Postal Service edges toward cutting Saturday delivery

No matter how the weather is outside, the U.S. Postal Service is delivering Monday through Saturdays. The least amount of deliveries take place on Saturdays with 1/3 of the businesses closed. They are talking about stopping Saturday deliveries because more people are using e-mail and because of the recession. On Monday, March 29, 2010, the U.S. postal service announced they will stop Saturday deliveries the beginning half of next year. If they wouldn't cut out Saturday deliveries, they would face a $238 billion shortfall by the year 2020. They will still run express postal services and the postal offices will remain open.

I believe that this is a good idea because most people are busy anyway on Saturdays. This would save a lot of money on gas. This could also help keep costs from rising to mail a letter. The only downfall that I can see is that the Saturday morning deliverers would loose their jobs. Most of the Saturday workers aren't the normal weekday delivers, they are other people that either work only on Saturdays or use this as a second job to help pay their bills. I do believe that e-mail is becoming very popular. More and more people are using e-mail to communicate because the information gets to the people faster and cheaper than normal mail does. I know that some of my family members used e-mail to send their Christmas cards because it was cheaper than mailing them. I do believe that eventually we will not use the mail system anymore because of the cost and how long it takes for the mail to get to the people. but we will eventually do everything on line.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/29/postal.service/index.html

CDC: H1N1 still causing serious illness

In the Southeast, there are still outbreaks of the H1N1 virus. Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, are reporting regional flu activity. Puerto Rico and 8 states- Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Hawaii, and New Mexico- are reporting local flu activity. The Center of Disease Control has said that Georgia has seen more activity now than it did back in October. Georgia has more laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 for the third straight week in a row. They have the most people hospitalized since September and most of them being adults and in people with chronic health problems. The CDC is still encouraging people to get vaccines. The H1N1 virus has lower rates of death than the normal flu does. There are plenty of vaccines available and the minority groups need to get them because they are at an increased risk of getting chronic health problems. The CDC doesn't know why there is an increased number of H1N1 flu cases.

I believe that the United States is putting too much emphases on the H1N1 flu. There is more people that die a year from the normal flu than the H1N1 flu. I have never received a normal flu shot in my life, but i had to get a H1N1 vaccine. Why? I don't believe that it did any good. I had bad side effects from the vaccine and I got to the point that I almost passed out. I do see why the parents are at a higher risk of getting H1N1 because they are exposed to everything from their kids, their jobs, and other activities they are involved in. I believe that the reason the south is showing increased number of H1N1 cases is because of spring break. A lot of college and high school aged kids are going south are bringing the strains with them, unknowingly. I believe that once the spring break season is over, that the number of cases will decrease. I also believe that people can prevent themselves from getting sick by washing their hands with soap and hot water, getting enough sleep, exercising, and by getting enough vitamin C in their diets. They also can decrease the chances of getting sick by not sharing their drinks, covering their coughs and sneezes, and by not touching their hands to their mouths and faces.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/29/cdc.flu/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Police: Remains of California teen Amber DuBois found

The remains of Amber DuBois, a 14 year old San Diego, California-area girl who has been missing more than a year has been found. They found human remains on Saturday, March 8, 2010 in Pala, a rural, rugged area in northern San Diego county, California. These remains have been identified as DuBois. She was last seen walking alone to school on February 13, 2009. Her family lives in Escondido, a suburb of San Diego. The investigation of this case is handled by Escondido police, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, and the FBI. Her parents would like to thank everyone who has helped them to find the remains of their daughter. The authorities are investigating John Albert Gardner III to see if he has a connection to the case.

I believe that no matter what age, a girl shouldn't be walking around a tough neighborhood by a big city. By walking alone, they are asking for trouble. I'm glad that there was many volunteers to help look for DuBois. I believe that they found her soon, compared to most cases, because of all of the help they had. I believe that the family would have to have some sort of idea who might have did this to DuBois because there has been similar cases in the area and because he they had to know that she was on her way to school. I don't think that many people in the United States knows what it feels like to be a part of this type of terrible situation because we are a very protected country. I know that most people not in the big cities don't even have a clue because everyone knows each other and they don't have as many gang problems and crimes.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/07/california.amber.dubois/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Judge: Boy, 12, will be tried as adult in double homicide

A judge in Pennsylvania had denied a 12 year old boy from being tried in a juvenile court. Jordan Brown, the 12 year-old boy, is being charged as an adult for the shooting of this father's pregnant girlfriend. The police say that the boy had shot Kenzie Marie Houk, who was 8 months pregnant, one in her farmhouse when he was 11. He is being charged with criminal homicide and homicide of an unborn child. Houk's 4 year old daughter found her mom in bead and told some local landscapers about her mom and the landscapers located the police. In Pennsylvania, anyone over the age of 10, accused of murder or homicide, will be charged as an adult. If he is convicted, he will serve maximum life in prison. The weapon used was a youth 20-gauge shotgun and the shooting doesn't seem to be accidental.



I believe that there is some reason why the 12 year old boy thought that he needed to shoot his dads pregnant girlfriend. I would guess that he was feeling left out since there was already a small child and a new baby on the way. I don't think that he should be tried as an adult. I believe that this was all an honest mistake. I would guess that he was pretending to shoot the gun and didn't realize that it was loaded. I also believe that the gun should be locked up so that things like this wouldn't happen. I believe that the child isn't the only one responsible for the shooting of Houk. I believe the dad has to take some responsibility for the shooting because he didn't teach Brown gun safety and he didn't keep the gun locked up and out of reach form Brown.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/29/boy.homicide/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Reactions to passage of health care bill are passionate

More than 10,000 peopel have posted comments on cnn.com about the healthcare bill. Some of them are happy about the bill and others are mad. The bill would require everyone to get healthcare or get fined. Large employee's have to provide coverage or they will risk financial penelties. One person wrote in and said that the bill isn't perfect, but it will save lives. While another person said that they will pay the $700 fine and pick up coverage only when they get sick, since insurance companies can't deny you anymore. Most people say that they aren't happy about the bill passing becasue the systems that are set up now aren't working, so why keep on the same path. People that are veterans of the military say that this is unneccisary to them becasue they already get coverage from being in the military. They don't know why they need to be forced to get a new plan when they wouldn't befefit from it.

I belive that the people should have the fight to choose their healthcare. I personaly don't want the government to make my own choices. I don't have insurance and I'm doing fine without it. I just watch my momey and spend it wisely. I don't think that everyone needs to have the same healthcare plan becasue everyone is different. The people that are veterens from the military already get paid coverage, so why do they need to be forced to buy more. I belive that this would make all the prices rise like crazy because no one would pay for the bill, the government would. I believe that the hospitals would charge as much as possible to pay their employees even more than what they already make. I belive that this would also help the gap of income levels to become bigger. I really don't want to see this bill get passed because I'm doing just fine without healthcare and I know that I couldn't afford it even when the bill passed. That would mean I would have to pay the fine.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/22/healthcare.reaction/index.html?iref=storysearch

Latest high-fructose corn syrup study generates buzz, debate

There is a new study from Princeton that tests to see if corn syrup causes you to gain weight more than table sugar does. The debate about which one is better for you is false because both of these aren't good for you. The study tested rats for 6 months and they ate water sweetened with high-fructose sugar. This test showed that the rats had more belly fat and that they had higher levels of circulating triglycerides, fat's chemical form in the body. One of the problems with this study is that they tested male and female rats in separate experiments. They also tested the rats to see how they acted on this diet and how it effected their brain activity. Some scientists say that this one sweetener can't contribute to all of the diseases by itself. People just want to eat their deserts without thinking about their overall wellness.

I believe that corn-syrup is the same thing as sugar goes. I believe that they are both bad for you, but that in our society today, we can't live without eating it at every meal. We rely on all of the convenience foods that have this as a preservative in them. I believe that there is more to the diseases than to just get them from eating sugar or corn syrup. I believe genetics, exercise habits, and many other reasons come into play. I also believe that people need to be aware of what they eat. If every person would just eat more homemade meals, I believe that would help their health. They can make the meals ahead of time and just heat them up when they need them. I belive that if people have a lot of sugar, that their brain waves and energy level would have a quick jump in movement, but would decline fast and they would want to get another sugar high. Sugar high- energy boost

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/25/corn.syrup.sugar/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Wal-Mart customer: 'I can't go back in'

It was about 7 P.M. on Sunday, March 14, 2010, when a person came over the intercom at a Wal-mart in Turnersville, New Jersey. The person on the intercom said, "Attention, Wal-mart shoppers, all blacks need to leave the store." the person who said this had a males voice. Once the person announced the comment, people started to call management on their cell phones demanding answers. a few minutes later, the man returned on the intercom and apologized and contacted the police. The police are investigating this crime as "a suspected bias intimidation case." Many of the customers said that they will never go back and that they will go to target. The intercoms could be axcessed by customers and there isn't a camera by each phone.

I believe that the person on the intercom must have had a bad experience with a black customer at the store, but I don't believe that they should've went on the intercom and announced their frustration. I also don't think that the customers should be able to have access to the intercoms. I also do believe in a big store like Wal-mart, that their should be cameras by every phone and safety equipment, like a fire alarm. I believe that the guy in the intercom should be charged with some sort of descrimination charge. The people were scared out of their mind becasue he was only targeting one race. This incident won't stop me from shopping at Wal-mart, they still have the cheapest products at a good convience. This once incident doesn't change my mind of Wal-mart and I believe that they won't loose too many people because of their low prices. I do believe that the man could've been mentally handicap or had a mental disorder.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/18/walmart.racial.customers/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Costa Rica elects first woman president

Costa Rica elected their first woman president, Laura Chinchilla, on February 7, 2010. She is part of the National Libertarian Party. On election day, the voters were showing their support by wearing the campaign colors of the main presidential candidates. Even the children participated in this election by casting their votes electronically in a mock election. There was 2.8 million Costa Ricans eligible to vote for president. In addition to voting for president, Costa Ricans casted ballets for 2 vice presidents, 57 Congress members, and 495 council members. President Oscar Arias, has left office and has helped shape the elections in many ways. He helped them do electrical voting in which he called the electrical process transparent and trustworthy. He also said," I would like to thank the Costa Rican people for filling the streets with color."

I am glad to see that Costa Rica has voted their first woman president into office. I believe that was a good fit for their country. When I was there staying with a family, they were all excited that the United States has voted their first African American into office. They all loved Obama and they wished the United States the best of luck. I believe that the people wanted change and are ready to embrace that woman are capable to do the same political activities as men and run the country in an orderly fashion. I do believe that the United States could look at Costa Rica and how they run some of their governmental programs and learn from them. The government doesn't just give the poor people money for food, they help them use the skills that they have to make and sell items to the other Costa Ricans. I believe that this could help our government with unemployment and help our country with our debt. We could also watch and see how a woman president does in their country. I believe that if we watch another country, that the United States would learn that it is possible for us to be ran by a woman president. I believe that if Costa Rica, a third world country, is able to function and accept change, then the United States should be able to also.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/08/costarica.election/index.html?iref=allsearch