Blog#18

I learned how to better use the writing techniques and to create even better articles.

I didnt have much of an "experience" during the newspaper, but I will use all of the skills I have before to create a better project.

Blog#13

"Solana Beach has kept about 160,000 plastic bags out of landfills through a recycling program the city started 14 months ago in partnership with a manufacturer.

The city originally had three drop-off points, but has since expanded to nine.

“It has been more of a success than we initially envisioned,” said Dan King, management analyst for Solana Beach, who coordinates the program."

1.In Solana Beach, there is a new program going about that has to do with getting plastic bags off the street, and polluting the water. Controversy is that is it wasting money, and is it really working.

2.There isnt much at all missing from the story. It touches base with everything.

3.Probably to say how it is now, and what the program has done to help.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/10/bagging-successful-recycling-program/?&zIndex=180400

Blog#11

1. Why did the state cut water testing workers?

If we swim in the water, why would they take away workers who made sure it was safe enough to swim in. That makes no sense. Especially after it rains, or there is a sewage spill, its important to let people know that they could be putting themselves in liquid toxins.

2. Which beaches are cleanest/dirtiest?

I find this important, because if there is a dirty beach, you wont want to go to it. That makes no sense. So if I knew which beaches were better, then I would go to those, and make sure I do my part not to pollute water.

3. Why are certain beaches cleaner then others?

Is it because of locations? Workers? Why are certain places cleaner and some are disgusting? I want to know what affects conditions and what helps them.

Honors History Writing#1

And Then Came Modern America

The Civil War changed history; not just because of the bloody battles, but also because of the way it contributed to Modern America, and the way America is today.

Though slavery is over, racism looms in life not only in the South, but all over the nation as well. At the end of the Civil War with slavery abolished, the South fumed with the loss of their old fashioned America. With their Confederacy in shambles, the South turned to ulterior methods such as the KKK, the White League, and the Red Shirts to intimidate and prove that white is the supreme race. From cross “lightings” to lynching and riots, the KKK and other paramilitary groups instilled fear in other races.

Modern America is thought to be a place with all equal rights and a fair life with no intimidation from hardcore groups. After the civil war ended, three amendments were put on paper­—the thirteenth (abolishment of slavery), fourteenth (definition of citizenship) and fifteenth (freedom to vote) amendments—to help create “equality for all”.

Then came the Civil Rights Acts in 1964 and 1968. The laws that have been passed in our history have made it so that our modern America could become equal for everyone. Though it took a long time, through the struggle, we have made it pretty far. During the Civil War, blacks did not have any rights at all. They had nothing. Now there are no segregated schools, interracial marriages, mixed classes, biracial babies, and neighbors of every race.

In American history there has not been a good track record of equal rights between different races. Technically everyone had legal rights, but some still looked down on others. Equality is a high goal that America has yet to fully reach.

Even though equality came 150 years ago at the end of the Civil War, it is still a struggle. We can go days or years pretending everything is perfect, and everyone is equally treated, but that isn’t the truth. There’s a place in many people’s hearts where the Civil War is still raging. Not only southerners, but also many people nationwide, still think degradingly due to race and color of skin. Modern society has changed old ways and made opportunities for people equal, but we are still not quite there yet.

Everyone is always entitled to his or her own opinion, but with that right, equality is pushed into the distance. Though, if the Civil War didn’t happen, there would be a huge group of people directly affected with that.

With Barack Obama as our first black president, we have reached a milestone we would have never dreamed of 150 years ago, let alone only 50.

There is still violence and stereotypical remarks coming from both the South and the North. Newer generations are less thick-skinned, and may lash out to hurtful things instead of just walking away. In Dying for Dixie, a woman says, “Kids today, they’re weaker and wiser.” Which shows that they are more affected by words, but smarter as well.

For the Civil War being the beginning of modern America—of course it is! So many changes went on in these last 150 years to turn this country into a loving, almost completely racism-less place to live, laugh and love with family, and neighbors of all different races.

American history, especially the Civil War, will always play a huge role in the new generations of modern America as time goes on. As racism slowly goes away, and equality is fully here, our nation, once torn in two, will be united as one, for the complete United States of America.

Blog#10 Reconstruction

Reconstruction was when the south was "put back together" or "redesigned". (1860's to 1870's)

The idea behind reconstruction was

a great idea because the US government was trying to help freed slaves

, and trying to not let the confederates come back. Also, they began to try to make everyone have equal rights. Which didnt really work out too well for awhile. In the reconstruction e

ra that it was finally illegal to have slaves.

The main problem was that after Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew

Johnson became the new president and was not equal, and was racially insensitive a lot of the time. He actually allowed laws to pass going against former slaves and their families. Ulysses Grant, the

following President, wanted to help, but he didnt feel like giving an effort to change the wrong doings. He watched southern democrats take over the south and abolish all of the reforms everyone had tried to make.

It is extremely relevant to todays time because even now there is racial tension in almost every single society. If the Civil War had not happened, slavery could possibly still be around.

The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) is still around. The groups of people who would burn crosses and lynch people, the intimidating white robes still loom over the south, and the US. Though, they

are a little bit different.

Source:

http://www.life.com/image/85938998/in-gallery/25151/life-goes-inside-todays-kkk

(unknown author)

"I guess I prefer stories with a little edge to them. I find it extremely interesting to document a controversial belief system -- to capture people when they're in a vulnerable state, running on raw emotion. It's about being allowed into someone's personal space, respecting that trust, being grateful for the chance to see something that most don't get to see."