What Can I Get Rid Of?

I live my life thinking that I only use the necessities. But when I actually think about all the excess things that I own and use throughout the day is absurd. It seems quite humorous to me because there are so many things that I could easily live without. In my home there are different toys, clothes, empty boxes, and broken things that need to be fixed. The toys that I have in my home are from when I was much younger. I never seemed to throw them away because they do hold some type of sentimental value to me and I always thought that there could be a chance that I could pass them down to younger cousins when I got older or use them for some type of school project. There are many open boxes that simply have nothing in them. We keep some of the boxes expecting to use them sooner or later but it has been years since we actually used them. They could easily be thrown out. A bunch of broken things are kept as well. We keep these broken things because they have some type of value and we hope to fix them soon. But they just sit there and collect dust as the days go by. There are books in my closet from years ago. Keeping them in hopes of selling them online later was a good idea at the time but now schools do not even use the same books. All books have been modified so they are pretty useless to me. There is also a large amount of old clothes that either do not fit me anymore or I have not worn them in close to a year. I could easily give them away to people that have to wear the same clothes multiple times a week. There are only a few things that i could literally not live without. These things are my weights, my bed, the food that my family provides for me and a shower.

China Looks For Better Farms

LA Times

China Looks Abroad For Greener Pastures

March 29, 2014

Barbara Demick

China is the most populated country in the world. With the great amount of people they have living in the country, they need a large surplus of agriculture to provide for all the people. China needs to have large farms that produce a great amount of agriculture to keep the country with enough food. Farmers in China are known to be part of the lower class. Since the land in China is not rich with nutrients and there is not enough clean water to provide the agriculture with enough water, the economical outcome of being a farmer is not good. This country includes 20% of the worlds population but only has 9% of all farmable land. With 1.3 billion people to feed it is very difficult to feed all of them because of how polluted the land is. Since they do not have enough land to fulfill the needs of the countries' hunger, they are looking to move their farms to different countries. It would be economically hard to have any profit with farming if they spend money to make their own land farmable. Choosing to have farms in different countries is a responsible decision that will provide great results. Since they suffer from extreme drought and pollution it will be difficult to produce land that will have enough nutrients and clean water to actually produce enough food for the entire country. Hopefully Chine will make the right decision and create a deal with a country that will allow them to have farms there, because 1.3 billion hungry people will not be a good situation.

The Colbert Report: This is not a game

In this segment Colbert makes fun of how Obama is letting the government shut down occur like it is some type of game. He is  expressing how President Obama is treating the shut down of the government as a small deal. Colbert brings up an actual board game up on his desk called "This Is Not A Game". He says how this board game has everything you need to replicate the government shut down. He explains to his audience with pieces from the game the situation where the President is virtually ignoring the national debt ceiling. He makes several humorous remarks about this situation throughout the segment. He talks about how many peoples jobs are on the line with the whole situation of ignoring the national debt and letting the government shut down so easily. Colbert is very satirical throughout this segment, he uses a board game to show his audience how Obama is handling the whole situation. He also explains in a more simpler way of how the government is working at that moment, by playing the actual board game with a young child. I think the video clip is directed very well and the way that they use the board game is very smart.

Leading Cause Of Death In The US.

theonion.com
http://www.theonion.com/video/report-leading-cause-of-death-in-us-is-god-needing,35522/

Apparently there is a new leading cause of death in the US. The Department of Health and Human Services have reported that the leading cause for all the deaths in the US is apparently because God is in need of another angel. This department has studied the reasons for many "random" deaths and has found the answer. Over 700,000 people died in the United States during 2013 because God simply needed another beautiful soul. This report is satirical because of the fact that they are indicating that the cause of about 700,000 deaths in the US is simply the fact that God needs another angel. This report is usually a saying that older individuals say to young children when a relative or somebody that they know passes away. This report shows how the news can easily say whatever they want whenever they want and the voices that speak up against them are usually not as strong to be heard. Since the "news" is telling the people the cause of all these deaths the people will believe it. It is funny because they are generalizing the cause of 700,000 deaths into one reason and that reason is just simply ridiculous.

Can The Music Business Be Saved?

Can This Man SAve The Music Business?
LA Times
Dawn C. Chmielewski

The music business has been declining since 1999. From being a very successful 28 billion dollar industry to dropping to a 16.5 billion dollar industry in 2012. The industry has lost much of its sales because people have started to get all of their music for free. From either converting songs from YouTube, pirating the songs off of bootleg websites, or just purely burning albums. Whatever the reason the music business has lost a plentiful amount of money. Artists are making their money mostly from concerts. The albums that they put out are virtually worthless because of how easy it has become to get music. A man named Lucian Grainge has a vision for the future of the music industry. He is planning on making it impossible for people to pirate songs off the internet and actually pay for their music like how it was done back in the day. If people do not pay for their music eventually artists will stop making music, not only because they are not getting the income that they deserve, but also because of the fact that no company or artist will have enough money to even put their songs out. Grainge has decided to start his vision by exploring foreign countries and helping different artists to spread their music. He will eventually figure out a way to get the public to pay money for their music to keep this industry successful.

The Economy

The economy plays a huge role in my life. The economy determines whether I can enjoy unnecessary goods and services for my pleasure or not. It determines many factors for most of the world. If a country's economy is not doing well and people are struggling to stay above water then it will effect their lives and their families. If one cannot afford to lose money because of the economy then it shows how much the economy effects our society. If the economy is doing well it will bring in more income for people. This includes my family, if prices are increasing because the government needs more money   then people will be losing money. If the economy drops then big businesses will need to lower the wages that they pay their workers, and if that happens then less money will be spread throughout society which means that most families will be effected and they will not be able to enjoy the little things that bring temporary pleasure to someone. Everyone can live with the bear necessities that are needed to live a comfortable life but if the economy drops even lower then people will begin to have to cut down on certain things to have enough money to keep their lives comfortable. The economy plays a role in my life because if it is doing bad then my family will be effected since we are not in the group of society where losing money does not effect anything. I will have to cut down on driving to different places and I might even need to carpool. We will most likely need to use less resources and cut down as much as possible so that the bills are not over my families budget. Hopefully the economy will not become so terrible that we will end up needing to go to extreme measures, and I hope that every family will be able to get through any hardship the economy brings to them.

Nature Blog

I am sitting in my back yard as I view these different unique things that seem to be viewing me as well. As I watch these different trees, bushes, grass and birds I realize they all are alive just as much as I am. They might react to situations very differently and live a completely different life from what I live but they all are alive. I realize that these things need to breathe, eat, and reproduce as well to survive. I feel as though I am completely different from these things but at the same time I have some type of connection with all of them. In some way I do envy them because of how easy it is for them to live. But in their view it might be difficult for them to go through their life, but i will never be able to understand that no matter what experiment I practice. As I look around me I see an old pine tree that has been there in my back yard before I even moved into my home. Behind me there is a monstrous palm tree that rocks back and forth with the wind. To my left there are three small rose bushes. Only two of them actually have roses growing but they seem to change day by day. The floor that I am sitting on is covered with grass, but not only one type of grass there are long pieces, short pieces, and thick pieces. There are parts of the yard where grass does not grow as well as other spots, which makes me curious of to why it does not grow in that particular spot. The birds all around me fly from tree to tree playing, which brings me deeper into my envy of how easily these natural things can live. Throughout my experience I realized many things, but the one thought that would not leave me alone is the one that made me doubt that us humans are living naturally. Are we supposed to be living the way that we are living? If we are then why is it so difficult?

Rainstorm could be Los Angeles' worst in years.

Rong Gong Lin II
February 23, 2014


The winter storms are coming in late this year. It is predicted that LA will be experiencing its worst rainstorm in 2 years. It was reported that on Wednesday this week 0.91 inches of rain will drop. There has not been that much rainfall in LA since March of 2012. The rainstorm is said to leave by Thursday morning, but it might come back Friday night. The storm that is said to visit LA on Friday is supposed to be stronger than the one on Wednesday. To give people an idea of how long it has been since the last rainfall like the one that is coming on Wednesday, the latest iPhone that was out in stores was the iPhone 4s. The storm is said to be so large that it will cover most of the state and drop many inches of snow in the northern mountains. The average temperatures are said to drop to low 60's throughout the state. Instead of enjoying the high 70's that we have daily we will have to dress warm and prepare for this winter storm that is so different to us.

Community

There are many different communities throughout all of society. There are communities of ethnicities, sport groups, different age groups. Every person is a part of a community or even many. One of the most influential communities in my life is my Armenian community. A community is made up of different individuals. Without individuals working to make a stronger and better community there will never be a strong community. Without a community an individual seems to be separate. Both need each other to be strong and successful. My Armenian community is a community which fights for a cause. Our main cause is to have the Armenian Genocide recognized by the world. The community needs each individual to fight for their rights and protest and do whatever they can to make a difference in the community. There are many young people who want to be known as the person who made a difference in our community. The Armenian community is not a large one. So we are very involved in keeping the traditions and language alive. One of my major parts in helping the community is going to an Armenian school and being involved in many Armenian cause related programs. A community is a place where a person is most comfortable and is at their strongest.

Flu Deaths in California reach 243

LA Times
Eryn Brown
February 14, 2014

The flu has always been an issue throughout the world. Each year there is a season in which the influenza is diagnosed to many people. Most people do not die from the flu but they do suffer harsh symptoms. Usually a person that has caught the flu can get through it quite quickly if they acquire enough rest and stay hydrated. If one's immune system is weak or they do not properly take care of themselves throughout the period that they have the influenza they might have to be hospitalized. If a person has been carrying the flu for a long period of time and it becomes a very serious case it could actually cause that person to die. The 2013-2014 flu season has ended and just in California there have been 243 deaths. This death rate is higher than the 2012-2013 flu season. The number of deaths this season are all people under the age of 65. This increase of deaths has made scientists study why this many people died. Scientists are starting to slowly conclude that the H1N1 virus also known as the swine flu has adapted and has become a stronger strain which is more harmful in younger people. Hopefully they will create more effective vaccines or medicines to help people that have already been infected with the influenza.

Suspected Drunk Driver Kills 6 people

Early Sunday morning at around 4 AM a woman named Olivia Carolee, 21 years old was driving on the wrong side of the freeway. Driving a red camaro, going eastbound on the 60 freeway westbound side, it was said that she was driving at about 100mph. Authorities are still trying to figure out the sequence of the crashed but it is sure that there were three cars involved in the accident. Four people were pronounced dead at the crash site, and two people died after getting to the hospital. The first initial crash was involving Olivia in her camaro and a ford explorer SUV. The crash was said to be completely preventable after finding alcohol in the initial vehicle that was speeding. One of the officers said that it had been the most horrific crash he had ever seen. The cars were in pieces all around the freeway and were barely able to be recognized. The crash was so extreme that it sent debree hundreds of feet away. The accident caused the freeway to be closed until 1:30 Pm. The suspect is now being tried for DUI.

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby movie was very entertaining. The movie kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to see what was going to happen next, even though i already knew what was to come. It was very interesting seeing what you just read be played out in front of you on a screen. One of my favorite things about the movie was how the actors that were chosen to play the rolls fit the characters perfectly. Leonardo is a great actor who can pretty much mold himself to play the role of any crazy character. The story and the movie were actually very similar and matched up almost perfectly. The movie was very dramatic and matched the scenes of the book greatly. The only thing that started to become a little over played was how dramatic every scene was. Everything was amplified down to the way the actors were breathing. Other than that the movie was very enjoyable and entertaining. I was into the movie throughout the whole thing and was always upset when we had to stop watching.

CES 2014 "Audis self-driving car"

The birth of cars was in 1886 in Europe. From then on cars have become more technologically advanced than ever. Each year a new car comes out with new technology that us civilians have not heard of. The engineering of a car is very amazing. These machines are able to reach speeds of up to 200mph. Cars now have computers and cameras throughout the whole car. Each year engines and computers are made to be at the next level and impress customers throughout the world. This year at the 2014 CES Audi presented a new car that will be able to drive itself. This new technology was presented with a beautiful Audi A7. The car is equipped with front facing digital cameras, laser scanner and radar system. All these systems are connected to a very high-tech computer that controls all of them. Each system is very elegantly equipped onto the car to make it look like another beautiful machine. The car's automated self-driving system takes control only until the car reaches 40mph. Once the car exceeds that speed limit the driver must take control of the car. It is said that the sensors and radar system can detect anything in their path. If the driver of the vehicle closes their eyes, the car reacts by ringing a loud buzzing noise to wake up the driver and make sure that their eyes are on the road just in case something happens. Once the driver takes control of the car while it i

US Abortian Rate Drops

By: Saba Hamedy
LA Times
February 2,2014


Since 1973 the US abortion rate has dropped to its lowest in 2011. It has dropped a total of 13%. Before the year of 2011 the abortion rate was very high. About 16.9 women out of every 1000 pregnancies were aborted. The study was done off a basis of women from the ages of 15 to 44. In 1973 the abortion procedure was legalized in the US. From that year on the abortion rate kept increasing and eventually hit its max in 2008. From 2008 to 2011 the rate of abortions dropped about 13%. In 2011 alone there were 1.1 million abortions which has been the lowest number of aborted pregnancies since the year it was legalized. There have been multiple report and reasons for why these abortion rates have declined. For example, many couple and single women have confirmed that since the recession took place they could not afford a legal and safe abortion process. Many of the abortions were also executed by a medicinal process which caused many harsh side effects for women across the country, which is another reason why most women decided not to go through with the abortion.

Gatsby Party

Jason Berberian would like to formally invite you to his monthly gathering at his beautiful home. There will be many different entertainment shows that include fire dancing, brazilian dancing, art, music, petting zoo's and many more. There is no limit to guests so you may bring as many friends as you would like. The house will be decorated with beautiful lights and dancers all around the house including the roof. There will be an enormous body of water in the front filled with dolphins and jet skis for guests to ride. I promise you will not miss the house even if you are blind. There will be free food,drinks,cigars, and any flavor of hookah that you can imagine. The party will be going on for two days so be ready to party and have a great time with a bunch of friends! P.S. Do Not forget to bring your bathing suits...the ocean is Jason's backyard.
Dress code: Formal
Where: 440 Malibu Dr.
Food: Any food you can think of
Time: 7PM Saturday Night-7PM Monday Night
 VIP guests: Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Neil Armstrong, Angelina Jolie&Brad Pitt, Oprah, Tupac, Elvis Presley, Chuck Norris, Jacki Chan, Michael Phelps
 Other VIP guests will be on the check in list if not included in the invitation.

Cutting Helicopter Noise in LA County

For many years now helicopters in LA county have been annoying residence no matter what the reason. Many helicopters fly very low and close to homes all around LA, and these helicopters are not quiet machines. They can easily wake up residence or annoy them while relaxing or working at home. A new bill has been passed by congress to reduce this noise complication throughout the county involving these helicopters. The bill that is supporting this new one is a 1-trillion dollar bill that prevents the government from shutting down again. The anti-noise measure is included in this 1-trillion dollar bill that was signed by President Obama on September 30th. The FAA has been working with different helicopter agencies and all registered helicopter pilots to help prevent this neighborhood anti-noise committee. The government is passing a bill to support this cause. The bill is going help create new routes for helicopters to take and help transportation be switched to subways. If this new bill does work and starts to prevent helicopters from flying at low heights that annoy civilians and people that live in the county then it will be very successful and relieving to the county.

1920's Fashion

The 1920's is the decade where fashion entered the culture of America. These years are when people began to change the way they dress and decided to impress the people around them and enjoy what they were wearing. Women began to wear more comfortable clothing and they decided to leave behind all the distasteful fashions behind and start something new. Men began to abandon uncomfortable clothing as well, and most men decided to dress in sports clothing to be more free and comfortable. After WWI America entered a period that was considered very prosperous. The beginning of this decade was the beginning of a different fashion sense. The changes took place slowly in the start of the decade but slowly the fashion started to change throughout the country. The civilians were more relaxed and a sense of optimism came over the country. They wanted to create a new era where everyone was comfortable and was able to walk freely throughout the city enjoying what they were wearing and how it looked. The advancement of fabrics was great. New fabrics were brought into the fashion of Americans and these fabrics made life more comfortable and flexible. Improved production methods made it easy for companies to create clothing quickly and affordable. This new fashion was not something that was not allowed to most of the population. It was created so that most clothing and fabrics would be affordable throughout the states so that everyone could enjoy this new idea. The new fashion was a very optimistic stage that created the period of fashion changes. If i could i would love to wear the clothing that the people wore in the 1920's