Patience? Ha.

"Bush calls for patience on Iraq"
is the headline for world news today.

It's ironic on two scales. Bush is asking us to be patient with the situation, as if five years is only an introduction. As if it hasn't been long enough. Furthermore, as if he had the patience from the beginning. Did not he just jump right into the war? Did not he just ignore everyone else's suggestions? Did not he just became impatient and took matters into his own hands, hands that proved to become unreliable?

There are anti-Bush riots in Europe, where they have the most history and experience with political leaders. My older sister told me how the entire nation becomes very safe when major world leaders, like Condoleeza Rice, visits as not to incur any problems for future international relations. But, in all of the history, our President is not welcome in Europe. It's embarrasing, I think.

On a lighter note, hopefully, this 2008 election will bring about a new leader who knows his or her stuff, well.

YouTube Sued

Did you hear? I thought it was one of the funniest and most interesting lawsuits. So, Viacom is sueing YouTube (and also Google who recently bought Google for a little more than 1 billion) for 1 billion. Apparently, YouTube's successful videos have made owners of MTV and Comedy Central jealous.

They're only now becoming angry with the major company, after they have become one of the most visited websites, only after Google recognized its potential, only after it refused to implement a filter system. It's obvious that Viacom is purely angry at the success of YouTube. In fact, Viacom's marked has dropped substantially since YouTube's fame has risen. Who would have thought two young guys (or 3, I don't quite remember) would be able to start a billion dollar online company? All they wanted to make was a webstie where people could share their travel videos. And what they've started has become so powerful that they are now being sued.

I'm sure Google will either pay them the sum of money, or try to filter their system, but according to the article, Google is sure that they will continue to make the website accessible and successful. At the very end of the article, BBC comments on how they have successfully made deals with the YouTube website giving them the permission to use their videos in hope for more publicity and links to their website.



Like I just did.

It's not only them, it's us too.

On another note, take a look at this:



21.3 % of the carbon released is from Road Transport, probably mostly from individual cars. People expend more carbon dioxide outside their homes than inside (15.6%). If we combine the amount used by individuals, that is 36.9% of it released just from doing everyday tasks, that we all think is necessary. It's not the factories that really generate the most pollution. In fact, energy industries make exactly the same amount, 36.9%.

Here are the articles from BBC about the news:

"http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6445613.stm"
"http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6444145.stm"

Is punishment the way to go?

Britain has just announced a new plan to cut carbon emissions down 60% by 2050 in 5-year intervals. Although this has not the first time a country or state has set goals to reduce carbon emissions, this is the first time a nation has put it into law. In other words, if they don't carry though, then they can be sent to court.

I think it's a great idea that they are taking this more drastic step towards fighting global warming and helping to sustain our world, but is punishment the real way to turn? Have we come to a point where we have to threaten ourselves to do good? Since we were small, we had always been taught to do good, whether or not you get an reward and whether or not you get punished if you don't do it. It seems like these values disappear on an international scale. If you think about WWII, when Hitler refused to follow the Munish Agreement, we see that major figures in international politics are an exception to the rule that we have learned as kids and as students. He stepped over the boundary that they set out for him, looked around and realized that no one could stop him, and so he went on his way to invade Poland. And war begun. More specifically, many nations have failed to reach the agreements in the Kyoto Protocol (like Canada) and have given up. No punishment? No punishment.

A Pair of Travelling Pants

After watching Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, you really come to think of how much your friends mean to you. I always wanted to highlight what I love about each of my friends, and I also need to write a blog. Perfect.

(Note: Code letters)

F-She's absolutely adorable. Although she always gets herself in ruts, she can also either laugh it off, or vent off her frustration on her friends or her punching bag. We all count on her smile when we have bad days.

U-She's caring and knows a lot about everything. She's adaptable and brilliant.

N-She works hard at everything she does, and she's so good at it.

K-She's energetic and hyper, and organized. And she's always screaming for joy.

Y-He's there and everywhere, putting his friends before everything.

More to come.

Great Depression

A post I wrote before I figured out how to use the blogger:

I was reading about the Great Depression for AP US class earlier and stumbled upon a couple of readings that could change the way I look at things, despite the time gap. The reading was written by a woman who had to sit in a domestic waiting room for a job with half a dozen other women, every day, desperately waiting for work. I didn’t realize how essential having work was; I guess I had simply taken it for granted. I had also taken a lot of other things for granted. I know, from the movies and lectures we have in class, that people were poor and people were hungry during that time, but the magnitude of it is only clear to me now. I guess, for me, I need to see or read a firsthand account to really put it into a true perspective. The way she described the waiting women, staring blankly at the floor and thirsty and hungry like beasts, ready to work late or early hours to make even thirty cents at whatever work that was available, really made my heart ache.

You are using 91% of your mail quota.

I didn't realize how much email I accumulate until the red warning sign popped up at the corner of my screen. As I went through the 73 pages of email (I know it is ridiculous), it got me kind of sad to see email from the years past. Things, like Ka Punahou, Key Club, Debate mail have their continuous cycles. When I saw the Key Club Car Wash one I sent to Kailee, who used to be the Key Club Advisor, I was just a mere sophomore who didn't really understand the complicated Key Club network and all the work that goes behind it. Now, as an officer of the club, I see everything behind the scenes. Especially since this year I'm beginning to take on leadership positions, I feel older and realize that I'm passing on my knowledge to the freshmen and sophomores, something that I had never thought I would do.

No Man's Land

I didn't know a "no-man's land" existed in Hawaii. On the west coast of Oahu, there are many homeless people who live in "the bushes" with animals like pigs, chickens, and barking dogs. It was in the paper today.

I visted a homeless shelter once, for a community service project, and saw the uncertainty and poverty that each of the families had to face everyday. They lived in homes made out of 6 foot by 6 foot carboard, out of material that you would use for a science project. The shampoo bottles and bedsheets sat on the walls, as much as a storage space as protection.

Those that lived in the no man's land...it didn't sound all that bad. It's carefree, with no regulations and you get to be one with nature. I'm pretty sure they, or at least some of them, are thinking the same thing. You wake up everyday to no school, no homework, no exams. I wonder...

Roosevelt

I first thought it was dried blood dripping down the bathroom walls. But I think it was just dried brown paint. Like Mr. Watson had talked about in class, I too noticed the difference between our campus and Roosevelt's, beginning with the bathrooms.

I didn't mean to comment on it, but it came out. I admit saying that they should have painted the walls a different color instead of the discolored patches of "broken rock" that just made the bathroom wall look older. Even the toilet paper was thin and it was only 1-ply, or I think that's what it's called. I really don't want to sound like I'm criticizing. I totally understand that there's just not the money there. I wished we could donate, without anyone knowing of course, and I think someone told me that we did before.

Everytime I walk onto the campus, I'm not sure how I should respond. Should I feel bad? Or not? Maybe it's just different.

Trial Post

Let's see if this works.