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.

The Big Surprise Behind Valentine's Day

  In the article "Historically Incorrect Canoodling" by Stephanie Coontz, she explores the history behind Valentines Day and finds some things that may surprise some people. In the article, Coontz states, "Valentine's Day was originally created by the Roman Catholic Church as a limit on sexual passion." This for sure is not what most people would have thought.
  The article includes quotes from Coontz herself, and quotes from people in that century that shows what most people thought in that time. One quotes that stood out to me from Coontz was when she greed to a point of which the church said saying, " They had a point. High Expectations of married love can lead to huge disappoints," It stood out to me because I think the statement is false. If you have the highest expectations from a marriage that means you are looking to have the best out of your marriage and a person can only want the best.
  I think that Valentine's Day being a day that didn't stand for love before in the earlier centuries is pretty absurd. I mean, people should support people who are in love because they are seemingly happy together. Even if it lasts for only a little while. Love can be a beautiful thing, even if it can turn out ugly in the end. People fall in love and sometimes you can't help it. The church should have supported the marriages if they wanted what was best for the people.
  This article makes me think that the Church maybe didn't want other people to marry because they were not allowed to or they fell in love once and it just didn't work out. If that was the case then why ruin other peoples experience of love? The church may believe that it was the wrong thing but what about the soldiers that wanted to get married? They work for them during the wars they should at least be able to come home to some type of happiness. Some Grown-Ups are even like that today. Maybe they should stop getting into other peoples relationships and let them do their own thing without their control. Marriage shouldn't have been banned, It should have been encouraged. To keep all of their people happy in some sort of way.

Gender Based Pricing: Is it Fair or Not?

  In the article " Is gender-based pricing fair?" written for The New York Times "upfront", Mike Durant and Jonathan Mintz each give their own opinion if gender-based pricing is fair or not. In the article Mintz states that in New York since 1998, giving different prices for services to men and women is illegal. If the action is illegal then why do some businesses do it?
  The article includes quotes from both Mike Durant and Jonathan Mintz who give their opinion on gender based pricing. Both Durant and Mintz use data to support their points. One quotes that stood out to me from Durant who said, "Sometimes it's completely fair to charge men and women different prices." this stood out to me because i agree with this statement because it is true. Men and Women may be getting the same services but they aren't all exactly the same. Different ways of distributing can call for different prices. Though, only sometimes when it is necessary as Durant said.
  I think that gender-based pricing is not really a big deal and that the government should not be getting involved. I understand the business's reason behind different pricing because for different genders, services are different as well. Many people may disagree with me but it is the truth and people may have to accept it one way or the other. If u don't like the prices in a business, just take your business elsewhere.
  This article reminds me of when women were fighting for the right to vote. Both men and women had their own views and arguments on why the other was wrong about their view. Men thought that women should not vote due to them "not having a mans wit" and that they should keep their power status. While women thought they should have the right to vote because they felt inferior and wanted to be an equal citizens of America just as the men. Both sides have an opinion and both sides are wrong and right in ways. You cant really get a handle on which side is right...though in this case women won.

Should Lance Armstrong get another chance?

  In the article "Give Lance another chance?" many proclaimed columnists for newspapers and magazines speak out on their views of Lance Armstrong's admission to doping before the races and whether he should get another chance or not. Lance Armstrong has already been banned from professional cycling for life and he was stripped of his seven Tour de France trophies.
  The article includes opinions and quotes from columnists, from a range of different magazines and newspapers. One opinion that stood out to me from all the rest was when Frida Ghitis columnist for The Miami Herald, said " He should make a new career of speaking out about the cost of living a lie." It stood out to me because I think, I'm not sure, that she was being serious when she said that. Though I completely agree with her about it. To make it up to everyone he should teach other people about how living a lie can affect your life in the worst way in the end.
  I think that the whole situation was blown out of proportion. Yes he did cheat but why end his career and ban him from cycling for the rest of his life because of that? There are probably more than half of the athletes out there doing the same thing. You can't fire and ban all of though can you? Or else there would be no entertainment or drama left in the nation to gossip about. So I say at least let him keep cycling because that's what he really loves and give him a second chance to redeem himself.
  This article makes me think that people love to gossip over the most foolish things and then put all their attention onto that. Yes he was cheating, and yes and it was for more than a decade. Though like I said before, most of the athletes out here are probably using performance-enhancing pills to win but nobody has figured it out yet. I say give Lance another chance! People should start showing some sympathy. He did it for you guys, for the fans. He wanted to make them proud.
 

Minorities Becoming Major-Minorities in U.S.

  In the article " The New Face Of America" by Veronica Majerol she shows us how the minority ethnicity's are now becoming major-minorities due to more childbirths of different ethnicity's. The article states that " Minor populations now outnumber whites in 348 of the more than 3,000 countries."
  The article includes quotes from kids themselves who are of all different ethnicity's.  She also uses graphs and surveys to illustrate her point. One quote that stood out to me was "People our age don't care where you're from" from Moises Morales who moved to the U.S from Mexico. this quote stood out to me because it is a true statement. Younger generations these days don't care what race you are. The thing is if your cool your cool. We don't define who you are because of your race or skin color. Why can't other people think the same?
  I think that the minority races becoming major-minority will make the U.S better because we will then really be a multi-cultural nation. By doing this we can have more diverse people of all ages and cultures to befriend and not just have one culture dominating.many people in the nation may not even be aware that there are so many other cultures.
  This article makes me wonder just how many type of ethnicity's are out there. There could be a whole lot that I do not know about. I have heard that there are festivals that are for the many ethnicity's out there and maybe I could try going to one and find out more about a culture.

Questions Concerning Syria War

  In the article "Civil War in Syria Raises Questions About When to Intervene" by Ja'anai Delaney who works for NewsHour Extra, talks about the war going on in Syria and how the U.S. is trying to find ways to help the people there who are suffering. In the article it states that " The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that over 200,000 people have fled their homes" This shows that the war in Syria is really serious that people have had to leave to get away from all the troubles going on there.
  This article is in the first person so the quotes are from the author themselves. Though they do site their data from other sources such as surveys. One quote that stood out to me was "While some members of the government continue to support the regime, others, including many higher-ups, defected in protest of the violence." This shows that the people who don't support the regime aren't really looking out for the people if they started a whole war against them.
  I think that this war, any war, is foolish and uncalled for and that there needs to be more being done by the U.S to stop this war as soon as possible. I understand that they are waiting for more information and the right time but we need to take action before it gets even worse. If things get worse things could end up badly for the U.S especially if we have a alliance with Syria and then they will attack us since we did not help sooner.
  This article makes me wonder if all the wars that have gone on and are going on in the world are even necessary. They surely don't help in the end since all of the town is in ruins. Why have a war when in the end you have to pay for the damages and it doesn't even really work out in the end. They may have peace treaties but they are only as good as promises. Promises can very easily, be broken. I hope when someone has a war and then they notice the non-benefits of having it then they will stand up and speak out on wars and why they are not necessary.  

Child Depression and Anxiety due to No Play-Time

  In the article "All Work and No Play: Why Your Kids Are More Anxious, Depressed" Esther Entin explores a professors five main causes and effects of children having no free play-time to themselves. In the article the professor says that "Since about 1955... children's free play has been continually declining, at least partly because adults have exerted ever-increasing control over children's activities."
  This article includes quotes from professors and the author themselves. Entin also cites data from surveys and researchers. One fact that stood out to me was "As children negotiate both their physical and social environments through play, they can gain a sense of mastery over their world." This was a statement that stood out to me because it could be true due to it saying that basically if the child gets to play and gets to control their emotions and the environment that they do better and can master their world on to a new level. This shows that play time to children can be really beneficial to them.
  I think that play time to children while they are still young and developing is really important because they get to experience self-independence and get to be in their own world with their own rules. Many parents may not know that their children need play time to develop because they are so focused on the future and aren't focused on the present.
  This article made me think that parents can sometimes be quite oblivious to what their children really need and want in their life. Children don't want someone who plans every second of what they're going to do everyday. Parents do have some control over what their children do but that some can turn into always. The parents should be the one to give the child that free that they need in their life since for most of their life they are going to be in school. I wish parents could see and take action on what their children need to fully develop in their young lives.