15Dec 2011 by CJ

Census reveals startling statistics about poverty

Information & Education, Life & Living
Census statistics provide us with a detailed look at the composition of our country from race to children to finances. But it also can bring about some alarming figures that many of us probably never thought possible in what has been called the greatest country in the world. I'm not so sure anymore. The most recent Census finds that 1 in 2 people in America have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income. That's 50% of all Americans. While the folks in Washington continue to argue with each other, both Republicans and Democrats alike should be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves. It seems the only thing they care about anymore is which party has a controlling interest in government, rather than exercising…
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16Nov 2011 by CJ

Elephant orphan discovers that prosthetics are not just for humans

Information & Education, Life & Living
  [caption id="attachment_642" align="alignleft" width="300"] Truly amazing![/caption] Chhouk is a 5 year old bull elephant orphan who probably wouldn't be alive today if not for the care he received from Nick Marx, the Director of Wildlife Rescue and Care at the Wildlife Alliance. Chhouk was found in the Cambodian jungle back in 2007 - scared, alone and very close to death with his left front foot mangled by a poacher's trap. Elephants are known for being some of the most emotional animals alive. Having been just a baby elephant orphan when he was found, I can only imagine how fearful young Chhouk must have been. "I really thought he would never make it," said Nick Marx, today stroking Chhouk's trunk with a sense of pride and affection. "He was seriously…
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06Oct 2011 by CJ

Jobs passing teaches us about the fragility of ALL life…not just celebrities

Information & Education, Life & Living
Steve Jobs passing is a story you'll be hearing a lot about over the next few days. I've been doing some reading online regarding Jobs passing and some people, who obviously are obsessed with Apple, are mourning the man as though he were a member of their own family. One young twenty-something even said, "this is a dark day for America." Are you serious? Yes, Jobs was an immense talent, but I'm still not sure that his technological creations have truly added to the quality as much as the convenience of one's life. Still, I feel bad for his family, but I'm not sure this is really a dark day for our country. People forget that deaths are occurring every day and probably every hour if such a study were…
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06Aug 2011 by CJ

Government has shown that the American people are their last priority

Information & Education, Life & Living
I've been thinking a lot about our government lately and not unlike most people, I've had about enough of them. Frankly, our current form of government had its shot at trying to better our country, but all it's done is managed to tarnish the image of a land that was once the most admired and respected country on earth. I might be an American, but I can't honestly say that I'm not proud of where America is going. I guess what bothers me most is how politicians, who are mainly comprised of wealthy business men and women, haven't the slightest idea what it's like to live as an average, ordinary citizen. You certainly wouldn't go and ask a pastry chef to change the spark plugs in your car, so why…
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30Jun 2011 by CJ

Writing letters is an art form that lasted thousands of years – until now

Information & Education, Life & Living
Historian, David McCullough, was recently asked about writing letters: “We don’t write letters on paper anymore. How will this affect the study of history?” His response was interesting… “The loss of people writing – writing a composition, a letter or a report – is not just the loss for the record. It’s the loss of the process of working your thoughts out on paper, of having an idea that you would never have had if you weren’t writing. And that’s a handicap. People I research were writing letters every day. That was calisthenics for the brain.” Yes, one might argue, that our society does write everyday. But take a look at the quality of text messages and emails being produced. You’ll soon realize that we’re not exercising our brain as…
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