If I had to choose a place for a “once in a lifetime” aspect
it would be to hike around all the amazing places in Australia. Australia has
many remarkable hiking spots which I believe could truly change someone’s
perspective on nature and life itself. I feel as Australia is one of the most beautiful
places to travel because it is, in a deep was, one with nature. Through
rainforests, over mountain ridges, across open plains, beside lakes and oceans,
Australia has so much to offer to hikers who are prepared to pull the boots on
and get dirty. I have heard that Australia is a gorgeous continent and I know
that the hikes there are one hundred percent extreme! It is the best place to
travel for someone who has a thrill for adventure and those who want to do
something crazy, dangerous, and awesome. I know that if I go to Australia I’ll
never want to come back to the US because I would be so in love with the
country. I think I would stay there for at least three months in order to be
able to hike through every single place, route, and path there is there. I
would also love to see the animals that live up close for the first time
because it would be way better than just seeing pictures of them online. Australia
is beautiful and dangerous at the same time and that is what makes me want to
travel there. I feel as though that would be the greatest adventure of all.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Pope Says Genocide
“Pope Francis uses 'genocide' to
refer to mass killings of Armenians by Turks”
By: Jethro Mullen
Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/12/europe/pope-francis-turkey-armenia-genocide-reference/index.html
Pope Francis jeopardized Turkish
anger on Sunday by using the word "genocide" in order to state the
mass killings of Armenians a hundred years ago under the Ottoman Empire. "In
the past century, our human family has lived through three massive and
unprecedented tragedies," the Pope said during the Mass at St. Peter's
Basilica to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. His usage
of the term genocide upset Turkey and the country called forth its ambassador
to the Vatican for "consultations" only hours after the Pope’s
comments. Earlier that day, Turkey summoned the ambassador from the Vatican for
a meeting. Their former ambassador from the Vatican, Kenan Gursoy, told CNN in a telephone interview it was the
first time Turkey has summoned its ambassador home from the Vatican, "This
does not mean that our diplomatic ties with the Vatican are over." He states that the Pope's use of the word
"genocide" was "a one-sided evaluation. In a tweet on Sunday on
his official account, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu titled the
Pope's use of the word as "unacceptable" and "out of touch with
both historical facts and legal basis.” Blah blah blah
The people should read this article
so that they could realize just how much the Pope has done just by saying the
word genocide. This changes everything regarding their relations with Turkey
and really helps us Armenian. The Pope helped us spread the knowledge of
genocide throughout the world and for that we are grateful.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
New Discovery
“Madagascar marvel: Divers find fossils of extinct giant
lemurs”
By: Daisy Carrington
Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/19/africa/underwater-fossil-lemur-graveyard-madagascar/index.html
Laurie Godfrey, a paleontologist at
the University of Massachusetts is part of an international team who recently
uncovered one the most incredible collection of fossils found on the island of Madagascar
in three flooded caves. The find is being touted as Madagascar's largest
underwater graveyard. All three caves, Malaza Manga, Aven, and Mitoho, are
submerged underneath Tsimanampetsotsa National Park. Their potential was first
uncovered by Ryan Dart, an Australian diver. When Dart saw what was down there,
he contacted his colleague Phillip Lehman, a diver for the Dominican Republic
Speleological Society. What he found were the remnants of a lost world. With
funding and logistical help from the National Geographic Society, the National
Science Foundation and Madagascar National Parks made an initial exploration of
the cave. The bones aren't damaged in any way. They believe that although extinct,
the animals uncovered in the caves died recently. Signs point to their
co-existence with humans. Godfrey believes that human effect played a large
role in wiping out Madagascar's native species.
The idea of finding fossils belonging to a
never before found species is extremely thrilling and I am sure everyone
reading this article agrees. The people should read this and be aware of the
new discoveries being made around the world. This is just one of many
discoveries and I am one hundred percent sure that many more will be made soon.
Luckily with our advanced technology it will not be difficult to find and
unravel the many mysteries this world contains.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Gender Roles
Gender roles in today's society
still follow the typical stereotypes we've been dealing with for years. Despite
remarkable progress made toward the goal of gender equality, the stereotypes of
the "macho brute" and the "sensitive female" continue.
People who break these stereotypes are either ignored or worshiped. I do think
that males have had an unfair traditional advantage for far too long, but the
goal is equality, not reversal in roles. While targeting for that goal, the progresses
of the times need to be reflected. Gender roles in the old-fashioned sense
still exist, but there is a generous amount of evidence which shows these roles
are slowly changing in ways people cannot predict. Today we have many more
female workers and society's beliefs as regards to the role of women as homemakers
has changed. Women are commonly referred to as approaching in second behind
men. Men have always had this certain cultural superiority. Women, however, are
excelling significantly in the classroom and career-wise at a slightly higher
rate than men. The stereotypes and biases are still there however, buried deep
within years of traditions turned to constitution. There is evidence to lead
one to believe that these gender roles and restraints are ever-changing and
becoming like we'd never expected. People are slowly beginning to accept
"non-traditional" gender roles. My hope is that abnormalities from
tradition will eventually be considered acceptable for both men and women.
Ancient Civilization
National Geographic reports that archaeologists have
discovered the urban remains of what they believe is a vanished ancient
civilization. Both a writer and photographer for National Geographic accompanied
a team of scientists to the Honduras' Mosquitia region on the trail of a
legendary "White City" also known as the "City of the Monkey
God." The expedition was launched after aerial light detection scanning’s uncovered
man-made structures below the rainforest. A team of U.S. and Honduran
archaeologists, a light detection scanning engineer, an ethnobotanist,
anthropologists and documentary filmmakers entered the isolated region. They
were protected by Honduran Special forces. Writer Douglas Preston said the team
emerged on February 25, after documenting the ruins of the "vanished
culture." "In contrast to the nearby Maya, this vanished culture has
been scarcely studied and it remains virtually unknown," Douglas wrote. Archaeologists’
believed there had been an entire civilization with many cities. The expedition
found works, including an earthen pyramid as well as a collection of stone
sculptures, thought to potentially have been burial offerings. Archaeologist
Oscar Neil Cruz, from the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, estimated
they dated from A.D. 1000 to 1400. The researchers were greeted by wildlife
which were never before seen by humans. "The Honduran government is
committed to protecting this area, but doesn't have the money. We urgently need
international support," Douglas wrote.
The
idea of finding a whole new ancient civilization makes me extremely excited and
I am sure everyone reading this article is too. The people should read this and
be aware of the new discoveries being made.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Our Planet Sucks
Astronomers
from NASA announced Wednesday the discovery of a planet that makes Earth look atrocious.
The space agency’s researchers explained to the media that they recently identified
planet, HD 904790 b. It makes Earth look silly in every possible way. The planet
has a larger size, perfect terrestrial surface, various and lush landforms, and
an amount of natural resources, all of which indicate that Earth is “a
festering pile of garbage in comparison.” (theonion) HD 904790 b has a broad ring
system that bests Saturn’s, zero tectonic plate activity, and more fresh water
in just one of its massive, unpolluted oceans than we have on our entire “worthless”
planet. NASA astronomers have calculated that it would take mankind approximately
300,000 years to reach this new planet in a space capsule, but universally
agreed that it was worth a shot rather than “spend another day on this stupid
lump of shit. (Censored)”
The
planet is being satirized by this article. The author ridicules Earth constantly
and refers to is as “a piece of shit”. It is humorous the way the author compares the new planet
to ours and then insults ours and quoting that other people are too embarrassed
because they thought Earth was amazing and now want to “kill themselves”.
Undecided Voters
This
is a scene from Family Guy. It is a political satire that shows how
presidential candidates and voters act. It is a good representation of
political satire because while being entertaining and humorous, it still expresses
messages about what politics and voters are actually like. It appeals to the
audience by making jokes about certain topics (in this case 9/11), and it is
still able to show a real life message. It starts with the question: "If
reelected, will you increase the frequency of garbage pickups?" Mayor West
replies by not answering the question, but just dancing around it and finishing
by saying something the public will like, instead of an actual answer. Then
everyone started talking happily about him and saying they will vote for him.
Lois is boggled by such response from the voters. Brian tells her to just stick
to short answers and that will win her this debate. She is then asked about
what she will do about crime in the city. All she says is "A lot" and
the crowd goes wild. Her answer for the next questions is also “9/11.”
This scene is particularly making fun of all Americans in
a generalized manner. It is using mockery and humor to show that most voters in
America are looking for answers that they like and want to hear, not the
correct responses. It shows satire by showing that people of America will
believe anything and everything they hear in political debates. This proves
that all you have to do to win an election is say all the right stuff, not have
all the right intentions.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
2 Free Years
During his recent Sate
of the Union Address, President Obama broadcasted his idea to make two years of
college free. He wants to make two years colleges free for all the students’ who
have a C average. This would enroll many people into colleges that they would
not have been able to get accepted to. People would be able to get an education
beyond high school and motivate those who thought they were not good enough for
college. This is an enormously vital step in education and could wholly change
the system that rejects people for being incapable of pay for their college.
For those without even an undergrad degree, jobs are limited. With these challenging
issues of education, many people are not able to reach their full potential. A
change must take place soon.
It would be utterly amazing if President
Barack Obama could make this into a reality. What is the point of getting good
grades in high school, if the student cannot pay for their college? The time
for change is now. There are students out there who are full of potential and
are capable of showing the world just how intelligent and skilled they truly
are. Something like money should not stop them from reaching their goals and
turning their dreams into a reality. One can only hope that such a change over
the education system will soon take place for the sake of thousands of
students. Everyone has the right to be educated and should be given that
chance.
All About Her
“Her voice is full of money,” he said suddenly.
The Great Gatsby is
a wonderful book filled with many quotes which make the reader think long and
hard about the meaning behind those words. The quote I found most intriguing
was said none other than by Jay Gatsby himself.
Daisy is from a wealthy family, so her voice may sound
like a stereotypical rich person's voice. In the long run, though, Daisy and
money are inseparably linked in Gatsby's mind. She has always been wealthy and
he has always sought out to be wealthy. His entire wealth and his luxurious
lifestyle only exist to impress her. When he hears her voice, he is reminded of
money. The quote itself gives the reader a better understanding of who Daisy
really is and how she was Gatsby’s motivation to gain wealth. The quote, in a
way, unravels some of the mystery behind Gatsby. The reader finally understands
why he became the way was, it was all to impress one person, the person that
mattered the most to him, Daisy. He thought is he had enough money she would
leave Tom and be his girl.
I read this quote over and over again until I finally
understood the true meaning behind it. It is Daisy; it has always been about
Daisy. The story revolves around Nick but also Daisy. She was the reason behind
every move and every decision Jay Gatsby made which ultimately led Nick to also
follow Gatsby in a way.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Party of the Century!
Come one come all to
the greatest party in the world, nay the universe, hosted by yours truly, Vana
Babikian. My incredible and totally breathtaking
party will be held in the Roman Colosseum for three days straight (alcohol provided)! During the
day the inside of the colosseum will hold a paintball tournament which will last
till the third day, while at night the field will be used for the two night laser
tag tournament. For my theme I have chosen: Time to Glow, at night everything
will be glow in dark including the inner field and every piece of furniture.
Since there is no budget limit, I will own all of Rome (this includes the
hotels, restaurants, and stores). By doing this my guests will be able to check
into any hotel, eat at any restaurant, and buy anything they desire for free,
and then return to the party. The circular hallways of the colosseum will be
transformed into lounges where the guests will sit, eat, and chat. The guest
list includes everyone I know, expert magicians, some circus folk, every
celebrity (except Ben Affleck and Justin Bieber), and special invitations will
be given to the casts of; Person of Interest, Elementary, Gotham, The Big Bang
Theory, and FRIENDS. There will absolutely be no clowns attending this party
and if one does they will be escorted out by the guards’ (specially trained CIA
agents). The main menu will include Italian food (of course), sushi, chinese
food, burgers with fries, and lastly hot wings. Music will be performed by
Maroon 5 on the first day, Imagine Dragons on the second, and Fall Out Boy on
the third. Drag races will be held outside of the colloseum and the drivers will
be given their own Hennessey Venom GT (fastest car in the world) to drive in the
race (which will be 95% safe). I hope everyone will be able to make it and enjoy
themselves (seriously though, no clowns).
Will It End?
“Ceasefire reached in
Yemen after day of heavy fighting, officials say”
Source: CNN
By: Nick Paton Walsh
and Susannah Cullinane
After heavy fighting in the capital,
Sanaa (Nine people were killed and 67 others injured in the clashes),
government forces and rebels in Yemen agreed to a ceasefire on Monday. The
Yemeni government described this fighting as a way to grab power by rebels
known as Houthis, Shiite Muslims who have felt downgraded in the majority Sunni
country. Chaos between the two sides is troublesome to the West because loss of
power in Yemen could benefit al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Al Qaeda is a
terrorist organization based in Yemen that took credit for the attack on the
offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. A deal is expected to be signed this Tuesday
in order to stop the violence between both sides. The Houthis have been around
the capital with their arms and they have been interfering in the government's
work. Although the prime minister says they are trying to keep this country
going. The U.N. Security Council will be holding a special meeting on Tuesday
to discuss Yemen.
It is important for the general public to read
about this because the people should know that if this problem does not get
resolved soon then al Qaeda will become stronger and possible more violent than
before. There is not much we can do about this ourselves but it is still better
to know what is happening than to remain clueless.
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