One of the many things I want to do before I die is go to a festival in the desert of Nevada called “Burning Man.” This tripped out party that celebrates the summer solstice begins the Monday before Labor day and ends on Labor day every year. The ritual has only one rule, and that is that everyone there must “express themselves.” “Burning Man” is basically one of the largest annual art shows in America, with attendance topping 50,000 this year. Some of the art and expression is amazing. The festival ends with the burning of a 104ft. wooden statue of a man. So basically, this is one of the coolest things in America.
Category: general news
Stuff having to do with the news in general.
credit cards in for a makeover
All around the world, companies such as Visa and Mastercard, are discussing changing the visual look of their plastic credit card with one that will have lights and buttons on it so that customers can choose between debit or credit card while paying. The new cards, which are to be tested next month, will replace the 1950’s technology of the black magnetic strip at the back of the card. Much of the world as moved on the advanced credit cards already, such as the ones in Europe that require a pin and a chip.
Most Banks are introducing their own kind of credit cards, which will be tested for the best one. The citi’s cards, known as 2G for second generation, are just like the contemporary cards with that extra battery that contains a four year life, a chip and of course the buttons which took over a year and a half to make costing millions of dollars.
However, the first cards will go to the bigger spenders. Once they are successful they will be available for all. The card will be one of the biggest discoveries of this century. As the world is changing quickly, the contemporary cards are not guests for long.
Too Late for a Happy Ending
“Don’t look,” said my aunt. Then, I knew instinctively to not stare at a black car passing Via del Corso near the Spanish Steps.
Every nerve in my system focused on the passing of the ominous car. As the distance between the car and me furthered, my tension finally relieved.
She as well as many other people who are either directly or indirectly related to embassies seems to recognize most of the cars belonging to different national representatives according to the number plates. Thus, she had known the car had been a possession of North Korea.
The stories that I heard of these North Korean families in Rome are fascinating but still foreign.
They bring tape recordings to places and have to be alert at all times. Despite, their national brotherhood, they constantly examine one another’s behavior. Even though they came for an international experience, they ironically cannot associate with the foreigners. Indeed, the book “1984” by George Orwell has accurately delineated the horrors of communism.
Should unification of the two Koreas happen?
This question engages much more complexity than a mere happy family reunion.
The Korean War is paused, not ended. Therefore, unification means an initiation of terror.
We, both South and North Koreans, have diverted too greatly from each other, sensing the word unification as a distant term.
International Airport of India
For years Indians had been embrassed about the small size of the International Airport of India. The airport could easily be rated ‘one of the smallest airports in the world’. However, with the Common Wealth Games Being held in India for the first time in History, the job of renovating the airport was given to the largest construction company in India.
After years of struggle the airport was opened in August. Some say that the new airport was beyond their expectations. The airport now has more than 500 shops with every brand, from Chanel to Hermes available. It has further gone on to become one of the five largest airports in the World. The airport also provides comfort for its passengers as, upon arrival passengers will be in no hurry to get a trolley for themselves, instead at each belt one trolley will be assigned and ready for each passenger on the flight.
India is very proud of its new airport. The mass number of workers at the airport also provide jobs for the massive population of India. Each day, India takes a step to progress.
Saudi Prince in trouble
A Saudi prince, based in London, was accused of murdering his servant and could face death in Arabia for allegations of homosexuality. Saud Bin Abdulaziz Bin Nasir al Saud, 34 is the grandson of Saudi Arabia’s current king, Abdullah. The prince’s royal status will not get him any sympathy or advantage over the judges, in fact it seems like he is in deep trouble in his homeland.
The prince was accused of killing his server on February 15 in a violent attack with a “sexual element,” after weeks of abusing him. Although his lawyer, John Kelsey Fry, denies any claims of homosexuality stating that his defendant is not gay, the punishment for homosexuality in Saudi remains that of death.
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Surprisingly in Arabia, it is the family and the relatives who push the courts hard for punishment because they fear that their family name will be soiled if there is no punishment. The decision for the prince’s life will be based on his family, precisely the upon the King
The Tide is High but We’re Voting On
It is an exciting year for registered voters around California. Mostly because this year is the deciding year in the legalization of marijuana. It all comes down to the pot smokers of America and after November 2nd, 2010, those pot heads just might get the chance to “pineapple express” themselves more freely than ever before.
But, those free-living, foggy headed stoners may have to fight extra hard for the legalization of their favorite happy drug. Of course – as there has always been – there is controversy between pot smokers and well…everyone else.
There is clear opposition to this lightheaded lifestyle. Some people will fight just as hard if not harder (mostly because their opponents will be a bit more coherent and won’t be laughing as much at the opposing argument) to keep the oh-so-popular ‘wacky tobacky‘ out of the hands of America’s loyal citizens, and especially the hands of America’s youth.
Guy Fawkes Night
Yes, it’s to early to be talking about the English celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, but surprisingly the celebrations have already begun.
“Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot”
The event is held primarily to celebrate the failure of the gunpowder plot. The gunpowder plot took place in 17th century London. It consisted of a group of catholic conspirators planning to combust the House of Parliament, bringing down the English government and killing King James I.
The aim of the conspirators was not just to ruin the government but also to restore the country to Catholicism. Unluckily for them they were caught in the act and executed. The leader was said to be Guy Fawkes hence Guy Fawkes Night.
A.P.E.S. Goes Ape
Last week the AP Environmental Science class took a 5 hour journey across to the Owens Valley. The trip was specifically meant to teach us about water and its own journey from the Owens Valley River into L.A.’s water system. We saw the river, we saw Mono Lake, we saw the aquaducts, but one thing that caught my eye out of all the things we learned was the relocation camp known to us as Manzanar.
In the early 40’s America was faced with yet another war which led to a nationwide paranoia. So, as a result we decided to avoid “danger” and contain all Japanese people – citizens and non-citizens of the U.S. – in one area (in several different states). It was a relocation camp. President Franklin D. Roosevelt argued that this “cleansing” was justified because the government would go about establishing the evacuation using “the American way”. We all know that that was just a euphemism for “we won’t kill them”….(unless of course they don’t follow our rules). Three cheers for the American way!
In the end, a trip that started out as an informative, water discovery, week-long, field trip turned into a heart breaking, mind changing, discovery of ourselves and our history. Thank you Mr. Wickenhaeuser and thank you Ms. Davis for that amazing – and amusing – camping trip.
Faith
A new study suggests that Atheists, or somebody who does not believe in the existence of God, know much more about religion than people who are religious. The study says that this happens because atheists usually like to know more about religion, and why they do not believe.
But the greater reason is because once somebody starts to believe in religion, then they stop questioning their faith. This is a very dangerous concept because one cannot blindly follow a religion that they know nothing about.
Volleyball hosts “Dig for the Cure”
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Week, On October 16th, the Umass Volleyball team will be hosting an event entitled “Dig for the Cure.”
During its game against Southern Connecticut State, players will be selling T-shirts, and pledges, and admission tickets. Each pledge per “dig” during the game, along with all of the proceeds from the sales of their merchandise will be going directly and entirely put toward the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
I believe that this cause is very important and influential, and we should all reach out in this effort. It would be cool if our OVS athletic teams could try to participate in our own spin off of this idea, in correspondence to whatever project we decide to donate to at the time.
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