8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 9 Google Switches to Renewable Energy

On the Huffington Post, an article was written detailing Google's energy effective plan. In 2017, Google intends to only rely on solar and wind energy to power their thirteen different locations. They've partnered with wind plants and incorporated solar panels among other energy effective tactics to make themselves completely green. Google's plan is cost effective and efficient, because they previously used as much energy as it took to light up all of San Fransisco. They have truly made an effort to combat climate change and many companies should take note of their example and switch to more energy effective plans. The government should require more use of renewable energy, rather than creating deeper debt for electricity. Laws and bills should be passed to protect our energy sources that aren't renewable, and more corporations should switch to renewable energy, like Google will be doing in 2017.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 9 Ohio Moves To Ban Abortion After 6 Weeks of Pregnancy

On the Huffington Post, an article was published detailing the hearings in Ohio regarding abortion laws. Ohio wants to pass a bill within the state that makes it illegal to abort a baby after six weeks of pregnancy as the baby would have a heartbeat by then. The bill has moved to Governor John Kasich to decide, but it is a controversial topic, as it could put many physicians in jail and it is a heated debate topic. The article hardly addressed the point of view of women, and it didn't take into consideration victims of rape or unwanted pregnancy. This brings up the question of whether abortion laws should be handled on a state level, or on a national level. Governor John Kasich has not made a decision yet regarding the bill, but it will change the outcome of many physicians lives if he decides to pass the bill.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 9 Wells Fargo wants less regulation

On CNN, an article was posted detailing the Wells Fargo scandal. It is said that Wells Fargo was falsely creating millions of fake accounts that served as dark money accounts. They've had to fire 5,300 employees, and one of the heads of Wells Fargo walked away without a scratch. Supporters of Wells Fargo have claimed that the bank made a small slip up and they should keep their good reputation, and while the officials at Wells Fargo are claiming that they'd like less regulation, it doesn't add up. Mistakes like this are what led to the stock market crash and plenty of other scandals throughout American history. Banks should be more regulated so 'mistakes' like this cannot happen. Wells Fargo is still trying to get back on its feet, but many are saying that they will never regain their spotless reputation they had previously had.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 9 Ben Carson House Secretary

On CNN, I watched a video about Ben Carson is coming back into the public eye. Apparently there is speculation that Trump will make Ben Carson his House Secretary, which has caused a lot of uproar and argument. Some believe that Ben Carson's views were very controversial and people are saying that he opposes house programs because of his upbringings. This has caused debate over whether Trump has made the right decision or not to appoint Ben Carson, and if there should be a better way or background check to appoint the House Secretary. Previously, Trump had made fun of Ben Carson, so the public eye is questioning Trump's decision and whether Carson is qualified for the position or not.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 9 Donald Trump Talks Climate Change

On CNN, an article was posted about a meeting between president-elect Donald Trump and Al Gore. They discussed climate change, Al Gore is an advocate for making Americans more aware of climate change, while Donald Trump had previously in 2012 said climate change was a hoax, Trump has apparently changed his views. He believes that there is some connectivity to climate change and the amount of energy that Americans are using. His change in views has created argument and controversy as to where he really stands on the topic, and what his plans will be to decrease climate change in the future. Trump has made no mention of his future plans for climate change, but it is a growing issue that will effect America and the world forever if a plan to stop it is not put in place.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 8 'Will I die, miss?' Terrified Syrian boy suffers suspected gas attack

Two hours ago, a chemical bomb was dropped in Syria. Though this is not specific to American politics, I believe that it is necessary to address. Right now in my art class we are doing what's called the memory project, where we draw portraits of underprivileged children that don't always have access to the basic necessities. This year, we are drawing Syrian refugees, so this is especially relevant to me right now and it breaks my heart that this is happening to innocent children. A little boy was caught in what is thought to be a gas attack while he was watching planes outside. He was exposed to yellow smoke and rushed to the hospital, and upon arrival at the hospital, it was bombed with the same chemicals. Syrian children and adults are in constant fear of their lives and in need of help. Our efforts to help Syria are not enough when things like this are happening. The American government needs to take a stand and help provide for the Syrian refugees and take them into America, despite their refugee status. There should be no threat that if a child goes outside, they will be harmed with yellow gas.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 8 Building a Civilization on Space

CNN posted a video detailing plans for the final frontier. Apparently, ULA, an organization that produces rockets, is creating a rocket that will be cost efficient, stay in space longer than any other spacecraft, and it will allow people to build and reuse things from the atmosphere in space. It is said by 2046 that there will be a population of a thousand people living in space, they will build houses and communities in space. The organization has hundreds of workers planning and researching the idea of living in space, and so far they've found that by using water and other abundant natural resources, we can reuse anything. This entire idea of living in space is a topic of debate, however, because many space organizations have shut down their rockets and stopped sending new teams up in space. There will certainly be a lack of funding to this project, so ULA will have to turn to the government for funding on this massive undertaking.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 8 Chattanooga, Tennessee Bus Crash

On CNN, a breaking news article caught my eye. In the past few hours, there was a bus crash in Chattanooga, killing at least six children, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. While this is a tragedy and a disaster, the fire department says that they have been trained for these situations. There were over thirty-five children on the bus, and family members involved in the crash are hysterical. The government needs to take charge and upgrade transportation in the public school systems, or remove public transportation as a whole. Buses are busy, loud, and crowded, so it's easy for the driver to become distracted. New laws need to be introduced increasing the safety of children on public transportation, as some school buses don't even have seat belts.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 8 Donald Trump supporters are angry with Pepsi

On CNN, an article was released claiming that big brand names like New Balance and Pepsi had claimed to either love or hate Donald Trump. New Balance was said to have claimed New Balances as the shoes of the Donald Trumps presidency, while the Pepsi brand claimed that they couldn't support Trump. Both of these alleged claims are incorrect and both brands have denied ever saying these things in the first place. The claims were said to be embedded in Facebook ads with false advertising. Though Donald Trump hasn't made a statement about this yet, the brands are furious and arguing with Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg. This raises the question of whether our news is well regulated and if Donald Trump is really supported by who he says he is. Pepsi has been boycotted by Trump supporters, showing that there is a real conflict over this situation.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 8 Crossing the border as a Trump presidency looms

Recently on CNN, an article was released claiming that more immigrants have been crossing the border since Trump's election. The immigrants are said to be flooding the borders for better economic opportunities thought to be found in the United States. Though, Trump has made promises of building a wall across the border, the immigrants are starting to fight back and claim that they are citizens too and have rights. There has been much debate regarding whether Donald Trump is allowed to build this wall and if he has jurisdiction over such a large commitment.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 7 Michelle tries to make Meliana feel at Home

On Politico, an article detailed Michelle Obama and Meliana Trump's first meeting in the White House. They discussed childcare, how to prepare for life in the White House, and their husbands. Though Michelle obviously has very strong views about Donald Trump (calling him "disgraceful" in a previous speech) Meliana is sure that Donald will be fit for the job. The encounter was said to be a little awkward, however, as the two ladies tried to relieve the tension. There is much debate on whether Trump deserved office, and Michelle seems to be on Hillary's side.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 7 Reports of Racist Graffiti

On CNN, after Trump's election, it's been said that college students, adults, and children are rioting against Trump. On top of this, Trump supporters are using his accusations to carry out hostile acts like robbing Muslims or disrespecting school property with heinous language. There was a video released today inside a middle school cafeteria with students shouting together, "Build the wall!" This is both startling and extremely dangerous for America. Though Trump has yet to make a statement on this issue yet, other government officials are saying that the riots need to stop and that children shouldn't have a say in politics. However, the riots rage on.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 7 The moment America knew

On CNN, an article details the faces of Americans finding out that Trump had won. Many are depressed and sobbing, while others are wearing red hats and celebrating. There is much debate surrounding if the stock market will crash because Trump has been elected president, however, most articles say that there will just be a drop in stocks, not a crash. There are lots of somber faces on the CNN article. Lots of women of different colors, races, and cultures thought that Hillary was going to win, she was even projected to win. It will be strange with Trump as president, but the CNN article shows that many supporters of Trump are overjoyed and bliss about the outcome of the 2016 election.

Elections Blog Post

       Last night, it was announced that Claudia Tenney won the Congressional Race in the 22nd District (New York). Claudia Tenney is pro-Trump, so it's very fitting that she won and Trump did as well. She was mostly self funded and though Kim Myers had more ad campaigns and endorsers, Claudia Tenney still won. She only raised $254,541 for her campaign, but she was projected to win from the start. I choose to focus on Claudia Tenney for my candidate in the New York 22nd Congressional Race and she won. Claudia Tenney previously ran for Congress and lost against the incumbent Richard Hanna, however, this year Richard Hanna wasn't running for reelection, so Claudia had a larger chance of winning. Claudia Tenney and Donald Trump have most of the same conservative views, so it's no wonder she won the race. Claudia Tenney won the vote with 120,777 and 47%, while Kim Myers had 103,955 and 40%, and Martin Babinec, (a millionaire) only had 32,303 and 13% of the votes.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 7 Live Election!

If you go to CNN looking for a nice whale story to write about, you will not find one. There is only coverage on the election right now, as there should be. Currently, the election in Florida is back and forth on different counties and it's still a toss up which way the swing state will sway. The Cuban vote is said to sway the election in Florida. My entire family is nervous, as am I, to see who will be the next ruler of our country, more or less.  Apparently the Cuban vote is swaying mostly toward Hillary Clinton, and it's interesting because Donald Trump basically said he would evacuate all immigrants, so the Cuban's have no choice. The Cubans, almost turn into single-issue voters, for their own safety!

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 7 Your Brain on LSD

On CNN, a photographer reports his findings about a group called the Merry Pranksters, a clique of teenagers back in the 60s who experimented with LSD in educational and "safe situations." The photographer explains that he was a sponge in their adventures, he never took part in the then legal drug use, but instead admired them from afar and soaked up whatever information they had to offer. Though the drug is now illegal and highly dangerous, the photographer makes the case that America lost a sense of journalism, because it used to be wild and free, but now it's controlled and concealed. The fight for freedom of speech in the first amendment is still being heavily debated today as to whether we are really free, or if the government will judge and label others based on what they do.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 6 How Louisiana Turned Disaster Into Dollars

On Politico, a story describes the effects of Hurricane Matthew on Louisiana. The horrible wreckage and death counts in Louisiana still leave people heartbroken and empty handed today, however the state officials had already planned for the impact after previous natural disasters swept the state. The officials had a recovery plan in place with specified factions of money and sanctions of supplies to separate areas. With the plan in place, they were able to receive even more money from the government for means of recovery in disastrous situations. The government should obviously implement plans like this in every state and take notice of the state officials in Louisiana who took such an innovative approach to planning for recovery.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 6 US Inmates Launched a Nationwide Strike

On CNN, an article detailed the life of prisoners and their struggles in gaining independence. Recently there have been uprisings across the country for freedom. Prisoners are claiming that the prison system is allowing the inmates to be treated as slaves in a legalized manner. The Supreme Court ruled that the prison must be clean and a healthy environment for prisoners to live in, "[y]et the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution, while banning slavery, allows prisoners to work for little to no pay, in what inmate advocates say crosses the limits of human decency, amounting to modern-day servitude." The quote from the article describes a dangerous battle between inmates and the government; while the inmates struggle to find independence, they begin to band together and form riots. The government has made significant efforts to improve prison facilities, but it is obviously not making the prisoners feel as if they have equal rights. The prisoners deserve minimum wage and while the debate rages on, prisoners become more likely to revolt.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 6 Polls Show Battleground

On Politico, an article described a recent poll taken on Friday, claiming that the race was tightening. This was before the Comey letter was released and Trump has since tweeted marking that he is in the lead. Though the announcement of the criminal investigation was late, some may still consider it an October surprise. It will be interesting to see if the announcement of the investigation will lead to any backlash on Clinton and whether it will severely affect her campaign.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 6 2015 Airport Machete Rampage

On CNN, a video shows a man in the TSA lines at an airport pull a machete from his waistband and proceed to swing it at nearby civilians. The man was shot three times and died the next day in the hospital, but the horrors of the situation still haunt people a year later. The situation raises questions about gun control, weaponry, and mental illness. The man was said to have a mental illness, which makes officials question why this man wasn't cared for and if we should vamp up our mental health facilities. The government has yet to take a stand on this issue, but it's clear that airports need more security tactics and we should improve our mental health facilities.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 6 Shopping Technology

Recently on CNN, I watched a video detailing consumerism in malls today. Retailers are starting to track what you look at, what you touch and try on, and classify what kind of shopper you are. They evaluate you before you even walk into their store with your likes or dislikes on profiles like Facebook or Amazon. Technology is starting to allow us to have less anonymity and become categorized as a society. Though some may see this as crossing new territory for commercialism and consumerism, others are arguing that it's a debate about privacy. The same software that retailers use to track what displays you are looking at with heat cameras, the government could use to track what locations you go to on a daily basis. The debate still continues whether this is moral or not and whether the government should put a stop to all of the patrolling on the internet and in stores in malls today.

New Senate Race Research

        On November 8th, voters in Missouri will be voting either Senator Roy Blunt (the Republican incumbent) or Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander. Jonathan Dine, Fred Ryman, Jonathan McFarland, Gina Bufe, and Patrick Lee are also running in the general election. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is going to spend $3.5 million to support Jason Kander. Jason Kander is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Joe Biden, Al Franken, the League of Conservative Voters, Sierra Club, Jay Nixon, etc.. Jason Kander supports the middle class, advocates for veterans and military families, as he was previously a soldier, and he believes in women's rights. His main contributors are the University of Missouri and Simmons Hanly Conroy. Jason Kander has raised  $9,516,888.00 and spent $6,019,823.00. Kander is pro-Hillary. He graduated from Georgetown Law School and majored in Political Science at American University. He very obviously believes in the right to bear arms as his previous ads have shown. The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has spent over 1.5 million to support Kander's memorable campaign ads titled "Background Checks," and "All of Us."

Missouri has a population of 5,595,211 people. The median household income of Missouri ranges from $53,000 to $71,000. Missouri has major industries in transportation, especially cars, alcoholic beverages, and aerospace technology. Missouri leans Democratic, but only at 48.8%, while the Republican vote is 37.9%. Missouri considered is a swing state. Trump has made campaign visits to Missouri since August 22nd. Hillary established the Missouri Leadership Council in Missouri in 2015 and has made multiple stops in Kansas City at churches and Baptist Conventions. Missouri is neither anti-Hillary nor anti-Trump.

Roy Blunt is the incumbent in the Missouri Senate and is running for a second term. Blunt is currently endorsed by John R. Bolton, George W. Bush, Ted Cruz, the National Rifle Association, and the United States Chamber of Commerce. He attended Missouri State University and Southwest Baptist University. Blunt has been in the government since 1997. Roy Blunt is pro-life, thinks taxes should be decreased, supports gun control, and doesn't support government funding for energy or environmental programs. He has raised $14,352,574.00 and spent $10,436,064.00, he is heavily endorsed by the Crawford Group, Goldman Sacs, and Captial One Financial.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 5 NYPD Shooting

Today on CNN, a video claimed that there was a shooting between a mentally disturbed black woman and a NY policeman. The policeman was supposed to use precautions because he supposedly knew that the lady was unstable, however, he overlooked his training and fired two shots whenever the woman advanced towards the policeman with a baseball bat in hand. The story is very touchy because there have been many shootings and conflicts between cops and civilians, so this only adds to the flame, considering that she was a black woman and the cop was a white man. The government is debating implementing better training, security, and handling of situations by cops to settle the conflicts. The past situations between policemen and innocent people have caused quite an uproar on social media, and among the government and public eye. 

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 5 Bob Dylan

Though this is hardly political, it is important to American history and literature. Bob Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for song writing and composing. Though the article on CNN claims that he hasn't been heard from regarding when he will receive the prize, it is a milestone in history. With the election coming up, it is important that we appreciate the little things in life that aren't political. There is controversy surrounding if he deserves the award and if he will receive it since he hasn't been in contact with officials about the award.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 5 Passports

On CNN, there was an article regarding eyeglasses in Passport photos. Starting very soon, the government will require people to remove their glasses in order to take their picture for their Passport. Officials have claimed that it will help make Passport photos have more "consistency," but there is a conspiracy and controversy that it will make it easier for the government to improve their photo recognition and tracking of people through photos and identification like Passports and IDs. In 2017 there will be no more glasses in Passport photos, but whether it's to make the spectrum of photos more consistent, or to make it easier for the government to use facial recognition to track us, is still being debated.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 5 Claudia Tenney in the Congressional Race

On Breitbart, I read an article about one of Claudia Tenney's opponents. Her opponent, Babinec, took a poll in September and claimed that he would be the one to win in the November election. Currently, there is still debate surrounding who will win, as the 22nd District's incumbent is not running for reelection. The District is Republican by three, so naturally it is predicted that Claudia Tenney will win, though Babinec's self made poll states otherwise. It will be interesting to see who wins in the upcoming election.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 5 Obama Mars Mission

On CNN, I watched a video about Barack Obama's love of science. He is extremely involved in events including science in the White House and hosts many guests for science fairs and receptions. Obama has just recently decided to fuel the debate regarding Mars and if a NASA mission to Mars is feasible, according to Obama it is. Space camps, NASA, and other organizations are moving toward missions on Mars and fundraising for space initiatives and groups. There is still debate surrounding whether these projects can be supported but it is to be determined in the next two years according to CNN.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 4 Washington Mal Shooting

I recently blogged about the Washington Mall Shooting, and I can now follow up on my previous post. On CNN, I watched a video claiming that they had successfully caught and detained the shooter at the Cascade Mall. No action has been made yet in better security in the mall or better gun control, but it is obvious that there needs to be better security in public places. The president or any government official has yet to speak out on the subject, but Mayor Sexton of Washington has said that precautions need to be put in place to protect ourselves and our families.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 4 Washington Mall Shooting

On Friday night, one man attacked and killed five at a state mall in Washington. He carried a rifle and  was wearing all black; he shot four women and one man. CNN covers the story in a video claiming that they haven't found or seen the man since he fled the scene. This is extremely unsettling because I was in a mall just this morning, so I sympathize with the shoppers who thought they were just going to buy a nice sweater set. The government hasn't spoken out on this issue yet, but it's clear that the topic and controversy remains in gun control and malls and public safety precautions.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 4 Are killer robots the only solution to lionfish plague?

On CNN, a story claimed that lionfish are beginning to feast on schools of fish at an alarming rate. To combat the lionfish, groups have developed robots to find, contact, and kill lionfish. They are making an income off of lionfish jewelry, meat, and skin, as it's seen as an exotic delicacy. Though this might seem fine because it's saving other groups of marine life, there's controversy surrounding the issue of the distribution of the lionfish. Organizations and the United States government are debating at what point does the mass transport and sale of lionfish become illegal and unethical because it is an exotic species. The robots are still being used, but possibly not for much longer because of marine life rules surrounding the extinction of the poisonous species.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 4 The Age of the Superbug

In the Huffington Post, it's been said that officials meet more frequently to discuss antibiotics. Disease has slowly come and gone, but it's estimated to shoot back up in new generations. Infections and diseases like E. coli, Ebola, Zika and more are likely to resist antibiotics. The United Nations General Assembly and drug companies in the United States have been going back and forth debating what to do about these sudden sicknesses. This is because people are no longer responding to antibiotics and there is not a large enough supply of antibiotics to help everybody in need. The government will likely step in to address ideas of medical help, but right now, states and hospitals are still scrambling to find answers.

8-Day Blog Post: Cycle 4 Chelsea Manning

CNN details the story of a convicted felon who would like to undergo hormone therapy whilst still attending an all male prison. The felon, Chelsea Manning, previously Bradley Manning, leaked files to WikiLeaks and is facing fifteen years in prison. However, in 2013, Bradley Manning asked for a sex change. The government is providing hormone therapy and she is to have the procedure in the near future, though it sparks the controversy of whether this inmate should be given the privilege of having a sex change. Lots of arguments surround this topic because Chelsea was sent to an all male prison, so government officials have been debating whether to take this case to the Supreme Court, have policies past regarding sex changes in prison, and whether it should be allowed for a felon to have such privileges.

8-Day Blog Post: 9/11

Today on CNN, a complication of videos and quotes from footage shot during the 9/11 attacks were compiled into a dedication to those who lost their lives. Fifteen years ago today, many people thought nothing of the normal sunny morning, but many remain affected by the attacks, even today. There was little controversy regarding this topic, the only solution seemingly being to revamp and reestablish common ground in our international affairs and to provide complete security to Americans. Countless security procedures have been established as a result of the attacks. We will always remember September eleventh and the significance behind the day.

8-Day Blog Post: Photos Show Nuclear Facilities

A video on CNN explores the nuclear facility downfalls and the debt that follows. Fallen concrete, broken machines, and mold and other dangerous toxins reek havoc in old and crumbling nuclear buildings. The government is at war over whether we should or should not repair the facilities, whether we should wait for the next president to determine the solution, or whether we should leave it unkempt as it currently stands. Currently, the government is in court, arguing to find a proper solution for this growing problem, though it's obvious that the nuclear buildings are dangerous and will continue to crumble if action isn't taken soon.

8-Day Blog Post: Fewer Teens Pregnant, But They're Not Having Less Sex

Today on CNN, I read an article about increased use of contraceptives and decreased abortion statistics. Research has shown that in the last five years, teens and adults have been going to the abortion clinics less, while not decreasing their sexual activity. Instead, doctors and scientists have developed better forms of birth control and other contraceptives, which explains the decrease in abortion rates. The controversy still stands whether contraceptives should be offered to younger children, or if products should be covered by insurance including birth control. Depending on government spending, only time will tell if the abortion rate will continue to decrease and the forms of contraceptives become more effective.

8-Day Blog Post: NOAA Removes Most Humpback Whales From Endangered Species List

Recently on The Huffington Post, an article about humpback whales caught my eye. Humpback whales have been on the brink of extinction for the past ten years and it finally seems as if the whale population is growing again. The humpback whale has been placed under federal protection and they are protected in U.S. waters by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The government has aided in saving much of the marine life, yet there are still disputes regarding financing the growth of marine life. Hopefully, there will be compromise and the government can agree to support and help all marine life in the upcoming years.

8-Day Blog Post: Spy Agency Tweets it's Way into China Tiff

Recently on CNN, I read an article and watched a video regarding the allegations of President Obama's press team and officials hacking into Chinese security. The video claimed that the security force in China faced a mishap in their security system and not granting access to Obama's team. The international tension created in this technology access debacle raises the question of whether internet and technology laws should be enforced worldwide and/or if we should all integrate specific rules about technology and access of foreign countries.

8-Day Blog Post: Obama creating world's largest protected area off Hawaii coast

Recently on CNN, Obama has announced that there will be an expansion of a monument in Hawaii. The monument will protect marine life, the landscape of Hawaii, and studied by research groups regarding climate change. The monument presents a debate regarding if the government should become more involved in the preserving of the wild and marine life in the ocean and off of the coast of Hawaii, and whether we should be financing more groups in the search for a solution to climate change. As it is now, by 2050, lots of land could be presumably under water, including the Bahamas, the glaciers could melt in Iceland and the earth will be extremely hotter. The government needs to take control of our worldwide climate control problem and support our marine life before it's all gone in 2050.

8-Day Blog Post: The EpiPen Scandal

CNBC has exposed Maylan Pharmaceuticals with the EpiPen for lying, price gouging, and conspiring with officials so they reap benefits without paying taxes. Over the past ten years the price of the patented EpiPen has skyrocketed to over $600, while the government only pays $50 a unit for the military. The controversy revealed could be stopped and regulated if the government paid closer attention and put in place better royalty rate measures so companies can't make as large of a profit over medical appliances. I used to have an EpiPen and it certainly did not cost $600.

8 Day Blog Post: Transgender Bathroom Debate Rages On

On CNN, the headline of the intriguing article reads, "Transgender Bathroom Debate Rages On" detailing the difficult arguement of whether bathrooms should be gender neutral or transgender friendly. Most recently, Obama said he would cut educational spending if they refuse to integrate transgender bathrooms into their facilities, but some states have refused. Alabama, Mississippi, and many other states have backlashed by suing the federal government over the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To me, there should be no controversy over this, people, whatever gender, should use whatever bathroom they are comfortable with, especially if our president has fought already to implement the no gender bathrooms. As debate rages on, people begin to wonder why this matters, as I am already, your rights are guarenteed by the Constitution to protect you, so people shouldn't be discriminated against merely because of how they feel.

8-Day Blog Post: This Boy is a Reminder of the Horrors of War

On CNN, I watched a video of a young boy, presumably four or five, being pulled out of the rubble of his collapsed home in Aleppo, Syria. The boy has facial bleeding and is covered in dust and dirt from his childhood home. The media has used the image of the small child almost everywhere to convey that the outbreak of riots and fighting in Syria needs to end. Over 4,000 children have died in the country so far, so it's time for America to step up and take charge of the failing country. American government needs to be more involved in international affairs, however others believe that the government needs to withdraw more from international affairs. The controversy about this topic is overpowered by the gruesome images of women and children dying and the government should automatically go help and rescue it's country from failure.

8-Day Blog Post: Caster Semenya

I recently read a controversial article about Caster Semenya on CNN, claiming that she had elevated testosterone levels and resembled a man, even though she competed in the women's track events in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and in Berlin in 2012. Semenya's testosterone levels, which may seem meaningless, sparked arguments among officials debating whether she should be able to compete because of the levels. To me, it shouldn't matter what the testosterone level of a woman is, as long as she identifies as a woman. The idea that a possible Olympian could be stripped of their titles merely because of their gender and natural configuration is still being debated over by not only the Olympic officials, but also by our government.  Caster Semenya should be able to decide which gender she is and not be discriminated either way.

8-Day Blog: The Most Livable Cities

CNN declares Melbourne, Australia as the most livable city. In, "World's Most Livable City in 2016 is..." by Barry Neild, poverty and instability has fallen among cities like Paris, Athens, and Moscow. The government in these cities have changed over the years which makes me question how much the government should be involved with in international and foreign affairs and/or if we should be more prepared to help other cities and countries in need. Of course this would mean we would lose more money, but we could improve international relations and therefore make more allies. The most livable cities include Hamburg, Germany, and Melbourne, Australia, but with help from the American government cities like Athens and Caracas could make the list of most livable cities in the future.

8-Day Blog Post: Trump Statue: NYC

Most recently on CNN, life-sized naked statues of Donald Trump have been flooding New York parks, San Fransisco streets, and borders of Mexico. It is said in "NYC Parks Dept. issues cheeky response to naked Trump statue," by Theodore Schleifer, that anti-Trump groups have been assembling the illegal statues in protest all over the country. Words like, "Rape Trump" have been scrawled across the naked statuettes, raising the question of how far is too far? Trump hasn't made a statement yet, but it makes me wonder if art, especially political satire, should be regulated by the government or if there should be a subset of rules regarding the free speech amendment in the art world.

8-Day Blog Post: Obama to Visit Flood

Today I read a report by Nolan D. McCaskill about Obama's scheduled visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to assess the damage of the disastrous flooding. According to Politico, Obama was prompted to cancel part of his vacation because the floods have become almost as dangerous as Hurricane Sandy (McCaskill.) To me, the article, "Obama to visit flood-ravaged Louisiana next week," signified that America should have better procedures to prevent disaster/support to build shelters. Though this probably won't fly within the government, I think it'd be beneficial to have a more detailed disaster plan and it should be better funded so incidents like the flooding of Louisiana could be better contained.

8-Day Blog Post: Clinton's Health

This morning I watched a short video at Politico about Donald Trump criticizing Hillary Clinton's health, called, "Clinton camp rips 'terribly weak' Trump on health records." I found out that Trump is actually a year older than Clinton and the reporters claimed that Trump has been badgering Clinton for weeks now and going after her family at large. To me this raises a controversial question, should we regulate what presidential candidates say to each other and/or should the age be raised or lowered for those competing in the presidential race? Overall, the presidential race shouldn't even be about family history or age, it should be about the candidates views on global and local issues, not physical and social differences. 

8-Day News Blog Log: Women In Jail

I went to the Huffington Post and scrolled through about twenty different political campaign articles until I saw this one that caught my eye. "Women In Jail Are Fastest Growing Segment Of America’s Incarcerated Population" by Melissa Jeltsen details why women are quickly becoming more familiar with prison bars and sexual or domestic violence. Over the past several decades, prisons have been admitting larger numbers of women than in the 1970s (Jeltsen.) Many women come from broken families and suffer from severe mental illnesses but are being put in jails instead of getting the help that they need. Jeltsen claims that to overcome the sudden admittance of women in jails, the government needs to support the women and provide them with money and the care that they need, and I could not agree more. Locally and nationally, we should be able to provide a woman with basic necessities outside of a jail cell. 

Most and Least Religious States

So far in the class we've talked about religion, our political views, current affairs, typology, and Tarzan. I've taken two PEW quizzes as follows: Political Typology Quiz (I got solid liberal, yet I have little to no definitive views on political issues) and The News IQ Quiz. "Most and Least Religious States" by Michael Lipka and Benjamin Wormald is a descriptive article detailing the importance of religion among the different states. Pictured below is the different states color-coded by "overall religiosity." 

2014 Religious Landscape Study, conducted June 4-Sept. 30, 2014.

Not surprisingly, Alabama is considered the most religious with 77% in the categories of religiosity, which are described as, "[the] four common measures of religious observance: worship attendance, prayer frequency, belief in God and the self-described importance of religion in one’s life." (Lipka, Wormald) I learned that it's relatively easy to determine whether you are religious or not merely based on if you go to church or if you believe in a higher being (i.e. God.) Political scientists might be interested in this information so they know how to communicate to one group of people through advertising or political campaigns as well as different values in speeches. 

US History Termination

The entire year, we've focused on movies and imagery from all around the country, ranging from the Dust Bowl to the very first cowboys. Through watching movies and analysis of text, I know how to identify different emotions or historical artifacts that I couldn't before. The year has taught me a lot about film making and the message behind the products or the author's purpose. We watched Glory, a documentary about a surfer, 13 Days, 12 Years a Slave and more. 13 Days was the last and most impactful movie we have watched so far and I'm so glad I got to learn more about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I love JFK and the movie was extremely educational and interesting, as was this year. Thank you Mrs. Lawson for a great year!

This is the quote that I looked at all year that I had written on my textbook cover that we made in class! 

Climate Science Letter

Dear Future Human,

I'm here to tell you about my findings on the science of climate! I have discovered that climate is a lot more complicated than you think. The causes, effects, evidence, and questions about climate change, and the science of climate will hopefully help you all figure out a way to maintain Earth and its climate issues. Many issues have plagued the Earth before your time: the Dust Bowl, tsunamis, earthquakes, wars, and global warming, to name a few. I've found that these problems have seriously hurt the Earth, but hopefully two hundred years from now, you'll be able to fix all of it!
Living in America right now, I look out and see a blue sky with green pastures of grass and cows roaming the Earth. However, in China, people look up and see only gray skies of smog and dry grass. This is a result of pollution and a difference in the way the ocean waves affect the climate and biomes of the Earth. Through research, I found that the EPA(1), a well-known organization of Earth researchers, says that climate change and the ozone layer work hand in hand in giving off different emissions of pollution and other harmful toxins. I learned that there's a decreasing ozone layer, which is a layer of atmosphere around the Earth that protects us from harmful rays of the sun. A thinning ozone layer means that people are more prone to disease and skin cancer, which could result in more problems in health care for your generation. 
The EPA information and similar findings from other researchers led me to the conclusion that the Earth is becoming warmer because of the thinning ozone layer. The problem with the ozone layer and a change in climate contribute to the warming of the earth because the thinning ozone layer allows more sun rays to hit the ocean and thus the ocean waves heat up the rest of the Earth. While this is all being predicted by scientists and is just a lot of concerned scientists talking right now, the research is crucial to make proper predictions about the climate change for two hundred years from now in your time. Hopefully, you'll have greener grass and a bright blue sky, but only if you and I both take the proper care of our Earth now and during your time. The research being done on these topics has fueled activists and campaigns worldwide to decrease the use of fossil fuels that deplete the ozone layer and increase climate change. Tools and software have been developed in different countries from Jamaica to China in the hopes of predicting climate and stopping fossil fuel emissions. 
In my research, I found that the most successful tool, the Climate Predictability Tool(2), has been adopted in countries worldwide to help lessen emissions of fossil fuels, help predict the dry seasons, and predict other natural disasters within the country. I found at Inter Press Service(2) that the "Climate Predictibility Tool"(2) was first adopted by Jamaica in the hopes of predicting rainfall, sufficient farm crop usage, and drought based on software and soil samples. The tool was to set off alerts to the government and citizens so they could prepare for a bad crop that season or take shelter in times of natural disaster. Tools like this that predict the climate and changes of the weather will probably be more advanced and accurate during your time, helping to save lives in times of bad weather anomalies.
Today, we have weather forecasts that range from hourly changes to weeklong temperatures. According to the American Meteorological Society in "Estimating Weather and Climate Predictability,"(3) there are presently two ways to predict climate: the traditional approach, which is nonlinear and dependent on attractors of the weather, sea, and climate; and the growth rates of errors, which is linear and is predicted based on the science of the past. Currently, we are only able to predict actual weather forecasts up to two weeks in advance. I found at The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (4), that El Niño is a predictable factor of climate change and can be forecasted up to six months in advance. El Niño is the movement of the ocean waves in one direction that either brings hot wind or cold wind to the continents each year. I also found that, "Global models are used worldwide to predict weather, and are constantly improving," (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [4]) I sincerely hope that by two hundred years from now, the weather forecasts are so predictable and constant, that nobody suffers from drought or is caught by a deadly storm. 
Based on my research at Blue Planet Biomes and Koeppen's Climate Classification (5), I've learned that the climate is different in low, mid, and high latitude. Low latitude is based on equatorial tropical air masses, which can be swayed by El Nino; mid latitude is controlled by two different air masses, and high latitude is controlled by polar and arctic masses. High latitude areas are in the most danger because the Earth is warming, leaving less polar and arctic masses. "Tropical air masses in low latitudes are moving toward the poles and the polar air masses are moving toward the equator."(Blue Planet Biomes and Koeppen's Climate Classification [5]) This is a direct result of global warming, climate change, and the decreasing ozone layer. If in two hundred years, you still have these polar and arctic high latitude areas like Siberia and Canada, please protect and combat the problem in these two beautiful countries.
Scientists here in the year 2016 are having trouble predicting what the climate might be like in a few years, let alone two hundred. They are saying, "it appears unlikely that the decrease in ozone-depleting substances will lead to restabilization of the pre-1980 stratospheric ozone layer because of the competing and uncertain effects of further climate change." (Union of Concerned Scientists [6]) If you don't understand all the science jargon in that statement, they are basically saying that the world is doomed and will never return to how lively and thriving our atmospheric layers and climate was circa 1980. Based on their predictions, I found that the different layers of the atmosphere (a.k.a. the stratosphere), which is a layer relatively close to the Earth, is becoming hotter because of the ozone layer and climate change. Not to scare you, but your generation is going to have to do a lot of cleaning up after our generation. In the most basic terms, we are not only hurting the Earth and its core, but now space and more importantly, the different layers of the atmosphere surrounding Earth's orbit are affected. These same scientists say that, "poleward motions in the stratosphere and the strength of the polar stratospheric vertices are both expected to increase as temperature rises in the lower atmosphere," further proving my point that we are affecting areas with our climate change that are literally, out of this world. At this point in my research, I became less hopeful that there even could be life and an Earth to take care of in two hundred years, but there's a tiny light at the end of the tunnel, and it's climate predictability.
  Previously, I'd said that there are tools that scientists are developing all over the globe that are helping us close the gap between climate change and natural disasters. Through all of my scientific findings, I can safely say that if we continue to improve our software and scientific modifiers around the globe and expand to using tools that help predict the changes in the atmosphere, I think we'll be safe. If citizens in the year 2016 reduce their fossil fuel emissions, wear globs of sunscreen to decrease the risk of skin cancer, continue to improve their predictability tools, and find out how to reduce chlorofluorocarbons, we should be able to look outside in the year 2216 and see bright blue skies, great mounds of green grass, and healthy cows roaming. If you and I work together, along with the rest of the Earth, we'll in effect, save the atmosphere, the world, and everything living, and rid the Earth of all of it's climate issues. I know I have big ideas but just play along, this is all for a school project.
Sincerely,
Abby Schmidt
  

Above is a picture of the actual results of the Climate Predictability Tool in Jamaica (2) that shows where there could be drought or drying of the land

Footnotes

(1) EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a government run agency designed to protect human health and the environment. Basic facts about climate change, "Climate Change Facts: Answers to Common Questions".  

(2) Inter Press Service: A news agency dedicated to the news of the global south. Articles like the "Climate Predictability Tool" can be found in this online newsletter. 

(3) AMS: "The American Meteorological Society advances the atmospheric and related sciences, technologies, applications, and services for the benefit of society." I used this website to learn about the latitudes and weather patterns of the Earth. 

(4) IPCC: "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change." "Predictability of the Climate System" 

(5) Blue Planet Biomes is a website about world climates and the Koeppen's Climate Classification. I later found out that this website was created by two teachers and a class of middle schoolers, however the information is true and corresponds with everything I've previously found on the topic of climate change. "Climate Zones" by Arthur N. Strahler
(6) The Union of Concerned Scientists is a corporation dedicated to using science to solve problems. It is a "nonprofit science advocacy agency" (Wiki). There are message boards and experts where scientists debate current world issues like climate change. The website is managed by Kurt Gottfried and Way Kendall. "Is There a Connection between the Ozone Hole and Global Warming?"