Understanding Stress

Stress is a pain, anxiety, or frustration one may have with him self or his surroundings. I think in youth stress is different from adults. I say this because parents stress about this like bills, kids and work but kids may stress out about overwhelming school projects, friends, and certain home situations. Some children's stress is worst then parents only because they may not be the best student in school them to come home to constant yelling and screaming. Some people deal with stress differently. A bad way to deal with stress is smoking, drinking and any types of violence. Sleep is also a bad way to deal with stress only because, if you sleep when your stressed out that is your way of escaping the real world, but when you wake up you still have reality to face.Young people deal with peer pressure which for kids is the worst kind of stress. Peer Pressure is pressure from your peers making you do something or encouraging you to do something you don't want to. Even though stress may be bad there is good types of stress. A good type of stress would be the stress you get right before your about to give a report in front of the whole class. Some good types of stress are relaxing, reading and doing constructive creative arts with your time.

Talking Equality

I believe that this article is very offensive to Blacks and Latinos. This is offensive because it's saying that Blacks and Latinos are inferior to Whites and Asians. One of the general ideas of the the newspaper that Asian and Whites are accepted in to special admission schools over Blacks and Latinos. That statement is untrue because more and more people of color are getting into schools like central, girls high, CAPA , and others. Another general idea that caught my attention was the idea of 11% of Blacks and 10% Latinos were in AP classes while 24% of Whites and 34% Asians are in AP classes in high school.

Eventhough I don't agree with these numbers they are true. It shows that in time we've lost our strength and power. Our people made perfect buildings using math, some of these buildings still stand today over thousands of years later. This article shows us that we really need to make a change in what we are doing or we could end up being illiterate.

Black Caucus

The Back Caucus is a group of Afrikan-Americans who represent the black congress of the United States of America. The history of the group goes as far back as 1970 when E.J Josey was president. Their current chairman is Barbara Lee of California. The chairman is the person that speaks for the whole group, every idea is given to the chairman to present.The nature of this particular meeting was to establish support and discuss major issues that are going on in urban areas. The Black Caucus would like to see him focus on hiring more minorities to federal jobs and helping small and minority-owned businesses get government contracts. They also would like to see him discuss a health-care safety net. I believe that the Black Caucus and President Obama will have a good relationship. They already respect him as a man because he was the first Biracial man to ever become president in the history of America. I don't think they would have a perfect relationship with him. Everything Obama does most of us won't agree with but they are for the good of the country.

Anti-Colonial Leader:Nelson Mandela

On July 18, 1918 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa. He was born to the Chief Henry Mandela; leader of the Tembu tribe. Mandela became educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. He qualified as a lawyer in 1942. In 1963 Nelson was sentenced to 5 years in prison with hard labour. On June 12, 1964 Mandela was sentenced to life in prison due to his statement toward the federal government.

From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off of the shore of cape town,he was also incarcerated at Pollsmoor Prison. Being imprisoned Mandela received a lot of publicity. He was becoming a black powerful leader of South Afrika. On February 11, 1990 Nelson Mandela was released and was already a political leader for his fellow South Africans. A famous speech said by Nelson Mandela was his speech when he was released form prison.

I believe that Nelson Mandela was a great leader. He was a great leader not only to his people but to his family. Here is a man who saw the condition of his country and didn't like what he saw. Even though the government didn't agree with how he felt about it he stood for what he believed in. His people stood by him though it all they stood by him because they wanted freedom as much as Mandela did. This is a man who should be truly celebrated for his contribution to this planet we call home.

Oratorical Finals Overview

 I thought that the oratorical contest was interesting this year. It was so interesting because I was a finalist this year. I won third place in the poem competition, Richan won first and Anjee won second. I thought the little children did wonderful they were cute, had emotion and moved the crowd. Since this will be my last oratorical contest in middle school I enjoyed myself and took a lot of long lasting memories.

President Obama's Stimulus Package

1) In general, what is the Stimulus Package and its overall purpose to the economy? Why is the Stimulus necessary? (see both videos). In general this Stimulus Package is to help the people and the government reform from experiencing another depression, as they did in the late 1920's. The purpose of the stimulus package is to provide jobs for people, invest in modern technology and to overall help middle to lower class americans. Also the purpose is to help americans with financial problems and to have better health care for children and parents who can't afford it. The Stimulus is necessary for an abundance of reasons. One of the most important reasons are saving or creating jobs for those who need it most.

2) What are the agreements and disagreements (with Democrats, Republicans, and others) around the Stimulus Package? What are President Obama's counter arguments in this debate? (see both videos). A disagreement that the people thought about the Package was that government was asking for a lot of money. The President's response to that statement was he thinks that in order for big things to happen the government needs big money. A statement that the people agreed with was the building of hybrid cars. Our President stated that he would like the idea of that because it would create jobs for the people who built the cars and it would and the gas would cost less.

3) What are the spending details of the Economic Package? How will it create jobs? In other words, where and how will the money be spent? (see article). The Stimulus bill is divided into separate categories. The most money in the "energy" category would go to smart electricity grid to reduce the waste. In the ''Science and technology" category the most money would go to science facilities. For the "infrastructure" category the  most money would be distributed to construction of federal government. In ''education'' the relief to prevent cuts for state aid for such things as college loans. For ''health care'' the category that would get the most money would be invested into medicaid. This will create jobs because companies will have more money that can pay salaries.

4) What are some other areas of the Package that President Obama emphasized in both speeches on the Youtube CNN speeches? (both videos). Some other areas the were emphasized during the videos were equal rights for females. Females should be able to get the same jobs and have the same rights as a man does. Children health care was also mentioned in the two videos. Our president made a comment saying that ''this package will not be perfect''. I think this is true because he will invest in things that we all may not agree with.

5) Do you feel that this package will help African Americans and if so how? Do you feel that racism and/or gender bias will make a difference in the output or results of the package? Explain. (your opinion). My personal opinion is that this bill will help African Americans. I feel this way because a lot of African American people in the United States is either middle class or under. I don't think race would make a difference only because there are other races beside African Americans that are middle class, not all white people live in the suburban area and make six figures a year. I also don't think that gender has anything to do with the package. I don't think so because Barack Obama stands for women's rights.

Parents Review of Blog

Hello, my name is Esterline Brooks mother of Lasheda Brooks. When I first reviewed this blog I liked the fact that parents have the option of reviewing what their child did in class. I asked myself the question of does my child complete all of her assignments and if she does how well does she answer the questions. Lasheda informed that there is a main blog where I can keep track of her assginments. I like the fact that the blog is electronic so that children won't be able to say I lost my homework because they would be able to have access to it 24 hours of the day and papers aren't involved .