Choice Blog: Marilyn Manson's tribute to Paris

  In the article Marilyn Manson simulates wrist cutting in bizarre ‘tribute’ to Paris Jackson it depicts the situation on rocker Marilyn Manson, making a tribute to Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, by simulating the suicide on stage with a fake knife.
  The article includes quotes from the author himself and suicide prevention advocates. One quote that stood out to me was when when a suicide advocate declared: "Everyone in the suicide prevention field agrees that graphic depiction of self-harm is a provocative act that does impact people who are in distress in a manner that is very counterproductive and harmful." This quote stood out to me because I agree that it was indeed was a very dangerous stunt/act that he pulled.
  I think that this was a vrey dangerous and wrong thing because there are many suicidal people in the world and by doing this might have encouraged them to harm themselves even more. Even if it was a tribute to Paris it was wrong. There are plenty of other ways to go about it. We don't want people to start cutting themselves just because some other famous star did. Their supposed to role models to encourage their fans. Not make them want to harm themselves just to be like him.
  This article makes me me wonder if, after people at the concert saw him cutting himself, they decided they wanted to cut themselves too. Especially if they were a very devoted fan of his. Are people really so avid to be a follower that they would even hurt themselves to keep being one? It makes me wonder and it makes me mad. People in the business are supposed to be a role model, someone to look up to and like. Not someone to harm their own fans.

Will North Korea Start Another War?

  In the article, "Korean War Part 2?" by Choe Sang-Hun, she gives us an insider on North Koreas recent activities on preparing military weapons. Threats from North Korea are being taken very seriously since they have a history of "provocative actions and bizarre behavior.
  The article includes quotes from Choe, Government officials, and former NBA Basketball player Dennis Rodman. One quote that stood out to me was when Donald Gregg, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea. He stated, "The Korean peninsula is heading into a difficult and very dangerous period." This quote stood out to me because even if they are heading into tough times, why does North Korea lash out on people instead of trying to be peaceful with people so they have allies and people who will help them? By threatening people and saying things about making bombs and all that, nothing good will come out of it for them.
  I think that North Korea trying to start a war is a absurd idea because it doesn't make any sense for them to start a war against everyone and no one has said or done anything towards them. I do agree with the U.S Government saying to take extra precaution because they could potentiallly hurt another country and the U.S. would be ready to respond.
  This article makes me think that countries threatening each other for war are acting like a bunch of little kids. I mean really, think about it. When little kids are about to or threatening to fight each other, they go back and forth, back and forth. They could be fighting over the most pettiest of things! That's what this article makes me think. That people can act like a bunch of kids fighting back and forth like that over such trivial things.

Minimum Wage Going Up: My Opinion

  In the article "Time For a Raise?" by Patricia Smith she describes how President Obama has a plan to have the minimum wage raised to $9 an hour by 2015 and telling the good, bad, and interesting aspects of this change he is trying to make. In the article Smith stated "Obama wants Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour from $7.25, which would be the first increase since 2009."
  The article includes quotes from Patricia as well as other working people and people who work for the government. One quote that stood out to me was when Rajeev Dhawan stated "What matters for people earning minimum wage is how much money they take home in total in their paycheck. Their hourly rate may go up, but their number of hours may come down, so it's not an overall increase." This stood out to me because the statement speaks true. If the wage goes up that means the employers have to pay more and they may not have the budget for that to happen. So they would fire workers, shorten their hours, and raise prices, which could end up bad for everyone.
  I think that raising the minimum wage is a fairly good idea. Though it would take a lot of work and thinking through for it to workout the way Obama sees it. Something like this is delicate especially with the economy we have today.`
  This article makes me think about the calculations people have to make when they get their paycheck. Like, what they have to buy for the month, how much everything will cost, and then add the tax that goes along with it. Basic living essentials cost a lot today so they have to think about that plus other things that they need or may want. Maybe it is a good thing Obama is raising the minimum because plenty of people are struggling these today. I hope that if the minimum wage does go up everything gets better, including the economy.

Found Poem- Wise Men Turn Into Mad Men

To live within a clock, counting the hours of the day away, listening to sweet sounds of music.
Thus' the music, is efficacious to an idiot such as I, who continues to count each stroke, each day, each hour.
Tis' the melodious sounds of music sound no more as a wise man spoils the music.
"Music can turn wise men into madmen" a wise gentle men once said.
Thus the person suddenly starts up dancing and moves his body in a way no wise man would move.
He has become a mad man like I.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FB0811FA3D5D17738DDDAF0994D9405B8784F0D3

Lifting The Ban On Army Women

  In the article "Sisters In Arms" in upfront magazine by James Dao, he describes how the U.S. military is lifting the ban on women in combat. In 2007, Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall and her unit came under attack. Her unit, including herself, began to fight back. This shows that women can fight in wars just as good as men.

  This article includes quotes from officials who are in charge of how the war goes including Leon Panetta, Greg Jacobs and Captain Jaime Phillips of the Canadian army. One quote that stood out to me was from Panetta who stated, "They're fighting and they're dying together, and the time has come for our policies to reflect that reality." This quote stood out to me because it is a true statement. Even though I don't agree with the idea of war in general, the quote speaks true. If women are dying and fighting just as the men do, the law should be lifted and let women have the right to fight if they want.

  I am neutral about women getting the right to fight in combat. I just don't really know how to react. It is good for women who have been serving the army for years and finally get the chance to fight legally; then I am also not because I believe we cannot have the women die because they are also mothers and without mothers we cannot really have a U.S.

  This article makes me think that if women were already fighting and dying for the army, why wasn't the ban already lifted before now? I understand that they wanted to protect women; which I believe as well; but I also believe we can't hold back different sexes back just because of what we want. Women are strong and can handle things so they should have let them fight from the start. Who knows, maybe women will be the better fighters anyway.

Cyber Attacks: The Up and Coming New Type Of War

  In the article "Cyber Wars" by Patricia Smith, she talk about cyber attacks going on between Iran and the U.S. over via the web. Iran has already issued some attacks on the U.S.. One attack outside of the U.S. that was major, was on the company Saudi Aramco. This line on the attack reads "They knew that last August 15, more than 55,000 Saudi Aramco employees would be at home preparing for a Muslim holiday. So that morning, at 11:08, a computer virus began erasing data on 75% of Aramco's corporate PCs-documents, spreadsheets, e-mails, files-replacing everything with an image of a burning American Flag." This shows that Iran could do some serious damage over a computer.
  The article includes quotes from people of congress, the government, and the white house. One quote that stood out to me was from Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta who stated "An aggressor nation or extremist group could use these kinds of cybertools to gain control of critical switches, they could derail passenger trains or even more dangerous, derail passenger trains loaded with lethal chemicals. They could contaminate the water supply in major cities, or shut down the power grid across large parts of the country." This stood out to me because it surprised me that over a computer a country could do so much damage and it could all be done with just one click.
  I think that any kind of war is wrong and that war over the computer seems quite petty really. War to me is just petty in general. Though I'd rather prefer there be no war at all, at least with cyber war, the U.S doesn't have to send out any more of our men and women who have served the country before.
  This article makes me think that countries will fight over the most absurd and petty things just to get their way. Sometimes yes, there could be a serious cause for war. Though I haven't seen any in my short lifetime. There are other ways to go about things other than war. Wasn't the goal of the U.S was to event or keep peace in the world? If so, war is not helping that cause. I hope that in the future, we can all just live in some form of peace with each other and stop these frivolous wars.

Rapper Kenneth Cherry Jr. among dead in Las Vegas

  In the article "Rapper among dead after shooting. fiery crash on Las Vegas Strip" by Miguel Marquez of CNN news, he talks about the catastrophe that happened on the Las Vegas Strip because of seemingly a disagreement between the rapper and other unknown people. The fact is that three people died as a result after the altercation when the rappers car collided with a taxi when he got shot.
  The article includes quotes from family, some on-lookers, witnesses, Cherry Jr's. attorney and one of the detectives that is looking into the case. One quote that stood out to me from out of all of these people was from Kenneth's attorney Vicki Greco who said, " Out everyone I know in the rapping industry there is no way I would have ever, ever expected to find that he was shot on the Las Vegas strip in such an aggressive manner. He has two kids, and he didn't have a criminal record or history. He was just a good kid trying to make it and be a good father." This stood out to me because it makes me ask and wonder, then why did the killers confront and kill him and make other people die in the process if this guy had no history and was a good guy? This shows just how cruel people, humans can be.
  I think that whoever made this whole thing happen, the killers with the range rover, should all be caught as soon as possible. This whole thing is just plain ridiculous. this should have never happened and the killers cost other people live as well even though I doubt it they care.
  This article makes me wonder if Kenneth had something to do with the man before this little incident or if he just came out from the casino and got into a tiff with a random guy. Either way, shooting Kenneth's car, was the wrong way to go about whatever happened. Why do people think the only way to handle things is to shoot someone and just get rid of them? There are plenty of other ways to go about things without involving violence. I think if criminals and just regular people, get into their head that violence isn't the way to go, then maybe we would have less trouble for them, and the rest of us.