School Suspends Teens for Wearing Crucifixes

Two high school students:Jaime Salazar,14, and his friend Marco Castro,16, were suspended from school on Monday because they were wearing gifts from their mothers. Crucifixes. The school claims it is gang-related to wear them and they tried to send the teens to the front office, but when they said no, they were suspended. I think that is completely ridiculous. You should be allowed to wear crucifixes. I can understand if they came in wearing swastikas on wristbands or anything like that, but nothing is wrong with wearing a crucifix. Unless you're wearing it as a gang symbol. Then the teachers have all rights to kick them out.
The school corporation backs him up. Because he is the principle, he has the right to ask a student to remove things like that.

JKL Productions

Hey! Anyone who sees this post should check out this video and the following link. They're awesome!(This is just ONE of their videos)



You can watch them at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jklproduction

Japan Launches High-Speed Communications Satellie Atop Rocket

Japan launched an H-2A rocket that is able to send high-speed data transmissions. Named Kizuna, it launched from the southern island of Tanegashima at 5:55 A.M. on Saturday and was at 175 miles by 28 minutes after lift-off. That's really awesome. I'd like to see some of the material collected from the rocket. I bet it's really amazing. With a high-definition cam like that, they could get some pretty sweet feed.
The rocket is mostly just a creation made to be better than the rockets built in China, their rivals. All of the scientists in Japan are excited about the new rocket, and hope it performs to the highest extremes. I hope it does too. I want them to be happy with their new design. As well as just about any other amazing thing created.

Magnitude 7.3 Earthquake Rocks Indonesia: Tsunami Warning Lifted

In Indonesia, a powerful earthquake rocked the west coast, injuring a few people. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.3 and was centered in the Indian Ocean. Good thing it wasn't anything worse. It probably would have cause a Tsunami and would have injured or killed several. In 2004, an enormous tsunami was spawned and killed over 230,000 residents. I feel so bad for the families of those people, and for the families caught in the earthquake on Monday.
Residents in Bengkulu say they felt the quake strongly, but it didn't cause any major damage. Only some minor damage was recorded thankfully.

Musharraf Dismisses 'Graceful' Exit Suggested by U.S. Senators

The Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, dismissed a suggestion from U.S. senators on Monday to leave gracefully from power. The three senators that advised him were most likely insulted, which would be ridiculous because it was technically the man's choice how he wanted to leave. I mean, if he wanted to leave in overalls acting like a hillbilly, that would be just fine. Why? Because it was his choice. But, I'm not one to judge, so I wouldn't say anything.
Musharraf left normally. The senators endorsed a negotiated retreat rather than a push from power.

The ant shall one day conquer the elephant...

Okay, so saturday, I went to make pizzas at my youth group for a thingamabob we do so kids can raise money for camp and stuff. But while I was boxing the pizzas, my friend started to wink. Over and over and over again. I asked her why. She said she wasn't, she got something in her eye. My other friend, her brother, walked past and saw us winking back and forth at each other(yes, we're strange folk). He just stood there staring, so I started to wink at him.

He tried to wink back, but instead, he just started blinking over and over again. So I said,"Hey ------, you're not winking right", and he said,"I know! My wink box is broken!" and walked off while his sister and I stood there laughing. While he was walking, he started trying to wink/blink again, which caused him to run into someone who was carrying boxes across the room which only made us laugh harder because he jumped up and said,"HOLY CRAP!" while picking up boxes. After that the day went on and we ended up finishing early. YAY! Aaaaaannnnnd....that's about it. Gotta go! BYE!!

3 Children Found Dead in Long Island Apartment; Mom Arrested

Three children: 6-year-old Jewell Ward, 5-year-old Michael Demesyeux, and 1-year-old Innocent Demesyeux were found dead today in their bed, their mother nowhere to be found. After tracking down their mother and arresting her, they tried to find out how the children were killed but police wouldn't say how the thought the children may have been killed. I hate hearing about these stories. They make me so mad.
I don't see how anyone could kill little kids like that. Or anyone for that matter. It's just plain evil. The brother of the woman,Robert McCord, defended her saying she wasn't ballistic or insane. It was a shock to all of her family, including him. I feel very sorry for the woman and her family. I'll be praying for them all. The woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation and observation and to be arraigned today.

Siblings Celebrate 391 Years of Wedded Bliss

Seven siblings have been married for a total of 391 years, about 50 years each which is amazing because people usually aren't married that long. The reason for their long-lasting marriages? Because their parents believed that marriages should last forever. I agree with that also. Marriage shouldn't be something that comes and goes. If you have problems, you should try by whatever means possible to work it out. Not just drop it like it's something you don't want. It's unfair to other people around you. Especially your family.
Unfortunately, a lot of people do that. They decide they either don't like being married anymore or they have problems. Now if the spouse is abusive, then that's the only reason you should leave.The surviving seven children have all been married to their spouse at least 50 years each. One sibling died in 1992 and would add 48 years to the total and make it a large sum of 439 years! Wow! Now those are some close married couples. They're the type of people who will stick with their spouse no matter what.

Voting Begins in Pakistan Election Amid Fears of Violence, Rigging

Voting in Pakistan began yesterday even though people were fearful of suicide bombers and terrorist coming to attack. This fear was brought upon by the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto and after 46 people were killed in a suicide bombing near the border of Pakistan. The voting began nationwide on Monday at 8:00 A.M. and closed at 5:00 P.M.
This is a very good idea as long as they have military there to protect the voters and make sure there are no suicide bombers around. Which there were. In a possible hiding place for Osama Bin Laden, a remote border region of Bajur, hundreds of Pashtun tribesman came out to vote at a nearby polling station and dismissed the threat of attack. The military in Pakistan were heavy around that area to keep an eye on everything. I think that they should have put the polling station somewhere where the terrorist would probably never go. Somewhere that is hidden from them, but not from the voters.

U.S. Military Says Seized Docs Show Al Queda In Iraq Is Weakened

A diary was found by the military that contained information that encourages the military. It said that they fear the terrorist group may be crumbling. The diary was from an Al Qaeda leader in Iraq and Al Qaeda is in a crisis. This doesn't mean the end of terrorists in Iraq, but it means that they will be weaker and we have a much better chance if we have to retaliate again. Which we will probably have to eventually anyway. So this could be some very good news for the U.S. military.

Bush: 'The Kosovars Are Now Independent'

On Monday, Bush announced that the Kosovars are now independent and that they are going to be on their own. I don't know much about the Kosovars so I don't have much to say. In 1999, 10,000 people were killed by Kosovars in a crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. The independence set up a showdown with Serbia. Bush says he is going to do whatever he can to prevent any violence.

CDC Warns of 'Choking Game' After 82 Youths Die

A game made up several years ago by some teenagers and pre-teens called the choking game(also the pass-out game or space monkey) has caused 82 youths to die throughout the past thirteen years. The point of the game is to cut off the flow of blood to your brain/get high from the lessening of blood circulation. I think it's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Why would they do something like that? I guess they just don't think about how dangerous it is and only think about how cool it makes them look (not that it does).
Signs of playing this game are: Bloodshot eyes; marks on the neck; severe or constant headaches; disorientation after spending time alone; ropes, scarves and belts tied to furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor; unexpected presence of items such as dog leashes, choke collars, and/or bungee cords. I think that people should start spending time with their kids rather than letting them run off and do who knows what. That's probably why these kids did this. They thought "Hey! This will be fun! And no one will even notice." I especially feel sorry for the ones who do care. And for the ones that don't.

Discombobulated

To confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate: The speaker was completely discombobulated by the hecklers.
I like that word. I think it is now most definitely my favorite word. If you people don't like the word....................you have seriously got something wrong with your head. I mean, it's like the best word discovered since the word supercailfragilisticexpialidocious. Well...just thought I'd get that off my chest. SEEYA LATER PEOPLE!!!

Armed Robbers Steal $163 Million Worth of Art From Zurich Museum

Four Paintings were stolen on Sunday by three armed, masked men who were 5' 9" and one spoke with a Russian accent. They believe it may be one of the most spectacular robberies in the history of Switzerland. Why? Because the stolen paintings were four of the most famous paintings ever made. I think it is the most ridiculous robbery ever. They should have tighter security in a museum like that. Especially with paintings like that in the museum. The worth of these paintings? $163.2 million. Now that's a large chunk of money. I sure hope they get the paintings back!

Mystery of Saturn's Watery Moon Solved

On Saturn, a lake was discovered beneath the surface. It has been a mystery what caused jets of water to shoot up from the surface until now. They believe it is part of the natural science of the planet. They think it is either a global ocean beneath the planet's surface or just a small lake. They can't be sure. I believe that the streams come from geyser-like craters that are on the surface and the temperature causes the water to boil a shoot water out of the holes. I will look more into the subject to find out more. But the discovery is an excitement to scientists and they believe that this will lead to more interesting information about Saturn and other planets. I hope so. I love hearing about a lot of discoveries about the planets!

Best Friends Have Babies Weeks Apart With Same Deadly Illness

The women, Tara Sturman:35-years-old, and Andrea Cobbold:33-years-old, who have been friends since childhood have babies weeks apart, but the babies have the same deadly illness called biliary atresia. The disease causes them to be born without bile ducts outside their liver so bile enter their bloodstream poisoning the liver and causing cirrhosis, a disease of the liver characterized by increase of connective tissue and alteration in gross and microscopic makeup.
Those poor babies. I hope their able to take care of them and nurse them to good health.

Mysterious Illness Forces Girl to Survive on a Diet of Mints

A 19-year-old U.K. girl named Natalie Cooper is suffering from an unknown mysterious illness that causes her to vomit after eating any solid food. This causes her to be aloud only to eat mints such a tic-tacs and light mints like that to make her think she isn't hungry. All her needed nutrients are given to her through a feeding tube in the resemblance of a type of formula. At first doctors wondered if she might have bulimia, but ruled that out. Since she started using the feeding tube, she has gone from a low 70 pounds, to a healthy 98 pounds.
I'm glad they're trying to help her. A lot of doctors I hear about don't care, and try to encourage the parent to take the sick person off of feeding tube, and not help the patient. Mostly just because of laziness.

The Broken Mirror

this is a story i had to write for english for school

The Broken Mirror

“I can't wait to get outside and use the new lawnmower!”
thirteen-year-old Corey commented as he raced through the house. He was
running through his Mother and Father's room and was so distracted,he
ran right into the wall. 'Whoops', he thought ,'need to be more---.'
*CRASH!* ”Oh no! What was that!” he exclaimed. He returned to his
parent's room to find their new mirror lying on the floor.

He walked over to the mirror, picked it up, and stood there
staring at the broken shards of glass in stunned silence. Then Corey's
four-year-old brother Samuel walked into the room. Hmmm.... Corey
considered the idea, and decided to try it.

“Samuel!” Corey shouted. Little Samuel looked at Corey with big,
round eyes and Corey instantly felt guilty. But he couldn't turn back
now. He had to finish what he started.”Samuel!” he shouted again. ”Look
what you did.” Samuel started to cry and Mother and Father hurried into
the room.

“What in the world is going on in here?” Mother asked.

Corey paused for a moment, then said, “Samuel knocked your new
mirror off the wall.”

“How?” Mother demanded

“I'm not sure”, Corey replied. “I walked in here to get my jacket
before I went outside to mow the grass and found Samuel in here next to the broken mirror.” At that moment,

Father spoke up.

“Corey, look at me and tell me you are telling the truth” he said
as he looked Corey in the eye. Corey hesitated, looking at his Father
with his bright green eyes.

Then he replied with a solid voice ,”Yes Father. I promise.”

Dad stood there, looked from Corey to Samuel, then said,”Corey,
you may go mow the grapples now.”

“Yes Father”, Corey replied. Without a glance at Samuel, he walked
out of the room.

Once Corey was outside in the garage, he pulled the lawnmower out,
put gasoline in the tank, and walked back to the garage to put the gas
can away. As he made his way back to the mower, he thought,'I shouldn't
have lied about Samuel like that. I mean, he is just a little kid and
all so maybe he didn't get in trouble.' Yet, as he started up the
mower, that pang of guilt wouldn't go away.

Once he finished mowing the grass, he put away the mower, locked
up the garage, and went in the house. ”I guess I should go apologize to
Samuel and tell Mom and Dad the truth.” As he walked slowly up the
stairs, he thought about what he should say. He found Samuel sitting on
the floor in his room playing with his Hot Wheels cars. ”Hey buddy!”

“Hi Samuel!” Sam replied with a big smile on his face.”Wanna play
cars with me?”

“Not right now Sam”, Corey said as he hugged his little brother.”I
just wanted to apologize for getting you in trouble earlier.”

“It's okay.”

With that, he turned back to his cars.

Corey made his way slowly toward his parents' bedroom. When he got
there, he stopped in the doorway. ”Mom, I have to tell you....” He
scuffed his shoe on the carpet.

“Yes Corey, what is it.” She saw how nervous he was and said,”What
can I help you with?”

“Well Mom, I have a confession to make....”

She sat there motionless. Waiting.

“Um....”

“You can tell me Corey.”

“Okay”, he sighed, trying to build up the momentum and courage.”I
broke your new mirror and I'm sorry. I didn't want to lie but I was
scared I would get in trouble. I was running through the house and
knocked your new mirror off the wall and I just wanted you to forgive
me. Please?”

“Oh”, she said softly.

Silence.

“Mom?”

“Well”,she said finally,”You'd better go tell you Father then.”

“Yes Mom”, Corey replied,”And I'm sorry.” She smiled and nodded in
approval.

“Your Dad's out in the yard”, she told him.

“'Kay. Thanks for forgiving me”, he said as he left the room. Then
he made his way outside with a spiring in his step.

“I'm sorry I lied”, he concluded that evening in the living room.
“I'll try my hardest not to in the future.”

“Thanks for telling the truth son”, his Dad said. “But you have to
understand, there's still going to be punishment.”

“Of course”, Corey grinned. He felt a whole lot better now that he
had told the truth.

THE END

NASA Puts Saturn V Rocket on Display

The Saturn V rocket, which is now on display in Alabama , spent 35 years lying on its sand with animals living in it and was finally brought out and remodeled it so as to put it on display. This was a very smart move on their part because it means the rocket will get a lot of well-deserved attention. A man who helped build the rocket about 50 years ago and is now 95-years-old, says it looks as good as it did when it was first built. This project cost $23.4 million and was helpful to the expanding state-owned museum. I hope they get enough money back to repay what amount was used to preserve the rocket. I would go see it but I live too far away from it to be able to.

Church Federation: Malaysian Airport Customs Seize Bibles

32 Bibles were confiscated from a woman who was traveling home from the Philippines on January 28 because the church federation there had different beliefs than the woman did. This of course is completely ridiculous. People have rights, and that is one of them: freedom of religion. They can't just go and take another's belongings, judging by if they dislike it or not. This was done by Muslims Malays. Sixty percent of the Muslim population are Muslim Malays, which means that almost every Muslim agreed with the actions partaken in this article. I personally disagree with what they did and I wouldn't let them do this if I were their leader.

Twins Save Mom's Life, Kick Loose Deadly Tumor From Mom's Cervix While Still in Womb

A 35-year-old woman named Michelle Stepney was save by her unborn twins, who saved her life while in the womb. The twins, Alice and Harriet, now 13 mo. old, dislodged a tumor in their mom's cervix by kicking it. If they hadn't, she most likely would have died. The doctors suggested she get an abortion shortly before the miracle but she declined. She is glad she did or else this wouldn't have happened.
I love hearing these stories. They make me so happy. Especially whenever they are about declined abortions. It shows some people actually do care about life.

3 Men Shot Dead During Super Bowl Telecast at Maryland Pizzaria

Three men:Terrance Lynne Sneed, 22 and Curtis Lee Poston, 26 were shot dead at a restaurant on Sunday after the Giants scored a touchdown. Witnesses say three men had an argument about the score and one shot the other two down. The shooter was shot dead while trying to escape across the parking lot.
How ridiculous can you get? Why would you get so mad that you would shoot people over a stupid football game? I think that's completely stupid.

Web Sleuths Reunite Lost Digital Camera With Owner

On New Years Eve, a woman named Erika Gunderson entered a taxi only to find a camera in the back seat. This sent her on a journey to find the owner of the digital camera. She brought the camera home to her fiance, 26-year-old Brian Ascher, who decided he would look for the owner of the camera. He first called the Ireland district to see if anyone had bought a camera that registered the $500 camera's serial number. Nothing. Next he called a diner owned by Bob Heilman, but he only remembered a group of Irish diners'. No last names. After that, he went to a place shown in one of the camera's pictures to be Radisson Hotel where he received the email address of the believed owner. It turns out the camera didn't belong to the man name Noel. In the end, Ascher got the email address of the real owner who thanked him for his honesty and trouble.
Wow. That's really interesting. I'm glad he finally found the real owners, and that they were honest enough to go through all the trouble of finding the real owners.

SO HAPPY!

YES! Last night was so cool. I got to see Skillet in concert! They were amazing. Especially when they used flamethrowers on the stage. I think it might possibly be the coolest concert ever.(That I've been to). Even Group 1 Crew was good. And I don't usually like hip-hop. I hope they come here again. I'm also excited because I might get to go to a Hawk Nelson concert in April. W00T!! LATER PEOPLE!