Gunman shot, killed at Walmart in Pennsylvania

A Day Does Not go by Without Violence  

        Late Saturday night, a man with two handguns was shot and killed at a Walmart in Pennsylvania. The man walked into the store in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and started pointing a gun at people. Stroud Area Regional Police were called and the officers arrived and told the man to drop his gun. After the man refused and pointed his gyn at the police, authorities shot the man in the upper chest area. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and no officers or anyone else at Walmart was injured. Police have not yet identified the gunman. I cannot possibly bring myself to empathize in these situations. It makes me scared, angry, and disgusted all at the same time that people can kill someone or have the idea of killing someone with no thought and for no apparent reason. 

Trump's Plan on Muslims

Trump Never Fails to Say What's on His Mind 

        A day after President Obama asked Americans to reject discrimination against Muslim Americans, Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, stated that all Muslims should be unable to enter the United States. In making this announcement, his reasoning behind this action was polls with evidence that large segments of Muslims hate Americans. As you can imagine, this announcement caused strong criticism, including some of his fellow Republican candidates and state party leaders. One of the people's comments that caught my eye was Matt Moore, the Chairman of the South Caroline Republican Party. Matt Moore tweeted, "As a conservative who truly cares about religious liberty, Donald Trump's bad idea and rhetoric send a shiver down my spine." While other people voting in polls agree with Donald Trump's idea but were just scared to speak up. Honestly, in my opinion I think this idea is ignorant. Think about it, not all Christians are bad and there are some people bombing abortion clinics out in the world. Not all muslims are bad. I think banning all Muslims will only cause more violence. If someone is willing to kill for their "god", then someone is willing to lie and say they are not part of the Muslim community. These people are extremist. There is a difference. 

Could E-cigs Give you 'Popcorn Lung'?

Stay Away From E-cigs

        E-Cigs seems to be getting more and more dangerous. 15 years ago when former workers in a microwave popcorn plant in Missouri fell sick with the irreversible disease no known as obliterative bronchiolitis (nickname: popcorn lung). It has come to people’s attention that the same chemical within that popcorn plantation is in E-cigs. This have brought upon a threat to a whole new group of people, especially young and ignorant teenage boys. The chemicals are found in flavors like “cupcake” or “cotton candy” that appeal to younger people, but that is just two of over 7,000 e-cig flavors. The suspected chemical is diacetyl, and several leading microwave popcorn brands have since pulled the chemical from their formulas. In analyzing 51 different flavored e-cigs, a team of scientists found at least one of the three top toxins- diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-pentanedione in 47 of the e-cigs. THIS IS SO SCARY!! I wish everyone was aware of these issues.

Fox News Suspends Two Commentators for Using Profanity While Criticizing Obama

        

Speaking Their Mind Freely

        Two Fox News commentators were recently suspended for two weeks for using profanity while criticizing Obama. They simply got in trouble for speaking their minds on air, when others have much worse to say. Ralph Peters, a strategic analyst, called Obama a “totally pu*** who doesn’t want to hurt our enemies” And to follow the comment up, Stacey Dash, A Fox contributor, said the president “didn’t give a sh**” about Sunday night’s terrorism speech. The Fox senior executive, Bill Shine, addressed both of these comments as completely inappropriate and unacceptable. He said he does not allow that type of language on air and had suspended them for two weeks. Peters apologized for his actions but said he knows he has a lot of people on his side and continued to talk about a stronger military and action against ISIS. While Dash, had nothing to say besides, “Consequences. Some of us have to pay them. Gladly.” I agree and disagree with how this situation went down. I believe in freedom of speech but I also believe commentators should be mature on air and learn how to control their language. Two weeks of suspension is nothing for speaking your mind, I personally think they both feel better and it may have been worth it to get people talking about it.

Butterfly Habitat Under Threat

Will Butterflies Go Extinct? 

        The population of monarch butterflies has declined dramatically in recent years. Will they go extinct? The milkweed population has declined, and the less milkweed results in fewer monarch butterflies. Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed and it is the only thing the larvae or caterpillar will eat. One of the main reasons toward the decline of milkweed include the loss of forestland in Mexico. These are big changes throughout the world. 

Mass Shooting In California

Who were Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik? 

Wednesday afternoon there was a mass shooting in San Barnido, California at a Christmas party. 14 people were killed and 17 people were injured. There has been question whether the shooters were from ISIS, and there has also been question whether there was a third suspect. Two of the suspects were discovered and killed by the police when they began shooting back at the police. The two suspects names were Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, husband and wife. The couple left their 6-month-old girl with Farook’s grandmother Wednesday and said they had a doctor’s appointment. The grandmother became concerned when she saw reports of the shooting and could not reach Farook. Farook was an American citizen, and was an environmental health specialist with the San Bernardino County health department. The party was hosted by the place where Farook worked. Apparently he was known as shy and not very talkative man, and apparently there were no indications that his job was in danger but he left the party early and came back with a gun. 

        

ISIS Beheads a Russian

Video Shows the Beheading of a Russian Spy 

         ISIS released a video on Wednesday morning/afternoon showing the beheading of a man that claimed he was joint the terrorist group, but in fact was a Russian spy. The member of ISIS did not only behead the spy on video but also threatened the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his country's citizens. Right before killing the Russian spy, the ISIS member says in Russian that the airstrikes ordered by Putin against the extremist group has made them understand they are doing the right thing by continuing the fight. They believe they have to return with violence. He then threatened all the Russian people, he threatened to kill all of their sons and destroy their homes. Wednesday's video was not the first time ISIS has accused a Russian of being a spy and killed them on live video. I personally just wish all of this violence would stop, there is a new thing every day. 

Suicide Bombing in Nigeria

When Will the Violence Stop?  

         Eight people were killed and eight others were injured on Sunday in a suicide bombing in Nigeria. The bomb blew up among people displaced by Boko Haram violence in the city of Maiduguri in northeaster Nigeria. The victims were mostly women and children undergoing security screening at a military checkpoint. The people who did this pledged themselves to ISIS. I am not sure when the violence will ever end. 

Racial Issues on College Campus

"One Mizzou" 

        At the University of Missouri, recently there was several racially charged events that went unaddressed. Racist graffiti, open racial slurs and more were met with no response from the school's administration. Out of frustration, many students protested. The football team refused to play the game until their school President resigned, and one student went on a hunger strike. The pressure by students forced the President to step down. I am all for people sticking up for themselves, but I feel bad for the high standards the next President will be held to. Honestly, people cannot fix every problem there is in the wold, but racism needs to come to an end. 

Syrian Refugee Backlash

Obama vs. Republicans 

        Recently, the US House of Representatives voted to pause the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Program. People are irritated this is occurring because the war in Syria has led to millions of refugees looking for safe haven in Turkey, Europe and the U.S. After the attacks in Paris, Republican lawmakers are afraid that terrorists will enter the US in disguise. The current plan is to settle 10,000 Syrians using a thorough process including screenings, background checks done by the FBI, and Homeland Security that takes between a year and a half to two years to complete. Republicans say it is not enough and that it is better safe than sorry. While, most Democrats would disagree, according to this article. The President is opposed to pausing the program, and it is unclear when the Senate will consider the bill. This story aired before the House passed the bill to pause the program, I found that shocking. Technology has taken over the world. 

Largest Diamond in More Than a Century Found in Botswana

A Girl's Best Friend 

        On November 19, at about 9 in the morning, a 1,111 carat diamond has been discovered at a mine in Botswana. It is said to be of high quality and is the biggest diamond to be found in more than a century, according to the mine company. The gem is only the second largest diamond in the world. It is second in size to the Cullinan diamond that was discovered in South Africa in 1905, an was mined by Lucara Diamond Corp. Personally, I would love to see this diamond in person. The picture does not even do the justice for me. It is beautiful! A little too big for an engagement ring though :). 

Paris Attack

Isis Strikes Again 

        I know this is what a lot of people's current events and gossip has been about lately, but I am still so shocked how many people were killed and injured. I am so shocked that people are so brain washed to the point that they think killing is their way to serve their God. Six areas of Paris, France were attacked. 129 people were killed and 200 people were injured. The large terrorist attack has been claimed by ISIS. The terrorists used suicide belts and automatic weapons to attack people at the concert, the soccer game, restaurants, and cafes. Paris plans to prevent future attacks. Their immediate reaction was to bomb Syria. 

Tunisia

Parties

Mexico	Grant	Walker
Kenya	Battle	Hannah Page
China	Gabi	Marina
Israel	Cole	Libby
Nigeria	Sarah Grace	Mary Grace
South Africa	Victoria	Windham
France	Drew	Claudia
Germany	Samuel	Gabe
Sweden	Julia	Logan
Russia	Alexa	Boe
Iran	Saahil	Hollie
Tunisia	Jordan	Marissa
Canada	Oliver	Meredith
India	Annie
Argentina	Jackson
Japan	Griffin

1.    Research political parties in your country.

2.    What type of government does the country have?  How is power organized?  Is there a head of state?  A legislative branch?  Is it a unitary or federal system?

3.    Find out how many parties there are – provide an estimate or exact count

4.    Find out which parties, if any are considered “major” or “ruling”

5.    How are parties categorized?  Are there some that are “authorized” while others are not officially recognized?

6.    What are the issues around which the parties are organized?  Are their ideological, economic, social issues?

7.    Write about what you learn on your blog, include at least one image to illustrate, and link to your sources. 

There are about 81 Political Parties in Tunisia. And there are only 18 recognized by the republic government that are considered “major” or “ruling”. Tunisia’s government is ran by a Chief Executive, or what we would call a president. The Chief Executive has a term of five years. Tunisia’s government has 477 seats, and the last legislative election was in 2012. The Political Parties are categorized by which ones were legalized before the Tunisian revolution, after the Tunisian revolution, and past parties. The top party, Nidda Tounes, wants to be modern while the next top party, Ennahda Movement, wants to be religious. Nidda Tounes gathers almost 38% of the votes which leads to 40% of the 477 seats within the government. Ennahda Movement gathers almost 28% of the votes which leads to 32% of the 477 seats within the government.