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