How Senioritis Can Hurt Not Only You, But The Ones Around You

     I gotta be honest...I hate school now. Its not the teachers or anything, because I dont think they want to be there either. However, the work is turning into more of a pain than ever before. Yes, as of now I only have four or five more days left but, that seems like such a long time. I'm not saying anything new here...I would guess that most Seniors agree that senioritis is a terrible but unavoidable disease. What I was unaware of is that Senioritis is highly contageous...even to lower classmen!
     I am affraid to say that I have inadvertently poisoned some children...I probably gave them senioritis...and I want to say I am very, very very sorry because this might lead to their downfall, early downfall.

Transit of Venus! Woooo!

Today, June 5th, 2012, is a very special date to astronomers around the world. An event, which has been known about by the Maya since before it was even visible, is happening that will not happen again for about 105 years! Ah! It is the transit of Venus...what this means is that Venus, for about seven hours, will be seen moving across the disc of the sun in the sky. Now Venus is about the size of the earth and is very far away. The sun is more than 100 times the diameter of the sun so...Venus's shaddowy image will be very small against the bright sun...in fact to small to see without a telescope (make sure it is a solar telescope or you will die). It only occurs every once in a long time because of the nature of our solar system. We orbit around the sun at 93million miles and to us our orbit is flat, but Venus is tilted at about 3.5 degrees and is closer to the sun. Venus's year is shorter than ours as well. The only time we will see the sun and Venus align is when we are at a node, where the orbits of earth and Venus cross the orbital plane. We have to be at the node the same time Venus is in order to see Venus transit...doesnt happen often!
    I love astronomy and I have for over 10 years, so I chose this article to express that. I really believe that too few people know what they should about the things beyond our own tiny world, and I feel like I can and need to help them learn. This article provides the information, but not enough people are seeing it. Luckily, because this event is so rare, many news outlets let people know that it was happening...we are on our way to the goal...

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0605/Venus-transit-2012-a-chance-to-test-Earth-hunting-techniques

Foreign Current Event #5 - Nigeria Violence, Religious Tension Snaps

The division between the poor, Muslim north and the wealthier, Christian south in Nigeria is growing more and more clear under the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. The radical Islamist sect from the north, Boko Haram, has been causing more violence than ever before. The reason is probably Boko Haram's strong disagreement with the president's Western-focused education and political beliefs. This weekend, a Catholic church along the north-south divide was targeted by a carbombing attack, which killed three and injured many others. In responce, many young citizens from the town hunted down and killed about ten people that they blamed for the attack. The catholic church never advocates violence, even in responce to an attack, which just shows how this battle has transended religious divides and has gotten to a point where many of the people fighting don't even know why.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/11/us-nigeria-violence-idUSBRE82A05A20120311

Foreign Current Event #4 - Great Britain - Scotish Politics News

Over the past few decades there have been many referenda in Scotland over the issue of independence from Britain. Each has had different results, but there has always been a fairly large support for Scotish independence. The main hang-up on gaining support has always been the issue of whether Scotland can support itself economically without Britain. Recently, the Scotish Finance Secretary has come out and said that "There can no longer be any argument over whether Scotland can afford to be independent." He has also used data to try to make the Scotish people realize that they aren't exactly getting a fair deal from Britain. Although Scotland makes up only 8.4% of Britain's population, they have been paying 9.6% of the country's taxes, with only 9.3% of the money comming back to them. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few years with this issue, and how it will effect Britain as a whole, as well as independence efforts in Wales and Northern Ireland.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/300356-no-argument-that-scotland-can-afford-independence-swinney-insists/

Foreign Current Event #3 - Great Britain - Welsh Politics News

     Plaid Cymru (pronounced Pla-eed Kem-ree) is a Welsh regional political party. Formed in 1925, it didnt gain any seats in parliament until the 1960's. With devolution begining to occur, Welsh political parties are starting to gain more power. Plaid Cymru is one of the smaller Welsh parties but is growing in support.
     The current leader of the party, Ieuan Wyn Jones (pronounced Yoo-wan Oo-wen Jones), is stepping down this year and is taking responsibility for the party's poor turnout during the last election. Election ballots have been sent out to Plaid Cymru members and lower-level leaders to appoint a new leader. The results will be known by March 15th. Candidates are competing over their views on issues such as water access rights and nuclear power in the Dwyfor Meirionnydd (pronounced Doo-er-vour May-reeo-neth) region of the nation. Wales, a country that is a leader in biomass-based fuel sources, is starting to see more support for nuclear power. Jobs, clean energy and improved infrastructure are all hopes for the new party leadership.

Foreign Current Event #2 - Nigerian Confilct in the North

     This Monday, the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri was disturbed by a break out of fighting in the city's market. The fighting was started by the Radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram. That name literally means "Western culture is forbidden" and the group's goal is to stop western influences in the country. Although the suspected cause of the attack is increasing tention between the Muslin north and the governments attempts to stop the spread of Shariah Law, it is really just the result of the long-building tensions likely due to economic and social disparity between the north and south. Southern Nigeria is mainly Christian and is wealthier due to rich oil reserves off the coast. Northern Nigeria, which is almost completely Muslim, has suffered due to a weak economy and unequal distribution of oil-based funds.

   http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/explosions-gun-battles-rage-in-northeast-nigeria-city-thats-home-to-radical-islamist-sect/2012/02/20/gIQActxIPR_story.html

Foreign Current Event #1 - Russia in Chaos

It has been a common sight on the news and in the papers; tens of thousands of people standing in the streets in front of the Kremlin in Moscow. In the coldest European winter in decades, these people stood in protest in the cold for hours...why? Well, it has to do with the recent controversy that has broken out over the re-election efforts of Vladimir Putin. Some videos came out during the elections of what appeared to be stuffed ballot-boxes, before the voting even started. Putin, although he hasn't been the president over the past few years, has still been the main source of power in the country. This is due in part to the complex set-up of the government, which had both a president and a prime minister. Although there were large numbers of people in protest this weekend, it is not necessarily representative of the popular view. Putin has great support in the country, much of which is through United Russia.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russians-give-putin-cold-shoulder/2012/02/04/gIQAW47DpQ_story.html