Sunday, October 30, 2011

Ugh... Rotten Cantaloupe

Nick Koenig
Article #3
North County Times
"NATION: Cantaloupe illnesses and deaths expected to rise."
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_ce6de4a3-87c7-5796-8155-a5da0706a3b8.html


     Cantaloupe Health Problems in the U.S.
     The Executive Branch is in contains the President, the President's Cabinet, and also the food and drug administration. Well, the cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Colorado contained with a disease or illness called listeria, has just begun the deadliest food outbreak in more than a decade, with 72 illnesses created, and 16 deaths in 18 states. Those states are California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Most of the illnesses reported were from Colorado, then Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Jensen Farms says it ships to 25 states, but the FDA say it could be more. By finding this illness in states that were NOT on the shipping plan, this means the illness may be very contagious, but another reason is a spokes person for the company said its products are often sold and resold. Not all the recalled fruit contained a labeling sticker. FDA said the fruit had been exported and shipped to many countries, and notified those countries of the problems the company are facing, but they won't tell the public what countries they are. Illnesses are expected to come because testing on listeria won't be active until another month or so. Fruit stands usually hold the fruit for about 2 weeks, so when the fruit came to a store on September 10, anyone who bought the fruit from September 10 to September 24 may catch the illness, but the illness doesn't act right away. It takes a while for the illness to actually strike the immune system. The more common victims are the elderly and infants whose immune system is low. Advisers are trying to figure out how listeria came into play, because knowing this bacteria grows in moist, muddy places and are also carried by animals. In 1998, 21 people died from listeria in hot dogs and other deli meats made by Bil Mar Foods. in 1985, 52 people died from a Mexican soft cheese. This bacteria can grow in room temperature and refrigerator temperatures.

     This relates to what we studied in class because recently we studied the 3 branches, Legislative Branch who creates laws, Executive Branch that surpasses the laws, and Judicial Branch that interprets the laws. The Executive Branch also contains the Food and Drug Administration, which the cantaloupe problem is all about. Because many people are getting sick from food poisoning, the F.D.A. must take part in this. If they can't figure out why listeria is in the cantaloupe, more and more people will get sick if the product keeps getting shipped around the nation. Take caution around foods in stores. You may never know. If you see or contain a sickness, limit your eating habits and figure out what makes you have the sickness.

     It relates to my life because many people have gotten food poisoning at one time or another. Whether it was at a restaurant or a store. I'm not positive I have ever exactly gotten food poisoning, but I have gotten tired after eating sometimes, and other times had gotten sick. This is also like expired food. Once they expire, they eventually turn bad, and some people don't notice and get sick. Also, I had just eaten cantaloupe on October 28.

     I think that the FDA should of acted faster in this situation. It's not the biggest problem in the nation, I agree, but some of those top stories don't involve people dying and getting sick. Also, the company of the cantaloupe should not use pesticides or other chemicals that may harm whomever consumes the product. People should take precaution around some brands that had problems back then, just to be safe. Everybody has flaws, so don't blame people on accidents.


Thursday, October 27, 2011

The best way to represent MLK's dream.

Nick Koenig
Article #2
North County Times
"House votes to honor first black marines."



Honoring the First Black Marines

     The first black marines got an unexpected rare national tribute Tuesday while the House of Representatives voted to give a Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines, which is the highest honor given by Congress. The House had a 442-0 vote of this. Back then, Marines went to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for training. If the conditions there were bad, well, their "companions" were worse. Black Marines weren't aloud to enter the camp without a white officer with them and sometimes they couldn't even eat until the white Marines were done eating. They were also routinely passed over promotions from time to time. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Marine Corps to recruit blacks. But it still wasn't balanced out. They would be unsuited of combat and weren't able to fight along side of the white Marines. Representative Walter Jones thought that the Congressional Gold medal would give peace and let them forget about yesterday and witness today's glory. 19,000 men trained at the camp between 1942 and 1949, and most of them have died to today. The ones who are alive today felt great gratitude to the ones who presented this special treat, remembering it felt like a life time from World War II. 

     This relates to what we studied in class by including the Legislative Branch. The House of Representatives is part of the Legislative Branch, along with Senate, which we learned in the last chapter about the Constitution. Also the Pledge of Allegiance. In 'Liberty and Justice for all' it states everyone will be treated the same. Why should people be treated different for what they look like? That's not fair. Martin Luther King Jr. was brave enough to state what he thought about segregation at the time.

     It relates to my life by Martin Luther King Jr. MLK had a dream that segregation will end and peace will be served in the nation. At the time, blacks were separated from whites. Had to use a different restroom, water fountain, etc. If MLK hadn't stated his feelings (also freedom of speech Amendment #1) then maybe half of my friends wouldn't be here. Neither would Obama, and some celebrities, such as Nicki Minaj and Kobe Bryant. Also my dad serves in the Marine Corps and knows some good friends that have different races.

     I thought this was a GREAT idea because it shows that we care about our fellow veterans no matter who they are. Because of the segregation, many people were rude to them and they probably had a hard time. Now, giving this award to show them gratitude, they know they are surrounded by people who care about them, even through the hard times of segregation and the World War II battle. The House of Representatives agree with my opinion. When this idea was brought to their attention, there was a 442-0 vote of giving the award.


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What the Pledge of Allegiance is.

Nick Koenig
Article #1

The Pledge of Allegiance
     The Pledge of Allegiance had been created for the anniversary of Columbus's discovery. The wording wasn't clear and immigrants may get confused, so in the writing they had to make the pledge as clear as it could be. President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved "under God" to be a part of the pledge. Many people, in the years between 1892 and 1954 had been so concerned in the pledge's wording they changed it about 4 times. The author of the words anonymous and the writing wasn't copy written either.

     The pledge connects to what were studding because it relates to scripts that changed our nation. Our founding fathers been apart of our nation as the pledge has. Such as the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. They have limited powers. The pledge reminds us about of those powers and citizenship, laws and other good things we must do or follow.

     The pledge connects to my life by everyday at school, I say the pledge. The meanings of the words remind ourselves of our actions and what we need to do for the economy. By saying these words, you agree to what the pledge means. Under God stands for a high rank of authority we follow of. Liberty and Justice for all means everyone has the same amount of rights (freedom) as the next guy.  Same with all the other words. You must be fair and understanding and respect everything around you.

     I think the pledge is a good idea. People aren't forced to say the pledge. By doing this, the people who say the pledge respect our nation more. It shows who really cares about our nation and government. While knowing what the pledge is saying, it reminds people to take responsibilities for their actions and follow the pledge, not dishonoring it.