For my News of the Day, I chose to write about an article I found on the famous rapper Lil’ Wayne. In July 2007 a police officer entered his tour bus outside of a concert at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan, NY. She approached the bus because she allegedly smelled marijuana smoke. Once on the tour bus the officer saw Lil’ Wayne, or Dwayne Carter, trying to conceal a loaded .40-Caliber handgun. If he is convicted of the crime he faces a sentence of up to 15 years in jail. His court date is set to take place on April 20th at the New York State Supreme Court House.
This incident matters to me because I am a fan of Lil’ Wayne. I enjoy listening to his music, and would be very disappointed if he was to be put in jail for any amount of time. This should matter to everyone else, because many other people are fans of him as well; and also because it could potentially be setting a bad example for our society.
My Questions for the class are:
1. Do you think that this will have a negative effect on Lil’ Wayne’s publicity, will he lose fans?
2. Do you think that Lil Wayne is setting a bad example for kids around the world that look up to him? (Even in a general sense, do you think that celebrities’ actions really influence their fans to act like them?)
Sources:
· http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/24/entertainment/main4825255.shtml?source=RSSattr=Entertainment_4825255
· http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605784/20090225/lil_wayne.jhtml (Video on this Page)
· http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/25/2500633.htm
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Yves Saint Laurent auction - Christies- 3/24
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/02/24/france.ysl.auction/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/arts/design/24auction.html?scp=2&sq=auction%20show%20in%20france-%20YSL&st=cse
Despite the global economic crisis, a lot of money seems to be left over. On monday February 23rd, the private collection of the now deceased Yves Saint Laurent (prominent womens fashion designer), and his partner became the most expensive one ever sold at any auction. It consisted of over 700 original pieces including Picasso, Mattisse, and Monet just to name a few. Bringing in more than 264 million dollars on the first night alone; over a 3 day period. The overall estimate of the income being made from the auction was 384 million, it exceeded this limit by 50%. All the money collected, was distributed to various cultural projects, charity and the founding of a new research center to combat AIDS. Christies, the auction house that held the auction, had a representative that said, " It is one of the most sumptuous private collections of our time, a French paragon of quality and taste."
Questions:
Do you feel as though spending money on art is a waste, even if it represents an optimism of society and the proceeds go to charity?
Do you think this was a reasonable time to hold the auction even in the event of the economic crisis?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/arts/design/24auction.html?scp=2&sq=auction%20show%20in%20france-%20YSL&st=cse
Despite the global economic crisis, a lot of money seems to be left over. On monday February 23rd, the private collection of the now deceased Yves Saint Laurent (prominent womens fashion designer), and his partner became the most expensive one ever sold at any auction. It consisted of over 700 original pieces including Picasso, Mattisse, and Monet just to name a few. Bringing in more than 264 million dollars on the first night alone; over a 3 day period. The overall estimate of the income being made from the auction was 384 million, it exceeded this limit by 50%. All the money collected, was distributed to various cultural projects, charity and the founding of a new research center to combat AIDS. Christies, the auction house that held the auction, had a representative that said, " It is one of the most sumptuous private collections of our time, a French paragon of quality and taste."
Questions:
Do you feel as though spending money on art is a waste, even if it represents an optimism of society and the proceeds go to charity?
Do you think this was a reasonable time to hold the auction even in the event of the economic crisis?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Octomom
Sources:
http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/03/octomom-cops-911-calls/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/05/earlyshow/main4844548.shtml?source=RSSattr=TheEarlyShow_4844548
youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUdGK-WHv8U
Before Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets she was investigated by L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Since then cops have been called to the house a number of times. A neighbor complained that her other six children were not fed or clean. The charges were dropped when this claim was unfounded.
Since then the cops have been called when:
-one of Nadya's children locked themselves in a room
-one of the children went "missing",
-one of the kids randomly called 911 for no reason
-by neighbors twice when the front door was left open
-to control reporters after the birth of the octuplets
Do you think “Octomom” should be allowed custody of her children or not?
Should there be a limit on how many embryos are inserted into a women?
http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/03/octomom-cops-911-calls/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/05/earlyshow/main4844548.shtml?source=RSSattr=TheEarlyShow_4844548
youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUdGK-WHv8U
Before Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets she was investigated by L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Since then cops have been called to the house a number of times. A neighbor complained that her other six children were not fed or clean. The charges were dropped when this claim was unfounded.
Since then the cops have been called when:
-one of Nadya's children locked themselves in a room
-one of the children went "missing",
-one of the kids randomly called 911 for no reason
-by neighbors twice when the front door was left open
-to control reporters after the birth of the octuplets
Do you think “Octomom” should be allowed custody of her children or not?
Should there be a limit on how many embryos are inserted into a women?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Obama to expand Afghanistan security forces
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/us/politics/19military.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=afghanistan%20security&st=cse
President Obama and his advisers decided to significantly expand Afghanistan's security forces in the hope that a much larger professional army and national police force could help fill a void left by the cental government, and do more to promote stability in the country, according to senior administration and Pentagon officials. The plan is for 400,000 troops and national police officers to be trained to expand security. This plan is simply waiting on approval by Barrack Obama, who has already said he would do it. This would more than double the current force, however it would cost $10-$20 billion over the next 6 or 7 years to pull off. This cost would only include training and hiring the personnel, additional costs would be needed over time to maintain the forces. This plan will be executed in hopes of stabilizing the nation, and turn power from local warlords to trained local security. The question is; will the cost of all this be worth what we are giving Afghanistan?
President Obama and his advisers decided to significantly expand Afghanistan's security forces in the hope that a much larger professional army and national police force could help fill a void left by the cental government, and do more to promote stability in the country, according to senior administration and Pentagon officials. The plan is for 400,000 troops and national police officers to be trained to expand security. This plan is simply waiting on approval by Barrack Obama, who has already said he would do it. This would more than double the current force, however it would cost $10-$20 billion over the next 6 or 7 years to pull off. This cost would only include training and hiring the personnel, additional costs would be needed over time to maintain the forces. This plan will be executed in hopes of stabilizing the nation, and turn power from local warlords to trained local security. The question is; will the cost of all this be worth what we are giving Afghanistan?
Monday, March 16, 2009
13 year old becomes father
Two Sources: The Sun (Britain newspaper) and Sindh Today (Pakistan newspaper)
Early February 2008 a young boy, just 13 years old, and a teenage girl, 15 years old, became parents. The young father, who looks no older than eight was interviewed and asked questions about what they are going to do financially. His reply was "What's financially?". This is one of the few shocking quotes from the couple. They claim to have been dating for two years and then decided to have sex. It was their first time and did not use protection. Their families support them and their newborn baby girl who lives at home with Chantelle and her family. Alfie, the father, also lives at home with his own family and travels to his girlfriends house to see her and their baby. To add to the story, two other teenage boys came out claiming they could be the father of the baby. Chantelle denies this saying "There has been no one else". While the young couple are happy to be parents not everyone sees this as a blessing. Sindh Today reported about "Broken Britain" saying how they have the highest rate for teen pregnancy. There are a lot of mixed feelings about not just this particular story, but teen pregnancy as an issue. Can children raise their own children?
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