Not on the run

NATO officials are saying that Osama Bin Laden is hanging out in northern Pakistan and not on the run as claimed by US political officials. According to the political officials, for the past several years Bin Laden has been bouncing from cave to cave, crossing borders into other countries to avoid capture. To find one man in Afghanistan is hard enough, especially when citizens of that country are helping him. This news only makes it ten times harder if he is in fact being protected by other countries that we cannot enter to even search for him.

My belief is America is becoming too soft in its resolve; this individual has personally attacked Americans on American soil and I think that we need to come to an understanding with Pakistan showing how determined we are to get Bin Laden-they’re either going to work with us or we will resolve matters in an unfortunately inhospitable way. If the Bush administration was indeed hiding this fact from the public to keep the war going as stated in yahoo news, then it is the Obama administration’s job to get Bin Laden to help end the war.

Sinking into oblivion

Scientist have recently discussed the possibility of 7 major cities sinking in an unknown amount of years to come.  The seven cities are as follows: Bangkok, New York City, Houston, Shanghai, New Orleans, Venice, and Mexico City. While I am not in full agreement of the pending disaster let's reflect on what geographical treasures we would lose if such events were to happen.

Among much of the natural beauty that would be lost, these cities will lose wondrous man made structures.  Bangkok will lose places such as the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, quoted as being one of the most visited temples of the area.  We all have a particular place in New York City that we would hold dear if lost.  Mine would be Broadway because I have aspirations to write a play and be featured there.  Houston we would lose the NASA visitor's center as well as major oil business.  Shanghai as one of the world's most populated city we would lose a culture as a whole.  New Orleans went through a disaster of such magnitude before but permanently losing Bourbon Street would be horrid.  Who has not seen the pending doom of Venice? A city built on water; but that is what creates the allure.  There is something about stepping of a Gondola right into the lobby of your hotel that just seems magical.  Mexico City is the largest city on Earth, but it's size may be why it is sinking into the lake bed that it was built on.  Of course none of this compares to potential the loss of life.  Let us hope that people would be able to evacuate these cities before a disaster would strike.


http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-35998698

Peace Prize for Chinese Prisoner

A Nobel Peace Prize was just awarded to a Chinese man who has been in a Chinese prison for the advocacy of human rights and a Democratic change.  But of course the Chinese government has not allowed Liu Xiaobo to hear the news yet.  In my opinion the damage has already been done, the announcement itself has stirred  an energetic charge of people to push for Liu's right to know of the award.  The Chinese government believe that this is nothing but a ploy to instill western ways upon the Chinese people and it seems to be working even if it is a minor victory so-to-speak.  The Chinese government has said that they will allow Liu's wife to deliver the news this weekend.  China is definitely a country to be watching for the next several years and keeping a close eye on any subtle changes in government policies that could indicate a bigger and more permanent change.

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101009/ap_on_re_as/as_china_nobel_peace_prize

Geography 1869?

Imagine a time when your teacher would have you open your Geography book and begin to learn about the 36 states and 10 territories. But wait, there are four missing! Alaska and Hawaii are two obvious ones, but can you name the other two?  How about we study the barren wasteland of Patagonia.  Do you know were Patagonia is located?  Ah! Let's not forget Prussia-what modern day countries were a part of Prussia?  What if the teacher asked you to speculate on the Unknown Region of Africa?  Could you even ponder such a question?  These are just a few of the things on political maps students would  have been learning in 1869. 

Of course, if you do just a bit of research you can learn that the missing states can be accounted for by the creation of Oklahoma and by the split of "Dakota" into North and South states; Patagonia could have been found in the modern day southern parts of Argentina; Prussia was made up of Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and parts of Russia; and Africa's so-called Unknown Region has mostly been transformed into what we now know as the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another point of interest is the Angelo American's perception of the world around them. There is a short lesson on man where you can read statements like these: "The earth was made for Man; hence he is found in every country and in every climate" and, referring to the Caucasian, or White race, "Most of the nations of Europe and America belong to this race.  The Caucasian race is superior to all others in intelligence, energy, and courage."

In modern times, however, we know that man is not found in every part of the world, though he has explored nearly every part of it. And although many European nations, Canada and the United States still have a majority of Caucasian people, most people have begun to accept racial equality.

Now you see how taking a glimpse into the past can show you just how far we have progressed through time.