessa also will be getting custody of both of her daughters, and requested spousal support which Bryant agreed to. In addition, Vanessa will supposedly receive half of the couple's total assets, which has been estimated at $150 million.

          I think Vanessa is getting extremely too much, three mansions and $75 million. She is winning! Seriously, who needs three mansions? She scored big time in their divorce settlement. I don’t think it was a smart decide on Kobe’s part to not be getting a prenup. I think all basketball and football players should get prenuptial agreements when they are married so if they ever get a divorce all their money won’t be gone. I been hearing that she wanted to divorce him because he was cheating. For Kobe Bryant to manage to find time to play basketball, work out, do commercials and cheat on his wife is beyond me!

Abortion

I have recently been reading articles about abortion and I chose to jump on the topic and give my thoughts about abortion.

“Abortion is a personal decision not a legal debate.” A woman has the right to chose what she wants done to her body, that’s why I believe abortion should be legalized. Many people believe that when an abortion takes place a baby dies. That isn’t true; an abortion is performed before the fetus has developed a human being. Terminating an abortion isn’t bringing an end to a child’s life, life begins at birth. A child shouldn’t come into this world unwanted. It is better to get an abortion rather than bring an unwanted child in the world, that will get neglected and suffer all their life. Raising a child is a lifelong decision and requires responsibility.

            A woman has her own right to what she wants done to her body. Illegalizing abortion is taking away personal freedom. No matter who thinks abortion should be illegal, it’s always going to be a female who doesn’t want to have a baby and wants an abortion. They could look for other ways to get rid of their baby; they could starve themselves or take drugs and do other harmful things to keep the baby from developing. Antiabortion is usually a religious belief, and the laws of the United States shouldn’t be basic on religion. Abortion is terminating a pregnancy not a baby. Fetuses are incapable of feeling pain. That’s why I believe that abortions should be legal. 

Beyonce and Jay-Z welcome baby girl Blue Ivy Carter

          Beyonce gave birth to her first child baby girl Blue Ivy Cater in Lenox Hill Hospital in New York on Saturday. On Friday, Beyonce checked into the hospital and rented the entire fourth floor out for 1.3 million dollars. The hospitals windows and security cameras were blacked out to keep the couples privacy. Employees were to turn in their cell phones before starting their shift.

News spread after the couples closest friends and family made tweets congratulating them on their first child. Rihanna tweeted on Saturday, “Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih.” Also congratulating the couple Russell Simmons said “Congratz to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z.”

          The couple chose “Ivy” because of the importance of the number “4” or “IV” in roman numerals. Beyonce’s birthday is on September 4 and Jay-Z’s on December 4, they were married on April 4, and Beyonce’s latest album is entitled 4. They chose the name “Blue” because Jay-Z’s hugely successful album “The Blueprint.”

          I’m glad that Beyonce finally popped. I’m happy for her and her Jay-Z. I believe Beyonce is a role model to so many girls because she did it the right way. She dated Jay-Z, they got married, and then she got pregnant. I think she is a leader and she is sending out a good role to the girls that look up to her. I remember when Beyonce first announced her pregnancy on MTV’s Video Music Awards and while she was singing I was saying that she looks pregnant and it turned out to be true. 

The Death of Apple Founder Steve Jobs

This year “Most Fascinating Person of the Year” was Steve Jobs. That was pretty unusual because this was the first time it has ever been someone who wasn’t alive. His energy and vision changed the world and made him the choice for Most Fascinating Person of the Year. The Apple founder had been already chosen in the beginning of the year, and the rule had been broken just for him.


In 1976 Jobs and his co-founder created Apple I. In 1977 he launched Apple II, it was an improved version of his pervious model. It became widely popular and it was easier to use. In 1984, he introduced the Macintosh. Jobs brought computer graphics retooled it and in 2006 sold it to Walt Disney making him their largest stockholder, which is known as Pixar. In 2001 the Apple Company revolutionized digital music with the iPod it allowed users to store and play back music on its hard drive. Jobs creations just kept improving and later transformed into a cell phone with the iPhone. Big ideas got Job’s moving; he was successful with his creations and later created a new one with the iPad Tablet.


Jobs fought cancer for eight years. Up until nearly the end, he was dreaming big, planning a new Apple headquarters. His death was mourned by millions of people around the world.


The reason why I believe that the death of Steve Jobs was the biggest news of 2011 is because he was a very intelligent and creative man. He is the founder of Apple, a very popular company; his creations are extremely big right now. The new IPhone 4s is Apple’s best selling phone. Over four million iPhone 4ses have been sold within the first three days of the items release. 200 million Apple devices have been sold since March 2011; 25 million of the items are iPads. If you think these numbers are high, wait until these numbers get updated.