Book Review: Miracle on the River Kwai

Do you have a deep interest in World War 2? Have you been wanting a historically accurate perspective that tells what really happened? Then you might want to read Ernest Gordon’s book Miracle on the River Kwai. Ernest Gordon was a P.O.W. of the Japanese, and one of the few who survived. Ernest wrote one of the greatest WW2 books we have; though he once said this of Miracle on the River Kwai, “I never seriously considered writing a book about my experience as a prisoner of war of the Japanese until it was suggested…” Being as Gordon wasn’t a writer his book is not filled with dramatic writing or exciting adventure, it is simply an account of what happened. Gordon records what happened from his point of view, with the help of certain accounts from fellow prisoners and others. Gordon does not try to make his book dramatic or even necessarily descriptive, yet the goriness and awfulness of the war come out through the facts he records. The truths of the Japanese prison camps were far from pretty. That’s what Miracle on the River Kwai is: a statement of the bloody truth. Yet Gordon also portrays another face of the camps. A face of hope, unity, and shining beauty in the midst of darkness. He talks of kindness, love, and self-sacrifice coming back to life during a time of great oppression. Ultimately his book speaks of the saving grace of Christ sweeping through the people in those prison camps.
Ernest Gordon starts off his book with an excerpt of his experience in the ‘death house’ of the Chungkai prison camp. Then he goes back to when he first went off to war. Ernest went from Ireland with the 93rd highlanders of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders down to the battlefront in the south Asian countries. The book then proceeds through Gordon’s attempted escape from the war and his capture, all the way to his liberation and return home. Before Gordon was captured by the Japanese he and a crew of about six others, from all branches of the military, joined up and made a plan. They bought a prahu called the ‘Setia Berganti’ from local Malays. On this vessel the group of men managed to sail away from the failing English forces in Malaysia. He and his friends were well supplied, prepared and experienced. The group’s trip seemed to be going well. They were headed for India and freedom, though at one point they considered taking up residency on a little island out in the Indian Ocean. Their voyage ended shortly after their island stop. They were spotted and captured by the Japanese only a couple of weeks after their departure from the war zone. Afterwards the group was transported back to the Singapore coast, and then to the prison camp of Changi. At Changi the signs of humanity and civilization began to die: people began to degrade into selfishness and chaos. From there Gordon was moved to Banpong in Thailand. Conditions in these camps were dirty and degrading. The rations were meager and consisted mainly of nutrient drained rice. The P.O.W.s often had to build their own shelters at these camps. Men descended into madness and every man looked out only for himself. They attacked each other for scraps from the Japanese officer’s tables. They picked valuables off the dead. No one cared for the sick and dying, who were so abundant. Cruelty and selfishness were the order of the day. Japanese guards would beat the prisoners for any infraction. After Banpong Gordon and some of his fellows were moved to Chungkai. At Chungkai the prisoners had to build their own camp again. Conditions didn’t improve after this move, if anything they only got worse. Along with the already degraded state of humanity the P.O.W.s now were being forced to build a six year long building project in 12 months: the bridge and railroad over the River Kwai. Conditions at Chungkai seemed to continually get worse then slowly things seemed to change for the better. Stories of self-sacrifice and the kindness of fellow P.O.W.s spread among the camp. These stories started to inspire kindness among all P.O.W.s and soon conditions began to improve. Not because the rations were bigger. Not because there was less disease and death, but because men were regaining their humanity. Compassion and trust were starting to spread throughout the camp at Chungkai. Because of the kindness of two friends, Dusty and Dinty, Gordon lived through several diseases during this time. Eventually a ministry was started. Those healthy enough to get around smuggled in meat, eggs, and greens from the local villages and gave them to the sick and new arrivals. Artificial legs were invented form the surrounding jungle materials. Those who couldn’t get around made little gifts for others. A general air of hospitality spread throughout the camp. University classes and a church were started. An orchestra came about. Concerts and shows were put on, and out of the darkness came hope. Eventually the war ended, and the P.O.W.s that had lived returned home and struggled to get back to a normal life.
Miracle on the River Kwai is an excellent book that tells of the true nature of the Japanese prison camps. It is a very good read, though the language is a little confusing being as it was written in older Ireland English. Therefore some of the terminology is a bit confusing. Overall the book is very enjoyable, but not suggested for younger readers as it is quiet graphic. Ernest Gordon’s book invokes much thought though, making it a worthwhile read.

News may 15

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8044329.stm
Almost a year after the Sichuan earthquake disaster, China calls for improved response. China is initiating a new policy, which calls for bigger relief stocks, satellite forecasting, and training for thousands of officials. This new policy is being initiated to help out with the recovery from the Sichuan disaster. The Sichuan disaster killed more than 80,000 people, including 5,300 children. But not everybody is happy with the undergoing projects. Many parents of the dead children are afraid that they “will not be allowed to properly commemorate the disaster’s anniversary.” This is because of school rebuilding projects.

Early road aid leaves out neediest, study finds
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30681842/
Obama’s new road and bridge stimulus package is going to the wrong place, according to many people across the nation. The stimulus is meant to make more jobs and improve areas that have a high unemployment rate. But apparently states are planning on using the money in areas that already have low unemployment rates. One example of this is in Elk County, Pa. And Riley County, Kan. Accordingly Elk County with its 13.8 unemployment rate isn’t receiving any road money while Riley County, Kan., with it’s 3.4 unemployment rate is receiving about $56 million. Obama’s new stimulus seems to be drawing quite a bit of controversy.

Official: More than 1M child prostitutes in India
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/11/india.prostitution.children/index.html?eref=rss_world
An alarming statistic has been found in India. According to the country’s federal police “around 1.2 million children are believed to be involved in prostitution in India”, and that is only 40% of the almost three million prostitutes in the country. Also according to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) India is “a source, transit nation and destination of this trade.” India’s home secretary Madhukar Gupta remarked that at least 100 million people were involved in human trafficking in India; though the exact number is difficult to determine due to the secret nature of the crime.

Brazil boosts flood aid for 308K left homeless
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-05-11-brazil-floods_N.htm?csp=34
Hundreds of millions remain homeless in some of the worst flooding Brazil has had in almost two decades. The number of dead is up to 308,000 people now, with more missing. According to Dorothea de Araujo “Food and water are priorities because people are drinking contaminated water.” Volunteers are working with the military to deliver food and water to flood victims.

Restaurant Review: Oliva's Kitchen

Looking for some good authentic Mexican food? Then you might want to try Oliva’s Kitchen: Mexican Restaurant. This authentic Mexican restaurant has some of the best and most filling foods around. But it’s not your typical Mexican restaurant. You’re not going to find your normal amount of rice and beans here. The menu is instead filled with more bready, meat-filled, vegetable dishes. It’s also almost impossible to find something on the menu that won’t fill and average person. The atmosphere was very relaxed and enjoyable. A various mix of Mexican/Spanish and American music filled the background. The relaxed environment encouraged much kicked-back conversation and joking. The service is friendly, halfway bilingual (quite literally, only some of them are bilingual), and very attentive. You almost never haft to worry about waiting to be waited on. The waiters check in enough to keep you happy and not so much that they annoy you. Also, the waiters that are bilingual are very tolerant as they are willing to work with us English speakers while we attempt to practice our Spanish. The staff at Oliva’s also does very well with large groups. Señora Brutlag’s Spanish 2 and 3 classes went together, creating a crowd of around 20. Even with this many people and more ordering in both Spanish and English we didn’t even have one order wrong, from what I heard anyway. Besides the atmosphere and service the food was also exquisite. Most everyone had high complements about the food, which ranged from quesadillas to burritos to carne asado and soup. Many thanks were given to the cooks as we were leaving. While we we’re at Oliva’s a student convinced about a third of the group to order horchadas, or Spanish rice milk. Most of them decided that the drink was pretty good though strange and quite something else at first sip. My opinion was that it was drinkable but slightly upsetting to the stomach and taste buds, and not worth ordering again. Overall Oliva’s Kitchen provided an amazing place to dine. Their service is great, their atmosphere relaxed, and their food exquisite. So whether you want to go chill with friends and good food or need something filling after a days work, Oliva’s Kitchen is the place to go.

Artical: "Last Call" Final

There was quite a show going on at TRHS at noon, Wednesday the 22nd of April, a show called “Last Call” “Last Call” was put on by the local fire and police departments and the hospital with the help of Sheridan Media and a handful of Tongue River High Students. The event started out with all the Tongue River High students and teachers heading out to the parking lot. Once we were all settled in, the “Last Call” skit started. The scene was already set up. Paige Miller lay ‘dead’ on the parking lot a good many feet from the wrecked car. Inside the wrecked vehicle were Colton Caywood, Kelsie Dellos and Andrew Orchard. Sean Chalfant was sitting dazed in the other mainly undamaged vehicle involved the ‘crash’. Logan Pawlowski was narrating from the Sheridan Media van. Logan started off by introducing the scene. Andrew Orchard and his friends had been driving home from Prom when Sean, who had been drinking, hit them. The impact caused Paige to be ejected from the vehicle while crushing the front end of it. A passerby had called the police to report the incident. The passengers in the vehicle begin to wake and move. Andrew was the least injured in the wrecked car and he began scrambling to get out of the vehicle. All three were calling for someone to get them out. As Andrew scrambled out of the vehicle, police began to arrive. One officer went over and restrained Andrew, who had seen Paige and was calling to her. The other officer went over and started to question Sean. A moment later a fire truck arrived. The firemen then began helping the police. A fireman went over a checked Paige for a pulse and assessed her as dead. Next the ambulance arrived. The paramedics checked Paige and upon assessing her as dead, they covered her with a white sheet and went to help the others. Andrew was put on a stretcher and taken to the ambulance to be checked for further injuries. A paramedic got in the wrecked car to put a neck brace on Kelsie and to steady her. Meanwhile, firemen began the operation of removing the vehicle’s roof in order to remove the injured safely. While they were removing the roof Colton complained of not being able to feel his legs, and it was afterward assessed that he had a serious injury and would need to be transported to Casper for treatment. While the firemen worked on getting to the injured Sean was attempting to walk in a straight line. After failing the sobriety test Sean was handcuffed and taken by the police. Logan informed us that he would be taken to court later, fined and charged for DUI and vehicular homicide. About this point, Kane Funeral Home showed up to take Paige’s body to the funeral home. They would have the sad job of calling her parents to inform them of the tragedy. Finally, the firemen removed the roof of the wrecked car and the paramedics were able to safely remove the injured and transport them to the hospital. Logan Pawlowski then concluded his narration by informing us of the fates of those involved. Sean would go to prison. Colton would live the rest of his life in a wheelchair, immobilized. Kelsie and Andrew would recover and go on to college. All would live with regrets and none of them would be the same anymore.
After the “Last Call” skit the whole school filed into the auditorium for some follow up messages. Janice Schoonmaker, leader of ‘the line’ program, read a speech and a poem on the dangers of drinking and driving. The poem was called the “Party Poem” and it spoke of one who did all the right things and yet died because of a drunk driver. After her a lady with a last name of Davidson presented a video, Rearview: Looking Back, about several people whose lives were ruined because of driving to fast or driving distracted. After these presentations there was a question and answer with ‘Boot’, our school cop, a paramedic, the man from Sheridan Media, and the students who acted in the skit. The program ended around two o’clock.

News April 30th

Russia captures Somalia pirates
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8023951.stm
“Twelve armed pirates in two boats have been captured by the vigilante groups,” regional leaders in Somalia’s northern Puntland reported Tuesday. This is due to a new militia of fishermen which have been put together in order to catch pirates. All this came about after a pirate vessel was seized by a Russian warship. This seizure was made after guns and navigation equipment were found on the vessel by Russians. Russians suspect that these pirates have launched two unsuccessful attacks against Russian tanker crews.

Attacks have a ripple effect on Iran-Irag ties
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-04-28-iraqshrine_N.htm?csp=34
Recent bombings in Baghdad have killed dozens of Iranian pilgrims. “They want to tear the Shiites of Iraq and Iran apart,” said Ridhaei of Tehran. At least 118 people were killed in these back-to-back bombings, most of them Iranians. Hamid al-Mualla, and Iraqi member of parliament, claims that it is clear that al-Qaeda (in Iraq) is responsible for the bombings. He says that they are trying to “restart the sectarian war…break our strong relationship with Iran… and send a message that Iraq is still not safe.”

Florida Pinpoints Cause Of Polo Horse Deaths
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103587493&ft=1&f=1001
Toxic levels of a mix of minerals which help muscles recover from fatigue have been determined as the cause of death in the 21 polo horses. The mix mainly consisted of selenium and was made by a Florida pharmacy in order to copy a name-brand supplement known as Biodyl. It hasn’t been decided yet whether the problem was caused during the mixing done by the veterinarian or if it was a pharmacy error. Either way incorrect amounts of selenium were in the vitamins which were given to the horses. And toxic levels of it were found in the horses, and is being blamed as the cause of death.

At Least Four Dead, Dozens Injured in Central California Tour Bus Crash
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518301,00.html
A fully loaded tour bus overturned on U.S. 101 in Soledad California. At least four people are dead with four more in critical condition and few others injured. The tour bus was from a company called Orion Pacific, which is described as a luxury charter coach company. Reportedly 26 people were on board when the bus overturned and crashed into the guardrail. They highway was shut down for a few hours after the crash as emergency workers got to the injured. It is not known yet how many have been injured in this crash.

Op-Ed

In response to Kim Caywood’s ‘Unfair rules in the New School’
It is quite exciting to move into a new school. And yes there are certain things that we could live with being changed, but the new rules aren’t necessarily one of them. Though I understand the annoyance with many of the new rules, they really aren’t unreasonable. And some people do agree with and follow them. First off, the food and drink rule isn’t that bad, and isn’t hard to follow. After all is it unfair for our principle to want to keep the school clean? Though I understand that us kids get hungry during the day, we can still keep the food out of the classrooms. There is a commons area where we can eat. Store a snack in the fridge and arrange times that you can eat them. I’m sure you can work out with some teachers to go to the commons, eat a snack real quick and go back to your class. And if you need a snack for after school you can do the same thing. Store a snack in the commons fridge and eat it real quick after school. As for the drinks, anything but water can also be easily stored in the commons area and consumed during lunch or other times in the commons area. If you need a drink during class there are water fountains and teachers do allow you to go get a drink. Although on the point of water, I do believe the rules could be modified. Now to the coat rule. Is a hoodie that different than a coat? If you get a good hoodie it can keep you just as warm as any coat. And if one hoodie doesn’t do it bring two, layer up! Besides why is it so important to wear a coat or leather man rather than a hoodie? The hallway rule is also very reasonable. During the lunch hour all we’re going to do is go down and eat lunch. Then we sit around a visit for a while till the next bell. What do we need to get out of our lockers during this time? If you brought a sack lunch you should get it at the beginning of lunch. And anything else you either really don’t need or you can get on your way to lunch. There’s nothing that important in our lockers that we need to be able to access them during the half hour of lunch. Overall these new rules really aren’t that hard to follow and shouldn’t be that much of a problem. As for regaining the peace between students and teachers, is there supposed to be a peace? After all they are our teacher and authorities, not our friends. And the exact reason you stated is why they haven’t given our freedoms back. ‘Students still bring water and food into classrooms, and still war their coats’. Which means we’re disobeying the rules. Should we be rewarded for disobedience by getting our freedoms back?

Article: Last Call (draft)

There was quite a show going on at TRHS at noon, Wednesday the 22nd of April. A show called “Last Call” “Last Call” was put on by the local fire and police departments and the hospital with the help of Sheridan Media and a handful of Tongue River High Students. The event started out with all the Tongue River High students and teachers heading out to the parking lot. Once we were all settled in, the “Last Call” skit started. The scene was already set up. Paige Miller lay ‘dead’ on the parking lot a good many feet from the wrecked car. Inside the wrecked vehicle were Colten Caydwood, Kelsie Dellos and Andrew Orchard. Shawn Chalfant was sitting dazed in the other mainly undamaged vehicle involved the ‘crash’. Logan Polowski was narrating from the Sheridan Media van. Logan started off by introducing the scene. Andrew Orchard and his friends had been driving home from Prom when Shawn, who had been drinking, hit them. The impact caused Paige to be ejected from the vehicle while crushing the front end of it. A passerbyer had called the police to report the incident. The passengers in the vehicle begin to wake and move. Andrew was the least injured in the wrecked car and he begin scrambling to get out of the vehicle. All three were calling for someone to get them out. As Andrew scrambled out of the vehicle police began to arrive. One officer went over and restrained Andrew who had seen Paige and was calling to her. The other officer went over and started to question Shawn. A moment later a fire truck arrived. The firemen then began helping the police. A fireman went over a checked Paige for a pulse and assessed her as dead. Next the ambulance arrived. The paramedics checked Paige and upon assessing her as dead they covered her with a white sheet and went to help the others. Andrew was put on a stretcher and taken to the ambulance to be checked for further injuries. A paramedic got in the wrecked car to put a neck brace on Kelsie and to steady her. Meanwhile firemen begin the operation of removing the vehicles’ roof in order to remove the injured safely. While they were removing the roof; Colten complained of not being able to feel his legs and it was afterward assessed that he had taken serious injury and would need to be transported to Casper for treatment. While the firemen worked on getting to the injured Shawn was attempting to walk in a strait line. After failing the drunkenness test Shawn was handcuffed and taken by the police. Logan informed us that he would be taken to court later, fined and charged for DUI and vehicular homicide. About this point Kane funeral home showed up to take Paige’s body to the funeral home. They would have the sad job of calling her parents to inform them of the tragedy. Finally the firemen removed the roof of the wrecked car and the paramedics were able to safely remove the injured and transport them to the hospital. Logan Polowski then concluded his narration by informing us of the fates of those involved. Shawn would go to prison. Colten would live the rest of his life in a wheelchair, immobilized. Kelsie and Andrew would recover and go on to college. But all would live with regrets and none of them would be the same anymore.
After the “Last Call” skit the whole school filed into the auditorium for some follow up messages. Janice Scoonmaker, leader of ‘the line’ program, read a speech and a poem on the dangers of drinking and driving. The poem was called the “Party Poem” and it spoke of one who did all the right things and yet died because of a drunk driver. After her a lady with a last name of Davidson presented a video, Rearview: Looking Back, about several people whose lives were ruined because of driving to fast or driving distracted. After these presentations there was a question and answer with ‘Boot’ our school cop, a paramedic, the man from Sheridan Media and the students who acted in the skit. The program ended around two o’clock.

DVD review; Flywheel

Are you tired of all the modern films that seem to lack both purpose and message? Then Sherwood Pictures has a DVD for you: Flywheel. Produced in 2003 by a church called Sherwood Baptist in Albany, Georgia, this film was the first of three amazing family films. Sherwood produced Flywheel as a local outreach to their community. The film was made in 5 months with a $20,000 budget and premiered in the local theater. The film was so popular that the theater kept it showing for six weeks. After that it continued to spread and pretty soon Flywheel was being shown nation wide. Flywheel is pretty obviously a first film, but its message, characters and storyline make up for that. The film looks more like a fancied-up home picture than a Hollywood film. It has good music, well done voices and good lighting, but it doesn’t have all the animation and finishing effects we’re all so used to. But that homemade feel actually helps the movie out. It looks more realistic allowing its message to hit harder and sink in deeper. The story is about a dishonest used car salesman, Jay Austin, who’s starting to go down hill. He has some serious debt, his son doesn’t look up to him and his marriage is falling apart. But one day something happens that begins to change his life. The pastor of Jay’s church comes to buy a car. Jay sells him a car for about $3,000 more than it was worth. The pastor naively believes that he got a good deal and prays that God will do unto Jay as Jay had done unto him. Jay knows he was dishonest and what the pastor intended as a blessing appears as a curse. Then begins a radical change for Jay. He realizes his mistakes and dedicates his life and his car lot to God. Things in his life start to improve. But Jay’s troubles aren’t over yet. Flywheel shows how God is faithful to those that truly follow him. It also has a very strong message about faith and prayer. Throughout the whole movie, Jay’s family continually prays for him and supports him when he makes good choices. They also try to point out his errors and help him change them, even though he doesn’t want to change at first. After Jay dedicates his life to God he starts to live off of faith. Faith that God will help him become a better husband, father and man in general. Faith that God will do what is best for Jay. And faith that God would come through and deliver Jay on His own timing. The film did and incredible job of getting these messages across. The sets for this film were very simple: consisting of Sherwood church, Jay’s home, the car lot and various other houses. The acting was realistic and very good considering that none of the people in this movie had any training. God truly blessed the people behind this film and allowed them to make a great out reach ministry. Overall Flywheel was very enjoyable and worth watching a couple of times. I highly recommend it.

Editorial (final)

Do you Respect a lack of Respect?
Has anyone noticed the lack of respect that people tend to have anymore? It’s everywhere. You can see it in children who don’t respect their parents, students who don’t respect their teachers, workers who don’t respect their bosses, and millions of others who don’t respect the authorities that have been put over them. It’s extremely annoying too. (I mean is it that hard to show a little respect?) Do these people who seem to lack respect ever wonder why those others were put in positions over them, or how they feel when they aren’t respected as they should be? After all there are reasons why there are others in authority over us. And very legitimate ones at that. Have you ever
thought about what the world would be like without authorities or leaders? It would be utter chaos!
I mean sure there would be certain groups of people who could organize and govern themselves, but only by appointing leaders. And everywhere else would just be horrible. Without leaders and authorities everything that even hinted at order and functionality within groups of people would disappear.
Maybe it would not be this extreme but it would still be pretty bad. So what does the concept of the absence of authorities have to do with the lack of respect for those authorities? Well, have you ever thought about what exactly a lack of respect for someone is? When someone shows a lack of respect, usually for someone else, they are really implying that they wish that other person didn’t exist. Let’s look at an illustration of this concept.
Say Thomas, we’ll call him, doesn’t respect his local police officer, because Thomas drives just a little to fast and the police officer always pulls him over and gives him a ticket. The truth of the matter is this: that the police officer is just doing his job, maybe a little over zealously, but doing it nonetheless; and Thomas really should drive at the speed limit, not above it.
Thomas doesn’t respect the officer because Thomas really just wishes that the officer was gone, because Thomas really just wants to drive whatever speed he wants to. And if the officer wasn’t there, then Thomas could go whatever speed he wanted. But then again look at all the auto-accidents caused by people who don’t follow the speed limits. Overall the situation is that Thomas doesn’t want the police officer there so he can go any speed he wants to, so therefore Thomas doesn’t show any respect to the officer. This reason for disrespect is true in many other situations. For example: children often disrespect their parents because they set and enforce rules which the children don’t like. Students don’t respect their teachers because they assign homework and enforce school rules. Workers don’t respect their bosses because they give out to much work or to short of deadlines. And so on. Most of these authorities are just doing their job. Those under them though don’t like the job and wish the authorities gone, so they disrespect them.
Now don’t get me wrong here. This is not the only reason behind disrespect. There are as many good and valid reasons for disrespecting someone as there are bad and selfish ones. But this is one of the main causes of disrespect. This type of disrespect is so annoying for one main reason. In most of these situations, it’s not that hard to show some respect! Seriously! How hard is it to realize that those over you are only trying to do their jobs and disrespecting them only makes their lives harder. Is it so hard to give them a break and show a little respect, regardless of your opinions of them? It might not be a bad thing to consider, especially as we head out into the world. For someday we will undoubtedly be in a situation were we have others under us, and quite likely some of them will not respect us. If we learn how to respect others now we will better know how to handle situations with the disrespectful in the future. And something else to consider: By showing respect to those in authority over you, you make their lives easier and they in turn, will make your life easier.

News April 16

Loopholes Let Gun Smuggling to Mexico Flourish
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/us/15guns.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Problems on the Mexican border just keep getting bigger. And Mexico isn’t very happy about it. Mexico is blaming the U.S. for their extremely well armed drug cartels. And there’s a reason. According to Federal agents about 90 percent of the 12,000 pistols and rifles that Mexican authorities recovered from drug dealers last year were traced back to the United States. Though the A.T.F. and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have stepped up efforts, the gun smuggling problem is still growing.

Jobs are still roadblock on path to recovery
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30211915/
Is the economy improving? Are we coming out of the recession? Yes we are, but don’t get your hopes to high. According to John W. Schoen, the senior producer for msnbc.com, ‘It’s still about jobs, jobs, jobs.’ Even though things seem to be improving and President Obama is very hopeful, everything still depends on jobs. Because no jobs means no spending. And even when jobs do improve ‘there still will be plenty of work to clean up the financial mess’ according to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

N Korea orders UN inspectors out
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7999024.stm
Apparently UN talks with North Korea didn’t do what they were supposed to. A while ago North Korea agreed to cooperate with the UN’s policies on nuclear testing and attend talks. But North Korea has now put an end to that. Pyongyang has ordered all IAEA personal and equipment out of their country. This was done in response to controversy over the April 5th launch of a rocket. And the controversy is still continuing, as North Korea stated that the ‘April 5th launch was aimed at putting a communications satellite in orbit.’ Many other nations believe that it was a long-range missile test though.

Thai authorities order arrest of 14 people after protests
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/14/thailand.political.chaos/index.html?eref=rss_world
In Thailand Tuesday a mass arresting of “red shirt” protest leaders occurred. 14 anti-government leaders, including a former prime minister, were arrested. Four of the leaders surrendered to the police while others vowed to regroup and continue their protests to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of several “red shirt” leaders including Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, Jakrapob Penkair, Veera Musikapong and Nuttavut Saikuea, according to Maj. Gen. Tritot Ronnaritivichai. 123 people, including two dozen soldiers, were wounded in the arrests, while two were killed.

Do you respect a lack of respect?

Has anyone noticed the lack of respect that people tend to have anymore? It’s everywhere. You can see it in children who don’t respect their parents, students who don’t respect their teachers, workers who don’t respect their bosses, and millions of others who don’t respect the authorities that have been put over them. It’s extremely annoying too. (I mean is it that hard to show a little respect?) Do these people who seem to lack respect ever wonder why those others were put in positions over them, or how they feel when they aren’t respected as they should be? After all there are reasons why there are others in authority over us. And very legitimate ones at that. Have you ever thought about what the world would be like without authorities or leaders? It would be utter Chaos! I mean sure there would be certain groups of people who could organize and govern themselves, but only by appointing leaders. And everywhere else would just be horrible. Without leaders and authorities everything that even hinted at order and functionality within groups of people would disappear. Maybe it would not be this extreme but it would still be pretty bad. So what does the concept of the absence of authorities have to do with the lack of respect for those authorities? Well, have you ever thought about what exactly a lack of respect for someone is? When someone shows a lack of respect, usually for someone else, they are really implying that they wish that other person didn’t exist. Let’s look at an illustration of this concept. Say Thomas, we’ll call him, doesn’t respect his local police officer, because Thomas drives just a little to fast the police officer always pulls him over and gives him a ticket. The truth of the matter is this: that the police officer is just doing his job, maybe a little over zealously, but doing it nonetheless; and Thomas really should drive at the speed limit, not above it. Thomas doesn’t respect the officer because Thomas really just wishes that the officer were gone, because Thomas really just wants to drive whatever speed he wants to. And if the officer wasn’t there, then Thomas could go whatever speed he wanted. But then again look at all the auto-accidents caused by people who don’t follow the speed limits. Overall the situation is that Thomas doesn’t want the police officer there so he can go any speed he wants to, so therefore Thomas doesn’t show any respect to the officer. This reason for disrespect is true in many other situations. For example: children often disrespect their parents because they set and enforce rules which the children don’t like. Students don’t respect their teachers because their teachers because they assign homework and enforce school rules. Workers don’t respect their bosses because they give out to much work or to short of deadlines. And so on. All most of these authorities are doing is their job, but because those under them don’t like the authorities job and wish these authorities gone, they disrespect them. Now don’t get me wrong here. This is not the only reason behind disrespect. There are as many good and valid reasons for disrespecting someone as there are bad and selfish ones. But this is one of the main causes of disrespect. This type of disrespect is so annoying for one main reason. In most of these situations, it’s not that hard to show some respect! Seriously! How hard is it to realize that those over you are only trying to do their jobs and disrespecting them only makes their life harder. Is it so hard to give them a break and show a little respect, regardless of your opinions of them? It might not be a bad thing to consider, especially as we head out into the world. For someday we will undoubtedly be in a situation were we have others under us, and quite likely one of them will not respect us. If we learn how to respect others now we will better know how to handle situations with the disrespectful in the future. And something else to consider: By showing respect to those in authority over you, you make their lives easier and they in turn, will make your life easier.

Music Review: Pirates of The Caribbean: At World's End

Do you like soundtracks and instrumental music which portrays strong emotion? Then the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is the CD for you. This CD has 13 songs including ‘Hoist the Colours’, ‘What shall we die for’ and ‘Parlay’. About half of these songs are the generic Pirates of the Caribbean style that you would expect. But the other half have new twists and emotions about them. For example ‘Hoist the Colours’ and ‘What shall we die for’ are the only two songs out of all of the three Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack songs that include singing. They both feature the song ‘Hoist the Colours’ which is sung by the pirates in the movie. This adds a new and unique element to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks. Another unique song is the Asian sounding ‘Singapore’. This song adds a whole new face to At World’s End by characterizing a place through the music. For indeed this song brings vivid images of rickety buildings and bridges built over misty waterways filled with yelling, fighting Asian pirates. Another song helps to add something new to this soundtrack; ‘Parlay’. This song betrays intense emotion as it mixes in a common ‘wild west’ standoff song. This helps this soundtrack song to really do its job, which is to complete and complement the scene it matches with. The composer, Hanz Zimmer (nicknamed “Long John”), did a wonderful job on the mood and tone of this CD. He sets the tone as generally quiet yet strong and determined. The mood of the music is very obvious and strong. It has an overall sad undertone, but not as in a ‘poor me’ sadness, it’s more of a respectful sadness; like when people gather together to remember all the Jews killed in the Holocaust or all our fallen soldiers. The very music itself seems to quietly whisper of the pirates’ fate as if it knew what was going happen. And as you listen more it really is as if the music knew the struggles the pirates were going through also. For indeed it continually strengthens its beat at places as if to signify the collecting of drums and arms in preparation for war. But the music doesn’t just portray the pirates’ resilience it also shows their desperation, sadness and unity in remembrance of days gone by. For there are times when the steady beat slows and the music wails in sadness as if to lament for the pirates. There are also times when it seems to quiet and the beat seems to fade after an intense moment as if the pirates were in despair after a defeat. Then there are other times when the music style changes altogether to a quiet, gentle almost dreamish effect, which allow one to envision the glorious days of old and all the happy moments spent together that may all soon be gone. Overall the CD, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is a masterpiece, worthy of praise and much repeated listening to. Hanz Zimmer really did his best on this one, and it can be heard.

News April 2

Hundreds feared Dead off the Coast of Libya
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/31/libya.boat.sinks/index.html?eref=rss_world
Stormy seas caused catastrophes off the coast of Libya for thousands of African immigrants fleeing to Europe. High winds and heavy seas capsized several boats on Tuesday. More than 200 are confirmed dead with many more in question. 373 have been rescued. This migration of peoples came during the main smuggling season, and was caused by desperate conditions in the peoples home countries. "This tragic incident illustrates, once again, the dangers faced by people caught in mixed irregular movements of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean and elsewhere which every year cost thousands of lives," the U.N. agency said.

New CEO: More GM plant closings possible
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102563224&ft=1&f=1001
GM is considering the closing of more plants in order to meet the tougher requirements for government aid. They also need to cut more labor costs and get more concessions from bondholders. The company has 60 days to do all this. Their former CEO Rick Wagoner also just resigned, and Fritz Henderson stepped in as new CEO. The company is trying to avoid bankruptcy by making these radical changes.

Iran Signals Willingness to Join U.S. In Fight Against Afghan Drug Trade
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/31/iranian-diplomats-meet-afghan-conference/
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended an international conference on Afghanistan Tuesday. This conference allowed U.S. and Iranian diplomats to take baby steps towards thawing tensions between their countries. Iran's Mehdi Akhundzadeh also met with Richard Holbrooke. This meeting “did not focus on anything substantive. It was cordial, it was unplanned and they agreed to stay in touch," Clinton told reporters. The conference was day long and though it helped the relations between Iran and the U.S. was not much improved.

Italy Pushes For Steps to End Illegal Immigration Problem
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-31-voa47.cfm
Italy’s Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni is pushing to end the illegal immigration problem. And Italy backs him. After the tragedy Tuesday with the immigrants off the coast of Libya, Italians are pushing even harder for this traffic to end. Italy is now taking extra measures to keep these immigrants out.

The Great Fire at Fryberber Ranch(final)

It was in the evening, sometime near the end of January or beginning of February of the year 1963, when the great fire at Fryberger Ranch took place. It was an event to be remembered by residents of Dayton, Sheridan and all Soldier Creek Road. Harvey and Marilyn Fryberger were the co-owners of the Ranch at the time of the fire. The other co-owner was a married man named Frank who had four kids. At the time Harvey and Marilyn had one kid with the second one only a few weeks away from being born. The fire took place on one of the coldest evenings I’ve ever heard about. It was close to –45 degrees Fahrenheit outside when the fire started. Accordingly the fire was started in the stovepipes a little while before dinner. When Frank saw the fire he called Harvey, said ‘I think we have a fire’, and proceeded to put out the fire. Harvey bundled up and headed over to what is referred to as the ‘old house’. As Harvey was walking he saw a fire coming up through the roof of the house. When he arrived at the old house, Frank and family were sitting around eating dinner thinking that they had gotten the fire out. Harvey informed them that the fire was most definitely not out and he and the family then decided the house was lost and started getting everything out that they could. Meanwhile Marilyn Fryberger called the Sheridan and Dayton fire departments along with as many neighbors as she could to come and help put out the fire. Marilyn probably missed a few neighbors because the phone line burned out because of the fire, being as the lines where shared back then. Harvey was helping Frank and his family move everything out through the door. This was very slow going and Harvey realized that they could move things out faster through the big picture window. “I had a slight mental battle with myself as a person doesn’t just break out windows” Harvey recalled. Harvey did break the window and everything started to get taken out much faster. Because they were in a rush to get things out, a couple things were left behind. Harvey remembers perfectly two of the things which were left behind. The first was a large bag of dirty laundry. The fire happened on a Friday, and as Saturday was washing day, all the dirty laundry had been gathered into a bag. Apparently no one paid much attention to this bag and hence it was left behind. The second was an old broken china cup. Harvey had been gathering things out of the kitchen and he remembers very distinctly seeing the cup, assessing it as old, broken and useless and purposely pushing it aside. That would have been fine except that that old broken china cup was where Frank’s wife kept her very nice diamond wedding ring. Harvey reports that for days after him and Frank’s family dug through the ashes to try and find that ring. They never did and Harvey still believes that it is there somewhere, even though the fire burned hot enough that it burned everything in the house to ashes. By the time that most of the stuff had been moved out the fire trucks had arrived. The only problem was that it was still a –45 out and the fire trucks froze up. After the fire truck froze up the house fire became so intense that the tractor had to be brought out the pull the truck away from the house before damage was caused. Eventually the house burned down completely. Today all that can be seen of it is the concrete basement wall.

This great fire is remembered as the “most exciting and frightening thing that happened while we owned the ranch” according to Mr. and Mrs. Fryberger. Though Marilyn also stated “the birth of my three children was just as exciting.” This was just one of the many events that happened to the Frybergers during the five years that they resided on the Fryberger ranch. Some other fairly exciting and frightening events happened, including a windstorm during one January or February. Harvey recalls that the wind was blowing somewhere over 50mph but below 90mph. However fast it was blowing was fast enough to create a great amount of friction in the air, enough friction that the wind created lightning when there were no clouds in the sky. Harvey said that it was very frightening, though Marilyn doesn’t recall the event. Another event that both Harvey and Marilyn do recall though was one winter when it snowed enough to bury their car right out in front of their house. Other than these two events Harvey remembers the weather as fairly mild.

Much happened during the five years out on the ranch including the step by step building of the ranch house and the raising of various small herds of sheep and cattle. Overall Harvey and Marilyn look back on the time on the ranch as fairly peaceful and happy years. Harvey and Marilyn now live in Green Valley Arizona and are the parents of four children; Carol Myers, Sue Martin, David Fryberger, and Steve Fryberger. Sue Martin, my mother, is now caretaker of the ranch.

The Great Fire at Fryberber Ranch(edited)

It was in the evening, sometime near the end of January or beginning of February of the year 1963, when the great fire at Fryberger Ranch took place. “It was the most exciting and terrifying thing that happened while we owned the ranch” Harvey and Marilyn Fryberger recall. The Frybergers were the co-owners of the Ranch at the time of the fire. The other co-owner was a married man named Frank who had four kids. At the time Harvey and Marilyn had two kids with the third one only a few weeks away from being born. Some other fairly exciting and frightening events happened to the Frybergers during the 5 years that they resided on the Fryberger ranch. Marilyn stated that “the birth of my three children was just as exciting”. Harvey also recalled that an exciting weather event was a giant windstorm, and both recalled that there was one winter when it snowed so much it buried their car. Other than these two events Harvey remembers the weather as fairly mild. Much else happened during the 5 years out on the ranch including the step-by-step building of the ranch house and the raising of various small herds of sheep and cattle.

As for the windstorm it happened during one January or February. Harvey recalls that the wind was blowing somewhere over 50mph but below 90mph. However fast it was blowing was fast enough to create a great a mount of friction in the air, enough friction that the wind created lightning when there were no clouds in the sky. Harvey said that it “was very frightening”.

The great fire took place on one of the coldest evenings I’ve ever heard about. It was close to –40 degrees Fahrenheit outside when the fire started. Accordingly the fire was started in the stovepipes a little while before dinner. When Frank saw the fire he called Harvey, said ‘I think we have a fire’, and proceeded to put out the fire. Harvey bundled up and headed over to what is referred to as the ‘old house’. As Harvey was walking he saw a fire coming up through the roof of the house. When he arrived at the old house, Frank and family were sitting around eating dinner thinking that they had gotten the fire out. Harvey informed them that the fire was most definitely not out and he and the family then decided the house was lost and started getting everything out that they could. Meanwhile Marilyn Fryberger had called the Sheridan and Dayton fire departments along with as many neighbors as she could to come and help put out the fire. Marilyn probably missed a few neighbors because the phone line burned out because of the fire, being as the lines where shared back then. Harvey was helping Frank and his family move everything out through the door. This was very slow going and Harvey realized that they could move things out faster through the big picture window. He had a slight mental battle with himself as a person doesn’t just break out windows, but as the house was lost already, it would be okay. Harvey did break the window and everything started to get taken out much faster. Because they were in a rush to get things out, a couple things were left behind. Harvey remembers perfectly two of the things which were left behind. The first was a large bag of dirty laundry. The fire happened on a Friday, and as Saturday was washing day, thus all the dirty laundry was gathered into a bag to be washed. Apparently no one paid much attention to this bag and hence it was left behind. The second was an old broken china cup. Harvey had been gathering things out of the kitchen and he remembers very distinctly seeing the cup, assessing it as old, broken and useless and purposely pushing it aside. That would have been fine except that that old broken china cup was where Frank’s wife kept her very nice diamond wedding ring. Harvey reports that for days after him and Frank’s family dug through the ashes to try and find that ring. They never did and Harvey still believes that it is there somewhere, even though the fire burned hot enough that it burned everything in the house to ashes. By the time that most of the stuff had been moved out the fire trucks had arrived. The only problem was that it was still a –40 out and the fire trucks froze up. After the fire truck froze up the house fire became so intense that the tractor actually had to be brought out the pull the truck away from the house before damage was caused. Eventually the house burned down completely. Today all that can be seen of it is the concrete basement wall.

Overall Harvey and Marilyn look back on the time on the ranch as fairly peaceful and happy years. Harvey and Marilyn are the parents of 4 children; Carol Myers, David Fryberger, Sue Martin, and Steve Fryberger. Sue Martin, my mother, is now caretaker of the ranch.

The Great Fire at Fryberger Ranch

It was in the evening, sometime near the end of January or beginning of February of the year 1963, when the great fire at Fryberger Ranch took place. It was an event to be remembered by residents of Dayton, Sheridan and all Soldier Creek Road. Harvey and Marilyn Fryberger were the co-owners of the Ranch at the time of the fire. The other co-owner was a married man named Frank who had four kids. At the time Harvey and Marilyn had two kids with the third one only a few weeks away from being born. The fire took place on one of the coldest evenings I’ve ever heard about. It was close to –40 degrees Fahrenheit outside when the fire started. Accordingly the fire was started in the stovepipes a little while before dinner. When Frank saw the fire he called Harvey, said ‘I think we have a fire’, and proceeded to put out the fire. Harvey bundled up and headed over to what is referred to as the ‘old house’. As Harvey was walking he saw a fire coming up through the roof of the house. When he arrived at the old house, Frank and family were sitting around eating dinner thinking that they had gotten the fire out. Harvey informed them that the fire was most definitely not out and he and the family then decided the house was lost and started getting everything out that they could. Meanwhile Marilyn Fryberger had called the Sheridan and Dayton fire departments along with as many neighbors as she could to come and help put out the fire. Marilyn probably missed a few neighbors because the phone line burned out because of the fire, being as the lines where shared back then. Harvey was helping Frank and his family move everything out through the door. This was very slow going and Harvey realized that they could move things out faster through the big picture window. He had a slight mental battle with himself as a person doesn’t just break out windows, but as the house was lost already, it would be okay. Harvey did break the window and everything started to get taken out much faster. Because they were in a rush to get things out, a couple things were left behind. Harvey remembers perfectly two of the things which were left behind. The first was a large bag of dirty laundry. The fire happened on a Friday, and as Saturday was washing day, thus all the dirty laundry was gathered into a bag to be washed. Apparently no one paid much attention to this bag and hence it was left behind. The second was an old broken china cup. Harvey had been gathering things out of the kitchen and he remembers very distinctly seeing the cup, assessing it as old, broken and useless and purposely pushing it aside. That would have been fine except that that old broken china cup was where Frank’s wife kept her very nice diamond wedding ring. Harvey reports that for days after him and Frank’s family dug through the ashes to try and find that ring. They never did and Harvey still believes that it is there somewhere, even though the fire burned hot enough that it burned everything in the house to ashes. By the time that most of the stuff had been moved out the fire trucks had arrived. The only problem was that it was still a –40 out and the fire trucks froze up. After the fire truck froze up the house fire became so intense that the tractor actually had to be brought out the pull the truck away from the house before damage was caused. Eventually the house burned down completely. Today all that can be seen of it is the concrete basement wall. This event is remembered as the ‘most exciting thing that happened while we owned the ranch’ Mr. and Mrs. Fryberger recall. Marilyn stated that the birth of her three children was just as exciting though. This was just one of the many events that happened to the Frybergers during the 5 years that they resided on the Fryberger ranch. Some other fairly exciting and frightening events included a wind storm during one January or February. Harvey recalls that the wind was blowing somewhere over 50mph but below 90mph. However fast it was blowing was fast enough to create a great a mount of friction in the air, enough friction that the wind created lightning when there were no clouds in the sky. Harvey said that it was very frightening, though Marilyn doesn’t recall the event. Another event that both Harvey and Marilyn do recall though was one winter when it snowed enough to bury their car right out in front of their house. Other than these two events Harvey remembers the weather as fairly mild. Much happened during the 5 years out on the ranch including the step by step building of the ranch house and the raising of various small herds of sheep and cattle. Overall Harvey and Marilyn look back on the time on the ranch as fairly peaceful and happy years. Harvey and Marilyn are the parents of 4 children; Carol Myers, David Fryberger, Sue Martin, and Steve Fryberger. Sue Martin, my mother, is now caretaker of the ranch.

Book Review: Redwall

Are you looking for a good book, filled with adventure, fantasy and a tinge of romance? Then pick up Brian Jacques bestselling book, Redwall. This book is the beginning of Brian’s best selling Redwall series. And it is certainly the most classic book in the series. Redwall is a classic story done in a new way. One thing that makes this book different than most is that all the characters are animals whom act like humans. In fact the only reason that this makes these books so different from ones written about humans is that the characters have a very different diet and the differing size and abilities of the characters are very evident. Despite the classical air of this story, the message is still very clear and good. The main message of this book is this: that good always triumphs over evil, and that the underdogs can become the greatest people. The story begins with a clumsy little mouse, Matthias, dwelling in the great fortress of Redwall Abbey. He and all the other abbey dwellers are living a peaceful, laughing, loving life until a dreaded rat is sighted in the area: Cluny the Scourge. Cluny is a notorious conqueror who is undefeated, even at sea. The abbey then unites in preparation to defend itself while Matthias sets off to find the lost sword of the first warrior of Redwal, Martin. Matthias along with the help of his friends, goes through a series of adventures, ridden with riddles, to finally discover where Martin’s sword is. But it’s not that easy. While Redwall suffers unceasing attacks form Cluny, Matthias must fight another dreaded enemy to ensure that he gets the legendary sword. But does Matthias have the strength, and will the sword be enough? There are many turns and twists in the story with a final surprise at the end. All of which helps to make the message of the book that much better. Redwall was amazingly well written and extremely enjoyable. The book is actually split up into three smaller ‘books within a book’ which are split into easy to read chapters. The pacing of Redwall is nigh unto perfect, always keeping the reader intrigued. The ‘edge of your seat’ action is sometimes clumped but spread out enough that it keeps you excited but doesn’t give you a heart attack from too much ‘non-stop’ action. The book also is written in such a way that it appeals amazingly well to one’s emotions, in an almost simple and realistic way. The story line is also very well thought out. Its classical story redone feel adds to its intrigue. The new twists and turns make it feel almost like a completely new story idea. The animal characters help to make the story unique. They help to entertain and yet also impress the reader. Brian Jacques also has a good hand at riddles. The few that he throws in, which the characters must decipher to reach their goals, are well written and yet simple enough that they hold great sway over any reader who is even slightly interested in riddles. The way the riddles are answered are unique, though sometimes aggravating, as quite often you know the answer before the characters do. One item of note is the great detail which Brian puts into describing the food selections at Redwall. In fact he can sometimes fill up a whole page describing just one meal at Redwall. This makes for a good detailed story but can also have the downside of making one incredibly hungry. For me the book was incredibly and thoroughly enjoyable. The mix of adventure and true emotions of the characters was perfect. I would highly recommend this book for just about anyone, unless you hate animals in which case you shouldn’t even look at this book. Redwall shows Brian’s unique and well studied writing skills, making Redwall a bestseller for me.

Car Raid

It is amazing what you can discover about a person from questions based on an observation exploration of their vehicle. In the case of Mr. White and his tan 1982 land cruiser, there was a lot to be discovered, as was learned at a press conference on March 3rd. All questions asked of Mr. White were based off of observations of his vehicle. The first of these observations had to do with the fact that White’s vehicle was parked in front of a ‘no parking’ sign. When asked about this White responded by saying that since he was the principle of the school it is his right to decide where people can and can’t park. He also concluded that he would have to take the sign down. The uncleanliness and distinct scent of the vehicle was of much interest at the conference. White explained he never really cleans his car, and the stench most likely comes from the various dogs he has in the vehicle at times. When asked about his dogs Mr. White had quite a lot to say. He told us that he had owned to favored Blue Heelers whom died of cancer a while back. The last array of questions came concerning the outside condition of White’s vehicle, which was battered. He blamed this condition on one of the only two tickets he has ever received. He got this ticket from running a red light which resulted in him hitting another vehicle, which thankfully only caused minor damage. Mr. White recalled that he did have to pay for some repairs to keep his vehicle running but getting the dents taken out would have been way too expensive. Much can be concluded about White’s character and history from a simple press conference about his vehicle.

News March 5

Snowstorm Causes Delays and Closes Schools in Northeast
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/nyregion/03storm.html
A huge snowstorm has swept across the northeastern coast of America. The storm has stretched from Virginia to Maine and into Quebec. Then whole New York City public school system, which is the largest in the country, had to announce a snow day for its 1.1 million students. This is the first time in five years that this has happened. Staten Island Ferry had to delay service for an hour because of white out conditions. Their spokesman said “We can’t remember the last time,” that they had to delay. Varying amounts were received across the coast, going from 14 to18 inches with blizzard and white out conditions. And at least six deaths are being blamed on this storm.
Impact lede

U.S. offers $900 million to Palestinians
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/02/mideast.clinton/index.html?eref=rss_world
"By providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, we also aim to foster conditions in which a Palestinian state can be fully realized." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated Monday. She said this about the U.S. offer of more than $900 million to help the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza. This U.S. aid package has yet to be approved by Congress. This package has been designed in coordination with the Palestinian Authority to make sure the money does not end up in the wrong hands. This package has caused problems with the ruling Hamas who are bitter rivals of the Palestinian Authority. Though President Obama has not ruled out peace talks with the Hamas, he says they must renounce violence, recognize Israel, and abide by previous agreements with the Israelis, which may be harder than he hopes.
Quote lede

‘Tidal wave’ of homeless students hits schools
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29356160/
How many school students are now homeless in San Diego California? According to a recent poll the area about 35 miles north of San Diego the population of homeless kids is almost 2,542. This is about 9 percent of the student body and nearly 10 times the number that it was just two years ago, according to Rebecca Benner, the district’s homeless liaison. “It was supposed to be one small piece of my day,” Rebecca said of her role as the homeless liaison, “…Now it’s almost insurmountable to get to the bottom of the phone messages.” This rush of homeless students has been labeled a “tidal wave” which is overwhelming many California schools.
Question lede

Is it finally time to use the dreaded D-word?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29469826/
Lots of people have confirmed that America is in a recession, but is it a depression? No one seems to be able to decide. Apparently a recession has set standards and definite terms. But depression seems to be just about anything corporate America says it is. Drops in economic output and rises in unemployment help to define just exactly what is depression and what is not. So far one definition is that it’s a downturn of three years or more, with a 10 percent drop in economic out put and unemployment above 10 percent. So far this has yet to happen. Though we are not in a depression yet many people fear that it is inevitable and will soon be upon us.
Question lede

Object Lesson

Animals, Not Bottle, Guilty of Murder

Mr. Water Bottle has been accused of the murder of his wife Franchesca and friend Bartholomew late Friday the 13th of February. He called a press conference the next day to tell his side of the story. Bottle was accused of training animals to attack and brutally murder his wife and friend. He maintained that he had spent the night at the local zoo taking care of kangaroos afflicted with Kangaroo Blight. He also claimed that he had never trained animals, only worked with them. When questioned about his relationships with his wife and friend, Bottle said they were the only ones he trusted, since the government "took him out of his hard working, honest life and threw him in the slammer for no reason." He described his wife Franchesca as being busy, and having a fondness for cooking. His friend Bartholomew, however, wasn't so deeply trusted. Bottle stated that he trusted Bart "only enough to have him take care of Franny while [he] was taking care of the animals." He also claimed that the deaths of Franchesca and Bartholomew were caused by forgetfulness -- they, according to Bottle, had forgotten to lock the door, thus allowing animals to enter the home and brutalize both occupants. This tragic incident deeply saddened Bottle. During the interview, Bottle was distrustful of the reporters at the conference, calling them "government spies." His distrust of the government came out in the conference as hostility. This aggression was inspired by his past incarceration for releasing animals from the zoo, a charge which he had fought against and maintained his innocence. His love of kangaroos and other Australian creatures was accredited as being because "they ain't the government," once again tying back to his loathing of the government. His innocence in the current matter, the murder of his wife and friend, will be decided by a jury of his peers next week, on Friday the 20th of February, in the county courthouse at 2 p.m.
By Hurricane Katrina, Kayla Brown, Ana Olsen, and Jaynee Hansen

News Feb 26

A new way to patrol the Texas border: Virtually: NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101050132&ft=1&f=1001
Texas law enforcement may have found a new way to patrol their border, www.blueservo.net. A virtual site which allows just about anyone to watch certain sections of the border for any suspicious and possibly illegal movement. Apparently the site allows people to watch certain parts of the border and report anything suspicious they see. These reports will then be sent to police whom can either take care of it or send it to border patrol agents. Many people enjoy this opportunity to protect their country. Certain other people including Texas State Sen. Elliot Shapleigh, thinks the site is a waste of
money.
Impact lede

Seoul: N. Korean missile can hit U.S. bases
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/23/northkorea.missiles/index.html?eref=rss_world
“The most acute challenge to stability in northeast Asia” is North Korea’s nuclear program, according to newly elected U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. And South Korea considers the nuclear program plus North Korea’s 1.2 million strong military an “immediate and grave threat,” Apparently North Korea has deployed new medium-range ballistic missiles, which can travel about 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles). This range could possibly put the U.S. military bases in the Pacific Ocean, specifically Guam, within striking distance. North Korea is also reported to be readying to test-fire their long-range missile, the Taepodong-2. Its range is almost 6,700 kilometers (4,200 miles), which means it could be capable of striking Alaska or Hawaii.
Quote lede

New England snow knocks out power, shuts schools
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/winter/2009-02-23-new-england-winter-storm_N.htm?csp=34
Thousands of schools are being shut down and many people are without power across New England. "We're having a hell of a time right now," said Larry Dodge, a Vermont Transportation Agency dispatcher. Many roads and major high ways were forced to close because of driving snow and multiple accidents. Electrical and power companies are getting out of state help to repair all the downed and broken power lines. Hopefully power and heat will be back on for residents by Wednesday. But the storm was pretty frightening as it was reported that snow was falling at rates of 3-4 inches per hour, and 3-4 feet and above of snow has accumulated in certain areas.
Impact lede


In Ambitious Agenda, Obama convenes Dozens of Leaders to Tackle Deficit
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/23/obama-vows-cut-deficit-half-end-term/
Is three hours enough time to decide anything on a national scale? This is what many people who attended and did not attend Obama’s three hour Fiscal Responsibility Summit are wondering. 130 senators, House members, and community, union, think tank and lobbying representatives gathered Monday to discuss subjects such as Social security, health care, tax reform, the budget process and procurement.
Question lede

Restaurant review

Do you like the sound of Asian music accompanied by gentle lighting and americanized Chinese food? Then the Dragon Wall restaurant of Sheridan is the place to visit. Though Dragon Wall’s food is very americanized (sorry authentic Chinese food lovers) the staff are actually Chinese. This helps to create a very authentic feeling atmosphere, along with the bonus of always making you feel tall. Of course the music, decorations and lighting help. The general atmosphere of the restaurant is extremely inviting, gentle and a bit cozy. Cozy as in it gets a little crowded sometimes. Which really is a good sign overall, as generally the more people that go to a place and the more frequently they go the more popular it is. The setup of the building helps to add to the atmosphere of the Dragon Wall. It has a small entry way decorated with painted fish and a miniature waterfall. After walking in the door one is greeted by the friendly smile of the cashier at the front desk. After paying you will turn to the right to find the center of the spacious room filled with a four station buffet plus drink platform. Then you will have the choice of either right or left for seating as both are filled with a sufficient amount of booths and tables. The booths are fairly open and evenly spaced. The tables on the other hand are a little cozy, though they are the only places to seat a large group of people. The staff is extremely friendly and efficient. They will always offer a smile. They also are very good at replacing empty food trays at the buffet as quickly as possible. The staff is also great at clearing plates from your table quickly and quietly. The food is average and filling though not exceptional. The Dragon Wall offers a fair amount of varying pastas and meats. ‘General Tsao’s Chicken’ is one of their more famous dishes. They also have soups, fruits, and deserts including: pudding, ice creams, jellos, and mandarin oranges. Despite the fact that they are a Chinese restaurant they only have two rice dishes and about 3 noodle dishes. Most of their others are some type of meat or vegetable. Though their food is americanized it still has a Chinese aspect to it and is very filling. The Dragon Wall is also a nice place to go because of its buffet style. This allows you to come in, find a table, and then go and get your food, without waiting for your food to be prepared or your waiter to bring you the menus. Thus overall, the Dragon Wall has a comfortable atmosphere, with filling food and friendly service.

News Feb 19

Lawmakers Worry Whether Obama Tax Cut Will Stimulate Consumer Spending
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/16/lawmakers-worry-obama-tax-cut/
Will $8 a week be enough? This is the question many individuals are asking about the tax cut for the individual in the upcoming economic recovery package. The stimulus plan would give $400 in tax cuts to the individual, and $800 in tax cuts to couples. That comes down to about $13 per week for most workers, starting in June, and only $8 per week by next January. According to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham “The average person will get $8 per week in their paycheck and they will pass on to their grandkids $1.1 trillion in debt.”
Question lede

Storms Pounds California With Rain and Snow
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29220403/
“This one (storm) here is hitting the entire state” said California National Weather Service forecaster Stan Wasowski, on Tuesday afternoon. A heavy winter rain and snow storm started on Monday, causing the closure of the major highway I-15 and the cancellation of a national golf tournament. The storm stretched from the Mexican border all the way up to Oregon and into parts of Washington.
Quote lede

Man Charged Over Australian Bush Fires Named
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/australia.bushfire.accused.court/index.html?eref=rss_world
Information concerning a man arrested and charged for lighting some of the Australian bush fires has been released. 39-year-old Brendan Sokaluk reportedly lit the fire on February 7th. Sokaluk is not only charged for the lighting of the fire but also for the death of 21 people in Gippsland. Many people believe information about Sokaluk should have been released earlier. Hatred for the arsonists behind these fires is also very strong, as T-shirts proclaiming that these people should ‘burn in hell’ have been made. So far almost 189 people have died in these fires, while 1,800 homes have been destroyed and 7,000 people have been displaced.
Impact lede

Cambodia Genocide Trial to Begin
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-02-16-cambodia_N.htm?csp=34
Almost 30 years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge its leaders are finally very close to being brought to justice. Their leader, Kaing Guek Eav or ‘Duch’, is finally going to trial for the 1.7 million lives that he took. "It's going to be a very big day for the Cambodian people because the justice that they have been waiting for 30 years is starting to get closer and closer," tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said. The Khmer Rouge’s notorious leader ‘Duch’, 66, is accused of committing or abetting various crimes such as murder, torture, or rape along with causing the torture and death of 16,000 men, women and children at the S-21 prison.
Impact lede

Weekly News Feb 12

Military: Suicide Bomber Kills 4 U.S. Soldiers in Iraq
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/09/soldiers.killed.mosul/index.html?eref=rss_world
A suicide car bomber killed 4 U.S. soldiers and their interpreter in Mosul of northern Iraq. Three of the soldiers died in the initial explosion while the fourth soldier and the interpreter died later. Though violence is dropping in Iraq, Mosul remains volatile because of ethnic tensions and the presence of the al Qaeda in Iraq militant group.
Impact lede

Judges Rule to Release Thousands of California Inmates
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-09-calif-inmates_N.htm?csp=34
California judges believe they have found a safe solution to the California jail overcrowding problem. The overcrowding problem has caused conditions to be so poor that inmates are dying regularly of suicides or lack of proper care. The judges will set the final population figure later, and hope to have their plan carried out within 2 or 3 years. They also believe that if this process is done right the public safety will not be threatened.
Impact lede

Australia Declares Bushfire Disaster a Crime Scene
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5171EI20090210?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
Australian investigators are now searching the freshly charred landscape to find some clues to the cause. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and most Australian investigators believe that Australia’s deadliest wildfires since 1983, were set by arsonists. The former 1983 wildfires only caused 75 deaths, almost 98 less than this years fires, which have caused 173 deaths so far. The investigation proves difficult as many of the fires are still burning.
Indirect lede

Senate Clears Path for Vote on $838 Billion Stimulus
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/washington/10stimulus.html
Three republican votes plus that of an elderly senator helped the senate to get the 60 votes needed to approve the stimulus. Much controversy has arisen around the bill. Democrats claim that the bill is a lifesaver while republicans stick to the belief that it is a waste of money. After many amendments, open debates, and much disagreement, the stimulus was approved, though it still needs the president’s approval.
Impact Lede

Weekly News

Deadly Chinese Earthquake May Have Been Man-Made.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487967,00.html
Scientific research seems to be showing that the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred last May in China may have been man-made. Fan Xiao, a chief engineer at the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau said that the extra pressure from the 315 million tons of water stored behind the Zipingpu dam may have added additional pressure to the nearby fault causing the earthquake. Others argue that the dam may have sped up the timing of the earthquake or caused it to be more severe, but doubt that the dam actually caused the earthquake.

Obama Signs Children’s Healthcare Bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5135JJ20090204?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
On Wednesday Obama signed a law which expands health care coverage to 3.5 million uninsured children. This decision is apparently embraced by the U.S. House of representatives as they just voted in favor of a $32.8 billion expansion of SCHIP or State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Others are not so sure of this plan as it will lead to higher taxes on things, especially cigarettes. The Obama administration believes this will not only help to cover more children but discourage smoking. But the others are also afraid of the major changes it will bring to current insurance plans.

FBI Announces Review of Evidence In Tylenol Deaths
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-04-fbi-investigation_N.htm?csp=34
Almost 25 years after several Tylenol related deaths in 1982 the investigation is still ongoing. Apparently several people ended up dead after taking Tylenol. This nation wide scare caused the safety seals which are now standard on all bottled products today. The FBI has been searching for someone to blame for the deaths for several years. James W. Lewis has been one of the prime suspects as he was able to explain to police the whole process of how one might put poison in a Tylenol pill and return it unnoticed.

Congress Backs Delay of Digital TV Switch to June
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100256989&ft=1&f=1001
After a bout of complaints Congress has decided to delay the Digital transition. The complaints mostly said that millions of Americans are not ready for the change. Especially rural, low-income, elderly, and non-English speaking families. Apparently more than 6 million families are still relying on analog TV sets. And some 3 million families are still waiting to receive coupons for the digital converter boxes. And to make things worse the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has declared that it has run out of money for the program.

DVD review

Want a DVD with a good meaningful message? Then Bella is definitely worth considering. Bella is a fairly simple DVD with a deep message. The DVD starts of with a series of memories from the main character Alejandro, about a little girl in his past. Then it shifts to the time frame in which most of the DVD takes place. Which is the time when Alejandro is older and working in his brother’s, Manny’s, very fancy Mexican restaurant. It then advances through a series of events in which a coworker of Alejandro’s named Nina, gets a pregnancy test, finds out she’s pregnant, shows up to work late because of it, and gets fired. Alejandro has compassion on Nina and leaves work to help her, resulting in him also getting fired. The DVD then follows Alejandro and Nina around as they journey through the town and end up at his parent’s house, all the while discussing what Nina is going to do about her pregnancy. Once at his parent’s house Nina learns that a few years ago Alejandro ran over and killed a little girl, for which he has never forgiven himself. Nina also learns that Alejandro’s older brother and restaurant owner, Manny (mentioned before) was adopted into Alejandro’s family. By the end of the DVD Alejandro, his family and everything Nina has seen has convinced her to keep her child and give it up for adoption once it is born. This whole process also helps Nina and the viewer to better realize the sanctity of human life. In the end Alejandro adopts Nina’s child and the last scene is of a happy reunion between mother and beautiful little girl, Bella. The acting in Bella is very good and convincing. The actors displayed the emotions of the characters in a very realistic and strong way. The way the whole DVD worked together (actors, story line, ect.) to relay the message of the whole story worked out extremely well. The plot of the DVD was also very well laid out. It was also normally in a very sensible and clear order, and got the main message of the DVD across, though it did get a little confusing at times. Especially when it kept switching from memories of the past, to the present, to scenes of the future. But for the most part it was very good. The sets were fairly simple consisting of a collection of city scenes, a beach which was used again and again, Alejandro’s parents house and Manny’s restaurant. The DVD, though fairly basic overall, had an enjoyable plot, good actors, and simple sets. The main message was meant to impact people and did so exceptionally well. The whole story was very simple though, which made Bella a one time watch DVD for me.

Weekly News

62,000 Jobs Are Cut by U.S. and Foreign Companies
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/business/economy/27jobcuts.html
65,000 job cuts were announced on Monday alone, and those numbers keep rising. Automaker General Motors and construction and pharmaceutical makers Pfizer and Wyeth, Home Depot, and Sprint Nextel have cut 25,000 jobs combined. While automaker General Motors has cut up to 20,000 alone. Almost 2.59 million jobs have been dropped in our economy since the beginning of the recession in December 2007.


Obama Aims for Oil Independence
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7851038.stm
President Barak Obama is pushing to get America ‘free of our dependence on foreign oil’. He’s not just pushing for energy independence, he’s pushing for it fast. Obama promises to ‘reverse America’s dependence on foreign oil while creating jobs’ but also warned that there is no “quick fix”. Obama also labeled this choice as a ‘crossroads in history’, and ‘a future safer for our country, prosperous for our planet, and sustainable.’


Pfizer to buy Wyeth for $68 billion
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE50M1AQ20090126?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
Talks between Pfizer and Wyeth to secure the buy are coming to a conclusion. Over the last while both companies have experienced some debt, though Pfizer has also managed to gain profits while Wyeth only seems to go downhill. The development of new drugs and competition from other companies have greatly contributed to Wyeth’s downfall. The talks between the two companies have mostly dealt with how the buy out will help to equalize the finances of the companies.

Medicare Broadens Coverage of Drugs for Cancer Patients
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27cancer.html
Is Medicare taking an unapproved risk? The Food and Drug Administration thinks so. Medicare has decided to cover cancer treating drugs even many that have not been approved by the FDA. There was little public debate over the topic even though many of the drugs may not work. Apparently the new policy makes it much easier to get even the questionable treatments paid for. A critic of the plan and a health policy analyst Steven Findlay said, “Medicare is providing carte blanche in treatment for cancers.”

Product Review

Have you ever just wanted your acne to go away? If you’re like most people then you probably have. Have you tried product after product and nothing has helped? Then I have some advice for you. Don’t waste your time trying Noxzema. Noxzema claims to deep clean and dissolve oils on your face while not leaving it to dry. Well it certainly doesn’t leave your face dry. And it also doesn’t remove oils. Despite its claim to actually remove or dissolve the oils, Noxzema only seems to increase them. In fact after just one month of using Noxzema my face was worse than when I had started. My face did not look and worse and fewer pimples were heading out granted. But there in lies more problems. Noxzema actually seemed to cause the oils in my skin to build up instead of dissolve. Despite its problematic results Noxzema is very easy to use. All one has to do is collect a little on ones fingers and rub it gently into ones face. You can cover your whole face or just selective spots. It rubs in very nicely, and all you have to do afterwards is just wash or rinse it off. This makes for very convenient use, especially at times when you normally wash you face anyway. Noxzema is also comparatively cheap compared to many other products. While Noxzema cost $5 at most for a medium sized container, other products cost from the cheapest being at Target as $13-$15, then Aloette as $16-$19, and the priciest being at Skin Medica as $30-$40. But after trying Noxzema with such bad results I have come to the conclusion that there might be a reason why its so cheap. Other products have worked much better, including a homemade remedy called Colloidal Silver. This product can be cheap if homemade, though if bought at the store it can be anywhere from $12-$50 depending on brand and size of bottle. Overall Noxzema is just about worth as little as it costs. So spending a few more dollars for something that works might just be worth it.

News

Bush Commutes Sentences for Two Former Border Patrol Agents
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/19/bush-commutes-sentences-border-patrol-agents/ January 19, 2009: On his last day in office President Bush faces great amounts of pressure to commute the sentences of two former border patrol agents. The two agents had been sentenced on accounts of assult after they shot a known drug runner on the border. Their terms would have finished on March 20th but Bush decided to commute them. Many other individuals have not been so lucky as Bush has given far less pardons and commutes then either President Clinton or President Reagan.


Obamas Search for New Church to Call Spiritual Home
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/19/obama-family-searches-new-church-spiritual-home/
January 19, 2009: After 5 months of being out of a church due to the political fuss over their former church the Obamas stepped inside a church yesterday. Nineteenth Street Baptist Church was graced with the presence of the first family as they visited to see if this would become their new church. "That is a very personal and yet also prayerful decision for any family” said the Rev. Derrick Harkins, senior pastor at Nineteenth Street Baptist. Though the church hopes the Obamas will settle down with them, but whatever happens the Obamas main goal is to keep following and doing God’s will.

Crucial Zimbabwe talks Collapse
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7836859.stm
January 19, 2009: Peace talks between Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have failed. Mr. Tsvangirai called the impasse "the darkest day". But despite this label President Mugabe said that he had done everything he was required to do and the time for talks was over. This failure has caused continued unrest in the country and much division of the people of Zimbabwe.

Doctors Report ‘Alarming’ Rise of MRSA in Kids
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28736696/
January 19, 2009: Doctors have found that MRSA is becoming more and more common, especially in kids. And as if that weren’t bad enough MRSA is becoming more drug resistant as time goes on, even drugs that used to affect if aren’t anymore. But perhaps the most alarming thing about this outbreak is not how much its being found, but where and why it’s being found. MRSA is being found quite commonly in people who have recently had an ear, nose or throat infection. Even if these people haven’t been around a hospital.

Hurricane's website review

Have you ever wondered about the debate between creation and evolution? Specifically about the mysteriously unexplained creation side? Then the Answers in Genesis ministry has a website for you. Answersingenesis.org is an excellent place for inquiring creationists and creation inquirers alike. At the top of this brightly colored web page Answers in Genesis proclaims ‘Genesis 1:1. believing it. defending it. proclaiming it.’ Their website holds up to this logo. Answersingenesis.org is designed to provide people all over the world with mounds of evidence for creation and faith strengthening resources for biblical creationists. This site also works to show how creation is the base for the whole rest of the Bible. Answersingenesis.org is home to online articles and biographies, a store, upcoming and past events, a media section, a kid’s section, education, and Answers in Genesis history. The online articles are mainly resources and articles out of their magazines, which have been made more accessible by being on the web. The biographies are mostly about creation scientists and the trials they have undergone in our modern society. The store sells anything from books and magazines to shirts and hats. Most of these products are there to help spread and validate the theory of creation, and disprove the theory of evolution. The media section mainly deals with all the radio programs that Answers in Genesis has put out, which are downloadable or can be listened to online. The education section includes things from modern public education reviews to devotionals to curricula for those who need or want it. All information on the site was easily accessible and clearly labeled. Everything on the site was organized into logical sections and sub sections, making navigation of the site very easy. Also, this site is extremely easy to search for a specific topic. Upon searching for something, say the Grand Canyon, one could find all sorts of information in the forms of articles books and videos. It is extremely easy to find more than enough information and resources on ones desired subject of interest. The one thing the website does lack is great amounts of online resources. Though there are many articles and such online most of the resources must be purchased or rented. One bonus for the website though is that it does not require any extra add-ons or modifications to your web browser to use. Overall the website is fairly efficient and easy to use. I appreciate the amount of diversity that the site has, and the large collection of knowledge that is stored there. This site is one of the best places I have found for information about creation.

Websites I use 2

www.runescape.com
Runescape: The massive online first person player. A lot of fun, and easy to use. A place to do anything from baking bread to killing dragons.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
US State Department: Another good place to research countries. Can also be used to find information about Wyoming.
http://www.yahoo.com/
Yahoo: Can be useful for information, not necessarily though. It does have a lot of fun little games for boring days.
http://www.sheridanwyolibrary.org/
Wyoming Library’s: A good place to find information about local libraries. It also provides information about the books these library’s are carrying.
http://www.google.com/
Google: A good place to find things. Has and email provider, maps and a store. Can be very useful.

Website I use

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Star Wars wiki: Perfect place to find information about all you favorite star wars characters. It can also provide good pictures, occasionally.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
Answers in Genesis: A creationist resource, full of articles and videos. A good place to strengthen your Christian faith. There are even comics!
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3Dhtml%26zy%3Dl&bsv=1k96igf4806cy&ltmpl=default&ltmplcache=2&hl=en
Gmail: a so far secure email provider. Has a pathetic spellchecker and lots of other features which I don’t understand. It works better than many others I’ve tried.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd
Library of Congress: Very useful place. Lots of information. It’s like a huge library on your computer.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbood/index.html
CIA factbook: best place to research countries I’ve found. Tells you everything about a country from population to common foods. You can also find pictures to help you along.