As my final blog post, I thought it would be appropriate to address global warming, one of my most passionate opinions. Let me be perfectly clear: I DO NOT BELIEVE IN GLOBAL WARMING. Sure, some days are hotter than others but this does not mean that we, human kind, are in the midst of some global tragedy. How vain and egotisitcal of us to think that we are the sole forces behind the ebbs and flows of nature?
Consider this, just thirty years ago the nation was concerned of a global cooling. The following is a quotation from a 1975 Newsweek article:
"The central fact is that after three quarters of a century of extraordinarily mild conditions, the earth’s climate seems to be cooling down. Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the cooling trend, as well as over its specific impact on local weather conditions. But they are almost unanimous in the view that the trend will reduce agricultural productivity for the rest of the century."
World temperatures were in fact falling since about 1940. It was around 1979 that they reversed direction and resumed the general rise that had begun in the 1880s, bringing us today back to around 1940 levels.
In addition, the data taken from surface thermometers (thermometers on Earth instead of in satellites) do not yield accurate representations of the Earth's climate changes. From a 1998 Washington Times article:
"Thermometers cover less than half of the Earth's surface and are unevenly distributed, with more measurements being taken in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. On land, temperature readings have to be corrected for the "heat island" effect, a local warming that occurs over time as cities spread outward. Then there's the difficulty in patching together records of measurements taken by different collection methods. Until the 1940s, ships would measure sea surface temperatures by dropping a thermometer into a bucket of sea water. Today, sea water temperatures are measured by thermometers affixed to buoys, or in the intake ports of ships.
Recently, the addition of ocean buoy measurements in the tropical East Pacific and their role in recording a possible false warming has come under investigation. There is also evidence that air temperatures taken just above the ocean surface have not risen nearly as fast as sea water temperatures, and it is sea water temperatures that have, up until now, been included in global temperature estimates. Finally, although land-based thermometer readings have had some correction for the "heat island" effect, there is reason to believe these corrections have not been sufficient. Even small towns and rural thermometer sites, which are uncorrected, have in general experienced population growth. In short, thermometer estimates of global warming are not "truth" either."
These few points are only the tip of the iceberg too. The global warming concerns stem from political platforms and criticism of the current political leadership, among other things.
I do not deny however that the sudden obsession with global warming has yielded good results. It has resulted in greater focus on protecting and taking care of our environment and many more green products and services. I am in complete support of these actions. However, it's going to take a lot more than a "green car" or a "green household cleaning spray" to convince me that global warming is real and ready to stay.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Never Gonna Be The Same -- Sean Paul
One-Pager: Editorial
Opera has always been a classic staple of the world of fine arts. Going out to the opera in our grandparents’ era was a night as special then as, perhaps, traveling to NYC to see a musical on Broadway is now. Maybe more so. However, the world of Opera is dying out with the younger generations. Tastes are changing and as hard as opera house try to appeal and reach out to younger crowds, the harder we pull away. The result may be the death of an entire musical genre.
The editorialist begins by describing her interest in opera and juxtaposing it against the rest of her generation’s disinterest. Being an opera fanatic in this day and age typically does not gain a woman a date or a flirtatious chat in the lobby. The crowd is generally composed of middle aged and elder people, such as retirement home groups, who seek to relive the joys of their youth. Opera houses are fighting to bolster interest, though. By “hawking discounted tickets and free lectures for newcomers, inviting audiences to dress down” they hope to attract a younger audience and to propagate the appeal for opera. However, when competing against more conventional entertainment such as Facebook, Nintendo Wii or American Idol, operas are fighting a losing battle. The editorialist concludes that, despite disapproval from many young people, “certain things [such as the opera] never get old.”
I had heard about this tragedy a couple months ago during a trip to the New York Metropolitan Opera with my Grandma. She remarked how the opera had once been such a premier destination for young girls but it had recently dipped not only below the radar but nearly completely off the charts. Despite efforts to appeal to younger crowds, operas are failing to attract new enthusiasts and many are facing financial difficulties. Without greater public interest, this classic form of entertainment tragically may fall obsolete.
Opera has always been a classic staple of the world of fine arts. Going out to the opera in our grandparents’ era was a night as special then as, perhaps, traveling to NYC to see a musical on Broadway is now. Maybe more so. However, the world of Opera is dying out with the younger generations. Tastes are changing and as hard as opera house try to appeal and reach out to younger crowds, the harder we pull away. The result may be the death of an entire musical genre.
The editorialist begins by describing her interest in opera and juxtaposing it against the rest of her generation’s disinterest. Being an opera fanatic in this day and age typically does not gain a woman a date or a flirtatious chat in the lobby. The crowd is generally composed of middle aged and elder people, such as retirement home groups, who seek to relive the joys of their youth. Opera houses are fighting to bolster interest, though. By “hawking discounted tickets and free lectures for newcomers, inviting audiences to dress down” they hope to attract a younger audience and to propagate the appeal for opera. However, when competing against more conventional entertainment such as Facebook, Nintendo Wii or American Idol, operas are fighting a losing battle. The editorialist concludes that, despite disapproval from many young people, “certain things [such as the opera] never get old.”
I had heard about this tragedy a couple months ago during a trip to the New York Metropolitan Opera with my Grandma. She remarked how the opera had once been such a premier destination for young girls but it had recently dipped not only below the radar but nearly completely off the charts. Despite efforts to appeal to younger crowds, operas are failing to attract new enthusiasts and many are facing financial difficulties. Without greater public interest, this classic form of entertainment tragically may fall obsolete.
Be True to Your School -- Beach Boys
One-Pager: Article
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/03/AR2008060303438_pf.html
In recent years, schools have followed a trend to accelerate education paths for elementary and middle schools students especially in mathematics. Many aim for students to take Algebra I one year ahead of schedule (in eighth grade instead of ninth) while others are pushing for two or three years ahead.
The article, “Accelerated Math Adds Up To a Division Over Merits,” describes the impact of accelerated math courses. In general, the push has been to open up opportunities for all students to take higher-level math courses at younger ages. In Montgomery County, even Kindergartners are being pushed to achieve at levels standard of first graders. The goal is that by about fifth grade, gaps that may result from accelerated education would be eliminated and students would be learning at high-than-grade-level standards. Many parents support these initiatives and feel that greater opportunities for their students are nothing less than beneficial. However, recently, some parents have expressed concern for over-acceleration. They assert that young children are being pushed too hard and too quickly to achieve at levels beyond capability. The results, they claim, are an unstable education foundation and unprepared-ness in future classes.
Journalist, Daniel de Vise, presented the information in a balanced manner. He presented both the pros and cons of the argument. Although his coverage of the trend in the D.C. Metro area was thorough, I would have been interested to see more how the facts and figures of Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington Counties aligned with the rest of the country.
I believe that accelerated opportunities, especially in mathematics, are a great resource for young students. Having participated in an accelerate math program myself in the GT Program in elementary and middle school, I felt completely prepared to enter Geometry in my first year of high school. While I do not feel that every child is mentally or emotionally prepared to advance through mathematics in a decreased amount of time, I do believe it is extremely important to continue to offer opportunities to students and to drive students to want to take advantage of them.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/03/AR2008060303438_pf.html
In recent years, schools have followed a trend to accelerate education paths for elementary and middle schools students especially in mathematics. Many aim for students to take Algebra I one year ahead of schedule (in eighth grade instead of ninth) while others are pushing for two or three years ahead.
The article, “Accelerated Math Adds Up To a Division Over Merits,” describes the impact of accelerated math courses. In general, the push has been to open up opportunities for all students to take higher-level math courses at younger ages. In Montgomery County, even Kindergartners are being pushed to achieve at levels standard of first graders. The goal is that by about fifth grade, gaps that may result from accelerated education would be eliminated and students would be learning at high-than-grade-level standards. Many parents support these initiatives and feel that greater opportunities for their students are nothing less than beneficial. However, recently, some parents have expressed concern for over-acceleration. They assert that young children are being pushed too hard and too quickly to achieve at levels beyond capability. The results, they claim, are an unstable education foundation and unprepared-ness in future classes.
Journalist, Daniel de Vise, presented the information in a balanced manner. He presented both the pros and cons of the argument. Although his coverage of the trend in the D.C. Metro area was thorough, I would have been interested to see more how the facts and figures of Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington Counties aligned with the rest of the country.
I believe that accelerated opportunities, especially in mathematics, are a great resource for young students. Having participated in an accelerate math program myself in the GT Program in elementary and middle school, I felt completely prepared to enter Geometry in my first year of high school. While I do not feel that every child is mentally or emotionally prepared to advance through mathematics in a decreased amount of time, I do believe it is extremely important to continue to offer opportunities to students and to drive students to want to take advantage of them.
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