Category: general news

Stuff having to do with the news in general.

Faster Than Light, run or die

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Space-time is fun time as I always say. That is why I have learned to love                           the game Faster Than Light also know as FTL. FTL is a real-time strategy game where one must successfully navigate to the end of a danger filled galaxy. In FTL you control a ship and its crew whom are attempting to flee from the evil rebel fleet. While you can get away for sometime at the end of the game you will eventually be forced to fight a final rebel ship. Not that I would know anything about that.

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The game received much attention because of its mind-boggling difficulty. There is only two difficulty modes easy and normal; they might as well be renamed hard and extremely hard. I have played easy and normal and on easy I have yet to even make it to the third stage of the game. Now while trying to play FTL is hard enough it also incorporates permadeath. Permadeath, in this instance, is when your ship is destroyed game is over and you have to start all. Countless times have I seen my ship and crew destroyed while I furiously tap my keyboard in anger.

For anyone looking for something new and a challenge I highly recommend the space faring game FTL.

“Clear” Sky

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Three weeks ago, when my plane landed on the ground, I was totally shocked about the view outside the window, because I could see nothing but hazy and foggy air.

I heard about the haze in my city before I left school, but I did not expect the situation to be such serious.

It made me sad somehow. There is not more bright sun or shiny stars. Tall buildings could only be seen partially. Everyone was wearing mouth masks. It became hard to catch a taxi because you could not see the cars clearly enough.

People were living in an unclear and gloomy world. And I missed my city – the clean, lively place.

Thick layers of haze that have been choking lots of cities in China recently. Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky. Sources for haze particles include farming (ploughing in dry weather), traffic, industry, and wildfires. Industrial pollution can also result in dense haze, which is known as smog.

Big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Xi’An were all victims, which led to issues including flight delaying, diseases and inconvenience of people’s daily lives.

The good news was that the air became much clearer than the day I arrived but I still saw a different city.

I don’t know what is going on nowadays with the environment.
I just want my city and the clear sky back.

The Battlefield 4 Youtube Controversy

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Over the course of the past three months, gamers and fans of the Battlefield franchise have repeatedly bashed Electronic Arts for releasing a clearly unfinished product.

However, the so-called “Battlefield community” is now taking blows at innocent Youtubers, who have been falsely accused of breaking FTC guidelines and changing their opinion for EA’s money.

After an article claiming that Youtubers with over a million subscribers had an undisclosed contract with EA to avoid giving negative reviews of the product was released, most Battle-fielders were quick to react.

However, after listening to the You-tubers’ testimony, it is clear that this article was fabricated. The You-tubers only took part in EA’s Ronku project which did not forbid them to give negative reviews of the game.

Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela

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This week we said goodbye to one of the most influential people of all time. Nelson Mandela, who fought to eliminate racism and the apartheid in South Africa has died.

For decades, Nelson struggled to tear down racial segregation and died as a hero.

Imprisoned by an oppressive regime for 27 years, Nelson Mandela was able to become South Africa‘s first black president.

Nelson was loved by all the people in South Africa and most of the world for fighting for equality.

So, thank you Nelson Mandela, for showing us to never stop fighting against oppression, you will be remembered.

Doolittle Veterans

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History time. Monday, November 11th is Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day is a day that celebrates those who have served in the armed forces. A famous group of veterans are the surviving members of Doolittle’s Raid.

Doolittle’s Raid was a US military operation that occurred after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. Lt. Colonel Doolittle proposed a risky plan of flying B-25s over the Japanese capital, Tokyo. Doolittle was told that once over Japan the B-25s would become low on fuel, furthermore there was no safe place to land. On April 18th 1942 Doolittle, along with an all-volunteer group of pilots, dropped bombs upon Tokyo. Some of Doolittle’s men were shot down then captured by Japanese forces, others crashed in the Pacific, most would bail out of their aircraft over China and survive.

Doolittle and his men would become American heroes; Doolittle himself would be given the Medal of Honor and promoted to Brigadier General. Today there are only four surviving members of Doolittle’s Raid. This year the surviving members held the last commemoration of the raid.

I Spy the United States

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The NSA scandal and the shadow it has created is something the Obama Administration cannot escape. In the past days newly leaked Edward Snowden documents have shown the true extent of NSA spying.

It is now known that the NSA has actively been spying on the United Nations. President Obama even had memos directing the NSA to tone down spying on the UN. The NSA has even narrowed down their spying to specific European leaders such as Angela Merkel. According to German media it is believed the NSA has spied on Merkel since 2010.All these clams the United States denies.
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If enemies do not fear you, and allies do not trust you, how do you keep your hold over the world?

What would’ve happened if America didn’t make it out of the government shutdown?

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Keep in mind that I’m not wearing a cardboard sign yelling “THE END IS NIGH!” Nor am I a crazy homeless dude that snuck into an Apple Store to write this blog and scare their readers out of their minds. I just seek to answer if the great super power of America could take a plunge into the third world after a mild kick in the knees.

Being realistic, the United States of America would definitely not collapse because of a dispute between the Democrats and Republicans that resembles more of a pout. In the extreme rare case of this not being settled, the USA would land on utter Anarchy.

All government workers would be out of commission due to lack of funding, which means no police, fire department, teachers and it could even go as far as no military. The current government system as it is would have been completely obliterated.

Meanwhile, the world economy would take a great hit considering that the richest and highest consuming country in the world is out of the game.

The Government shutdown could have gone to extreme lengths, like civil war or just flat-out separation into two new countries. But the most plausible thing would be that the UN and the rest of the powers, like China, Russia, UK, France and Germany would determine the future of America.

A Third Voice for America

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United States’ politics are ridiculous.

At the time of the writing of this blog our elected officials have still not approved a budget. While there may be many factors that contribute to this a major one is the United States’ two party political system. Right now the only political parties that can win Presidential elections (and most House and Senate seats) are the Republican and Democratic parties. Unfortunately only having two real choice hurts the voter.

While many Americans would say they are unhappy with both political parties they most often choose what they consider the lesser of two evils (whether that be Republicans or Democrats). An American who votes for a third-party under the current political system is essentially wasting their vote. Third parties in the United States do not have an enough public support to compete with the Republican and Democratic parties. As a result Americans must elect the same elected officials over and over again.

However this can all change.

If Republicans and Democrats keep running this nation into the ground the American people will grow tired of both parties. When that happens other political parties can (and will) rise to power and represent the interests of the many instead of the few.

Are Electronic Cigarettes safe?

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The use of Electronic cigarettes has sky rocketed during the last 3 years with the promise of providing a safe alternative to the pesky, cancer causing tobacco cigarettes. However, is that promise true? Or are the users  getting their money snatched out of their hands in an elaborate scam?

Considering that Electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco, they are not subject to the United States tobacco laws, which means that it’s not necessary to be 18 or older to buy one of these nicotine-filled tubes and enjoy it on the side of road.

Electronic Cigarette

Even though the e-cigs appear to be harmless, scientists have performed tests that suggest the contrary. Harmful chemicals have been found in the vapor of the electronic cigarettes; however, they still prove to be considerably healthier than the conventional tobacco ones.

It has yet to be determined if the E-cigs cause cancer. The FDA website claims that not enough studies have been performed on electronic cigarettes to know if they are harmful or not.

However, E-Cigs should remain available to all public because they offer an alternative to the tobacco cigarette that is considerably healthier.

A Government Shutdown?

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What is a government shutdown? One would expect that it involves a government shutting down. In the United States however this is not the case. Instead government shutdown is a term Democrats and Republicans use to blame each other. It is also used to stir up fury in the American people, who would fear a dreaded shutdown.

A more accurate term for this “ government shutdown” would be a limited government cutback. In its current state the federal government is shutting down non-essential services and unfortunately jobs. Approximately 800,000 federal workers will, temporarily, lose their jobs.

A true government could occur if Democrats and Republicans cannot pass a federal budget that both agree to. The longer this government cutback lasts the larger the effect it will have on the United States and the American people. Most likely one side will cave in to the other sides demands. I find the possibility of a true compromise remote, if a budget is not created then the federal government will cease to function.