Grandson for Sale!

It is not unusual to purchase products online. After all, there are websites, that run off of individuals selling their belongings to others at a price they find fair. However, it is completely uncommon for a grandfather to sell his own grandchild on Facebook! According to an article called, "Baby Sold On Facebook: Grandfather Arrested After Selling Newborn Grandson For $830" published by Cavan Sieczkowski in The Huffington Post, Feroz Khan kidnapped his newly born grandson from the hospital; and in order to reduce potential suspicions, he lied to his daughter by informing her that her son had died. How did Feroz Khan steal his grandson from the hospital? It has be discovered, that two employees from the hospital helped Khan complete this act. Furthermore, after kidnapping the boy, he arranged a deal on Facebook to sell his grandson for $45,000 rupees. The mother, Noori, must have known that her father had lied to her, because she reported her son lost. Therefore, the police began their investigation, and it did not take long for them to find out the reason behind the son's disappearance. The police have revealed the identity of the purchaser as Ranjit Nagar. Also, according to Punjab Newsline, Khan had initially told his daughter to have an abortion, because she was no longer married to the father of the child. Therefore, according to him, the purpose of selling his grandson on Facebook was to "facilitate the second marriage of his daughter."

Shakuntala Devi Puts Computers to Shame

According to an article, "Shakuntala Devi Dead: 'Human Computer' Math Prodigy Dies In India At 83" published in The Huffington Post by Marc Lallallina, an infamous math prodigy died on April 21, 2013. Shakuntala Devi was known to calculate equations and solve problems faster than an actual computer! Devi was born in Bangalore, India and was raised by a father, who had a career as a trapeze artist. She was not fortunate enough to receive an education longer than one year, due to financial reasons. However, during a game of cards, her father noticed her unique talent, and she soon began to perform in the circus and in road shows. In 1977, Shakuntala Devi found the twenty-third  root of a 201-digit number in a matter of fifty seconds, beating a computer that took sixty-two seconds to compute the same answer! Therefore, she was bestowed the nickname, " Human Computer." How did she do it you may ask? She explains the "simple" process, by stating, in order to find "X", a root of any number, you must multiply "Y", another number, by itself by the number of the root. The latter clearly represents the phenomenal gift Devi possess.  If that was not enough, in 1982, she was "earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records" for correctly multiplying two thirteen-digit numbers in twenty-eight seconds. Shakuntala Devi was truly a rare individual, that most certainly contributed to the world of math and sciences.

6 Month Old Daughter Raped and Killed

The article, "Steven Smith, Condemned Killer, Won't Get Mercy From Ohio Gov. John Kasich" was published by Andrew Welsh-Huggins in The Huffington Post. The article is about a man, Steven Smith, who is condemned for killing his girlfriend's six month old daughter, but states that his intentions were to rape her and not kill her. Smith attempted to receive a plea from Republican Governor John Kasich; however, his attempt was to no avail. The child's name was Autumn Carter, and she was killed because Smith was not aware of the pain his assault caused her. Also, he was certainly not aware of the fact, that his assault was killing the innocent six month old girl. Smith was not charged with rape, therefore, the jury had to make a decision whether Smith was guilty for the murder, or not. He was proven guilty, and was sentenced the death  penalty. May 1 is the day when he will be executed . Steven Smith will be considered the fifty-first inmate to die, because of the death sentence, in the state of Ohio.

Anxiety Be Gone!

According to an article published in The Huffington Post, an article, "Tylenol and Death Anxiety: Pain Reliever Eases 'Existential Dread,' Study Suggests" was published by Megan Gannon. Tylenol is used by people, who wish to remove their treacherous headache, or to eliminate the excruciating pain caused by falling off a high elevation. Tylenol is composed of a main ingredient called, Acetaminophen. The latter is responsible for easing any physical pain. However, study now suggests, that Tylenol can also be taken to reduce any anxiety, due to fear of dying.  It has been shown, that anxiety that deals with the longing to find a meaning in life is located in the same place in the brain, as the anxiety that is caused by physical pain. Therefore, if Tylenol reliefs pain, that is controlled by a certain area of the brain, then it should also help with easing an individuals ambivalence towards life and death.  If the latter is proven, then Tylenol will have a new purpose for the anxious individuals. It will certainly be the reason to people's relaxation and new comfort, and perspective about life, itself. 

Stereotypes

     History repeats itself. There is always an ongoing trend in the world, where the past reforms and presents itself in a novel situation. Therefore, the saying, "Genocide can never be eliminated because it is deeply rooted in human nature" is absolutely true. There will always be hate towards a specific group of people, and the latter will lead to an event that will be tragic to many. The quote does not necessarily mean that every intolerant individual will start a genocide, yet that there will always be an extremist who will take action in order to establish a world that they find pure and obligatory.
     What causes individuals to be prejudice? There are numerous factors that play a role in a person's development and viewpoints. For example, television can be considered one of the most prominent influences. There are a variety of television shows that are based on a certain ethnicity or group of people. These shows are subject to portray Italians as overly-tanned party animals who live to only party and drink; or represent gypsies as uncivilized humans, who have no ambitions to receive an education. This certainly affects the population's comprehension of certain people.

Two Boys Sentences to Juvenile Jail

It has been stated in the article, "Ohio Teenagers Guilty in Rape That Social Media Brought to Light" published by Richard A. Oppel Jr. in The Huffngton Post, that two high school footballer players were found guilty for raping a intoxicated sixteen year old female at a party. The boys were treated as minors and were sent to juvenile jail. Also, one of the boys was found responsible of taking nude pictures of the girl and spreading it for the whole school to see. Furthermore, these pictures and pictures taken by other high school students serve as prove for this rape.The latter magnifies the students ignorance and negligence for the girl's safety. The judge made it clear that they could have been treated as an adult, due to the seriousness of the crime. However, it chose to sentence  one of the boys  with a minimum of  one year in juvenile jail. As for the other football player, he received a minimum of two years in jail, because he was the one taking the pictures and sending it to other students. The judges hopes that these two boys, and other teenagers, realize the dangers of underage drinking and exchanging violating and inappropriate pictures.

Google Versus FBI

According to an articled called, "FBI Blocks Google's Latest Effort On Transparency"  published by Alexis Kleinman in The Huffington Post, Google is trying to inform its users about the ongoing interference by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Google users' privacy and personal information. The FBI has the tendency to request customers' private information, like "customers' names, addresses, and billing records." However, before transferring the information, Google demands a reasonable explanation from the FBI proving that the information is necessary and immensely valuable. Also, once it is sent, Google sends a notification to the customers to update them about the transaction. Furthermore, Google has been attempting to publicize the exact amount of National Security Letters it has received from the FBI; but the FBI and Justice Department is impeding any attempts to this task. Therefore, Google has bestowed its customers with a rough estimate of approximately how many National Security Letters it has received in the past to the public. 

Party Over Here!

It has always been my dream to plan a party with my whole extended family and simply have fun and not care about any worries! Now, with this imaginary $100,000 price limit, it can finally come true! First and foremost, the event will take place at Mirage Banquet Hall, where the total will come out to be approximately $30,000. Above this banquet hall, there is a level for those who wish to sit down, relax, and smoke hookah. The latter will most probably be an extra $3,000. The drinks and beverages that I will buy separately for the party will cost about $15,000. There will be limo buses to transport the guest from their house to the hall and back. This will cost about $6,800. Now, for entertainment I will call the one and only Super Sako! He will pump up the crowd with his awesome songs and will make the crowd dance all night! Super Sako will cost $12.000.  Then, Eternal Mind Control will perform at my party, bringing the rock aspect to this extravagant celebration. They will sell their services for $10,000. The rest of the money( $23,200) will be thrown into the air for the guests to catch while they dance the night away. 

For All Those Who Drink!

Once again, technology has found out an innovative way to help society! According to an article, "Shots iGot Is A New App That Can Tell You How Much Liquor You Just Poured In That Gatorade Bottle" in The Huffington Post, there is a new application for iPhones that will help college students or any drinker. It is not uncommon for alcohol consumers to disguise their beverages by pouring them into other bottles or containers. However, when they do so, it is easy to lose count of shots that are poured into the bottle. Therefore, if the individual drinks the whole beverage, they may notice themselves feeling quite tipsy or even drunk! Well, that is why the iGot application was born! This application presents the users forty-plus containers to chose from, and when they do, they will need to drag their fingers to a certain level to indicate how much of the container is filled with alcohol. Then, the screen will show the number of shots present in that serving. Also, if the individual chose to mix the actual drink with alcohol, they have the option to click on the "Mixer" button. The video below will help potential customers understand how the application actually works.

1920's

The Eighteenth Amendment is responsible for the prohibition of alcohol in the United States of American during the 1920's. The prohibition lasted approximately fourteen years. It made the process of manufacturing, selling, and transporting of alcohol completely illegal and unconstitutional. However, this did not stop individuals from purchasing and consuming alcohol beverages. The risk-takers owned private bars and offered liquor to those who wished to indulge themselves with alcohol. This ban on alcohol made the people want to drink it even more, and therefore they tried their best to obtain it. Doctors had the authority to prescribe their clients with whiskey, but eventually the prescriptions began to be passed out to drinkers without valid reasons. This had a connection with The Great Gatsby, due to Mr. Gatsby's costly parties that had alcohol. Nick made it clear that women in the party who had been adults recently, were quite unfamiliar with liquor, because they were too young when it was open to the public. Also, it portrays how there was still ways to obtain alcohol, despite the eighteenth amendment. Also, at the parties the guest would drink to a point where they would become drunk. As stated before, since drinking alcohol was illegal and banned, the guest had the urge to consume alcohol excessively.

3-D Printers Coming Soon!

Is it a flying car? Robot servants? No, it is a 3-D printer! According to an article, "Disruptions: On the Fast Track to Routine 3-D Printing" published in The New York Times by Nick Bilton, it will not be too long before our boring old 2-D printers be replaced by the new and improved 3-D printers. This process can be seen as magic, but in reality this printer stacks thin layers of plastic, metals, or ceramics to take shape of the desired object. Also, this object can be customized to fit any individual's needs. President Obama hopes that this new invention will open new doors for Americans and introduce our economy with novel businesses.
According to University of Southern California, this printer was thought to be fully built in the next ten years. However, it is now clear that the first 3-D printer will be fabricated later on this year. Furthermore, the price of this machine has drastically dropped from approximately $20,000 to nearly $1,000. The reason for the latter is due to China's involvement with this gadget. The production of these 3-D printers have been shipped overseas, despite the fact that the  "technology may undermine some of its[China's] manufacturing advantages." This breakthrough will surely affect not only the United States of American, but the whole world. Now, the only possible choice we have is to wait and see what this 3-D printer has in store.

Crows or Humans?

In The Colbert Report, Colbert states that humans are far more productive than any animals on this planet, and he conform that statement by showing a video of kittens sleeping which he had watched on YouTube while working. However, he then exposes a video of an experiment that shows a crow using sticks of smaller sizes to reach the longer sticks in the tubes. The crow uses these tools to reach a treat, which it does at the end. He expresses excitement and is shocked by the outcome. Colbert does not understand how crows are so intelligent, but Big Bird still needs help counting to then. He uses the technique incongruity by involving a character from a children's television show. After, he uses the technique parody by taking part in the same experiment and testing his "intelligence" and if he,as a human, has the capability to reach the treat, a peanut M&M. Colbert pretends to be confused and tries to acquire the chocolate covered treat by putting his "chubby" fingers in the long tubes, which "surprisingly" do not fit. At that fails, he puts the tube in his mouth and tries to reach the treat with his tongue; and finally he realizes that he needs to use the tools in order to eat the M&M. Therefore, he picks up a hammer from his desk, which is not part of the experiment, and smashes the tube; however, due to such force the M&M bounces of the table and is lost. Nevertheless, Colbert is actually quite calm, because he decides to simply open a whole bag of M&M's and to stuff them down his throat. Throughout this whole process Colbert uses the satirizing technique, reversal. A human who is known to be the most intelligent organism on plane Earth cannot complete a simply task that is easily done by a crow. On the other hand, Colbert also uses the technique, ambiguity because the way he talks about the video can come off as sarcastic. He makes it seem as if though the experiment is entirely ridiculous and serves no purpose whatsoever. Furthermore, he lastly uses the technique, knaves and fools. He represents how humans can either focus on the most pointless things and how we have the tendency to take the easy way, and not actually think before we do. The target to this satire is the human race, and he is trying to prove how despite the fact we are extremely intelligent animals, we never fail to make fools of ourselves. Lastly, his purpose is to help people understand that it is embarrassing for animals to have more common sense than them. Also, due to his ambiguity, his other purpose may to portray how humans waste time by focusing on nonsense experiments.

http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/thu-january-31-2013-matthew-guerrieri

Christ Brown at it Again

According to an article called, "Nation Would Not Be Surprised At This Point If Chris Brown Allegedly Traveled Back In Time And Punched Anne Frank" published on theOnion.com  on January 28, 2013 not one human being who is aware of Chris Brown's existence would be surprised to hear him traveling back in time to physically harass poor Anne Frank. Surprisingly, Chris Brown was caught raging at a stranger and starting a fight over one silly parking spot. However, he is most famous for physically beating his girlfriend, who so happened, and now happens, to be pop-star sensation, Rihanna. It is even expected from Chris to not only travel back in time and punch Anne Frank, but to steal her sentimental diary and then report her to the SS, before returning back to the present. Nevertheless, it is clear that despite the reputation he has acquired due to his barbaric actions, it is evidently certain that his sales will not decrease in any matter. After all, his fans have the tendency to overlook his abusive ways when purchasing his albums.

Invasion of Privacy

Hollie Toups

According to an article called, "Hollie Toups Leads Women In Revenge Porn Class Action Lawsuit Against Texxxan.com, GoDaddy," published by Meredith Bennett-Smith in The Huffington Post, there is a new website that allows males to post private nude pictures of their ex-girlfriends as "revenge." Also, these pictures are linked to the women's personal information, like their Facebook pages. However, these females are now aware of this website, due to strangers approaching and confronting them about their pictures.  Therefore, Texan women are now taking the initiative to sue the man who owns Texxxan.com, for posting pictures of them without any sort of permission or consent. From these group of women, Hollie Toups has signed a lawsuit not only against the porn site, but also the host GoDaddy. When Hollie Toups discovered her photos, she began to panic. She quickly demanded the site to delete her pictures; but they responded by stating they needed her credit card information first. This is a scam that numerous porn sites use on their viewers. The attorney, John Morgan, of the Texan women has sworn to sue the operators of Texxxan.com. Presently, a variety of lawyers are dealing with cases similar to this, "with other potential claims including invasion of privacy and emotional distress."

Nature

I sit in my balcony watching the cars pass before me. However, then I look further into nature and try my best to ignore not only the noises made from these engines that produce byproducts which are extremely toxic to our environment; but also the middle school across the street which is usually filled with kids running around screaming and playing with one another. Furthermore, I comply to gravity and tilt my head back to  focus on the creatures that fly in the blue sky above me, making it seem as though they are feathers gliding across what serves to be a boundless ocean for the few lucky organisms that posses the gift of defying gravity. If only I too could be able to escape from this world that revolves around technology to a world that is totally unknown. Yes, traveling on an airplane may be considered a situation in which a human unites with nature and the clouds; however, to be separated by a barrier which exists due to machines running off of greed, makes it much more difficult for one to fully connect with the heavens. During this observation, I had the need to close my eyes and allow myself to surrender to nature as its soothing energy ran through my body. Disassociating myself from reality and the world around me only for merely a few seconds mirrored a vacation that one cannot purchase with money, but can only be experienced when one acquiesces with nature and its meditating powers.

Are Berries the New Lifesavers?

Strawberries? Blueberries? Does the thought of these two fruits make you salivate uncontrollably? According to "Strawberries And Blueberries Could Decrease Women's Heart Attack Risk: Study" in The Huffington Post, women now have a new reason to indulge themselves with berries! Studies show that during an experiment, women who ate the most strawberries were found to have a 32% lower heart attack risk, than those who were known to eat these vegetables once a month or not at all! Researchers have found that both strawberries and blueberries contain high levels of flavanoids which is responsible for preventing plaque buildup. Also, women who eat diets that include antioxidant-rich foods, could lower their chances of having heart disease. Henceforth, in 2012 a study was conducted which proved that females who possessed a diet with antioxidants, and who consumed approximately seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, were less likely to have heart attacks during a ten year period.

Is There Extraterrestrial Life?

According to "Earth Bacteria On Mars? Serretia Liquefaciens Could Survive On Red Planet, Study Suggests" written by Irene Klotz on The Huffington Post, scientists have found an extraordinary discovery! A bacteria called Serretia liquefaciens, which is commonly found on Earth, more specifically, in human hair, human skin and lungs and also in fish, aquatic systems, plant leaves, and plant roots is found to even exist in Mars's unusual atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, when this bacteria was relocated to a surrounding that resembled Mars's low-pressure atmosphere that is rich with carbon dioxide, it was found to posses adaptive characteristics. Schuerger, declared his amazement when he stated that this specific bacteria usually evolves at sea level; consequently, when the bacteria was able to grow in a chamber with reduce pressure, it was looked upon as a groundbreaking discovery. This experiment has lead to a controversial theory: is there truly life outside of Earth? However, scientists have realized that in order for an organism to survive on Mars, it must be shielded to protect itself from the ultraviolet radiation. Also, living organism must have access to water, organic carbon and nitrogen. I have never doubted the fact that extraterrestrial life exists. Earth cannot be the only planet that contains living creatures and animals, and to believe such a statement is a clear sign of ignorance.

Independent Reading

This week was fully dedicated to us students to present our books that we had read throughout the winter vacation. It is normal for me to state that I did not find all of these autobiographies and memoirs worthy enough to read. For example, Kristine's book Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself by Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern was based on a woman who had joined the medical field to help others in need.
As Kristine was discussing about her book, I did not feel emotionally attached or provoked. After reading my memoir Lucky by Alice Sebold, I have realized that I respect those authors who focus on topics that can be considered taboo or embarrassing to most. Also, Kristine's book possessed a happy ending that will bring many readers satisfaction and relief; however, life does not always end with the cliche quote "happily ever after." Therefore, I cannot see myself reading a book that I know will not introduce me to emotions that I have never felt or even known. It may sound unusual, but I long to feel the pain of the author as I read their book. After reading books similar to Alice Sebold's, I cannot stop but feel as though I had gained a new experience in life, even if I did not live through it firsthand. Furthermore, the book that I wish to read in the near future is Anna's book Fat Girl: A True Story by Judith Moore. It appeared to be a book that will bring its readers sadness and a clearer insight of reality. Anna admitted that after reading the book, she was taught a lesson to not judge before actually knowing the person. However, most importantly the book concludes with the author expressing her feelings and emotions that were never quelled or understood. My reasoning behind my decisions may make me seem as a sadist  but I wish to branch away from stories that end with a cheesy "happily ever after" ending. It is time for individuals to face reality and to comprehend the fact that happiness, love, and joy come with a dark side: sadness, pain, and remorse.