Balloon Boy Hoax

By now, mostly everyone has heard the bizarre case of the missing "balloon boy."  A six year old boy was thought to be floating in a weather balloon that his father had made, when in fact he was actually in the attic for the five hour period they believed he was missing.  More information can be found at this article from CNN.  This incident turned out to be a hoax.  The more information revealed about this family, the stranger this case becomes.  It is now clear that the parents are looking to create some fame and earn some money through television appearances.  They simply staged this whole event.  For hours, the police force was looking for the boy and tried to chase down the runaway balloon.  Even days after, this case still has media attention.  All of the frenzy was for nothing. 

They cannot get away with their ridiculous action, and they are so attention seeking that it is not unlikely for another staged event to occur.  What kind of punishment should this family receive?  Is a fine to lenient, is jail time to harsh?  How can we determine what kind of punishment is appropriate in such bizarre cases?

Today's Technology and the Study Process

Today we live in a world where cell phones, ipods, computers and televisions seem to take over every aspect of our lives.  I think it's safe to say that nearly every student uses one or more of these technologies throughout the day, and many of us combine the use of these items with homework.  It is not uncommon to be listening to music while reading or to be logged onto facebook when writing a paper.

I'm sure many of us have been nagged by our parents to turn off the television or put down the phone when doing homework, but do these "distractions" actually distract us from our work?  An article in the New York Times refutes the commonly held belief that new technology is detrimental to a students learning.  The doctors, and students, in this article believe that technology is such a natural part of the world to day that it is impossible to avoid it, even during study time.  Cell phone, computer and television usage has become a natural part of the studying process for students. 

What unnecessary forms of technology do you use when you study? Is it possible for students to work without these distractions or is technology so embedded into society that it simply cannot be avoided?   How do you think future students will work?

Slavery and the White House

I recently read an incredibly interesting story about Michelle Obama's ancestry.  Obama's great-great-great grandmother was actually a slave.  The article outlines the general story of her life, and also relates to what he have been discussing  in class.  The life story of Malvinia (Obama's great-great-great grandmother) seems to be, according to this article, the story of a very average slave during that time.  Generations later, Michelle Obama lives the opposite lifestyle of her grandmother; Obama is one of the most powerful women in America whereas  Malvinia was deemed as barley human.

What are your thoughts?  Should this discovery be considered as proof of how far America has advanced since the time of Fredrick Douglass, or is this just another average story of America's past?

Illegal Babysitting

An extremely typical and traditional job in America is babysitting.  I myself have babysat for countless families since I was about twelve years old.  Who would have thought that such a common practice could be illegal?

According to an article at CNN, a woman in Michigan is being fined, and may possibly face jail time, for watching her neighbor's children on a daily basis.  Michigan's Department of Human Services claims that it is illegal for this woman to allow her neighbor's children to stay at her house because she is not registered as a day care business. Many families can no longer afford to pay a day care to watch their children, and leaving them with a friend is a lot more economical.

What do you think?  Is the Department of Human Services going overboard or should this practice be limited?  Letting friends and babysitters watch afer children is such a common practice in American society; it is possible to do away with it?

Michelle Obama's Role in Heath Care Reform

On Friday, the First Lady addressed the public about health care in the United States today.  An article from CNN that I read described Michelle Obama to be "humanizing" the issue.  She told stories of experiences from her own life supporting universal health care and its importance to every American. 

Michelle Obama has a certain power over America that the President does not; she has the ability to make people feel more related to political issues.  She has the ability to move away from logistics and make an issue more "human".  She really is playing her role as First Lady.  Why does the public feel so compelled to listen to her words?  Why does the public feel that they can relate to her?  Is the First Lady always a woman we can relate to?

Walking to School is Dangerous?

An article in the New York Times about children walking to school surprised me.  This article discusses how many parents won't let their kids venture just two blocks away to catch a school bus or walk to school themselves.  Parents are concerned about their children getting abducted while walking alone.  While, unfortunately, kidnapping is a concern, some parents are going a little extreme.  Children are being individually escorted out of schools by an official to an approved car, parents wait in the car at bus stops with their children.  Are these precautions absolutely necessary or are parents crushing their child's independence?

Every once in a while, we will hear a horror story on the news about something terrible happening to a child when they are only blocks away from their homes.  If these kinds of abductions are preventable by parents, why shouldn't they drive their child to a location only a few minutes away?  What are parents teaching their children though these safety precautions?

Dating Violence in the Recession

While looking for an article to blog about, I was particularly struck by an article concerning teen dating violence and the recession.   The article draws a connection between the poor economy and teen dating violence.  Countless families are cracking under the financial strains of today’s world and new studies show that kids from families who are suffering from the economy are also facing a rise in teen violence. 

I think to draw such a connection is ridiculous.  In doing so, we are only creating an excuse for the abusers.  Although many families are suffering financially, a material stress like money should never lead a person to harm another.  Everywhere in today's world it seems that people too often allow money to take over thier lives. How can a person allow the lack of material in their lives lead them to harm someone that they have a relationship with?  Why does frustration with money become the cause of an abusive relationship among teens?