JRHS Writing BLOG

Friday, March 28, 2008

Christians are being beaten in China

In China Christians are being thrown in jail and beaten almost to death because they are preaching the word of God and selling Bibles. Even the inmates are beating other inmates.

One of the teen age Muslims was beaten by her own father because he wanted he to stay a Muslim. He held a knife to her and threatened her. He tried to force he to marry a Muslim man, but she didn’t was to marry this man. She tried to plead with her father and ask for his forgiveness, but he didn’t forgive her. So, she ran away and is in hiding but she is still willing to share her testimony with others.

When I think about these people in there countries like China and Iran. I think about how privileged we are to live in a free country, were we can worship God without fearing for our lives. Being able to read or Bibles and talk about God in public with out worrying that someone will come up and start beating us and throw us in jail.

It saddens me that Christians in China, Iran and also other countries have to live every day in fear that if the police find heir hide out they could be killed. 

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Girl Dies After Parents Pray Rather than Seek Medical Attention

An 11-year old girl died in Weston, Wisconsin, recently after her parents prayed for healing rather than seeking medical help for her treatable form of diabetes. They entrusted God to heal her rather than doctors and made no effort to take her to a professional.

While this kind of story is nothing new, it is tragic and shocking none the less. It’s hard to imagine what these people were thinking when it so clearly mentions in the Bible to do the exact opposite. Prayer can help heal, but you can’t simply ignore the problem and trust God to fix everything. The Bible teaches us not to test God as shown in the section about Jesus being tempted by Satan, and that is exactly what these parents did.

If you owned a farm and your animals became thirsty, would you pray for them rather than bring them to water? Of course not, they need a practical solution. After her death, her parents blamed themselves for the death, not because they ignored her medically, but because they “must not have had enough faith.” The parents also have two other girls, who are not being taken away from them, as there is no sign of abuse.

Charges will likely be pressed against the parents of the girl. Her death is currently under investigation. She had been ill for longer than 30 days, suffering symptoms like nausea, vomiting blood, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and physical weakness before finally dying. The parents were aware of her condition and knew that it was fully treatable but still refused to let her get treatment.

Things like this are completely unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is the rate at which they happen – don’t people have any common sense whatsoever anymore? It seems not.

2,900 Calorie French Fries

The Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries contain 2,900 calories per serving – a record almost untouched for the unhealthiest widely available French fries. This fattening side dish packs in 900 more calories than doctors recommend consuming in an entire day before even getting to the main meal.

This raises the inevitable question, where is the limit? Denny’s Smoked Sausage Slam is a serving of pancakes that somehow crams 1,480 calories into its flapjacks. Outback Steakhouse submits another offender in the unhealthy streak – the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under dessert has 1,220 calories in a single serving. The Spotted Dog Sundae contains 760 calories, and its intended for kids. It’s no wonder Outback no longer posts their nutritional information!

I think that it’s about time Outback Steakhouse and other restaurants start caring about their calorie counts - just because they don’t show the customers what’s in their food doesn’t mean they should give us all heart attacks!

Students Stand Up to Bullies by Wearing Pink

One male freshman in Central Kings Rural High School in Nova Scotia had the guts to wear a pink shirt on the first day of school. Sadly, he paid for his choice when bullies relentlessly teased him and threatened to attack him. Two senior observers of this teasing, David Shepherd and Travis Price, decided to come into school the next day bringing numerous pink tank tops to hand out to all the guys in school.

It wasn’t long before half of the school’s 850 students were wearing pink tank tops. This angered the bullies who could do nothing but pent out their rage on chairs in a cafeteria, which got them in trouble with the school staff.

However, the stunt’s popularity reached beyond the school – due to the “pink crusade”, a national anti-bullying day has been established in Nova Scotia on the second Thursday of every school year. British Columbia also adapted the holiday, in which all those celebrating wear pink.

I think this is a humorous, almost sarcastic way of dealing with the issue - and it seems to be working quite well. Perhaps we should adapt this insane holiday in America as well.

Electronic Gadget Hackers

Electronic Gadget Hackers
I read an article about how some of today’s hottest gadgets are landing on store shelves with some unwanted extras from the factory: pre-installed viruses that steal passwords, open doors for hackers, and make computers spew spam.

Many computer users have been warned for years about virus threats from downloading inappropriate content and opening suspicious e-mail attachments.  Now viruses can be transferred from a computer to an Ipod, digital picture frames, and TomTom navigation gear.  Some of the viruses may steal your passwords, delete files, and corrupt your computer or item that you have.

I think that after you get a new computer, you should make sure that you have and use an antivirus program and firewall and keep it up to date.  By keeping your computer’s antivirus program, your computer will have a lower risk of getting unwanted viruses.

Spy-in-the-Sky Drone Sights on Miami

Spy-in-the-Sky Drone Sights on Miami
I recently have read an article how Miami police could soon be the first in the United States to use revolutionary, spy-in-the-sky technology to improve their fight against crime. This is a small pilotless “drone” manufactured by Honeywell International, capable of hovering and “spying” using electro-optic or infrared sensors and is suspected to be flying in the skies in Florida.

Now, I think that this is spying! If I lived in Florida, I would not want someone spying on me. These “flying spies” are unmanned, so they could fall down from the sky. Now I would not want that to happen. Do you think that it is ok for the government to use these types of surveillance methods?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Yet Another Rabbit vs. Jesus Blog

Yet another blog is written to say that either the Easter Bunny or Jesus is
the real meaning of Easter Sunday. Many people say that Jesus is the real meaning
of Easter Sunday, actually almost the whole nation of the United States would say
that Jesus Christ is the real Christian meaning of Easter. However, the United
States is considered a Atheism nation and so technically, the Easter Bunny may
actually be the real meaning of Easter Sunday. The Easter Bunny gives out them
eggs, them chocolates, and them delectable chocolate bunnies that vary in so
many sizes its hard to keep track of them. Jesus saved our sins (in the past),
and gives us a type of hope to just keep living. Jesus being the thought on Easter
is all he is, just thought. Unlike the Easter Bunny which gives physical things and
there good tasting at the same time. So I personally would pick the Easter Bunny
because I get some good “hard earned” chocolate and other goodies. 

AOL GUY

This guy I gotta say is my role model and always will be. You know that guy
who is on the AOL commercials and on the website and everything? That little yellow
guy who you see in many different kinds of poses, running, standing, jumping, and
well hes basically in lots of different “positions.” This guy is cool and I really like him.
I named him the AOL guy because he represents AOL. The AOL guy is a model to
AOL. If hes on a poster in the middle of the street and its just him standing there,
people are gonna think “wow, look here, its that really cool AOL guy, I should get
AOL.” AOL guy gets people AOL. Awesome.

Scientists Discover Way to Re-grow Human Limbs and Organs

This article is based on the CBS News article “Medicine’s Cutting Edge: Re-Growing Organs.”

Medical research scientists have recently found a way to do something that was thought impossible for centuries. By using a substance called extracellular matrix, they have created a powder that literally regrows lost limbs. Using this same powder, they have also used an inkjet infused with mouse heart cells to print out a heat structure that can also be turned into a real, beating mouse heart.

While this certainly seems more than sci-fi, this is the real deal. Correspondent Wyatt Andrews used the powder himself on his missing finger, and within 4 weeks, the finger, complete with bone structure and fingernail, grew back healthy and complete. In theory, scientists should be able to use this powder to grow back lost limbs and even vital organs as an alternative for organ transplant.

The regenerative medicine is soon going to be used by the United States Army for restoring the lost limbs of veterans. The result so far is unknown, but all signs point to the outcome that it will be completely successful. If we can master this new regenerating substance, the next breakthrough in the future of medicine is not far off. It’s not difficult to imagine the possibilities.

Iraq war anniversery

March 20 marks the five-year Iraq war anniversary.  On this day 5 years ago Operation Iraqi Freedom began.  A few weeks later Baghdad fell to U.S. forces and with it Saddam’s statue.  With this anniversary comes doubt, some people wonder if this was worth it. 
In the Iraq war, over five years 5,000 soldiers have died. This is one fact that anti-war protesters use: too many people have died.  But let me remind you, in D-day alone around 4,000 men died, that being in one day.  WWII had a very high death rate.  The anit-war protesters should be gratefull that only this amount of soldiers have died.
Anti-war protestors also claim that the men and women fighting in Iraq have no true reason why they are fighting.  These brave men and women are risking their lives to stop terrorism.  It was terrorists who flew the planes into the two towers.  These terrorists, mainly Al Qaeda, hate America. We have been fighting against them since the early 90’s.  These soldiers who are in and around Iraq realize that to stop attacks on the U.S. and Iraq, terrorism must be stopped asap. 
Let me illustrate it this way.  What if you noticed that you had a man wandering around on your property near your house, checking it out.  Of course you would get suspicious and take action.  Of course if you don’t take action, the man will break into your house, possibly kill or injure anyone inside, and then steal everything he can get his hands on. 
The strange man wandering around stands for the terrorists.  The homeowner stands for America.  Of course then America needs to attack and stop these terrorists, or else they will attack America again and will cause serious damage.
So March 20, remember the reason for the war, and if you are an anti-war protestor, rethink what you are protesting against.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

He is

He is the boy who has chosen his path. No matter what his background, he has made a not so common choice that not everyman can make. He has chosen to do something not everyman can.
He stands at attention with boys his age from every walk of life, to work towards a common goal. They came alone, but now, they continue along with a band of brothers. He will put the man next to him before himself, and hope they do the same for him. He will see things at a young age that most people won’t see in their entire lives.
He will work harder, run farther, and cry more than any athlete. He will eat little, lose sleep every night - if he sleeps at all - run everyday, and may not change his clothes for a week or more. He won’t brush his teeth today, but he will make sure his rifle is cleaned and ready to go. He treats his rifle better than himself.
He knows what it is like to fear for his life, and make others fear for theirs. He will split his food, water, and ammunition with you whenever you need it. He will sleep under a tank tonight because that is the only cover he can find. His alarm clock will be screaming cries of fellow friends or officers, or the sound of bullets flying overhead. He will watch as friends fall, and will not think twice before running into the fury of bullets to save them.
He can administer first aid for his fallen comrade, and if necessary, for himself. He has held a dying friend in his arms, unable to do anything, and felt the tremendous anger and desire for revenge but was unable to do anything about it.
He will spend his nights alone, going without the touch of a woman for months at a time. He either has a girlfriend back home who has left him, or has promised to be there when he gets back. He will try to write, but will find it hard, because he can’t explain his life to her. She just wouldn’t understand. He has promised to come home and marry her, but knows there is a chance he won’t.
He will look at the flag, and remember why he is fighting. Saluting the colors, a chill will run down his spine because he knows that he is fighting for the strongest nation on the earth. He will give his life for the flag and everything it represents. He will look you in the eye and grasp your hand firmly.
He will give you his best and even his life for your freedom. He lives and fights to defend that freedom. He is the American fighting man. 

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Ted Kennedy in the Nantucket Sound

While Ted Kennedy was sailing his yacht near his Massachusetts estate, he reportedly dumped diesel fuel in the Nantucket Sound waters. A photographer saw this and questioned a crewman, who answered that he had been told to dump the fuel because it had gotten into the bilge. Guests aboard the Mya didn’t seem to mind that the oil slick was leaking into coastal waters, where both people and marine life hang out (as reported by Newsmax.com).

This article by Newsmax.com makes Ted Kennedy sound like kind of a bad guy. His crewmen are depicted as irresponsible and careless, not worrying how people or animals will be effected by the oil slick.  It seems to me that some other alternative to just dumping the fuel should have been found, and what was done is inexcusable. Destroying the environment isn’t a very good thing to do. Ted Kennedy and his nonchalant crewmen probably shouldn’t be allowed to sail again in the very near future. 

Dextre the Robot

NASA has made a huge two-armed space station robot named Dextre. Dextre has taken more than $200 million to create, and, says CNN.com, “will rise like Frankenstein from its transport bed.” This metal gargantuan has 11-foot arms, an 8-foot shoulder span, is 12-feet in height and weighs 3,400 pounds. Dextre will arrive at the Endeavor in pieces, and will be assembled by a squad of astronauts, who will then attach it to the outside of the space station. Dextre has been designed to assist the astronauts and take some of the dangerous tasks. Dextre has been intelligently designed, with built-in lights and cameras, and, in no way resembles a human.

Dextre has already been sent up. I always like a good robot and even though Dextre is described as being very unproportional, I think I would like him anyway. I’m glad he doesn’t look too human-ish because that’s weird. It’s good that NASA made the robot to take the dangerous tasks, so now New Hampshire won’t have to be too worried about their astronaut Rick Linnehan. 

The Ministries in the Prisons are Ending

In the Iowa state prison the officials there are starting to close Bible –
based treatment that is run by Prison Fellowship Ministries after they
fought for five years in a federal court battle.

Even though they had a contract that was for three years that ended in
June, they can still be shut down if the enrollment goes below sixty
inmates.

In the Newton Prison the Prison Fellowship will still be allowed to go on.
They will not be allowed to have funds and will be strictly volunteer basis.
I think that they should not close any of the prison ministries. The prison
ministries are a great thing and they definitely help a lot of people get
their lives back on track. They come into the prison as criminals, but then
they start attending the Bible-based treatment and they realize that there
is hope for them and they can change their lives. So, by having these
ministries in the prisons they give hope to all of the prisoners who open
their hearts to the ministries.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Dragon Skin, really worth the trouble?

Dragon Skin, created by Pinnacle Armour, is a newer style of body armor. It is one of those things that you either love or hate. Many people swear by it, and many say that it should never be used. I personally think that it is a great invention, after I watched a demonstration on it.
In conventional body armor, there is what is called Kevlar, a bullet “proof” material, and it has a metal plate in it. This is decent, but it is heavy and it can only handle a couple of rounds. Dragon skin is different.
When a bullet hits body armor, the force from being stopped by the vest spreads and cracks the plate. This means that the vest can only be hit a couple times before it is completely ineffective.
Dragon skin, on the other hand, is completely different. Instead of having the single plate, it has dozens of smaller plates, each bullet proof. The plates are laid together like scales, one layer slightly covering the next. They are held together by small hinges and relatively light and portable.
When a bullet hits dragon skin, instead of it shattering like the regular armor, the force is spread across the single plates, damaging one or two but not affecting the rest. This is very important when there are thousands of rounds are flying and you need something that you can rely on to make it through without failing. Dragon skin does exactly this.
I believe that this is amazing stuff. A armor that has been proven to stop multiple bullets without compromising the vest, while still protecting the wearer. What else could you want? It is currently being tested by some military personnel overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as some police units, such as SWAT, here in the United States.
The people who have been wearing it have stories about how it has saved their life. The way I look at it, if the soldiers and police trust it, then I should trust it. I think that it should become the official body armor of the United States military and police forces.