Catholics Confess

Technicians have recently came out with a new app! The app is called "Confession: A Roman Catholic App" while some people may think its a joke, others think its a really great idea to have this app with them on their phones and ipods. This app helps people that can no longer get to church almost have church with them in the palm of their hand. This app is only $1.99, but the creators of this app don't want people to think that this app is taking place of the real confessional. They designed it to complement the act of confession, offering a "personal examination of conscience" and a step-by-step guide to sin-confessing. If Catholics use this app, they can engage in their faith through digital technology. Some people see it as a digital Catholic community for their use of prayer and confession. Certain Catholics from Catholic organizations have commented on the app saying that this is a very handy app and that it does help when your on the go or cant get to a confessional. 

Relation:

This app can be considered a public opinion, some Catholics may think that its nice to have this confessional on their electronic devices, but is it really that good of an idea? Some will support this app and agree that yes, it is a good idea but what if others are offended. Some Catholics may look at this app as if people are using technology to make a joke out of their religion. If you really believe in your religion and proudly support it you wont download this app but instead just attend the real confessional to relieve your sins, really attending the church will show more dedication and commitment to your fellow Catholics and to yourself for confessing your sins.  

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/02/09/confession/index.html?hpt=C2

Egypt and their Prime Minister

Egypt's Prime Minster had violently attacked protesters yesterday. The country's president had asked for the security chaos to be investigated. The military was there and witnessed the clashes that were taking place in in the area of Tahrir Square. The violent clash took place between supporters and foes of President Hosni Mubarak, the military didn't want things to get to severe so they decided to step in and divide the two groups. Rocks flew back and forth in an empty construction area in front of a metal barricade that anti-Mubarak protesters set up overnight. Egypt's health minister said on state-run Nile TV that at least five people were killed and 836 injured;  including 200 within one hour on Thursday morning.

When an accident occurs like this one you wonder:

• How safe is the place you call home
• Is it safe to protest for what you believe in
• How safe is your President when people protest against him
• Will protesting always lead to deaths
• Who protects you when even the Prime Minister leads to violence

The crisis has paralyzed the Egyptian economy, forcing the closure of banks, train services and schools. Markets are running short of basic food staples. All because of a protest things have been shutdown and transportation and education will now be lost. The question is how long will it take for the Egyptian economy to recover.

Relation:

Should the Prime Minister or the President be more responsible for the actions that took place that day because all though the Prime Minister created violence it is still the President's country!

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Demonstrators_on_Army_Truck_in_Tahrir_Square,_Cairo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demonstrators_on_Army_Truck_in_Tahrir_Square,_Cairo.jpg&usg=__4lndY1-a7N3kxgKkpcO72ulgsO4=&h=768&w=1024&sz=489&hl=en&start=30&zoom=1&tbnid=9QHizF5hBCdMiM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=154&ei=VstKTYPzNYKdlgeOkfQ6&prev=/images%3Fq%3DTahrir%2BSquare%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1020%26bih%3D567%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=468&oei=TctKTZruFoP88Ab9tsiwDg&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:30&tx=53&ty=72

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/03/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt=T1

State of the Union

This year Obama spoke at the State of the Union. Normally the Democrats and Republicans sit split up into two different shootings, but this year was different. Several people were still devastated about the shooting at Tuscon that just recently happened. To show respect the Democrats and Republicans sat together and looked well united as one. Usually there cheering or yelling or agreeing and disagreeing with the topics being discussed. Obama made sure that he reached out to a very large audience that night. Several things were discussed, some of the most important topics were:

Schools:

• He feels as if the schools should be meeting higher standards
• More teachers should be hired
• No Child Left Behind

Army:

• Troops should be leaving Afghanistan in July
• Iraq

Taxes:

• Freeze health care accounts
• Tax codes
• Simpler & easier

Economic Recovery:

• How do you measure recovery
• Domestic spending
• Common sense

At the meeting that night Obama also mentioned how he would like for Congress o work together and how transportation should be switched from fossil fuels.

Gridlock

The main question being asked today is, Does Gridlock Matter? Gridlock is the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government. The Constitution ensures that the President and Congress will be rivals for power and thus rivals in policy making. This would be and example of what the checks and balances is all about. 

Divided Governments:  

• When you have a divided government its not easy to tell weather they produce fewer or worse policies than unified ones.
• Divided governments pass important laws, conduct important investigations, and ratify significant treaties.

When different parties control the White House and Congress as when the same party controls both branches. Ex. The divided governments produced:

1. The 1946 Marshall Plan - Rebuilt war- Torn Europe
2. The 1986 Tax Reform Act

Just because the Republicans control both the presidency and Congress doesn't mean that the Republican President and the Republican senators and representatives will see things the same way.
If you think the president "Will lead the country":

• Change the Constitution to resemble Parliamentary
• Vote into office members of Congress who agree with the President on policy issues.

Americans who hate gridlock but want more leadership aren't ready to make the Constitutional changes.
*Typical Presidential Election:

• 1/4 of all voters will vote for one party's candidate for president
• Other party's candidate is Congress.

Gridlock is known to be the opposite of Direct Democarcy but is necessary to the system of representative democracy.
* I think policy gridlock is bad because the government has little to no control over how the government is working due to the rival parties controlling all of the different parts.

Tea Party Challenger!!!

The 2012 Senate campaign in Virginia has its first Tea Party candidate. Jamie Radtke, head of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots, filed federal papers to run for the Republican nomination for Virginia's Senate seat. Radtke said the recent tax deal passed by Congress and increased national spending contributed to her decision to run.

Jamie Radtke feels as if:

- The career politicians can't save them from the national crisis.

- The career politicians have made the national crisis worse.
- Washington needs to be changed.
- Elect a new generation of leaders to the Senate and House.
- New leaders need to fight to restore the virtue and accountability in the government.

Radtke considers herself a Tea Party and Republican candidate, the Tea Party has grown in popularity because voters support candidates who favor  cutting deficit spending and less government.


*Jamie said "We can build on what we have learned and on the foundation we have laid in 2010 for the upcoming elections."
 

* Jamie is helping make a stand towards the governments crisis.

* She's speaking out to what she believes in and is running for Virginia's senate seat to help make a change.

* Taxes are slowly ruining our governments.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/29/virginia-gets-a-tea-party-challenger/

Newark, New Jersey & Twitter!!!

Throughout December, Newark, New Jersey has been receiving tons of snow. It has become a problem to the point where cars are being buried and people have been getting stuck. The mayor of Newark, New Jersey decided to use twitter to help him directly reach out to the residents. This process is helping to get the roads cleared faster and people that are stuck some assistance. The residents are letting the mayor know whenever they need help. For example, a lady that thought she was going into labor was helped before the ambulance got there, the residents actually helped get the ambulance unstuck from the snow. The mayor soon started letting the resident directly message him their numbers for assistance.


Cory Booker, The mayor.



Thanks to the mayor using twitter:

- Diapers have been delivered

- Food has been delivered

- People have been assisted if stuck

- Ambulances were helped

- Hospital areas were cleared of snow

- Elderly walk ways were shoveled

The mayor was accomplishing a lot for his residents, he worked everyday, morning to night to make sure people were safe and taking care of and streets were plowed.

*One of the mayors tweets was, "Maybe there's a lesson in snowflakes, individually were a little weak, but when we stick together there's a lot of strength there."*

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/12/29/new.jersey.mayor.twitter/index.html

Allergies vs. Love, Cell Phones, & Bed Bugs

Have you ever been allergic to unexplainable substances or things around you but did not know what was causing an allergic reaction?, well the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology have discovered new sources of allergies. People can have allergic reactions from kissing, using a cell phone, and getting bitten by bed bugs. 

• Some one can easily have an allergic reaction from their partner eating something their allergic to then kissing them. Even if your partner brushes their teeth or waits several hours an allergic reaction can still occur due to the food still being in their saliva. The best solution is just to avoid the problem food for 16 to 24 hours to help your partner avoid this situation

• About 17% of women and 3% of men have allergies to nickel. Nickel is found in everything from phones to paper clips. If your an everyday cell phone user but have very high allergies towards nickel, then you may be harming yourself. Nickel allergies are becoming more and more common. The best solution is to avoid nickel phones, get a case for your phone, or a wireless headset.   

• It has also been found that people are having allergic reactions from bed bugs. Bed bugs can create asthmatic symptoms for certain people. Some allergic people may experience a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis from bed bug bites. There is no easy way of getting rid of the bed bugs but their are creams to help the bites.   

You would be surprised that just the simplest things could cause allergic reactions.

1. People don't really think about kissing as a problem that could lead to an allergic reaction. Its hard to know what your partner is allergic to a less you ask and if your allergic to something you wouldn't really think to ask your partner have they ate anything with that product in it. So what do you do ask your partner for a list of their allergies and make sure they don't eat anything that your allergic to? 
2. A cell phone is by far the most common and most used technology. Almost everyone uses a cell phone at this point, no matter if its to listen to music, chat with your friends, or business related. Most people wouldn't think that they would be allergic to a cell phone but most people also don't think about it as a product containing nickel. If you were using a cell phone on a daily basis but still doing everything that you normally do in your day and started to realize that you were having an allergic reaction would you really think it was because of your cell phone? 
3. Bed bugs are more reasonable then kissing and cell phone usage. Bed bugs are already bad to have around but if you knew you had them, then why not take care of them in the first place. These shouldn't lead to allergic reactions, instead people should just take better care of their environment at home. Would you rather be a really clean person or have an allergic reaction due to you having bed bugs in your home? 

  http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/15/allergic-to-kissing-cell-phones-bed-bugs/?hpt=Sbin