Price of Blood and Oil...

Hey guys,

The current revolutions taking place in the Middle East and North Africa are truly history altering events… events that are having and will continue to have global impacts.  The revolutionaries, many of whom are not much older than you, have common desires and goals… to be able to have a say in their personal futures and that of their countries… not unreasonable desires.

The spark of revolution first ignited in December in Tunisia when a college graduate set himself on fire to protest government policies and massive unemployment… his story captivated his country; the ensuing revolution captivated the region and the world.  Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Baharain, and Libya… all have seen unprecedented protests and a few have begun outright revolutions.

Unlike in Egypt where President Mubarak refused to use deadly force against civilians, President Khadaffi in Libya has chosen to use violence against his people.  Over a thousand protestors have been killed… students are literally being shot in the street by governmental forces.  Khadaffi and his family have been quoted as saying “We will rule you, or we will kill you.”  They also claim that the only way they will give up power is if they are killed.

Because of situation in Libya, gas prices here in the U.S. have gone up over 17 cents a gallon in the last week alone.  Though the U.S. does not get much oil from Libya, China does, and if China cannot get its supply from Libya, they will compete with us for Saudi Arabian oil… experts say to expect gas prices over $4 a gallon very soon.  If the revolutions spread to Saudi Arabia (unlikely but possible) gas prices could sky rocket over $6 or $7 a gallon!!

President Obama has said that he will not send in American troops to help the Libyan people.  He does not want America to be seen as an imperial power.  But what of the people being shot in the streets, and the fear that Khadaffi will use mustard gas against his people?  Don’t we have a duty to help?  I don’t know.

What do you thing?

- X

Pura Vida... Pure Life...

Hey guys,

Our trip to Costa Rica is sadly coming to an end.  It is our last night here in San Jose, and the entire group is filled with mixed emotions.  We do not want to leave, yet we are starting to feel the pains of being a little home sick.  We do not want to say good by to this paradise, yet sometimes there really is no place like home.

Over the next few weeks you will be hearing some amazing stories about this trip... from Miss Kelly and I, as well as the students who were lucky enough to take part in this experience.  Those of you who have traveled with me before know what I am talking about... and those of you who are coming to Ireland, England, and France next year will have your own stories to share...

Visting and learning about other cultures, taking part in the local life, learning new languages, trying new foods... these things are just a small piece of what traveling is all about, and I really do feel blessed for all of my experiences abroad.  The real value of traveling however are the relationships that are built... sometimes with students from across the USA, sometimes with people from all corners of the globe... and sometimes it is with people who are in you very own school.  [The Wolf Pack and The Rat Pack know what I am talking about]

So for now I will leave you with official slogan of Costa Rica... Pura Vida...  Pure Life...

X

Dream Vacation

Hey guys,

As many of you are aware, I love traveling... and I've been fortunate enough to have been to some amazing places in the past 10 years... Italy, Greece, France, Germany, England, Spain, Morocco, China, Israel... and this week Costa Rica.  Each place has a special place in my heart and I have made friends from all over the world... I feel blessed for having the opportunity the see and study so much of the world and love that I can share these experiences with my students.

That being said... where in the world would you most like to go?  What is your travel "bucket list?"  Maybe you want to see Rome or enjoy the view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower.  Do you want to walk the Great Wall of China, visit the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt... maybe an African safari or an Alaskan cruise... see the real Cinderella castle in Munich, or enjoy a gondola ride in Venice, or maybe you want to walk in the footsteps of Socrates and Alexander the Great in Greece... maybe you just want to take a road trip across the U.S.A. with some friends...

Give me your five places you want to visit... your top five travel "bucket list" places.

My top five...

1.  Alexandria & Cairo (Egypt)
2.  Istanbul (Turkey)
3.  Australia
4.  Antarctica Cruise
5.  Pamplona (Spain... to run with the bulls!)

What do you think?

(Enjoy your vacation and I'll be posting again after Costa Rica!!)

- x

Just a field trip?!?!!?

 Hey guys,

The conflict between Palestinians and Israeli, which has been raging since before the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948, has once again been renewed… this time in the realm of an educational field trip.

Israeli Education Minister Gideon Saar plans to send schoolchildren on field trip to a disputed holy sites in the West Bank.  The West Bank (of the Jordan River) is one of the “occupied territories”  of which Israel retains control… it is land that the Palestinians and the Arab world at large claim Israel has no right to and that it was taken by force.

The site of the field trip is the burial place of the biblical prophet Abraham, Ibrahimi  to Muslims.  Saad claims that the site is vital to Israeli identity and children need to be able to visit it; however Palestinian children are forbidden to walk on the street which leads to the tomb.  The site is sacred to both Israeli Jews and Palestinians Muslims because Abraham is the traditional patriarch of both faiths.

I’m not sure it is a good idea to put students in such a dangerous situation.  Hebron (the local area where the grave is located) has been known to be a violent area, and one of the most contested of the “occupied territories.”  However Israeli claims that the area is vital to Israeli and Jewish identity, and depriving children of the opportunity to visit it robs them of their heritage and history… can’t the same be said of Palestinians Muslims?

What do you think?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_field_trip_flashpoint

I don't wanna do it!

Hey guys,

A high school English teacher in Pennsylvania was suspended from her job because of her public criticism of what she called, “lazy, whiny” students.  She posted the comments on her blog, and in her post she commented on how unmotivated her students are and how tired she is of hearing the same poor excuses for a lack of achievement and a lack of effort.  The news article concerning the issue claims that her blog was “profanity-laced.”  There are a few things here…

1.        She did not mention any students by name, simply made general comments.

2.       If she did use profanity, it does not set a good example especially when she is criticizing the behavior, work ethic, and motivation of students.

3.       Was she suspended because of her thoughts on the students being lazy, or because of her language? 

As a teacher, I can attest to a sense of apathy with students.  Take senior project for example… now I know as seniors, very few of you feel like doing senior project, however when it comes down to it, what is actually being asked of you?  And is senior project unreasonable? 

You need to put in a few hours at an activity of your choosing, so theoretically it’s something you are interested in.  You need to create a product showing that you learned something.  You need to write a five(ish) page paper discussing your experience; a paper you have almost the entire first semester to do in your English class.

I understand that I am generalizing here, and there are extenuating circumstances for some students, however on the whole, senior project does not seem to be an unreasonable requirement… even if it is unwanted by the students.

What do you think?

http://www.abc6.com/Global/story.asp?S=14039229

you MIGHT be criminal...

Hey Guys,

An 18 year old New York man has been sentenced to spend three to nine years in prison for planning a “Columbine” type shooting at his high school.  This is the second time the teen has been caught preparing to carry out such a plan.  The first time he was a minor and deemed a “youthful offender.”  A diagram of his high school, along with searches for how to make a pipe bomb and where to find gun powder were some of the evidence used against him.

This issue leads me back to a question I asked last semester’s Psych students.  Should officials incarcerate potentially violent and disturbed people before they commit crimes?  The issue was raised in relation to the shooting of Gabriel Giffords by Jared Loughner in Arizona.  Loughner had a history of mental illness and officials say all the warning signs were there.

So if all the warning signs are there, should officials act BEFORE a violent crime is committed?  Or must we wait for something to happen?  This is a slippery slope to be on once we we begin locking people up for crimes they may commit…

What do you think?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110214/ap_on_re_us/us_high_school_plot

Power to the people!

Hey guys,

Being Valentine’s  Day, today’s topic clearly needed to be about love or relationships and such… but first there is another story that I thought I’d mention…

A man in Oregon was arrested because he was speeding; traveling in excess of 140mph.  Did the police see him?  No.  So how did they know he was speeding?  He posted a video of himself on YouTube going 140mph… ha ha!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110213/us_nm/us_speeding_videoThereBefore I get to today’s topic… I just want to mention that

Anyway… today’s topic …

One of the most divisive issues in America today is the gay marriage debate.  Some Individual states have passed state laws allowing gay marriage, and others have banned the practice.  It would appear that Rhode Island will be the next state to decide on this issue.

In North Kingston, supporters of gay marriage held a rally to express their views, and to let law makers know that the time has come for a decision concerning gay marriage in Rhode Island.

How can Rhode Island decide the issue?  Well the issue could be decided in the General Assembly… our elected officials could pass a law in ensuring the rights of homosexual couples to marry, or pass a law banning the practice. 

The other option; the issue could be put to the voters themselves; much like the casino debate or the recent attempt to change Rhode Island’s name, the legality of gay marriage could be placed in the hands of the people… this is a democracy after all…

Should this issue be settled by the General Assembly, or should Rhode Islanders be given the power to decide on this volatile issue?

What do you think?

http://www.foxprovidence.com/dpps/news/local_news/region_4/marriage-equality-rally-today-in-south-kingstown-_3718094

Did he just say what I think he said?

Hey Guys,

Last Wednesday, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was giving a brief speech before the American Irish Historical Society.  In his opening remarks he said, “Normally when I walk by this building there are a bunch of people that are totally inebriated hanging out the widow.  I know that’s a stereotype about the Irish, but nevertheless we Jews around the corner think this.” 

Since Wednesday, Bloomberg has apologized for the comment stating he was attempting to make a lighthearted joke, and certainly did not mean to offend anyone… but he did.  Bloomberg is being criticized for playing into stereotypes, something that can be dangerous… consider this however…  What if Bloomberg was Irish and made a similar statement? Would that be okay?  Probably…

I think everyone is clear that Bloomberg is not in any way “anti-Irish”, they just want him to use a little more decorum in his job as Mayor.  But what of everyone else?

Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics is known for the offensive nature of his comments on the court… he routinely uses the “N” word, and has referred to other players as “cancer patients”… is this acceptable? 

Listen in the hallways of Pilgrim High School before school, between classes, and after school… you will hear a barrage of offensive terms and names…

Those of you who know me, know that I am not at all interested in living in a world controlled by the “PC Police”… that being said, there is a time and a place... maybe a comedian on stage (be careful, see Michael Richards)… but not the mayor of New York City at a public event, not in the hallways of a public high school… have a clue people…

What do you think?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110211/pl_nm/us_newyork_bloomberg_irish

No legs... no problem...

Hey guys,

An Orlando sophomore is making national headlines because he was cut from his high school’s baseball team.  Anthony Burruto is a double amputee; he uses two prosthetics as his legs, something he claims has had no effect on his arm.  In the recent months, Anthony has made the cover of ESPN magazine and not because of his condition… Anthony as a 16 year old has been clocked as having an 80mph fastball.  Major league scouts have already been interested in him wondering if he can continue to develop as a pitcher… the issue of his legs seemed to be a non-issue to scouts.

However Anthony was cut from both the varsity and junior-varsity teams at Dr. Phillips High School.  People in Anthony’s community are outraged, as is Anthony’s mother and Anthony himself.  This event raises an interesting question.

The coach of Dr. Phillips High School baseball team can cut anyone he wants if he feels that the player’s ability does not warrant a spot on the team.  Anthony’s condition has caused the coach of the team to feel that Anthony would be a liability on the field; most specifically that he could not effectively field his position.  According to Anthony that has never been a problem. 

Did the coach do anything wrong?  I don’t know.  Anthony should not automatically make the team simply because of his condition (according to Anthony himself he feels he has no disability and wants to be treated the same as everyone else), but at the same time, he should not be cut simply because of it either.  If he is good enough, if he had a good try-out, and is better than the other players he should be on the team… but if he can’t field his position, or is not one of the best players, then he should be cut.

Anthony says he loves baseball and just wants to have a fair shot… did he get one?  What if he is just not good enough?  If he wants to be treated like everyone else… why is the national news involved in a story about a high school kid being cut from a baseball team? 

You can’t have it both ways… you can’t claim you want to be treated the same as everyone else, then when it suits you bring all this attention to yourself…

What do you think?

P.S.  Anthony should also remember that sometimes coaches are wrong… very wrong.  Two examples:  Michael Jordan was cut from his JV high school basketball team, and pitcher Jim Abbott was cut from his high school’s baseball team because he had only one hand… when he threw a no-hitter in 1993 while pitching for the Yankees, he mailed a video of the game to the coach that cut him.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/disabled-pitcher-anthony-burruto-cut-high-school-baseball/story?id=12891530&page=1

To fight or not to fight...

Hey Guys,

Last night, the people of Egypt awaited a press conference from President Mubarak.  It was rumored that Mubarak was giving in to the will of the people and resigning his position as the head of Egyptian government.  However, Mubarak refused to give up his title and refused to leave the country as demanded by the people, he would however transfer most of his power to his vice president, Omar Suleiman.

What is gained from this?… according to the people of Egypt, nothing.  Suleiman is simply an extension of the same corrupt government lead by Mubarak.  This transfer of power has caused some confusion in Egypt.  Who is really in charge now – the military, Vice President Suleiman, or Mubarak?

According to reports from Cairo, the mostly peaceful protestors are at the brink of becoming violent.  The Military had made a statement earlier in the day saying, “all the demands of the protestors would be met…” – clearly not so.

Given Mubarak’s history of corruption is this transfer of power enough?  And if the people of Egypt do become violent against their government, are they justified in doing so?

What do you think?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclusive/20110211/pl_yblog_exclusive/mubarak-stays-on-key-questions-and-answers

“We hold these truths be self evident:

That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government…when a long train of abuses and usurpations…evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security…”

The CraigsList Congressman

Hey guys,

Previously I have asked you guys about the dangers of FaceBook and other social networking websites; most of you seemed to think that these cites are only dangerous if you allow them to be.  I suppose the same can be said of CraigsList. 

Late last night and early this morning, a story broke concerning a United States Representative from New York’s 26^th district (the Buffalo area).  The representative Christopher Lee (R) is accused of responding to a personal add off CraigsList from a thirty four year old woman, then sending her shirtless pictures of himself.  Lee, who is married, resigned his position as a congressman as soon as the story leaked.

Lee has been a staunch conservative in congress basing his office and voting record around family values, the sanctity of traditional marriage, and most recently he voted against allowing gays to serve openly in the United States military.  His actions on CraigsList do not seem to go along with the message he attempts to convey in his professional life.

Being a member of Congress holds him to a higher legal and moral standard, however being an elected official does not make a person perfect… we all make mistakes. 

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, a Liberal or a Conservative, shouldn’t we expect more from our elected officials?

What do you think?

 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=12882647&page=1

Pizza!!!

Great Comments on previous posts guys... keep them coming!

Yesterday, Rhode Island State Troopers in conjunction with local law enforcement hosted a community “pizza party.”  Its aim was to make teens from areas with a history of crime realize that the police can serve as mentors for good instead of simply investigators out to get the bad guys.

While everyone loves pizza, does this sort of event really have any effect on kids?  I don’t know.  I commend the police for trying to reach out to kids before they begin making poor life decisions; if the police can stop crime before it happens, that makes their job easier and creates an overall safer community.  

If not pizza, then what?  What helps motivate teenagers to make positive decisions as opposed to negative ones?  Lecturing kids does not work, punishing them doesn’t seem to, rewarding them hasn’t worked, scaring them doesn’t have much of an effect… so what?  

Look around Pilgrim High School.  What would help make the student body act more responsibly?  Most of the kids in this school do what their supposed to do (most of the time), and are fairly respectful.  But there are several people who feel the rules of the school as well as the basic rules of decorum do not apply to them.  How can we change a person’s attitude? 

What do you think?

-         X

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/providence-state-and-local-police-reaching-out-to-city-kids?ref=scroller&categoryId=20000&status=true

P.S.  And if all else fails, you can always call “This Guy’s Pizza” in Johnston… Try the Buf-a-Q pizza… it’s magic!  (A little self promotion never hurt anyone!)

There's an app for that...

“There’s an App for that…”

Faced with declining members and the closing of many of its parishes, the Catholic Church has begun to make efforts to modernize; its latest attempt “Confession”, a Roman Catholic app, thought to be the first app approved by the church authority.  The iPhone app, which retails for $1.99, walks Catholics through the sacrament of confession and is intended to be a “personalized examination of conscience for each user.”

This new app leads back to the question of where do we draw the line with our cell phones and our dependence on apps?  This idea of a digital confessional reminds me of the commercial for the Windows Phone…the “Really?”  commercial.  The Church says that the new confession app does not take the place of the confessional and the faithful still need to see a priest for absolution.

We rely on our phones and apps for so much already, do we really need an app for confession?  I’m not Catholic, so I’m viewing this idea from the outside looking in…

What do you think?

-X

P.S.  What if God doesn’t have an iPhone?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110207/lf_nm_life/us_technology_app_confessions

FaceBook Firings

A Connecticut woman was fired from her job as a medical technician because she criticized her supervisor on Facebook.  Teachers have been fired for posting comments concerning their school administration… one teacher in the U.S. was even fired because a picture of Facebook showed her drinking a beer while on a family vacation in Ireland.

Police have arrested people for various crimes because the guilty parties have boasted about their actions on Facebook and Twitter, and students have been punished because they chose to post their misdeeds openly for all the world to see.

I’m okay with criminals who are stupid enough to spread the word about their criminal exploits getting punished, as I am with students who break rules and openly brag about it.  What I’m not okay with… employers being able to fire someone for voicing their opinion or taking part in completely legal activities.  What gives them the right?

What do you think?

- X

SuperBowl Sunday!!!

So, the first question... what is your pick for the game... with the score.  I'm saying Green Bay 20 Pittsburgh 17.

My other question today has to do with Steeler's Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  Though he was not officially charged with anything by the Atlanta police in connection with accusations of sexual assault, it is the second time that he has been accused of this type of behavior.  The NFL saw fit to suspend him for six game (reduced to four) for violation of the league’s ' "personal conduct policy,"  and at the very least, he was guilty of providing alcohol to a nineteen year old girl.

Is it possible to separate the "Ben the person" from "Ben the Quarterback" if you are a fan of the Steelers?  Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who is a huge fan of the Steelers, was on the radio the other day and he argued that he can do that... he said that what Ben was accused of was reprehensible, and that he was rooting for the name of the front of the jersey not the name on the back.  He also added that he will not allow his kids to wear Roethlisberger's # 7 anymore, but that it would not stop him from cheering for his team.

What do you think?

Costa Rica and Security

As many of you know, each year I take a group of students abroad to visit historically and culturally significant places.  So far my groups have gone to France, England, Spain, Morocco, Greece, and Italy.  In addition to these places I have gone solo to Germany, China, and Israel... and I had planned to go to Egypt this summer... now that seems unlikely.  In just a few short week, Ms. Kelly and I are taking a group of nine students to Costa Rica... whitewater rafting, volcano exploration, zip lining... it's going to be amazing! 

Anyway, last night I was online double checking security rules and regulations because they seem to always be changing.  The new full body scanners kept coming up.  Many people are not comfortable with the images that these scanners produce; some view it as an invasion of privacy. 

I understand people want to protect their privacy, but I am willing to give up a few personal freedoms and be a little inconvenienced at the airport in order to ensure my safety.  Others argue that it is a slippery slope once we begin to give up some freedoms.  What do you think?


- X

United States/Egypt

What can the United States do to influence Mubarak and the situation within Egypt?

American influence over President Hosni Mubarak and the situation in Egypt is often overstated. The dynamics at play in protests against the government are like an enormous storm and the United States can't do much to change its course.

 That said, the U.S. provides about $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt, $1.2 billion of which goes to the military, which also has excellent relations with the U.S. defense establishment and Pentagon. Withdrawing the aid could harm the Israel-Egypt equation and diminish influence with the military. 

While the United States cannot be seen as anit-democratic, Mubarak has been our biggest Arab ally in the War of Terror and there are some concerns as to what type of government will replace Mubarak's "fake democracy." 

How involved should the United States be in the eventual creation of a "New Egypt"?

-X

The Value/Danger of Facebook

The dangers of Facebook, and other social networks sites have been well documented in recent months.  However it was Facebook and Twitter which helped spread the revolutionary movements currently taking place in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and to an extent Jordan.  What makes Facebook and other such sites so appealing to the masses?  And why in the United States is it used more so as a personal play by play or for cyber-bullying where in other parts of the world it is used for calls to action?

- X

The Idea...

Hey guys,

I wanted to create this blog to open discussion on any number of topics.  Each day I plan to post a question or a thought.  Topics for discussion will range from news and politics to sports and music to issues concerning our local community and Pilgrim High School.

Each time you post a comment expressing your opinion on the topic I post, you will earn credit towards which ever class you are in.  Just keep your comments and language appropriate, and try to express your opinion clearly.

Look for the first topic of discussion tomorrow...

Thanks,

and Happy Blogging...

- X