Trying to prevent 'absolutely catastrophic' situation in Haiti

International aid groups were feverishly trying to get supplies into quake-ravaged Haiti on Thursday to prevent the situation from going from "dire to absolutely catastrophic."The search-and-rescue efforts are the top priority."The ability to get people out of that rubble is paramount," said Jonathan Aiken, a spokesman for the American Red Cross. "You have a very limited time to accomplish that before people die and before you start to get into issues of diseases."Behind the scenes, a massive coordination effort involving dozens of aid groups, the Haitian government, the United Nations and the U.S. military was under way to get food, water, tents and other supplies to survivors of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake.Ian Rodgers, a senior emergency adviser for Save the Children, said aid efforts were at a "tipping point."

I agree with Jordan on the terribleness of the situation, it is hard to sit in this comphy chair looking at thousdands of dolalrs worth of electronics when there are poeple in the world with absolutly nothing, trapped unter a ton of rubble starving to deth. I hope that relief can come quikly to the survivors.

jordans blog

Orphans

The United States are ignoring the appropriate paper work for Haitian orphans to leave the counry to fund new homes. All the children had perspective pending parents already lined up before the earthquake on tuesday putting the paperwork on hold due to an emergency basis. 300 children have pending parents in America, 6 had already arrived in Florida by Sunday night, met by there adoptive parents with open arms.

Nick's opinion on the matter is optamistic for the orphans new life. I agree with him that at least the orphans will have a much better life than what they probably would have had in Haiti once grown up. America is the land of opportunity and that is exactly what the families that are adopting these kids are giving them. A new start.

nicks blog

An e-mail from Haiti, then minutes later, a nightmare

Last Tuesday, from his room at the Hotel Montana near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, U.S. Air Force Maj. Ken Bourland sent an e-mail to his wife telling her that he was fine and had just settled in for what was going to be an exciting time taking a disaster preparedness course.It was 4:51 p.m. ET.Less than 10 minutes later, an earthquake leveled much of the Haitian capital, including the Hotel Montana."I had just clicked off the e-mail and was trying to find some cartoons for the kids to watch," she said. "And then I saw this breaking news. An earthquake. I thought, 'Did California get hit again?' Then I saw Haiti."

This is terrible. It is hard to imagine how hard it is to loose a beloved spouse, especially in a freak accident like an earthquake in Haiti, but at least there is some hope for this poor women. It is highly ironic in my opinion that she had been emailing him while he was in haiti and then just like that he is gone. I mean what are the odds that while your out of the country for a week there is an earthquake in the country that your in. It doesnt even make sense. Oh well that is how life goes. My heart goes out to their family and everyone affected in the Haiti earthquake.

3 pulled from grocery store; rescuers 'very close' to 2 others

Three people were rescued Sunday from the rubble of a grocery store, officials told CNN, and American and Turkish rescuers were "very close" to reaching two others, despite experiencing a dangerous setback.The Caribbean Supermarket was housed in a three-story building, which collapsed in Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake. A joint New York fire and police department search and rescue team, as well as a team from Miami, Florida, and a Turkish team, was working to free those trapped in the ruins.A man and a teenage girl were found alive by the New York team earlier Sunday, according to NYPD spokesman Paul Browne. Both were taken to a U.N. hospital at Port-au-Prince's airport, where the girl, about 13, was treated for leg injuries and the man treated for undetermined injuries. They are believed to be Haitian nationals.

It's hard to glance at the tv or listen to the radio without hearing about Haiti, it actially might be impossible. This earthquake stopped all other news in its tracks and is everywhere. It is hard to hear the stories coming from the disaster such as this one were people's lives are still at stake and everyone is in survival mode. It is great that people and rescue teams are still there trying to help all of the people suffering.

Surving the Earthquake

Counting today it has has been three days that Haiti suffered from a 7.0 earthquake. Many of the sources finding info on this situation say that peopel who were killed in the earthquake would have died within 72 hours. These people who are living here in Haiti are suffering because of the lack of resources needed to survive. These resources need to come and come fast because more people are dieing. Right now in Haiti water is one of the main resources needed especially because these peoplel ive in a in a dry and dusty area.The main goal of the rescue team is help people regain the lives they once had and restore peace.

It's terrible that the people of hati are living in desolation and with the flooding from the hurricane they are surounded by undrinkable water and no food. They wont be able to survive for long. If we can drop food supplies to them we they will be able to live for longer and maybe they can get everything cleaned up and back to better times.

Avatar is No. 1!

Avatar is rising to the top of the leader board and it doesn't look it's stopping anytime soon. For four straight weeks the move Avatar produced by James Cameron, is number one bringing in $48.5 million dollars.Avatar has taken over the spots of some the most beloved 3-D movies made including Pirates of the Caribbean and Spider Man.The big question that everyone is trying to figure is that if it will keep rising high enough to top the all time high movie known as the Titanic which brought in $600.8 million domestically and $1.8 billion globally. Avatar at this point is has brought in $429 million domestically and $1.3 billion internationally. This is going to be the site to see if Avatar knocks off the top movie ever made!

This movie sounds amazing! I have not had the pleasure of seeing the movie, but from what I hear the effects and the colors are amazing. If it takes over the number 1 spot of all time it's not that big of a deal because it's just James Cameron beating James Cameron which is very very impressive dont get me wrong, but begs the question, do the rest of us have a chance if this guy is still alive? Oh well cant wait to see this masterpiece of a movie.

Jimmy Louis and Haiti

This article is talks about the actor Jimmy-Jean Louis and how he finally was able to contact his parents in Haiti. He couldn't reach them since the earthquake until his sister found a way to get a hold of them. Jimmy says that physically his parents are doing well but emotionally they aren't doing so hot. They do not understand exactly what happened and are still shocked over the whole tragedy. Jimmy is now the founder of a fund called Hollywood unites for Haiti which allows children to participate in sports and education.

The Earthquake in Hati was a terrible tragady and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by it. It is great that influential people like Jimmy -Jean Louis are taking action to help the vicims of the Earthquake. In times like this the world has to forget their differences and help eachother to fight the ultimate enemy (at times) mother nature.

'He wanted to die with his family'

Blocks at his house. His right left was broken in two places. He left leg was smashed below the knee. It was cold and turning black. His father walked into the yard and just fell apart. He lost his wife and four other children.
He was so thankful that he was able to pull out the son above. He just wanted to go someplace other that back to Port-au-Prince.
Then we had to tell him he had to return to the hell he had just left. He sons leg needs to be amputated for him to survive.

This is a very sad story. Hopefully he will get his leg amputated and everything will turn out all right for him and his family. Its a terrible thing what happened in Hati, but the good thing is that with the modern media and the widespread use of the internet support is puring in faster than was ever possible.

How long can people survive?

It has been three days since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Sources say that people who were killed in the earthquake would have died in the first 72 hours. The people of Haiti are lacking resources that are in need to survive. The question is how long can they physically survive without these sources? People can go longer without food than without water. Water is one of the main resources needed ex specially in a dry and dusty area. Help is on the way starting today. The main goal of the rescue relief is to help the people alive and in need because it is probably too late for those who are buried.

It's terrible that the people of hati are living in desolation and with the flooding from the hurricane they are surounded by undrinkable water and no food. They wont be able to survive for long. If we can drop food supplies to them we they will be able to live for longer and maybe they can get everything cleaned up and back to better times.

ISSUE #2: Boosting the Minimum

Background:

Some workers believe that because we are in a recession, many full time employees that receive minimum wage will be below the poverty line and will not be able to live. The workers think because of this they should raise minimum wage up from 5.15 and hour. They say it would bring them above the poverty line and singe mothers with families would once again be able to survive. The opposition to that view say that minimum wage increasing would only hurt businesses which would be forced to raise their prices more because we live in a Market-Based Economy, and over half the people that make minimum wage are teenagers anyway, so you would be infact helping nobody. The opposition also says that if they want to help low income families put more money into the Earned Income Tax Credit program.

Current:

I belive that this is an old issue seeing as the article talked about miniumum wage being at 5.15 and considering raising it to 7.25. Well, they did it, and does it matter to me...no, i have three jobs and all of them make more than that an hour anyway so it probably did help nobody to increase minimum wage, but hurt businesses instead.

Supporting argument - Robert Paturzo-Elliott

Issue #1

Issue #3

U.S.-bound oil tanker hijacked off Somalia

The M/V Maran Centaurus was commandeered about 600 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles, on its way to New Orleans, Louisiana, according to the Maritime Security Center.
The crew consists of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and a Romanian, said the security agency, which is run by the European naval force.The 300,000-ton tanker, which started out from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was seized Sunday. It had changed course westward, toward Harardhere or Hobyo, along Somali's central-western coast.Somali pirates have turned high-seas kidnappings into a lucrative business.Pirates have captured more than 50 ships this year off Somalia and are currently holding 12.

Wow, get a real job.... the pirates are lucky im not in charge or they would all be shot instantly, i dont have time for nonsence like this. Get a real job pirates. In other news vikings trapped the bears to a 36-10 victory. AP just isnt on his game anymore though, ill let it slide because he was sick this week, but i better be seeing some 50 yard TD runs in a hurry. wow that subject changed in a hurry, oh well, nobody cares about modern day pirates.

ISSUE #1 -Comprehensive vs. Incremental Health Care Reform

Supporters of Universal health care want the government to run the health care system in the United States. They think that the Government can keep the costs low and keep the quality height for people who need care the most in the US. They also think this would add to the benefits of Medicare and Medicaid. The opposing side argues that the heath care market is best run by independent companies, as it is now. This competition will keep the market prices down and keep the quality up. The opposition also argues that since there are so many jobs connected to the current health care system that thousands upon thousands of people will go jobless and that will be bad for the economy.

I think that we should keep the health care system the way it is as of now. The independent companies in my opining do a good enough job keeping the quality of health care up and the costs down. At least in my small town of Alexandria MN. With the United States just reaching 10.2% unemployment, the highest unemployment percent in 22 years, I do not think that we need to terminate more jobs in the US, and that we can keep the system the way it has been forever. If it has worked for the last 100 years, why wouldn't it work now?

Person With my Opinion - Tim Pawlenty, MN Governor

Issue #2

Issue #3

Iraqi parliament passes key voting law

Iraq's parliament on Sunday passed a long-awaited election law that the government said will allow national elections to take place in January.Officials had hoped to hold elections January 16, but Iraq's election commission said Sunday the elections will take place later than that -- but before January 31, the constitutional deadline.Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in a statement, called it "a historic victory of the will of the Iraqi people" and a "strong response against the terrorists and the former regime members who are trying to undermine security and undermine the political process and return the country to the dark ages, injustice, tyranny and discrimination."

This is good for Iraq, I'm glad to see that they are sort of getting their democracy in order so we can get our troops out of there and maybe move some of them into Aphghanistan so we can finish that war without having a draft, then maybe have 30 years of peace in the world (hahaha). Oh well I can dream can't I?\

Article - http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/11/08/iraq.election.law/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

What Americans owe to those who serve

Bob Greene was thinking about Halloween and how you dress up in costumes and then he started to think about how on Veterans day they dress up in uniform, but not for a silly purpose, but for a very serious one. He talks about how soldiers forced to quit their schooling and job and leave their family that they loved to start a new life and save their country. He asks that on this Veterans day we take extra special time to genuinely thank the solders who put their futures in jeopardy to save us.

I think this is a great idea. I would never want to be drafted into a war, and obviously nobody does, but sombody has to be and those who were drafted into Vietnam had their lives ripped away from them. When thinking about this it makes you feel very greatful that they went and makes you want to thank them. But it's not like they had a choice, so its like thank you for being chosen instead of me. For those that Chose to go fight, then there is a genuine thank you extended.

Dead wrong: Man attends own funeral after mix-up over body's ID

On the holiday known as the Day of the Dead, a Brazilian bricklayer walked into his own funeral.The sight of Ademir Jorge Goncalves alive shocked relatives, some of whom tried to jump out of the windows of the funeral home in southern Brazil.On November 1, some family members and friends had identified the victim of a car crash as the 59-year-old Goncalves. It turns out that it was a man that was missing from a nearby village and he was truly identified later that day.

First of all HAHAHAHAHA!!! This is hilarious. How could a family possibly think that this was part of their family and be wrong? And to see the man walk into his own funeral must have been highly confusing and scary for everyone that was there, but super funny to everyone else in the world, i bet that familys happy that this man didn't die (or maybe not seeing as they didnt even know what he looked like haha), oh well.

Ida kills 91 in El Salvador, heads for U.S. Gulf Coast

Flooding and mudslides triggered by Hurricane Ida's torrential rainfall have killed at least 91 people in El Salvador, and the death toll is expected to rise. As the storm -- which regained hurricane intensity overnight -- headed through the Yucatan Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico, a hurricane watch was issued Sunday for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Ida also drenched Nicaragua after making landfall last week as a Category 1 hurricane, then weakened to a tropical storm.

I thought hurricane season was over, but i guess i don't really know seeing as I've never had to deal with them living in Minnesota. Oh well hurricanes are scary things, good thing this one was weakened to a tropical storm, because the last thing we need is another Katrina. But Hurricane Katrina was considered a good thing from the economic perspective, so maybe it would help our economy, oh well it still wouldn't be worth it. p.s. I like living in Minnesota!

Article - http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/weather/11/08/tropical.storm.ida/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Yankees

The New York Yankees win their 27th World Series title with a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Matsui won the MVP award--in game 6 alone, Matsui drove in six runs.

I agree with Jordan's opinion of this. The Yankees are the worst team in the universe and they shouldn't have been allowed to win the world series.

Jordan's article - http://weaverbeaverblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/yankees-win-27th-world-series-title.html

News Article - http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1105/p02s10-usgn.html

Meteorite - like Object Falls in Latvia

A meteorite has created a crater after landing near a farm in northern Latvia. The object fell Sunday in Mazsalaca, leaving a hole of about 65 feet wide and 32 feet deep, Latvian emergency officials reported. A fire was reported in the grassy area where it landed, but there were no known injuries. Scientists and armed forces from the northern European nation will inspect the crater and conduct an investigation.

This is cool, the picture of the hole looks awsome. I think it would be great to see a meterorite fall out of the sky and land in a feild. As long as it doesn't land on a house or something. Check out this sweet picture of the hole!

ISSUE #2 -Spending What We Can Afford

Due to the ridicules amount of debt our nation has, Congress passed a pay-as-you-go budgeting system in 2007. This rule, also known as "paygo," requires that nay tax cuts or increases in entitlement spending be offest with spending reductions elsewhere.

Proponents say it is a good measure to limit deficits and show that Congress knows that too. They also say that it will hold Congress to the standards that most business and families already apply to, where you can't spend what you don't have. The final argument for paygo is that it can be suspended if needed, such as in a time of crisis. Opponents to paygo claim that it will only cause higher taxes for new programs that will hurt the economy. They believe that the national debt should be reduced by economic growth rather than budget cuts or tax hikes. They also believe that in case of emergency, paygo will hinder Congress' response and action.

Although paygo sounds like a good idea theoretically, it doesn't quite work that well in the real world. Sometimes in order to get out of debt you have to get more into debt first. Sure we are already trillions into debt, but now we have to really try to get out, and paygo will only keep us on the downward spiral. The solution is in economic growth and research to spur forward momentum in our economy. Paygo would make major reforms like Social Security Privatization a non-starter. You have to remember that that budget deficits, particularly the ones we're running now at low rates of interest, are not the problem. They aren't because with dollars being fungible, it doesn't matter where the dollars come from. Government spending is government spending. That is why I'm opposed to the "paygo" plan.

Supporting article from John Tamny - http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/03/paygo-congress-budget-reform-opinions-columnists-obama-social-security.html

War Dollars - by John Schwegel
Social Security - by Alexa Goetsch

Guantanamo: Closing Time - Colin's SSII Blog

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the press on Sunday, September 27th that it would be tough to be able to close the Military Prison of Guantanamo Bay. He talked about there being problems with time. Letting the U.S. citizens know that January 2010 is going to be an almost impossible deadline to make. This is going to rub off on President Obama since he was the one who ordered this to be done. Some Republicans are saying that there's nothing with Guantanamo Prison and the prisoners that are there should just be left there.
After reading Colin's blog I'm going to agree with him completely. There is nothing wrong with keeping prisoners in Guantanamo Prison. They deserve to be in prison and it shouldn't matter where as long as the conditions are acceptable. The whole idea of moving the prisoners just because there were questionable practices going on doesn't make sense. Just change the practices of the prison and then you don't have to waste a ton of money on moving a bunch of prisoners for no reason whatsoever.

Colin's blog - http://ss2blogcolin.blogspot.com/2009/09/guantanamo-closing-time.html
CNN article - http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/09/27/cuba.guantanamo.closure/index.html?eref=rss_politics