Six Monkeys Die Two Days After Arriving at Oregon Zoo

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On May 22 nine monkeys arrived at an Oregon zoo.  Only two days later, six of them were dead.  As of right now no one knows the cause of death.  The Necropsy results came back inconclusive and the zoo is still waiting to hear back from the pathology report.  Six monkeys simultaniously dieing comes as a shock.  However, only months before an orangutan also died in the Oregon zoo's care.  This time it was the zoo's fault.  There were mistakes in the treatment and care of the orangutan which resulted in the firing of some of the zoo's staff.  This relates to AP GoPo becuase it goes along with our environmental policy and the idea that our government allows zoos to be established. 

In my opinion this is an awful tragedy.  Its always sad when animals die.  Its even more sad when they die in human captivity.  Which brings me to a hard place; as much as I love to see and learn about animals I can't help but feel like there is no good that comes from zoos besides bringing in money.  I can justify taking anumals from their habitat to study them and learn about them for science and research.  However, just parading around animals isn't cool.  An animal kept in captivity usually can never go back out into the wild and survive which is extremely sad.  They're kept cooped up in cages for the rest of their lives.  If anyone decided to have a human zoo, everyone would throw a fit so whats the difference when it comes to animals? Although it may seem we as humans are the superior species, in my opinion this is not true.  When it comes down to it we're all just entities in this universe no one better than the next.

House passes watered down NSA reform bill

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This article is about the new National Secuity Agency (NSA) reform bill that was passed on Thursday.  This new bill is a bit controversial.  The biggest change to the bill is the tweaked language defining who or what the NSA is allowed to monitor. The bill was altered to greatly expand that definition.  The amended bill leaves the list of potential search terms open-ended by adding the phrase "such as" -- it says NSA searches must be tied to "a discrete term, such as a term specifically identifying a person, entity, account, address, or device."  The White House put out a statement of support for the finalized bill, saying the legislation "ensures our intelligence and law enforcement professionals have the authorities they need to protect the Nation, while further ensuring that individuals' privacy is appropriately protected when these authorities are employed."  This relates to AP GoPo because it deals with our fourth amendment rights.  

Personally I think this is a bunch of bologna, but then again I'm a believer in most conspiracy theories so it could just be me being crazy.  However, I do believe this is walking a fine line between being constitutional and obstructing our fourth amendment rights.  I think there is no way possible to use one term that specifically identifies a person.  Furthermore, I think that this doesn't help to protect the Nation, but rather creates an even more blind society that has no idea whats going on behind closed doos in their government.  In my opinon there is a lot we don't know that the government hides from us and most of it is crazy insane things you would never imagine are possible.  While some may say some things are better left kept secret, I say ignorance is not bliss.

American Idol Contesant turned Congressman?

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This article is about former American Idol Contestant Clay Aiken.  Aiken is now running for Congress in North Carolina.  He says his fame from American Idol is sort of a double-edged sword.  He wants the public to view him in a different light and to take him and his run for congressman in a more serious way.  However, the GOP candidate he is running against, Renee Ellmers, thinks differently.  Ellmers says that Clay Aiken got bored of his fame from American Idol and that is why he decided to run for North Carolina Congressman.  Either way, this article is a prime example again of the media and how big of a role the media can play in politics. 

Personally I think that people shouldn't let Clay Aiken's fame from American Idol sway the way he/she feels about Clay Aiken.  I don't think that people should not vote for him just because they think he doesnt know what hes doing based on the fact that he was on American Idol.  If you think Clay doesn't know what hes doing based on his political views then that is a valid reason not to vote for him.  Basically, you shouldn't let a persons past influence the present.

Harvard student group cancels 'Satanic Black Mass' after outcry

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In the above article, a group of students from the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club were planning on re-enacting a 'Satanic Black Mass'.  This mass is a parody of the traditional Catholic mass.  According to the Extensions School's dean,  Robert Neugeboren, the event was going to be held in a series of others that explored rituals of different cultures.  However, due to many student, staff, and community members opposition to the event, the club decided to cancel it.  Harvard did not step in and deny the students their right.  They believed that the right to freedom of expression not only includes those actions you agree with but also those you may not agree with.  One of the opposers to the event, the Archdioses of Boston said,"If this had been a re-enactment of a Nazi rally or a lynching, the university would have stepped in quickly and stopped it".  This relates to AP GoPo because it deals with the Bill of Rights and our first amendment right to freedom of religion, assembly, pettition, press, and speech.

Personally, I think this is lame.  I understand that a satanic ritual may come off as a bit taboo.  But why does taboo have to be a bad thing?  Furthermore, it was just a re-enactment to explore and learn about other cultures.  And even if it wasn't, its their right to practice those events.  Personally, if I don't like something I just try not to involve myself with it rather than trying to stop it from happening.  I wish more people could be tolerant of others.  This also bums me out just because it shows the power of influence masses of people can have on others.  Which is why we should all strive to not succumb to peer presure.  I am proud though, of the Harvard Extension school for not stepping in and banning the event from happenning. 

Hillary Clinton Works to Neutralize the Only 2016 Opponent She Fears: The Media

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This article talks about Hilary Clinton and her hopeful run for presidency in the 2016 presidential election.  However, the main focus of the article is how she is reluctant to run because of the negative press she will get.  In fact a "Clinton Veteran" said "She wants to be president; she doesn’t want to run for president,".  We're all pretty familiar with Hilary's husband and his legendary terms as president with regards to being in the media.  His notorious fame from the press undoubtedly falls onto Hilary as well.  In 2008 Clinton ran for the democratic presidential nominee but lost.  She blames it partially on the press drooling over her competition.  However, some people disagree with Clinton and feel like she is using "bad press" as an excuse.  Whatever the case may be, it just goes to show how powerful the media can be.  Just as we've previously talked about in AP GoPo, some would say, the media is equivalent to a fourth branch of government with the amount of power it wields. 

In my opinion I think that yes the media can at most times be a negative aspect of our society.  However, if Clinton really wants to be President she won't let something as annoying as the media stop her.  However, there is still time for her to decide whether or not she wants to run.  Seeing as most candidates don't announce their committment to running for president until the spring or summer of the year before the election.

Justices: 28 states must slash wind-blown pollution

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This article is about a recent Supreme Court ruling about air pollution.  The question in this case was who should pay for air pollution that crosses state lines?  In a 6-2 majority ruling the Justices agreed that states in the Midwest and South whose polluted air flows north and east must follow a federally imposed solution.  This solution includes slashing ozone and fine particle emissions.  However, most of these 28 states that are included under this federally mandated rule are not too happy.  These states believe that the EPA is issuing a solution for them before the states themselves even had a chance to come up with their own plan of action.  Like it or not these states are going to have to comply with the rules.  Afterall, just as we've recently learned, theres no higher court than the Supreme Court.  Therefore, they have the final say; what they say goes.  Furthermore, federal law trumps state laws and since these are federally mandated rules the states must abide by them.

In my opinion I think the question is a bit bizarre in the first place.  How are we to place blame on specific states for air pollution when air is mobile?  I definitely agree that we as a nation and even more so as a world should cut back on our ozone and particle emissions.  As of right now, we only have this planet and its time to start acknowledging that and start treating our home accordingly.  I think it is a little stupid to place blame on only 28 states.  Rather every state in the nation should abide by these rules in order to make the Earth a healthier place to live.  By placing blame on specific states it turns them against each other when instead, we should all be coming together for the greater purpse of improving the planet we live on.

Obama Bids Health Secretary Goodbye as He Names Successor

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This article talks about Kathleen Sebelius and how she is saying her farewells as Heath Secretary.  The article does not explicitly say why Kathleen is leaving.  However, it does mention that Obama took the time to publicly thank her for her time as his Health Secretary.  While she was under this position, Kathleen helped to pass the 2010 Healthcare Law.  She had troubles getting the Obamacare exchange website running.  However, the end result was a sucess with almost seven and a half people enrolling in insurance plans under Obamacare.  As Kathleen leaves her position, President Barack Obama has appointed Sylvia Mathews Burwell the new Health Secretary.  Currently Sylvia serves as the director of Office of Management and Budget.  Obama says she knows what shes doing and can "deliver results".  He aslo hopes that the Senate will approve her in a timely manner, seeing as they unanimously approved her when she was appointed director of Office of Management and Budget.  This relates to AP GoPo because we've recently learned the different powers of the President.  One of these include the power to appoint members of his/her cabinet.  However, the senate must approve all presidential appointments.  Which, in this case, we see working first hand.

With this article there isn't much to have a lot of opinions on.  However, I can say that I enjoy learning something and then seeing it in action.  Also I love the way our government is set up with checks and balances; this being an example of one of them.  Obama has appointed a new Health Secretary and now he waits for the Senate's approval.  The awesome system of checks and balances  allows for no one branch of governement to gain too much power.... the beauty of AMERICA! :D