Politics:Predict the Winners

Hailey Hurowitz
Romney For The Win
11/5/12
1A
















      I think Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will win this election because they have great foreign policies, and I think we just need a change from what we have already because the country isn't really getting any much better than it was before.  Romney also was very successful in Massachusetts as the Governor too.  If Obama does win, it won't be the end of the world, and we will just have to deal with it.  Obama if he gets re-elected, I'm sure he will do the best for America, our country.

Referendum 1-Taxes-Would increase the sale tax in regions that pass the referendum by one-cent
In Hampton County, they have several other choices to make, including whether they want to support a one percent Capital Projects Sales Tax Referendum that could bring new health facilities, improved libraries, better emergency communication systems and even a county recreation complex.  This proposed one cent sales and use tax would be imposed for up to eight years, with a net proceeds cap of $12.6 million, to fund up to a dozen projects worth an estimated $11.4 million.  This referendum would bring the sales tax levy up from seven cents on the dollar (six in state tax, plus an existing one percent local option tax) to eight cents on the dollar in all areas of Hampton County on most purchases.  Among the exceptions would be food stamp purchases, prescription drugs and school books. And because groceries are taxed at one percent in Hampton County now, this tax will raise that tax to two percent.  If approved, the tax would begin on May 1, 2013, and will end in eight years, or when it reaches the cap of $12.6 million, whichever comes first. If successful, this would be the second CSPT Referendum, with the first having been used to renovate the Hampton County Courthouse and B.T. DeLoach Building, among other projects.  The 12 proposed projects include prepaying the existing debt for the new emergency communications system (the PAL 800 radio system), prepaying the existing USDA loan for the renovation of the Estill Library, building a new health department at its current site, constructing a recreation complex in the Hampton/Varnville area, renovating the Hampton Library, repairing the roof of the Hampton County Detention Center, structural improvements to the county museum, improvements to the county animal shelter, exterior improvements to the county administration building, building a multi-purpose building in Yemassee, improvements to the existing Estill recreation facilities, and renovations to the Estill Senior Citizens Center.  Two of these projects must be paid for, regardless of the outcome of the referendum, and if the CPST initiative is not approved may become the burden of property tax payers.  All of these projects have been outlined in The Guardian over the past three weeks, with the final part of that series in today's paper.
(http://www.hamptoncountyguardian.com/news/lots-stake-tuesdays-election)

Amendment 1-Education-Regarding the establishment of public charter schools
         Washington and Georgia will be weighing in on charter schools this election.  Charter schools are independent public schools that have flexibility in certain areas of education like curriculum and length of the school day.  They are held accountable for student performance too.  This research is mixed on whether students in charter schools perform better than their regular public school.  Standford University found that 17% of charter schools provide great education opportunities for their students.  According to another study, about half the charters did not do any better or any worse than the regular public school, and about 37% of the charters were much worse than the regular public school.  Currently, 41 states and the District of Columbia have charter schools.  The topic of charter schools, and how they are established and who gets to attend them, got a lot of attention from parents, educators, and policymakers.  They got all that commotion from them because it is a new thing, and shaping legislation on charters has become a public fight.  The states of Washington and Georgia have charter school initiatives on their ballots.
      In Georgia, voters definitely have charters on their minds.  Charter schools have existed in Georgia for 17 years.  If a group wants to start a charter school, it brings its petition before a local school board, which will approve or deny the request.  If it is rejected, the group can go to the State Board of Education, but if the charter is granted, the school cannot receive local tax funding, only state and federal funds.  There was a third route: The Georgia Charter School Commission.  In 2011 though, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled this commission unconstitutional.  The result was the drafting of Amendment 1 to the Georgia State Constitution.  Amendment 1 would give a state commission the authority to approve charters.  A commission of individuals appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and state House speaker could approve a charter school petition that has been denied by a local school board and the state board.  A lot of people support the charters, but there is some people that don't.  The people that aren't supporters of it say it will take authority from elected officials and put it in the hands of commission appointees.  The Georgia PTA, which supports charter schools, is opposed to Amendment 1.  The amendment has become one of the main topics in Georgia right now.  The Georgia governor, Nathan Deal supports the amendment, but Georgia's state school superintendent, John Barge, does not. (http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/06/all-eyes-on-georgia-washington-as-voters-consider-charter-school-initiatives/)

Amendment 2-Admin of Gov't-Gives the State Properties Commission the authority to enter into multiyear lease agreements
The Georia multiyear lease agreements amendment is on the November 2012 ballot in Georgia as legislatively-reffered constitutional amendment.  The measure would give the State Properties Commission the authority to enter into multiyear lease.The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is supporting the measure. Chris Clark, the president of the chamber, says that the amendment will allow the government to save money on its lease agreements by being able to negotiate for the lower rental rates associated with long term agreements.  People also don't like the idea like Courier Herald who said, "Paying slightly higher rates for a few more years is a small price to pay to avoid giving away 20 year favors to today's patronage class.  Vote no on this amendment.  That is the best way to dave Georgians money."(http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Georgia_Multi-Year_Rental_Agreements,_Amendment_2_(2012))

Political

Political
Mitt Returning to Philly to Get Them on His Side
Hailey Hurowitz
12/1/12
1A

    In a late campaign push to change the map, Mitt Romney will travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday in the hopes he can get that Democratic-leaning state to his side.  A Romney campaign will stop in the Philadelphia area on Sunday afternoon.  The Pennsylvania even falls into the Romney campaign's newly adopted strategy of expanding the battleground map in the final week of the race.  Top strategists to the GOP nominee targeted Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota this week for potential gains, pointing to polls in the states that show Romney gaining on the President.  The Obama campaign quickly said the Pennsylvania trip is "an act of desperation."  The Romney campaign quickly fired back, accusing the president's re-election advisers of reacting from a "defensive crouch."

         In the final days before the 2008 election, then GOP nominee John McCain and his running partner, governor Sarah Palin made campaign stops in Pennsylvania with similar hopes but it didn't really workout.  Romney campaign officials referred to recent comments made by former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell who said Democrats could let down their guards in the state, opening up the possibility of a "startling upset."  Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, a Romney replacement, predicted the GOP nominee would win the state in an interview on Fox News Thursday.

link
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/01/romney-tries-to-put-pa-in-play/?hpt=po_c2

Sports

Sports

Josh Smith is Awesome!

Hailey Hurowitz

12/1/12

1A

      THe Hawks are off today prior to opening the regular season Friday against the Rockets.  Josh Smith admits the chip is still squarely on his shoulder even as he piles up statistics few in NBA history have amassed.  If he remains healthy for his ninth season Smith will become the 24^th player in league history to reach 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocks. There are only eight players to do it with one team.  Smith has career totals of 9,044 points (needs 956), 4,768 rebounds (needs 232), 1,849 assists (needs 151) and 1,304 blocks. If he puts up his career averages this season, he will reach the points milestone in 53 games, the rebounds in 29 games and the assists in 50 games.  The Hawks used the 17^th overall selection of the 2004 draft to pick Smith straight out of high school.  While some considered the pick a long-shot, Smith believes quite the opposite.  By comparison, Childress is playing with his third NBA team, with a stop in Greece, and has 3,534 career points. Of the 28 other first-round picks in his draft, 11 are not in the league. That includes four players taken ahead of Smith.  Smith likely won’t be the only player to reach the multiple milestones this season. Rasheed Wallace needs just 12 assists and Shawn Marion needs 140 assists.  Smith, who will become an unrestricted free agent following the season, will join Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Julius Erving, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett to accomplish the feat with the same team.

        Smith is from College Park and played at McEachern High before finishing at Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy, enjoyed being a part of the group that turned the fortunes of the organization. The team opens the regular season Friday in search of its sixth straight trip to the postseason.  Larry Drew has been with the Hawks for Smith’s entire tenure, first as an assistant and now entering his third season has head coach. He has seen Smith mature on and off the court into a player he entrusts with a captaincy.  The Hawks and Smith will not talk of the contract during the season. They will wait until the summer when Smith can test free agency and the Hawks can offer extra years on a contract offer.  While his future in Atlanta has at least one more chapter to be done, Smith plans to keep his focus away from outside distractions. The stats they just keep coming.

link

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/11/01/atlanta-hawks-smith-on-verge-of-statitistical-milestone/

Technology

Technology
Sharp is Not Looking So Good
Hailey Hurowitz

12/1/12
1A

        

          Sharp is in really bad shape right now these days.  The losses are huge and the company warned investors that there is a "material doubt" that it may be able to continue as a "going concern."  The ailing Japanese consumer-electronics manufacturer saw sales drop 16% year-over-year to 1.1 trillion yen ($13.7 billion) in the six months ended September 30.  The company's net loss widened to 387.6 billion yen, getting smaller last year's six-month loss of 39.8 billion yen.  The company doesn't know how much time they have left.  Sharp insisted that it restructuring efforts, which include huge layoffs, could help the company make more money and attract creditors to help it raise funds.  It that happens, Sharp expects to "secure the necessary credit line, supported by financial institutions, and attempt to improve business performance and regain trust by monitoring the progress of this plan and implementing it steadily.  "If all of that comes together, Sharp believes it can stay.  Still, Sharp's restructuring efforts are a huge task.  

          The company is planning to cut several thousand workers and is trying to offload assembly plants all over the world.  It's also trying to supply companies like Apple with mobile displays.  Its production efforts failed earlier this year on the iPhone 5, pushing back shipments a few weeks, leaving investors to worry if it could fulfill demand.   Sharp's issues are nothing new, and the company has been reassuring investors for months now about its ability to turn things around. Yet it keeps missing its own forecasts. During the six-month period ended September 30, for example, Sharp only expected to lose 210 billion yen. It nearly doubled that loss.  Sharp has also been forced to revise its full-year outlook for the fiscal year ending March 2013. The company now says that its full-year revenue will hit 2.46 trillion yen, down from a previously forecast 2.5 trillion yen. Sharp expects its losses to widen from 250 billion yen to 450 billion yen.

link

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57543651-92/is-sharp-on-its-last-legs/

Health

Health

Eat Healthy in the Winter
Hailey Hurowitz
12/1/12
1A


         There is a lot of research showing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which affects 1% to 3% of the population, and it is linked to increased appetite and carbohydrate craving, which are probably consumed in the form of "comfort foods."  This is probably due to changes in brain chemistry brought about by the change in seasons and alterations in circadian rhythm, the body's biological clock.  Those who may not be clinically diagnosed with SAD may experience mild depression or worsening mood during colder, less sunny days due to more moderate changes in brain chemistry. Some studies suggest an association between vitamin D deficiency and mood, so this may play a role in that.  People may also be less active and less social in the winter, which could increase anxiety and depression and lead to stress eating and overeating.  Comfort foods are generally sweet, fatty and calorie-dense, which may help temporarily improve mood and alleviate anxiety or stress. Many people may be self-medicating with these dishes.  There are several other likely behavioral and biological components. Lighter, cooler foods like fresh fruits and vegetables were historically less available during the winter, so there may be an inherent preference for foods that are in season like starchier vegetables.

               In addition, we have may have a genetic tendency to seek out more calorie-dense food in the winter months because food historically was scarcer.  A cool refreshing salad simply does not taste nearly as comforting as a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day. There are lots of healthy substitutes that can still taste good. Soups and stews are a great idea in the winter, as long as they are not cream-based or loaded with high-fat meat.  Both generally have a lower calorie density because they are higher in water than many foods. And you can sneak vegetables into a savory winter soup or stew if plain or raw vegetables don't appeal to you during the colder months.  If you crave potatoes, opt for sweet potatoes when you can to boost nutrition and satisfy your craving for starchy carbohydrates.  Simple things like baking breaded chicken instead of frying, or replacing part of the sour cream or cream in recipes with Greek or low-fat yogurt can help you satisfy cravings without gaining weight when the weather gets cold.
link
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/01/health/jampolis-comfort-food-substitutes/index.html?hpt=he_c1

Travel

Travel
Hurricane Sandy is Shutting Down the Major Airports

Hailey Hurowitz

11/1/12

1A

       Airlines and airports in the Northeast started making tentative steps toward normalcy on Wednesday in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, though LaGuardia Airport in New York City remained stubbornly under water. LaGuardia is still closed and will be for the day.  They canceled about 1,500 flights because of the storm that hit the Northeast on Monday.  LaGuardia isn't expected to open until at least Thursday.  But JetBlue has resumed service at New York City's other airport, John F. Kennedy International, as well as at airports serving Washington, D.C. and Boston.  Both JFK and Newark International Airport in New Jersey officially reopened on Wednesday. The Washington-area airports of Dulles International and Ronald Reagan National both opened Tuesday.  This does not mean that everything will be fine from here for the airline industry though.  The airline industry has canceled 19,271 flights because of Hurricane Sandy on Wednesday morning.  JetBlue doesn't expect to resume flights through Newark until Thursday, even though the airport is open. U.S. Airways (LCC, Fortune 500), which has canceled about 4,000 flights, still wasn't operating any flights through New York City-area airports on Wednesday.
        American Airlines, which has canceled 2,088 flights, said that said it plans to start flying through JFK and Newark again on Thursday morning, and LaGuardia again on Thursday afternoon.  United Continental, which has canceled 5,200 flights because of the storm, had "limited inbound service" at Newark on Wednesday.  The airline might be operating a very limited number of departures from the airport in the evening, depending on conditions.  The airline was returning to normal operations at Dulles.  Philadelphia International Airport had the most number of cancellations ,1,068 as of Tuesday, followed by Newark, LaGuardia, JFK, Ronald Regan, and Dulles.

link
http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/nyc-areas-major-airports-back-running-albeit-slowly-1C6807074

Truman Show Questions

Truman Show Questions
Hailey Hurowitz
10/30/12
1A

           Christof means when he states that "there is nothing fake about Truman himself," meaning that Truman wasn't phony or fake.  He didn't have scripts he read off of or people telling him what to do and then to do it.  He was just living his life, not knowing he was being watched 24/7 of it.  Truman was just doing what he wanted, and was just saying what he wanted, whenever he wanted.

     These ideas that Truman had came from, came from magazines and ads.  He wanted to get away, and then there would always be something blocking him from getting away, like the bus breaking down.  Truman would always be so close to being where he wanted to be, and then suddenly the people running the TV show would catch on to him, and he would be back to square one.

I think Truman wasn’t allowed to read works that might potentially invoke these ideas because that would be crazy on the people who are running the TV show because then he would want to get away, and they would have no show.  I think Truman got a lot of things taken away from him to make the show good, and not disastrous.