[CE] Ladybug Luck

As I was browsing through the articles, I noticed titled "A cute beetle withstaying power”. I thought it’s pretty strange so I decided to make a post. 

Sixteen-year-old Kylie Copenhagen, of Pleasanton, is an exception. Her project -- a little board game about bugs -- just earned her a nomination for a national award for toy and game design.

As I read this article I thought “Maybe I can get a nomination for a national award for toy and game design as well if I can find anything that I kept”. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. Although I did save some of my work when I was a child, I had nothing involved with creating games nor anything based on bugs except help raise a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Impressed by the game's popularity with Kylie's friends, her father, Dan, contacted college buddy Randy Horn, president of the independent game company Zobmondo Entertainment.
Horn liked the concept, and developed the final product, swapping ideas with Kylie until The Ladybug Game hit stores in 2004. Today it retails for $11.95 and has sold close to 1 million copies, including Toys R Us, Walmart, Kmart, Barnes and Noble and Target.

I guess with some creativity and some connections, you may get a chance to be awarded in the future. Personally, I kept a reasonable amount of projects and assignments when I was child, but I highly doubt any of them will give me any future benefits. Or perhaps my African mask my 7^th grade teacher kept. I don’t think I can get it back now. 

 

Even so, at least she has some sort of money resource to be able to fund her college education. Not all of us can think of some creative game when we’re kids and somehow earn 1 million dollars. I would say luck, creativity, and connections have definitely brought someone’s college life to a success. 

Despite the popularity of The Ladybug Game, there are no new game designs on the horizon for her, said Kylie, who plans to use proceeds from the game to fund her college education.

Personally, I’m jealous and impressed that a 10 year old game project turns out to bring benefits for someone around my age group. This shows some promise to our generation as we move onto an age of debt.

[CE] Alameda Firefighters now water-rescue team

        One of the problems about budget cuts is that we don’t even have the appropriate jobs for people. Even for a water-rescue team. So what do we do? Train firefighter, that’s what!

The Fire Department bought a boat in June, and nearly 60 firefighters have taken either boat operator or rescue swimmer training. Firefighters have used the boat for about six rescue efforts.

Talk about saving money! Not only will they be called firefighters, but also water-fighters! Or will it be Ocean-fighters? Anyways, although there are some benefits from improving our safety in the waters, I send my regards to Raymond Zack, the man who committed suicide and his family. If we have the power to save people from this event, we can do so in the future. I’m sure that just because of budget cuts, the police and firefighters were unable to catch up to the Zack. To be helpless due to lack of money is frustrating and this account will both improve our general welfare and strengthen the protests against these budget cuts. 

"We're surrounded with water, for crying out loud," she said. "It's necessary that we have something to protect us."

Berry, 84, said her son suffered from depression. "There was no reason for him to die," she said, her voice breaking. "I still can't get over being mad, and I know I shouldn't be. But I can't."

I do agree the fact that we are in fact, surrounded with water so not only do we need protection on land, but also on water. But I know that what I’m saying about protection from the waters is pretty limited, but a plan for this situation would’ve been useful.

        Although I think there was no helping the fact that Zack’s intention of dying, he might’ve changed his views if we were able to rescue him. Suicide is perhaps the solution of today’s society as unemployment rate of our nation gradually increases as our debt continues to increase. I hope that my generation doesn’t have to suffer due to such impact of our lives and fall of our American dream.

To read more, click here

[CE] Second Rape at St. Mary's

I am back on scandals again. Maybe I should do something about this. So, we have preteen rape by priests, and now, a second sexual assault on college campus. Here’s my reaction in one word: horrifying. Ever since I allowed notifications for college offers through my email account, a portion comes from Saint Mary's College. Now that I read this article, I don’t think I want to risk my safety until the security has been improved.

Officers were called to the campus about 6 p.m. Sunday after college security received a call from the victim, who was on her way to the hospital, Moraga police Chief Robert Priebe said. She told police over the phone that she had been raped by two males -- one a student and one an acquaintance of that student -- at a campus dorm.

In most locations, rape occurs at night, public places, but a campus dorm? What is going on with the security? I know now that there might be a lack of security in the streets but now in public areas such as campus dorm? This will definitely reduce the college’s reputation, ten- folds now that this is a second rape. 

 "This is the second one in two weeks, which is pretty disturbing," Priebe said.

 No kidding. I highly doubt anyone would try and get a dorm room now that there is a second sex assault. Unfortunately, this kind of incident is hard to reach to the end as most sex assaults were never reported or almost never had any actual arrests. 

Police continue to investigate the suspected sexual assault of another female student in a campus dorm room the morning of Sept. 11. An 18-year-old male student was arrested on suspicion of rape and has been released from custody pending the results of forensic tests, Priebe said.

See what I mean? Frankly, this is utterly disgusting. Girls can’t even have safety as well as privacy at a college dorm, where there should be tons of people around, giving the less chance to be assaulted. Yet again I received another email from St. Mary’s College. Sorry, but I am definitely not going to think of this college as an option as long as there is such a high risk in my safety. 


To read the article click here

[CE] Fukushima - the worst nuclear disaster?

        We all know by now of the Japan earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. But what about the how much radiation from Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant leakage? Here’s the video clip for more information of Japan’s condition.

Experts say that the total amount of radiation leaked will exceed amounts released from Chernobyl, making Fukushima the worst nuclear disaster in history.

The fear of knowing that there is a risk of exposure from radiation could increase risk of illnesses such as cancer to even young innocent children. To those who could try to move away from exposure, cannot due to financial reasons. In hopes there is a method to reduce or to evacuate those who have a high risk in exposure or perhaps have some sort of protection from the radiation. We all are living in a slowly improving economy, so why not plan something?

          Also, in this situation, shouldn’t the government be involved? The government’s function is to serve for the people or at least provide protection, whether it’s from invaders or nuclear leakage. This is Japan’s responsibility to help restore order and peace for it’s population. Japan has suffered enough through it’s history, from the atomic bombs to WWII, and now an earthquake and tsunami. There should be at least be something to help alert and prevent exposure from radiation otherwise not only do the older generations will suffer, but the future generations to come. From what knowledge we gained over the years of cancer, I’m sure no one wants to undergo any treatment at such a young age and the risks of death are still high. All I know is complaining and I’m sure it’s much more difficult than it seems to resolve this situation, but my thoughts will always for Japan’s safety.

[CE] How holy is this?

Just when you think there’s enough forms of abuse, there’s sexual abuse by priests! If you want to read click here

An international group for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests has asked the International Criminal Court to prosecute Pope Benedict XVI and three other senior Vatican officials for crimes against humanity.

Despite how there’s only the prosecution of Pope Benedict XVI and three other senior Vatican officials that are being investigated, I’m pretty sure this lasted for years, even the previous centuries. This will definitely be a major blow for the Roman Catholic Church. Such a scandal will definitely lose the people’s trust to walk into a church with no insecurities.

But this is the first time the sexual-abuse scandal has been brought to an international jurisdiction, marking a new approach by victims and rights groups.

This is definitely confirms what I stated before.  Just like other reportings of abuse from other cases, similar scandals are always covered up in some way or no one would believe the claim. I don’t go to some form of church myself, but a scandal like this can cause other people who do go doubt in and lost their trust in what they believe. And I’m pretty sure priests in every religion aren’t allowed to be in a relationship; moreover, are allowed to take part in some scandal such as this.

The three other Vatican officials the group is asking that they be investigated are Tarcisio Bertone, the cardinal secretary of state; Angelo Sodano, his predecessor; and William Levada, a US cardinal.

Well, good luck with getting out of this situation guys.

The Roman Catholic Church is struggling to deal with rising anger and a string of lawsuits after thousands of child abuse claims in Europe and the US.

Well this event wouldn’t end as soon as most scandals. In fact, it’ll last for a pretty long period of time, especially when Xenophon, an Australian senator, reported a similar scandal 50 years ago.

             

       Well now this scandal has been reported, I do wonder if anyone will be trustworthy enough to continue to attend church, or even take part of any religious holidays. Who knows, the people could even convert to a different religion. I’m pretty disgusted of how all these abuses were covered up as much as fifty years and how these priests can continue to live on and practice what they pretty much soiled. Is there really anyone we know we can trust?

[CE] Revenge Attacks - Acceptable?

Racism has been around in different forms and in this case, in part of revenge after the 9/11 incident. This is what I conclude after watching this video.



This infamous incident not only caused grief and terror among the people, but caused numerous deaths or injuries due to skin color and religion. I find that these ‘revenge attacks’ horrendous because this is more of a reason for more violence. Rather than accepting the negative emotions and find a better way to ease them in peaceful manner, releasing it through murder on an innocent citizen doesn’t change the fact that your loved one(s) is gone. Also, this displays the wrong account of the United States. How is it that it is acceptable for Americans to launch revenge attacks towards Arab Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs? Will it help ease the people’s grief by murdering those who were not a part of this tragic incident?I know I can’t relate to the same situation as those who suffered, but I do know that violence isn’t going to solve the problem.

Also, I like to congratulate Rana Singh Sodhi’s resolve after his brother’s death. He is one of the many who accepted the truth and relinquished any resort of violence to avenge his brother. Not only did Sodhi strengthen his religious faith, he also received support from thousands of people. Once again, I know I cannot imagine the sorrow from this dreadful event and its effects, but I know that violence will only result in more violence. We live in a world with a rich history from wars and revolutions, so why not create an era where revenge will not be part of a reason for another war? I send my regards to those who are affected from the 9/11 and hope that this will tragedy will end.