Post #10- Cupertino schools may cut gifted program, raise class sizes

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_13978926?source=rss&nclick_check=1

By Matt Wilson

Cupertino Courier

Posted: 12/11/2009 02:05:11 PM PST

Updated: 12/11/2009 03:17:53 PM PST

In this article there is a discussion of possible cuts include staff reductions, reducing custodial staff to halftime, eliminating district office classified positions, cutting hours at a teacher resource center and eliminating summer school and the GATE program for gifted students.

"We have scrutinized every aspect of district operations. We think this represents the best way to get where we need to be," Quon said.

Cutting classes and increasing the student-teacher ratio to 30-1 in grades 1,2, and 3 is possible, chief business officer Rick Hausman said.

I enjoy that the future of our nation, the kids that are supposed to grow up and be the leaders and runners of our nation are being punished because the adults can get their stuff in order. Gifted programs are an amazing way for kids to get a head start and reach for higher goals in school; test their boundaries if you will.

I think it is a shame that one teacher will have to take one the responsibility of that many children; i am scared that it will decrease a teachers want to do what they do just because of stress.

Post #9-Mass. woman, 98, accused of killing roommate, 100

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091211/ap_on_re_us/us_centenarian_slaying
By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press Writer Eric Tucker, Associated Press Writer – 18 mins ago
This article talks about a 98-year-old woman that was indicted Friday on a second-degree murder charge that alleges she strangled her 100-year-old nursing home roommate after making the victim's life "a living hell" because she thought the woman was "taking over the room."
Laura Lundquist was sent to a state mental hospital for a competency evaluation before her arraignment. Her defense attorney, Carl Levin, said she has a "long-standing diagnosis of dementia, as well as issues of cognitive impairment."

She is believed to be the oldest murder defendant in state history, but might never go to trial because of her mental health issues.

This is the reason that i will never put my parents into a home of any sort, i will find a way for help to come to them. I just cant understand while you would take your parent and put them into a box per say and expect them to live out the rest of their lives in peace and happiness with strangers they haven't spent a minute of their lives with.Society has taught us that instead of dealing with the hardships of age with the elderly, just take them to a place where they can all sit and be miserable and out of the way.

Post #8- Strong sales boost recovery hope

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091211/bs_nm/us_usa_economy

By Lucia Mutikani Lucia Mutikani – 1 hr 11 mins ago

This article talks about the growing spending of Americans this season especially in the month of November. This is giving economists a big smile because they say that this is just the beginning of a turn around in the recession.

A slew of data this week has suggested the recovery is gaining momentum, pulling further away from the devastating recession that pushed unemployment to quarter-century highs and raising hopes the economy can return to normal growth as massive government support starts to fade.

"The recovery looks to be more on track. The combination of improvements in the labor market and consumer spending is a strong signal that we're not at this point entering into a double-dip scenario," said Torsten Slok, a senior economist at Deutsche Bank in New York.

I see this as a good thing but really, there is always going to be a debt crisis in America and if for some miraculous reason we come out of this so called recession, the government and media will just find another variable to use to scare the American people. Listen, there have always been a hard labor market, and there has always been homelessness and debt to the American people; but now since people who used to be rich and have nice houses are being turned upside down, now the big people up to are going to listen.

That bull! The US should stop worrying about the issues that are always going to be there and look at what is causing them and go to the source. Help out our the people in our own backyard first.

Post #7-Gun laws are getting looser across much of US

By ERIK SCHELZIG, Associated Press Writer Erik Schelzig, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 4 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091211/ap_on_bi_ge/us_looser_gun_laws

This article discusses how the guns laws are being pushed into legislation an coming out different. Did you know that in Tennessee you can take a gun onto a playground and then turn around and go grab a cold one at the bar with your gun too! I see this as the beginning of a very bad trend that is supposedly taking over the legislation's all over the nation.

A nationwide review by The Associated Press found that over the last two years, 24 states, mostly in the South and West, have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions.

Among other things, legislatures have allowed firearms to be carried in cars, made it illegal to ask job candidates whether they own a gun, and expanded agreements that make permits to carry handguns in one state valid in another.

I can see this turning into more of a problem overall, even for those who pushed the issue of looser gun control.

Post #6- Judge halts Jon Gosselin's media appearances

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/11/gosselin.media.appearances.halted/index.html

So you are telling me that there are still reporters and networks that are concerned with a man who cheated on his wife and broke up the family that is alone causing world overpopulation. Why? We get it, he cheated, people do, and........
It is so obvious that he is milking this medai attention for everything he can and now he got bit in the butt for it. His bad for screwing up his marriage and the deal he was getting with TLC; but shame on the media for keeping that keg tapped for him.
Does everyone still know that there is a war going on and that we have soldiers fighting for us that are going to be away from the only people that make them happy during the holidays? No? Okay well how about we keep everyone updated on the cheating father of eight.

POst #5-Social media brings bullying to light

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/10/social.media.bullying/index.html

This article was about how bullying has gone to a completely new level due to technology and access to that technology. It talks about "a 15-year-old voiced her dislike for a hip-hop music group and got punched in the face by a classmate. The whole thing was caught on tape and social media helped police in their investigation.

A crowd of six to 10 classmates were following the self-described emo girl and her boyfriend home from school in Newark, Ohio, on an autumn day in September. Some kids were taping it and others were egging on the assailant, who was on the school wrestling team. It all started because Alexis Xanders doesn't like Insane Clown Posse."

I think...

Really? Did no one see this coming. We are allowing Americas youth access to extreme amounts of information and online data that they can post anything, and watch and say anything on a day to day minute by minute basis. The combination of teenagers, their hormones, complete access to voice their opinions and sites that they can post those opinions is a natural recipe for another way for teens to lash out.

Post #4- Casey Anthony's lawyer argues against death penalty for client

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/11/florida.casey.anthony.court/index.html

December 11, 2009 4:58 p.m. EST

This article discusses the case of Casey Anthony, and how her lawyer is asking to stop prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against her.

Lawyer Andrea Lyon told Orange County Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland that the "real reason" prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Casey Anthony is because they want to "get as biased a jury as they possibly can."

Lyon said a jury that is qualified to serve in a death penalty case is more likely to convict defendants.

I find this piece interesting because the courtroom has slowly gone from the hard facts and solid evidence to the lawyers bothered by what might make the jury convict their client. Well sorry lady, if there is evidence and the jury see's that then sorry for ya because your client is done for. It bugs me that people can literally get away with murder these day just because their lawyer found the right string to pull and when.