15 years and it still hurts

This article is about the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. On September 11th 2001, over 2,996 people died in terrorist attacks from an Islamic terrorist group, al-Qaeda. The Pentagon and world trade center were hit by hijacked planes, and another was heading for the white house before hitting the ground. The passengers on that white house plane heroically stopped the plane from hitting it. The costs to repair all of the damages took over three trillion dollars. Today President Obama held a moment of silence at 8:46 Eastern time for the victims, and many Americans took time out of their day to think about the attacks.

I was too young to remember the attacks, but it's by far the most famous date in American history. It is a terrible tragedy, and it is so hard to watch video footage of it. I took an elective in middle school studying this specific event, and it was pretty horrifying to hear personal stories about it. It's a day that changed many people's minds about security threats and Islam. This event was huge and impactful, but there aren't that many other cases in the past 15 years of Islamic terrorism happening on American soil. There are many more cases of domestic gun violence than that. I can understand though how people can think that that kind of terrorism is more prominent because of the scale of this attack. Airline security has gotten a lot better since 9/11, because of the outcry. The bigger implication of this 15 year anniversary is that people really aren't going to forget for some time. This case of terrorism hurt the American economy and killed so many more lives than most terrorist attacks. It also showed resilience for the city of New York, and the bravery of those men on the plane headed towards the White house. I wish that people didn't use this case to support the fact that Islamic terrorism is an imminent threat because this was quite some time ago, and a lot has changed. Most cases of terrorism in the U.S would be prevented if we fixed our gun control issues, in my opinion. Rest in peace to all of those lost in these attacks, and even though I have nothing to remember, I will never forget. 

Hillary Clinton Didn't Help Herself With Recent Comments

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37329812

This article/video is about democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton. At a recent fundraiser she said that she would put half of the trump supporters into the deplorable category. She then went on to say that that group are racists, homophobic etc. These comments have caught much of the attention of the media. Donald Trump responded to the comments, tweeting that he supports any American no matter who they are voting for.

This wasn't a good move from Hillary Clinton, in my opinion. Even if it is true, which I do believe it is, you shouldn't say that about another campaign. Donald Trump is always unprofessional, so she should use that to her advantage, and not sink to his level. Most people who support Clinton, have an idea of some of the subconscious thoughts of Trump supporters. Hillary isn't enlightening anyone by saying these things. I do have similar thoughts like this, but I wouldn't say it officially like how she did at this fundraiser. People who are in between candidates will be driven away from her. President Obama was never that quick to lash out at his competitors in 2008 and 2012, and granted those were better candidates, but she needs to have the same composure as the president for her to win. In the end, I think that people in the middle will vote based on policy, and seeing as Donald Trump doesn't have any real policies, they will vote for Clinton. The bigger implications aren't too huge. 

He's Back (Landon Donovan)

http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/2946015/landon-donovan-ends-retirement-to-rejoin-la-galaxy

This article is about USMNT and MLS legend Landon Donovan. The article is mainly about how he is coming out of retirement after almost two years of not playing soccer to play with the LA galaxy in MLS. The article mentions his amazing stats such as leading the U.S national team in goals, assists, and starts. It also mentions his amazing MLS stats and contributions for the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes. Current coach Bruce Arena and Landon Donovan have spoken and discussed that he may not have the same superstar role that he had before in his career. Landon Donovan's motive to return was after seeing the injuries that hurt the Galaxy's depth. He says his goal is to win the championship in December with LA. U.S fans are all hoping that he will return to the national team too, if he can get a call-up from Jurgen Klinsmann.

I just had the chance to interview this man a couple weeks ago, when we all thought he was long retired. He said his love for soccer never changed, and that he wants to do what he can to help the game in this country. He's doing just that. La Galaxy are currently 2nd in the western conference, but Landon Donovan is going to change the team. Whether he's coming on a substitute or starting the game, he will make a huge impact on the field assisting or scoring goals. Personally I do want to see him return to the U.S national team in November. Fans like me, love watching him play and he can help the team a lot on the field. He'll also help the game grow in America because if Landon Donovan is playing more people are going to tune into the game, and more people are going to buy tickets. That is a bigger implication of all of this. No matter what happens with Donovan I wish him the best in the rest of this season. 

The U.S win is a good sign of things to come.

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/09/06/usa-trinidad-tobago-world-cup-qualifying-pulisic-altidore-kljestan-hex

This article is about the U.S' 4-0 defeat over Trinidad and Tobago in their last preliminary world cup qualifying match. They move on to the last qualifying round now, thanks to goals from Sacha Klejstan, Jozy Altidore, and Paul Arriola. Three out of the four goals came in the second half. Many fans were excited as 17 year old Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund got his first start for the senior men's national team. The next world cup qualifying match will be on November 11th against Mexico.

After watching the match, I can say that this is one of the best performances the U.S has put out. We looked like we played very attacking soccer, and our front line looked more energetic than ever. It's great to see that our striker, Jozy Altidore is back in form and scoring. Christian Pulisic is only 17 years old, and he's starting for the U.S national team. Some of my friends are the same age as he is, and they play for my high school's team. It's incredible that he's standing toe to toe with the opposition at this level. The back line looked rock solid, and even though these four have never played together, they looked like they had great chemistry. The bigger implication of this match is that Jurgen Klinsmann will start playing a 4-4-2 and starting Jozy Altidore up top, now that he is healthy. I think the U.S has finally found a look that will work for us in the upcoming world cup qualifiers.

Pollution will affect our kids, but it also affects us.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37276219

This article is about a new scientific discovery regarding brain tissue and pollution. It has now been found that little particles of pollution called "nanospheres" can enter the brain and cause problems. They are 25 times as thin as a particle of hair. Now scientists are estimating that 50,000 people have died in the United Kingdom as a result of pollution from the air. It's probably that they enter through the lungs or nose and get into your bloodstream. It's still being debated as if this can be linked to genetic diseases like alzheimer's, but as of right now there's substantial evidence suggest that they are a threat to the brain.

This is really scary. We are going to have to start being even more environmentally conscious if we want to avoid more deaths like this. A lot of us are aware of the damage that pollution can cause over time, but aren't aware of many short term affects. This is a very short term affect that can affect you and me, just as easily as it does to the many people talked about in this article. I think that a good way to stop air pollution is get rid of fireworks. I know that they are a historic tradition in the U.S, but it's unnecessary in my opinion, and there are other ways it could be celebrated. Certain states like Colorado have already instituted restrictions on certain types of fireworks, which is a step in the right direction. Using that many fireworks on one day of the year is like using a decent amount everyday, and it has a use impact on the air that we breathe in. The bigger implication of all of this is that now we have legitimate fear of something that has short term affects, and as always science is helping us move forward and detect things in terms of health. 

Is England's win vs. Slovakia a sign of things to come?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37281801

This article is about the English national soccer team. In their first 2018 Russia world cup qualifier they beat 10-man Slovakia 1-0 thanks to a late 95th minute goal from Harry Kane. The article outlines how the team lined up and played. They played in a 4-2-3-1 with Harry Kane playing at striker. Captain Wayne Rooney played underneath him in a center attacking midfield role. He also took the corner kicks for the team, and a reporter asked Harry Kane about if he is going to be taking the set pieces again. He said that he doubts it, and that he already joked around with the manager about that. The reason that it's funny is because it was a big reason that England lost to Iceland over the summer in the 2016 European Championships. This game is also significant because it's the first game under new head coach Sam Allardyce. The former head coach Roy Hodgson was fired after the Iceland loss. Many England fans hope that this result can be one of many to come, and that it will be smooth sailing on their way to Russia in 2018.

England fans do have reason to be excited. They've got a fairly young team, and a lot of potential. I watched the game, and they did look decent at times, but they really should have gotten since more goals since they had one more player than Slovakia. It starts with the defensive midfield, which in my opinion is a little bit weak. Jordan Henderson is not going to be able to match up with the better midfielders in Europe, and Eric Dier still has a lot to learn. Their attacking midfield is solid, and Raheem Sterling, a Manchester City player who has been in great form, has his best years ahead of him. Harry Kane has the ability to score a lot of goals, but they have to get him more acclimated. In term of the bigger implications for this qualifying campaign, I think that they should win the group. They have one of the easiest groups, and they've already played one of their toughest matches (away to Slovakia). English fans are right to be frustrated with recent results. They lost to Iceland in the euros, a country that only has 400,000 people. In their last world cup they failed to qualify for the knockout rounds. England should be a bigger threat on the world's stage, and if they can figure out a couple of things and Allardyce can manage the team properly, I think they'll get there. 

Three Months Is NOT Enough for Brock Turner

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37259537
This article is about Stanford swimmer and sex offender, Brock Turner. On Friday morning, he was released from the Santa Clara jail in California. He was sentenced for six months because in 2015 he sexually assaulted an unconscious women outside of a fraternity house.  He was freed from the jail after only serving three months in prison, and is now returning to Ohio to live with his parents. He now faces three years of supervised probation, and will be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Most sex offenses, like this one, only live out half of their prison sentence.

Three months in jail is too short for a crime like this, in my opinion. This is a complete violation of another human being, and I'm sure it is scarring for the women involved. I've seen people go to jail for marijuana for longer than this, which doesn't even make sense. Rape is something that is illegal everywhere in the U.S, but marijuana isn't. Yet when someone does do marijuana, they go to jail for longer periods of time sometimes? The whole justice system is broken in this country, and it may never be fixed but I definitely think it's realistic to think that it can be better. Brock Turner committed a crime that should not be acceptable at all, and I'm ashamed to live in a country where someone can get off like that for doing something so evil.

Packers being favored in every game makes sense, but a couple things need to go right

http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/123395/green-bays-packers-are-now-favored-to-win-every-game

This article is about the NFL football team, the Green Bay Packers. They are now statistically favored to win every 2016-2017 regular season game, according to the ESPN Football Power Index. They have the highest chance of any NFL team to make the playoffs. A big part of this is the fact is that quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater of the Packer's division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings tore his ACL. The only game that the packers were favored to lose was in Minnesota, but now that
Bridgewater is injured the odds have changed in the Packers favor. In general, the projection of their success is due to their powerful offense, starting 2 time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. Last year he didn't have the luxury of throwing to one of the best receivers in the league, Jordy Nelson because he was injured. The article runs down how and why they are favored, and everything aforementioned in my summary.

The Packers can be one of the best teams in the NFL, but as a fan I can say that I am a little bit concerned about a few things. Jordy Nelson may be back, but that doesn't mean he's at 100% fitness. We've seen countless times that when an athlete tears their ACL, it doesn't mean they'll be the same player once they recover. Aaron Rodgers didn't have the best season last year, and Jordy Nelson being out was a big reason for that. He needs to turn 100% for the passing game to be a legitimate threat. The running back for the Packers, Eddie Lacy needs to get back to how he played in his rookie season. He dropped 20 pounds in the offseason to get a little bit faster. If the offense can be dominant, the problems with the Packers defense won't be as evident. A bigger implication of going 16-0 is that they will be the first seed in the NFC and play every playoff game at home, barring the super bowl. The Packers in their home, Lambeau Field are always harder to play against. We deserve to get more than one super bowl with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The last one we won was six years ago. Let's change that.

The Lenovo Yoga Book may revolutionize note taking

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37185539

This article is about the new product, the Lenovo Yoga Book. It comes in two different versions. One is operated by Android, and another by Windows 10. The basic idea of the device is a combination of a tablet and a notebook. If you use a specific pen that's connected wirelessly to the notebook and write it down on any paper, it will keep a digital copy of what you wrote onto your tablet. So you can keep your tablet in your backpack, and write with the pen onto a paper and you'll have a digital copy. Once you have the digital copy, you can edit it to your pleasing, changing the color and style. The idea was toyed with Microsoft a few years ago, but this is the first time that something like this has actually gone public.

If this device was a reasonable price, I think it would be a great product to have. It's annoying to keep all your notes in different places, so it would help you be organized since they can all be on the tablet. If you forget your notebook when you get to school, you can still access/add to your notes. If you want to copy down something your teacher is saying, but don't have time to make it all neat, you can get down the main ideas on paper, and to it on your tablet. Personally I can't make my work that neat with paper, so I would try to make it neater on the digital copy. This can revolutionize note taking, in my opinion. Even old fashioned people can still stick to their pencil and paper, and embrace this device. This could be a pathway for more innovate inventions involving note taking and studying. I look forward to see where this leads. 

Facebook publicizes incredible safety feature

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37220396

This article is about the social network, Facebook and their new safety additions. This safety addition is called "safety check". It allows you to notify your facebook friends if you and your friends are okay during a dangerous time. With a simple click of a button, you can let your hundreds of facebook friends know that you're "okay".The dangerous event can be anything from a natural disaster to a violent crime. Safety notifications have already reached 1 billion people around the world. While some people have said that they're should be an "I'm not okay" feature on the website, facebook responded to that saying that the first thing people should do in a situation like that is call the authorities. The feature has existed for a while, but it wasn't until now that a hazard call could be activated by normal users, rather than just staff.

This is a really cool feature that's activated. Even if I moved away from Toledo in 20 years, but still had tons of friends here I would want to know that they are okay. Phone numbers are pretty temporary, and you often only contain those of people that you frequently might talk to, but facebook friends last a lifetime. I always see people criticize social media, saying that it's a useful medium. Sometimes it's taken too far, but this is the kind of thing that makes it so worth it. You cannot text everyone who might care about you during an event like this. You might not even want to talk about the even that's happening near you, and with this system all you do is click a button. You don't have to actually post about it. I think a bigger implication of this is safety increasing through social media. Now that twitter and instagram see this, they're going to want to compete for something similar. It will be good to see more social media trying to make everyone more safe.

Zaza is a perfect example of a good player, but a mediocre signing

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37208556

This article is about soccer player and Juventus (Italy) striker Simone Zaza joining English club West Ham on a yearly loan for 4.3 million pounds. The club west Ham plays in the English Premier league.  The deal also includes a clause that allows West Ham to permanently buy him for 17 million pounds. The Italian has scored 8 goals in 24 appearances in a Juventus shirt, and has also shown quality for his national team. West Ham has now spent over 60 million pounds in this transfer window.

Simone Zaza is a good striker, but it's difficult to tell whether he'll integrate well. A concern for many West Ham fans should be that he and Left winger Dimitri Payet will get in each others way. Both players demand the ball and attention a lot. A lot of people will remember Simone Zaza's penalty miss for Italy in the 2016 european championships, but this is an anomaly. Zaza has had a good scoring record on nearly ever club he's been on, and has recorded many assists as well. West Ham fans shouldn't be worried about Zaza's production in front of goal, so much as the lack of production from Dimitri Payet. I expect West Ham to finish 9th or 10th, with the addition of him.

It's also worth noting how expensive this transfer could be if it becomes permanent. 21 million pound for a player like Zaza would have been unheard of 10 years ago. To put this into perspective, the second best soccer player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo was worth 12 million pounds then. Inflation has certainly made its way into soccer, and one has to wonder whether it will come back to bite these teams with debt money. The idea is that a player like Simone Zaza will bring more fans to the seats, and more prize money from winning in England, but it doesn't work well when every team is doing the same thing in the premier league. I actually think that in a few years, the spending from these clubs will go down, as they start to see their debt increase. It's definitely a conversation topic that has to be had on the administrative side of these teams. 

What detecting diseases early really means

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-37196619

This article is talking about Parkinson's disease. At the University of Edinburgh, they found that how sticky a protein was correlated with Parkinson's disease, or the chance of getting it. In the testing they found that 19 out of 20 patients that had sticky lumps of a protein in their brain (called Lewy Bodies), either had Parkinson's disease or had a high risk of getting it. Fifteen healthy patients were also correctly identified by looking at Lewy Bodies.

This is very positive information for the health community. It's always better to identify a disease earlier, especially when it can be treated. Parkinson's diseases like many others can sometimes be treated, but not always. For people who are able to be treated, this will be a tremendous help. Right away before their condition gets too bad, they can began the treatment. I think one of the bigger implications of this is that doctors are starting to be able to link signs together, and find things that are associated with diseases. Good news for the medical community 

Is Joao Mario the answer to Inter Milan's problems?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37208560


This article is about Portuguese soccer player and midfielder Joao Mario. He recently transferred from Sporting Portugal (Sporting) to Inter Milan in the Serie A (Italian League First Division). The transfer fee cost Inter Milan 45 million euros making him the most expensive Portuguese player ever.  He is also the second most expensive player to come out of the Portuguese league. At only 23 years old he made over 171 appearances for Sporting. Inter Milan coach, Frank De Boer is excited to utilize him.

This move is really exciting for Inter Milan. Joao Mario did a fantastic job in the 2016 European Championships, as being a player who linked the midfield and the attack. He can be deployed as an outside midfielder or as an attacking midfielder. Mauro Icardi, the current striker of Inter Milan will get relieved of his supportive duties, and will be allowed to focus on the goalscoring. He is already a big threat, and with the help of Mario, he'll become a truly threatening force to be reckoned with. This makes Inter Milan in the top five teams in my mind. They should be able to qualify for the Europa League this season, and perhaps even put pressure on Roma and Napoli. Frank De Boer does have to allow him to roam freely, though. If he is restricted, then he won't play as well 

Mars Simulation is a good sign of things to come

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37211051

This article is about the conclusion of a Nasa-funded Mars Simulation that recently occurred in Hawaii. Since the 29th of August an astrobiologist, physicist, architect, journalist, and soil scientist have been living in close quarters, without having fresh food or air. The simulation is the second longest of its time throughout history. During the year-long process, they had to wear space suits outside their dome, and live with limited resources.

I think this is a necessity if they want to complete a successful journey to Mars. It's good that they didn't take any breaks in the middle, or do anything to somewhat compromise the legitimacy of the simulation. I'm happy that Nasa is putting some priority into sending people to Mars. The world is populating more than ever, and eventually it's going to get too crowded. I'm not sure when, but it will be a good idea to colonize Mars, and find ways to grow crops etc. Projects like these are good for Nasa, because ever since the shutting down of the shuttle program, they have kind of lost their image. The progression of space travel and life is crucial to the future of the human race, in my opinon.

Colin Kaepernick's message is strong, but is it the best for his career?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37205032

This article is about Colin Kaepernick Quarterback for the San Fransisco 49ers, an NFL Football team. During their last preseason game on Friday, August 26th, Kaepernick refused to stand up for the  national anthem before the game. When he was asked why he did this, he said the following: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people, and people of colour" (BBC). Some fans booed Kaepernick when he went onto the field. The 49ers backed his decision. To paraphrase, they said that any player had the right to choose to participate in the national anthem. Official NFL rules state that a player is "encouraged, but not required" to stand during the anthem.

I agree with the 49ers; Colin Kaepernick should be allowed to make the decision to stand or not to stand during the national anthem. I'm not sure I agree with Kaepernick's rationale. I too see the problems occurring in this country, and the unacceptable treatment of people of colour, but that does not make me love my country any less. The message that he's making is good, but if he's trying to convey an antiUSA message,  I don't necessarily agree with him. I do have some sympathy for him, because of some of the encounters I have with other Americans. If I bring up systemic issues about this country, they say "if you don't like it here, then leave". That statement makes no sense because I still love my country, I just want to fulfill our full potential as a nation. As for the implications on Colin Kaepernick: Colin Kaepernick is currently fighting for the role of starting quarterback with Blaine Gabbert. They are different style of quarterbacks, but they're both somewhat talented. If 49ers fans didn't like his actions the coaching staff might opt to use that has a tiebreaker if both quarterbacks are neck and neck in the fight. Although incidents like this usually blow over quickly, and I don't expect fans to be talking about this in a few weeks. I certainly hope this doesn't affect Colin Kaepernick's career as a professional.

France trying to move towards integration, rather than separation.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37198479

This article is about the suspension of a ban on Burkini swimsuits in the town of "Villeneuve-Loubet". Burkinis are swimsuits that cover every part of the body except for the hands, face, and feet. They are traditionally worn by Muslim women. There are still bans in place in many places on the Mediterranean coast. The article states that 30 other towns still have the ban in place. The ban was put in place after the July 14th attack in Nice. The attack consisted of a Muslim man who was a French national, rammed through people in a truck in a parade on "Bastille Day". The article goes on to talk about how the suspension of the ban in this town, will most likely lead the court to overturn the ban in other towns and cities in France, such as Nice.  

The article doesn't seem to be written with any bias. It gives the facts in a very straightforward manner, and it does more explaining than telling I would say. I agree with this decision. Part of the problem with terrorism in France, is that they contribute to it in certain ways. France hasn't done a good job of integrating immigrants, particularly Muslim ones. When people feel isolated, they will gravitate towards groups like ISIS. In my opinion, they need to make them start to feel like French people above anything, and identify as such. The ban on Burkinis, exactly does the opposite of that. You're targeting a specific group of people, and saying they can't be themselves. If I were a Muslim in France, I would feel hated. Isolating these people, is only going to contribute to the problem. The suspension of the ban in this town, is a good sign. I personally hope that every ban will be overturned in the coming weeks, and France can start focusing on bringing everyone together, rather than dividing people of different backgrounds. 

Trump's New Plan to Gain Minority Voters Might Work, But It Really Shouldn't (Updated)

Sahil Kattar

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-donald-trumps-new-strategy-to-shed-the-view-of-him-as-racist/2016/08/23/eedc4fd0-6945-11e6-99bf-f0cf3a6449a6_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumprace-0755pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory


This article written by Phillip Rucker, Robert Costa, and Jenna Johnson, is about GOP presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton right now is being heavily favored by minority voters. With election day coming up in a matter of months, Donald Trump and his campaign are trying a new strategy to reel in minority voters. Part of his plan is conveying the message that the current situation of many black and Hispanic people isn't too good. To paraphrase him he has said that people are safer right now in war zones around the world than black and Hispanic people are in their comminutes. He connects this with the past 8 years being under a democratic president. He's saying that things can't get much worse than they have been under Barrack Obama.

The article appears to be fairly unbiased. For the most part, it is factually based, showing statistics about what America thinks about Donald Trump and his rhetoric, not just what the writers think. Following that, they take quotes from his supporters, himself, and his former campaign manager about his new strategy to appeal to minority voters. This article never specifies which side the writers are on; they don't need to. The whole time they are explaining why Trump is changing his campaign strategy and how.. I personally am supporting Hillary Clinton in this primary, but it's interesting to see campaign strategies from both sides of the aisle. Amongst white male voters,

Trump is doing fine in the polls, but he needs to get more minority voters in order to win the election. His argument about safety to me, isn't very valid. I don't think the problems that many black areas face is because of democrats or republicans. I believe it's because of the history of the United States and the lower socioeconomic state of black people that has always been there due to discrimination, dating back to slavery. We need to advance as a country, and push minorities people up, which I think democrats have done a better job of doing, but it still could be better. The main problem with Trump winning this election, is what he enables. He as a president can only do so much to Muslims, blacks, and hispanics, but his supporters can do more as a group. Personally, I feel Trump has brought out the worst in a lot of America. People aren't afraid to be racist anymore, which can lead to greater institutionalized oppression. Now more than ever in recent years, is the voice of minorities important. We shouldn't accept Trump's rhetoric, and vote for an inexperienced candidate just because they're not a politician. Minority voters need to come out and say that what Trump enables is unacceptable, and his plans are very unspecific and vague.