Baltimore Riots by Haskey Canagarajah

Baltimore has gone mad, and what were once peaceful protests have turned violent. This is all over the death of Freddie Gray. A state of emergency has been declared in Baltimore and the National Guard has been called into Baltimore. This situation only seems to be getting worse especially with the autopsy of Freddie Gray coming out on Friday.

Death of Freddie Gray:

Freddie Gray looked suspicious to the police, and when they confronted him he started running away. The police eventually caught him, but they didn’t have suspicion of anything. They arrested him, and on the way to the police station Gray suffered some injuries, the fatal one being a spinal cord injury. He died a few days after his arrest, and wasn’t given proper and timely treatment for his injuries.

Protests:

There was a time when the protesters were peaceful, but now it’s turned completely violent, and it’s getting out of hand. A curfew in Baltimore was set from 10PM to 5AM, which means no one can be outside during these time periods or they will be in big trouble. One of the examples of the non peaceful protests is a drug store being burned down. A few protesters burned down a drug store to try to get police attention. As stated before, the National Guard has been called in to help the police fight the protesters. This is the first time the National Guard has had to go to the city of Baltimore since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Charging of the officers:

On Friday, reports were released that Gray’s death was a homicide, and subsequently 6 officers were charged in his death. This sparked more protests, as now the protesters KNEW that the officers killed Gray.

Riots quieting down:

On Monday some of the National Guard were sent back, and the curfew that was set was lifted. The riots are quieting  down, and Baltimore is a safe place.

Robo Chimp by William Staniar

Could a robot chimp really be part of space exploration? A German research facility, is trying to make this happen for unmanned lunar missions.

    The robot, nicknamed “Charlie”, has quadruped stability which the creators hope will help the robot move over all sorts of terrain. Charlie can crawl on four limbs, but can also stand up and walk around on two feet making him an able traveler on the moon.

The chimps greatest part about it, is that it can choose how it moves best in certain situations. If there is an incline, it will go down on all fours and crawl. But if there is an open area, it will stand up so that it can get a better view.

    Most robots before, have had single point contact on their feet. Now, this robot has highly equipped technology in its feet. This provides a better moving robot for moon missions.

    Another huge asset to the robotic chimp, is that it has a spine. This allows it to move, putting less weight on the legs. The advanced mobility will help the robot move on the moon, but not until it is space proof. The creators say that it may be a while before Charlie is able to travel to the moon.

    A robo-chimp might not be the only animal that gets to go to space. The German facility is looking at a robotic scorpion and a robotic mantis too.

    This chimp may be the future of space exploration. With this robot, we could find out so much more, about the way our moon works. Soon, we could know a lot more about the moon then we think we know.

ISIS in Syria by Ankur Puroa

On the news you have been hearing about how ISIS attacked somewhere or how ISIS has been pushed back or repelled, but how far has ISIS actually gotten? Currently, ISIS effectively controls about 91% of Syria, with Kurdish fighters controlling the other 9%. ISIS also controls about 28/53. So, just over half of the Syrian cities.

Though the US and other countries have been providing air support, they really haven’t made that large of a dent in the effectiveness of ISIS. Now that you know how much of Syria is controlled by ISIS what do you think the US and other NATO and UN nations should do. I think that Most of the countries will remain out of the conflict.  Although some think that some countries like the US and Russia will be looking to carry out more air strikes and maybe even put troops onto the ground.

Apple Watch by Will Stanier

The iPhone 6 has just arrived. But there is a new device that is blowing people away. The new Apple Watch is finally here and excited Americans are trying to get their hands on one. Even before the release date, pre-ordering the watch is tough. The watch sold out online within a few hours. Some buyers could have to wait until May or July to receive their watches.

    Now, this is no ordinary watch. Apple has made this watch advanced and equipped with fitness tracking, clocks, the ability to text and send mail, a way to play music, internet access, and much more. This watch has had people’s attention for a while and has the buyers wanting one as soon as possible.

    The price of something can really change your decision on whether you want to buy it or not. The price of this watch and the different types, could be a little on the expensive side. The Watch Sport is priced at $349. The Watch is priced higher, at $549. Finally, the Watch Edition is priced at a cost of about $10,000 dollars! Around 62% of people who bought an Apple Watch, bought the less expensive, Watch Sport.

    Apple is always thinking of something else, to amaze the world. This watch is that next amazing thing. I think that people are excited about it will buy it. It will be the trending electronic while the world is just waiting for the day that they can get an Apple Watch for themselves.

Earthquake in Nepal by Russell Kim

If you have heard or read the news, an earthquake with the magnitude of 7.8~8.1 occurred near Kathmandu, Nepal at 05:54 UTC(Universal Time Coordinated) or GMT(Greenwich Mean Time)+0, 11:56 NST or GMT+5.45, and 00:54 EST or GMT-5 on Apr 25, 2015.  Its epicenter was approximately 34 km (21 mi) east-southeast of Lamjung, Nepal, and its hypocenter was at a depth of approximately 15 km (9.3 mi).

    Many of Nepal's most renowned pagodas in and around Kathmandu crumbled into rubble-covered stumps when the earthquake hit, the worst architectural losses have included the majestic Shiva temple pagoda and its twin, the Narayan temple pagoda, which dominated Kathmandu's main Durbar Square.  People were smothered under splintered hand-carved wooden beams or multi-level rooftops.  Good thing that the Kathmandu Valley's other pagodas, stupas and shrines (also built mostly of red brick hundreds of years ago) suffered surprisingly little damage and remained standing next to structures which disappeared.  

    Since the late 1960’s, the Western hippy backpackers who traveled the legendary overland route to Kathmandu and climb to Shiva pagodas’ wide, nine-step plinth, sit in the shade under the triple layered roofs, smoke hashish and enjoy the view.  But after the earthquake hit, the two pagodas have been obliterated and looks like a ruin, with piles of rubble.  Bulldozer shoveling a path for vehicles, shocked and miserable witnesses and a sense of irreplaceable visual and spiritual loss.

    The 2 public platform pagodas: Shiva temple pagoda, and Narayan pagoda, attracts crowds of Nepalis and foreigners because the plinths' height above street level, which gives excellent views of major Hindu processions and other events. Shiva temple pagoda may have been hundreds of years old, but coolies and others would publicly urinate into the gutter surrounding it while waiting for passengers or heavy loads to transport.  And the slightly shorter, triple-roofed Narayan pagoda allows the vegetable sellers to display their foods on the temple’s broad.  Those two landmarks fronted the enclosed dwelling place of Nepal's Hindu virgin goddess, or Kumari, whose ornate front of bricks, statues and carved wood seem to have survived the initial quakes, but it’s not known yet if the inner courtyard and rooms are safe.

On the other side of Durbar Square, the brick-and-wood Shiva-Parvati temple house (where the Hindu gods Shiva and his consort Parvati shelter), the Sundari Chowk temple, and a surviving lucky trio of holy structures: the gray stone, Mogul-influenced Krishna Mandir, the 17th-century Bishwa Nath Mandir with its large stone elephants at the entrance, and the nearby smaller 17th-century Bimsen Mandi "god of the traders" pagoda had also survived.  Elsewhere in the Kathmandu Valley, the white-topped dome of the Boudhanath Stupa remains standing, but its smaller neighboring stupa has shown some damage from the quake.

There are also no news about the damage caused to other structures such as famous places in Hindu and Buddhist worship, including the hilltop Swayambhunath temple on the outskirts of Kathmandu.  The Swayambhunath temple is popularly known as the "Monkey Temple" because its often vicious wild monkeys that scampers among the trees on the temple's hill, terrifying visitors who have to hike up a lengthy stairway to reach the temples, shrines, shops and monks' residences.  And the Pashupatinath Temple complex near Kathmandu's international airport is also unknown.
 

For more information, visit:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/26/travel/nepal-earthquake-landmarks/index.html

Terror Across Kenya by Ankur Purao

Last week Somali extremist militant group Al Shabaab massacred 147 students at a college in southern Kenya. This school was specifically targeted because it was a Christian school. The four gunmen mainly attempted to target those who were praying. The gunmen held control over the school for six hours before Kenyan military authorities finally arrived. Many of the surviving students were traumatized, either with their close encounter with death or with the sight of seeing their friends shot dead. After vowing retaliation, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta authorized several military strikes on Al Shabaab training grounds. Now, Al Shabaab is promising retaliation saying that “The streets in Kenya will run red with blood.”

Eco-Friendly Designer Transforms Garbage into Outfits by Celina Campos

Do you like fashion? if you do would be a great idea read this article.

You know that all artists have a favorite material that they like to work with, but did you know that one artist work with garbage this person is the 28 year old Kristen Alyce.

She uses empty  bottles, Skittles wrappers, old magazines and other stuff however turn into glamorous outfits that sell for thousands of dollars.  Her first dress wore made out of plastic bags and rolled magazines and turn out being great. However, she only made it to test her creativity.

Kristen Alyce began creating line by 12 garbage-inspired dresses. They were a tremendous success and Garbage Gone Glam was born!

Today the company that has offices in Palm Beach, Florida and New York. Since the designer can work with anything from brochures to yellow page directory pages to candy wrappers.

I personally love her dresses, they are so creative and I think that her idea to make ‘‘garbage’’ into a beautiful dress.  

DNA Reconstruction for Investigation by Ankur Purao

DNA analysis is an investigative tool that can help police identify suspects. The software uses evidence carrying a biological marker to the person who left the trace, with near-certainty you will be able to identify your suspect.

This DNA reconstruction software can rebuild a person from their strand of hair or a fleck of your skin that was left at a crime scene. The software is not deadly accurate, but it can still get you the basic gist of things. This software can be used to capture criminals who have not been identified yet or who are on the run and will prove to be very helpful in the near future.

Parabon NanoLabs now offers a service called Snapshot which can predict the genetic ancestry, eye color, hair color, skin color, freckling, and face shape of the owner of a DNA specimen. Snapshot won’t direct you to the door of your suspect, but it can tell you who you can confidently exclude from your list of suspects. It also gives police an accurate representation of the suspect if you were looking for someone who was on the run.

To Kill A Mockingbird Sequel by Taran Samarth

To Kill a Mockingbird was supposedly the only book Harper Lee wrote until her lawyer, Tonja Carter, found it in a collection of files last fall. The manuscript, Go Set a Watchman, was the original book sent to her editor and was given back with the suggestion of placing the book in a young Scout's mind. That resulted in Lee's Mockingbird which became one of the best-selling books in history and was TIME Magazine's top book of all time.

Watchman features Scout Finch visiting Maycomb County, Alabama to find her father after a career in New York City. It will feature the theme of Tom Robinson's trial and the effects on Maycomb and Atticus Finch after so many years. The title comes from Isaiah 21:6: "For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, left him declare what he seeth." and alludes to Atticus as being the "watchman" of Maycomb.  It will be released early July by HarperCollins with an estimated two million release copies.

Delta Jet Skids Off Runway by Haskel Canagarajah

Why do airlines cancel flights due to weather? Delta flight 1086 is an example of why. The plane, which originated from Atlanta, skidded off the runway in New York's Laguardia Airport last Thursday morning. There was no loss of life, but all that could have changed in a split-second, because the plane was inches away from crashing into the water, which could have resulted in a tremendous loss of life. There were a few injuries, but none of them are life threatening. There were 132 people on the plane (Including crew members) including New York Giants tight end Larry Donnell.

The runway had reportedly not been treated, but Air Traffic Control still gave the Delta flight clearance to land. Some people say that freezing fog caused this crash. freezing fog is basically when there is fog in an area where the temperature is below freezing, in this situation whatever the fog hits will freeze on contact. It can hit a tree, a road, anything, and that thing will freeze. In this situation it was a runway.

All runways at Laguardia were closed after the crash Thursday, however, one runway was opened at 2:00 PM.

What's interesting is that in October, the same type of plane, operated by the same airline had an incident on the same runway, but different from what happened on thursday.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) along with other agencies are looking into the accident.