CC 2.1

In a recent article entitled "Families Brace As Billions In Food Stamp Cuts Set In" written by Jeff Cox, a writer for CNBC.com, Jeff describes a recent event that will change the lives of many Americans.

The American government has been struggling to come up with a plan to balance the budget. In the first paragraph, Jeff claimed Congress is making budget cuts for food stamps that will "siphon $5 billion off a program that helps one in seven Americans." The food stamp program helps many Americans put at least some food on the table. The program is a safety net that catches Americans as they fall into hard times. The Americans that use the program, making too little money to buy food, now fear food stamps will not be enough to provide them food.

Many Americans get some food from food banks, a place to get food, a resource for hungry people. The reporter stated in the second paragraph that "Margaret Purvis," the president of the Food Bank for New York City, "expects those cuts will draw even more people to organizations." Facing economic troubles, there will be more people showing up at the food banks. Drawing people in, the NYC Food Bank already serves 400,000 meals a day. Many food banks are now warning people that the lines will be longer due to the cuts to food stamps; consequently a lot of Americans will be looking to the food banks to keep food on their tables.

Cutting back on food stamps will have negative consequences on local shops. Jeff stated in his article that grocers "benefit when food stamp users shop in their stores." Stores need costumers to buy their products. There are "47.6 million Americans" that use the food stamp program. With the budget cuts, a large percent of Americans will be shopping less at a grocery store. While many stores will be fine, the cuts will still impact the stores income.

I was once using food stamps. Household income was very low, and there were a lot of mouths to feed. Even though the budget was still tight, we were able to get some decent food. Now, the income is higher and we no longer use food stamps. However, I understand how important food stamps are to Americans.

The reducing of food stamp money will negatively change the lives of Americans that depend on the program, causing food banks to have more traffic in the near future.

Cox, Jeff. "Families Brace As Billions In Food Stamp Cuts Set In." NBC News.
      1 Nov. 2013. Web. 9 Nov. 2013.

CC-1.2 Education

In a recent article entitled "Americans Doubt the Rigor and Quality of Online Education," Allie Bidwell, the author of the article, informs readers of how online education is accepted.

Online education is known as a flexible way to earn a degree; however, online education is questioned by many. Allie wrote in her article that "the value and format of online education are equal to or better than traditional education, [but] many still doubt its quality." What she is saying is that online education can be just as valuable source to get a degree as traditional learning at a school, but Americans and their employers doubt that the education is as good as classroom education. Many students are able to complete the online courses with a diverse curriculum.

The most questioning of online degrees comes from employers. In paragraph 4, Bidwell said employers "prefer applicants with traditional degrees from average universities over those with an online degree from a top university." Employers feel that students are getting a better education when they attend even an average university rather than if a student got a degree online from the best universities. Some say that online courses require more discipline from a student than someone attending an actual classroom education.

Recently, education has gotten very expensive. Allie stated in paragraph 9 that online programs "offer a more cost-effective route to higher education at a time when tuition is sharply increasing." Online programs, a place to get an online degree, do not cost as much as campus programs. Many students go into debt trying to pay tuitions and most are underemployed or unemployed after graduating.

I personally believe that online education is a great option when a student does not have money to attend a university. Employers should recognize the amount of work that a student puts into getting a degree online. Colleges should increase the quality of online courses and support positive viewing of the degrees by employers.

Online education could eventually become a more popular method of students getting a college degree without going in debt.

CC-1 Colorado Floods

In a recent article entitled "Colorado Floods Triggered By Convergence of Geography and Climate, Experts Say," written by John Roach from NBC News, educates readers of a flood that has been threatening Colorado.

After days of rain, Colorado was left with large floods in which the surrounding terrain was not helping. John Roach stated in his article that the water "gushed over and down the Rocky Mountains" which "resulted from a fateful confluence of geography and weather." What he is saying is that the rain is running off the mountains and rushing into the rivers. However, the rivers can not keep up with the flow of the rain. So, as the rivers continue to rise, the water is overflowing into nearby towns and cities.

Since September 12, there has been more than 17 inches of rain that has poured down in the area. Roach added " the soaking, described as 'biblical' by the National Weather Service, left at least eight people dead." The floods have swept people and cars away with the current and some have drowned. There are still hundreds of people missing, which could cause the death toll to rise. Rescue workers have been working frantically to find and help people.

There are many factors that caused the flooding, but one of them is the air flow. John stated in his article that there was a "fetch of tropical moisture drawn north from Mexico by a weak, but large, upper-level low-pressure system" and pushed "into the Rocky Mountains by a persistent southeasterly airflow." As the system moved across the Rocky Mountains, the conditions for storms were just right. The tropical moisture produced an intense amount of rain that flooded the area very quickly.

I can remember having floods in our area, however, they did not compare to what is happening in Colorado. The floods I have seen were not very threatening and did not cause millions of dollars in property damage.

Colorado has cleaning up to do as they were harshly hit by storms that have left a massive flood. The warm air moving through the Rocky Mountains creating torrential downfalls in which the river could not keep up with, leaving towns flooded.

Reflection Time

In my English class, I have been given an assignment to create a short story. The short story will have a lesson to teach the readers. The story will be told using a make belief hero.

In the past week, I have developing a hero to use for the story. The fun part was getting to use a website to create a hero. Thinking of the story has also been rewarding. While trying to teach readers a lesson, I have also learned from the experience.

While there was some fun parts to the project, there were also some difficulties and it could get frustrating sometimes. Thinking of a story has been hard. The story must teach a lesson and provide entertainment with a hero.

My main character that I have created is The Night Watcher. The Night Watcher patrols the city at night, fighting crime while trying to show the citizens that there is someone watching them. Dressed in a red and black coat and pants with a black shirt, he lurks at the tops of buildings in the city with his unique red and white crossbow. He also carries a large black and red sword on his back for close quarter combat and sometimes to show off.

In the end, I hope my story is able to teach the readers the lesson of the short story. I plan to continue developing my story as thoughts roll in my head. I hope my story will entertain my audience.

CC 4- Winter Storm

In a recent article entitled "From Minnesota to North Carolina and New England, States Brace for Winter Storm" written by Erin McClam and Matthew Deluca from NBC News, the authors inform readers about a major storm that has recently hit the U.S. The storm left damage and large amounts of snowfall across the region.

The storm that swept across the Great Plains on Thursday and Friday has made roads slippery, causing many accidents. Erin and Matthew wrote "an Oklahoma teenager was killed when his pickup truck skidded across a slushy road." Several inches of snow was reported in many states. Road conditions became hazardous in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Witchita, Kansas reported about 14 inches of snow, recorded as the second largest and the most the city seen in about 50 years.

As the snow was falling, cities attempted to clean it up as it accumulated. The authors reporting on the story stated "Kansas and Missouri declared states of emergency as plows struggled to keep up."  As the storm swept across the country, it was reported that there as much as 3 inches of snow falling per hour. The Kansas Govener warned people to stay inside and to avoid travel. Not only did some areas recieve a lot of snow, many states had ice accumalated, making roads very dangerous.

The snow left many roads and airports closed. McClam and Deluca claimed "United, Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines and American Eagle said they had canceled hundreds of flights for Thursday and Friday." The large amount of snowfall made it very hard for airports to operate. The rate of the snowfall was proving difficult to remove the snow, even with their best capabilities of getting rid of the snow. Advisories and warnings for  ice, snow, rain, and wind stretched from Minnesota to Texas and as far east as North Carolina.The police had to close a 90 mile section of Interstate 70.

When the storm hit Arkansas, I was expecting snow. There was ice covering the grass and trees. The increasing amount of ice on tree branches caused some of them to break. The backyard now has large branches scattered throughout the yard. Luckily, none of the large limbs hit the house, which would have made huge holes in the roof.

The storm has left some damage and knocked out power all over the U.S. Hazardous road conditions caused car accidents and canceled flights. Even with snow removal equipment working its fastest, crews struggled to keep road ways clear. Stretching across the U.S., the storm covered the land with snow and ice. How bad are storms going to get in the future?

Article of Choice-C7 Corvette

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was debuted at the Detroit Auto Show on January 13, 2013. The new shiny Corvette was the most anticipated sport cars of the year. This years 'Vette starts a new generation of the Corvette family. The previous model of the Corvette was introduced in 2005 as a C6 generation. The C7 will replace the C6 later this year.

On January 13, 2013, GM released the car that everyone has been waiting for. The time for a new generation of Corvette has come. The previous C6 had been around for some time now, and badly needed advancements in technology and build quality. For the new 'Vette, GM installed a new engine that will make approximately 450 Hp. The new engine is a LT1 6.2L V8 and is supposed to be more efficient. Mated to the engine is a new 7 speed transmission. The new transmission offers better efficiency in fuel usage and power transfer. Options do offer a 6-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, but what is the fun in that.

Build quality is important when there is a super car traveling at 190 mph. However, comfort is a key component in daily driver cars. GM wanted to make the new Corvette an authentic driving experience on the inside of the car. Where there should be metal in the interior, GM put real aluminum in those spots. Several cars have plastic carbon fiber inlays, but the Stingray has real carbon fiber on parts in the interior. Chevy is using grade A leather inside as well. The new interior looks sharp and very clean.

When racing on a closed circuit, performance is everything. The 2014 'Vette uses a new aluminum space frame that is light and very stiff. In efforts to reduce weight, GM used a lightweight Carbon-Nano Composite structure underbody panels that will bond to the aluminum frame. To improve performance and driving confidence, there are five driving modes that can calibrate up to 12 variables to help the handling of the car. Working with GM, Michelin developed Michelin Pilot Super Sport Zero Pressure tires for the new Corvette that will improve the handling characteristics, grip, and ride quality.

The new Corvette is introducing new technology in the new generation. Improving performance and build quality while reducing weight is remarkable. The 450 Hp V8 engine and a 7 speed manual transmission sounds like a fun car. The beautifully sculpted car looks great and shows an aggressive Corvette that will certainly be fun to drive. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this car in person.

CC 3-Snow Storm

In a recent article entitled "Northeast Slowly Digs Out; 14 Dead From Storm," MSN News, authors Bob Salsberg and David Klepper explain the aftermath of a deadly snow storm that hit the northeast part of the United States. The snow storm left record setting snowfall amounts and is proving hard to get rid of.

New England was shut down over night while a major storm entered the region. The authors wrote the storm "slammed into the region with up to 3 feet of snow [and] was blamed for at least 14 deaths." Many cities in the area reported record snow fall that knocked out electricity with the help of hurricane force winds. The Red Cross had to step in and provide shelter for victims that lost power and heat. The emergency shelters were set up in schools or any other place that was available. The weight of the snow on the roofs of homes is also striking concerns and the threat of rain is on the way.

Meanwhile, electricity is out for many costumers and crews are trying to fix it. Struggling to get power back, utility crews were "brought in from as far away as Georgia, Oklahoma and Quebec." Power crews are working to restore power to as many as 300,000 costumers. At the height of the storm, there was 650,000 people across eight states without power. Officials believe power outages could linger until Tuesday. Many of the driving bans were lifted and airports reopened, however, many flights are still canceled.

On the other hand, the snow storm has left many schools no choice but to shut down. Bob and David wrote "Boston public schools were among many in the region that had already decided to cancel classes." The city of Boston recorded about 25 inches of snow. Many of the roads are clogged with piles of snow and the city is requesting that more equipment is sent to Boston to help with snow removal.  There are reports of rain and warmer weather that is on the way. Officials hope that will help melt some of the snow but worry that the added weight will cause roofs to collapse.

The snow storm has brought back memories I had when I lived in Michigan. I loved going out and playing in the snow. However, we did not get storms and bad as the one the Northeast just had. The schools in Michigan almost always continued even if there was a major snow storm. We were lucky to have a snow day.

The snow storm in New England has left many people without power. Roads and airports were shut down and now are starting to reopen. Record snow fall forced many schools to cancel and utility crews were needed to restore power and clear roads.

Book Review-Ghost Recon by David Michaels

When America depends on the military to save the world quietly, they call in the Ghosts. In China, there are powerful men that want to stop a submarine sale. In an effort to prevent this, USSOCOM called in the Ghost team. Ghost Recon, written by David Michaels, is well written and very easy to get caught up in.

Captain Scott Mitchell, the main character, is the leader for Alpha Team and Ghost Team. Scott is the kind of person that leads. On pg. 11, David wrote "Master Sergeant Scott Mitchell, twenty six, took command of the ODA team." Before Mitchell was a Captain, he was a Master Sergeant. When his team leader died, he had to take command of the rest of the team. Scott had to lead them out of jungles of the Philippines, alive! Even as there were AK-47s shooting at them, Scott had to stay concentrated and issue orders to ensure survival. He handles any situation that he encounters professionally, a quality that all leaders should have.

Scott Mitchell cares about his friends and will do anything to make sure they are safe, even if his job could be at risk. In chapter 12, Scott issues an order to Ramirez and Brown, "You get him first." Scott wanted to make sure his friend, Rutang, got on board a helicopter. The two CIA agents that were with them did not like the idea, but the Captain made his call, and he wanted his friend safe and getting care. When they get back to base, the General wanted to speak to Mitchell about his orders. He knew his job was at risk, and he is glad his friend is getting better.

Meanwhile, Scott is a very smart man. On pg. 180, David wrote "Mitchell didn't need to review their TIP regarding the infiltration phase." Mitchell understood what is happening and how the situation was going to get taken care of. Mitchell became a captain because he is able to figure out battle plans very quickly, even under pressure. Scott did not need to read the TIP, target intelligence package, because he already knew how the general wanted the task completed.

Captain Scott Mitchell is a strong leader of the Ghost team. When something happens to one of his friends, he takes care of them. He handles difficult situations calmly and with ease. America depends on the Ghost team to save the world.

CC 2- Shooting in Phoenix

In a recent article entitled, "Three wounded, one critically, in shooting at Phoenix office complex," staff writer Alex Johnson, of MSN News, informs readers about a shooting that took place in Phoenix, Arizona.

A gunman entered an office complex and began shooting people. "Three people were shot and wounded," Johnson wrote. The gunman was believed to have been in an argument in the lobby and then it turned to gunfire. Two of the three that were shot were not seriously injured, however one has life threatening injuries according to the authorities.

There is no suspect in custody at the time and the police are still searching. Alex spoke to Sgt. Tommy Thompson who said "the gunman was not in custody and that authorities were seeking an 'older white male.'" The police believe there were two weapons used in the shooting. The SWAT team located a house five miles away that is said to be linked to the suspect. However, the man was not home and they are waiting for a search warrant to enter his home.

During the shootings, there was a Senate hearing on gun violence. Johnson wrote "former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., made a brief statement urging new gun control measures." While the Senate was having a hearing on the increasing gun violence, there was a shooting. Giffords was injured in a shooting in Tucson, Ariz., in 2011. Her husband interrupted his answer to another Senators question to make an announcement about what had happened in Phoenix.

I believe this country needs stricter gun laws. Limiting was kind of guns you can buy and how big the magazines should be. Too many people have died because of these weapons. The government should enforce very strict laws about back round checks to prevent the wrong people getting a hold of a gun. What would make the biggest difference is having a better access to mental health. It should be easier to get, more affordable and a data base that keeps record of the people that can not have a gun because of bad mental health. The back round checks should also include checking the persons mental health.

The shooting in Phoenix injured three people, leaving one critically injured. The police do not have a suspect in custody, but are working on getting one. The shootings interrupted a Senate hearing that was discussing gun control. The government must have stricter gun laws to help prevent further violence.

CC1-Flu Spreads

In two articles titled, "Flu spreads to 47 states, but may be starting to wane, CDC says," and "Nasty flu season sparks spotty vaccine shortages," staff writer, NBC News, JoNel Aleccia, informs readers of this years vicious flu season affecting 47 states and flu vaccine shortages.

This years flu season started early, increasing the number of people that have been hospitalized. Aleccia stated "forty-seven states reported widespread flu activity." The high numbers of flu cases have caused many cities to declare a national emergency. The  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that the numbers are going down however.

While the flu is spreading, health officials still recommend that you get a flu shot to help reduce the chance of becoming ill. JoNel said in the article that "this year's vaccines appear to be about 55 percent effective against influenza A strains." Influenza A is the most serious strain and the vaccine is not very effective. Influenza B is less serious and the vaccine is about 70 percent effective. That would be the reason people are still getting sick even after getting the shot.

There are many people that are still trying to get their vaccine. Aleccia stated in another article "the nation’s nasty flu season has created a sudden surge in demand for vaccine." The growing number of people wanting to get a flu shot has led to many areas around the country with a shortage of vaccine. Walgreens had made plans to keep the shot in stock and to offer it through the season.

I personally have not gotten the flu shot. I have not got a flu shot in years and I am not sick. This has been a vicious flu season, putting thousands in the hospital. Getting a flu shot can help reduce the chance of getting sick. Even though there is a shortage of vaccines, there are many places that still have the shots.

American Dream Essay

     Over the years, people have migrated  to America to live the American dream. What is the American dream? It can be viewed differently by what the person really desires. My dream is to live a full and happy life doing what I love to do.

     My American dream is to one day have considerable money and a decent sized house with a large garage. I want to be an auto mechanic. I have given thought to join the U.S. Air force. In the Air force, I can serve my country and receive the necessary training to pursue my American dream.

     My Grandpa worked at GM as a mechanic for years after he got out of the Military. My dad worked at EDS, which was one of the many companies that kept GM operating. However, most of my inspiration came from a friend. His father was a mechanic as well. They have taught me a little about how mechanical machinery works. After that, I have become very interested in how it all worked.

     Going into the Air Force is most likely the best way to get training for my future. I talked to a mechanic from the Air Force. He told me in six months he was able to repair large bombers. If I went to UTI, I would go for about a year and be doing oil changes like my cousin did. The Air Force has a variety of vehicles for mechanics to work on. I would make good money with benefits. After I get out, I could buy a house and work at an auto repair shop.

     My American dream can be pursued with the Air Force. I can serve my country and make my family proud. I could have a house with a large garage and a steady income. I could work on cars all day and actually know what I am doing with the training I would get. That is my American dream.