Culture Blog #8

One of the many cultures we have in this world is the arts. It's very broad and vague, but has so many options within it to go from. The music industry has been a success for many people for ages, including U2. They are one of the only bands that have stuck together for over 30 years and are still selling millions of copies of their albums, putting them at the top of the charts. So many people in this world, especially America, depend on music and the inspiration that comes from it. I thing U2 has created a standard and molded the music culture around the world. They really make an impact on every place they go and every album they come out with. Even famous bands like Coldplay and The Killers look up to them, they go by the U2 music style and singing style.

Parelles, Jon. "Last Gang in Town." The New York Times. 24 Feb 2009. 24 Feb 2009 .

Change Blog #7

One great website or article about change is called changeforthechildren.org. It's an organization started by the Jonas Brothers to get kids to help other kids in need. Whether their dealing with diabetes, hospitalization, diseases, or just need donations, the Jonas Brothers have created this site to donate and make a difference. They wrote on the front page about how they want to inspire and motivate children to face their fears, rather that run away from them. I agree with this, and having a huge name like the Jonas Brothers saying they support these children helps a lot. The most important part of this is that the children of the world right now are the future. Changing our habits and generosity now will change our future for the better.

Jonas, Nick. "The Mission." Change for the Children Foundation. Jonas Brothers, Bayer. 22 Feb 2009 .

Hope Blog # 6

Today, I read an article about a chimpanzee who attacked and killed a woman in her Connecticut home. He was about 12 years old, and for some reason pounced on his owner. The police think it was because she got a drastic hair cut, so he didn't know who she was. To get him off the lady, the police had to shoot the chimp until it was dead. He was very talented, and able to do many things like normal people. I chose his article for the hope category because I think it gives other people hope for the future and what it holds for them. It shows that life can end 10 times faster than it starts, and you only get one shot. Hope can bring you through any situation, and keep you looking forward to the future.

Gallman, Stephanie. "Chimp attack 911 call: 'He's ripping her apart'." CNN. 17 Feb 2009. 17 Feb 2009 .

Religion blog #5

The article I read today was about Bishop Richard Williamson and his doubts of the Holocaust. He believed the Nazi's didn't use gas chambers, and said this on a radio broadcast. This is a crime in Germany, to publicly doubt the Nazi's ways. He tried to stop the radio from broadcasting it, but he was too late. The Pope said he could no longer do his priest duties after jail until he retracts what he said, which he has yet to do. I think this shows religious leaders and other Christian officials are looked upon very highly in Germany and England. It also shows that this religion takes their rules and laws seriously. They respect each other, but only if you do no wrong. 

"Holocaust-denying bishop loses court battle." CNN. 9 Feb 2009. 15 Feb 2009 .

Gender Blog #4

The article I just read is about Michelle Obama, the first lady. It shows her achievements and occupations. I think having her as a first lady is very important. She's not just the president's wife, but she's also successful herself. She went to Princeton, Harvard, became a lawyer, and then served in her community for many years. She is the prime example of a powerful woman in this day and age. Still, women are put down, not as much as before, but it happens. We aren't taken as seriously as men and sometimes aren't given the appropriate jobs because of our gender. I think gender is a huge factor in our society as to how far up you are, how much money you make, and how well you're treated.

"First Lady Michelle Obama." The Administration. 10 Feb 2009 .

Culture Blog #3

The article I read is about a small, poor country called Senegal, where people were trying to grow more rice for themselves. After a year of high prices for grains, including rice, the farmers felt that they would like to try to grow  a higher percentage of their countries' needs and cash in on those prices. An old government project, from the 1970's. had developed land and irrigation canals surrounding a river. The project was abandoned, but now that farmers have the opportunity to make money, the government tried to restart the program. Farmers were trying to make a profit, but could potentially lose everything if the world price for rice drops as a cause of overproduction. This is a classic example of supply and demand and how a culture deals with it. Many different places around the world deal with local problems in different ways, and this is one example of what could be a successful feat for a country.

Polgreen, Lydia. "West Africa Villagers Stake Their Fortunes on the Future Price of Rice." The New York Times. 26 Jan 2009. 7 Feb 2009. .

Struggle Blog #2

Recently, Jennifer Hudson's mother and nephew were killed. The police were looking for murder suspects, and think Hudson's sister's ex is the killer. It's such a surprise to the neighborhood that he is a suspect. This is because he loved her son, and wasn't the type of person to kill, so they thought. I think this is a huge struggle because the family and their surrounding friends thought they could trust him, but they didn't know his real personality. Also, it would be hard to see who is telling the truth because the police could be wrong, or the ex-husband could be lying. On another note, Jennifer Hudson has to deal with these horrible murders too. She's mourning, trying to find the killer, and dealing with the press all at the same time. These are many huge struggles.

St Clair, Stacy and Deanese Williamsharris. "Jennifer Hudson family tragedy: Suspect William Balfour's relatives, friends in disbelief." Chicago tribune 28. Oct 2008 3 Feb 2009 .