Responses to Articles - Article Example

Reading Logs Article: Meet the Nine Richest Self-Made Women URL: http www.csmonitor.com/Business 0305/Forbes-billionaires-list-Meet-the-nine-richest-self-made-women/Oprah-Winfrey?google_editors_picks=true Response: The feminist cause has been long and hard fought for the most part of its history. Women have had to struggle in order to get to the top of the business chain where they are often faced with the reality of having to break down the glass ceiling. The article about the 9 richest self-made women has shown the public that women have finally broken through the glass ceiling and have finally earned their right to stand alongside their male counterparts, sometimes in a more powerful position than the other. It is an article that proves that women do not need to always inherit their fortunes, they are more than capable of creating their own wealth these days because they have become more than capable of beating businessmen at their own game. Article: The Price of Marriage in China URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/business/in-a-changing-china-new-matchmaking-markets.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Response: It saddens me to come to the understanding that in Beijing, China. marriage is more about a business deal than it is about a mutual feeling of love and respect for one another. These love hunters and parents who stand in streets advertising that their children are looking for a spouse make marriage seem like such a professional undertaking. The act of marriage in China it seems, no longer factors in compatibility and love as the main reasons for marriage. Rather the marriages are mostly based upon a preset criteria coming from both sides and an understanding of what is required within the marriage. The new age Chinese marriages give new meaning to the term “Marriage Contract”. Article: Living With Less. A Lot Less URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/opinion/sunday/living-with-less-a-lot-less.html?pagewanted=all Response: This article was an eye opener for me. Until I read about how much space Graham Hill was wasting in his previous living areas just because of the gadgets and items that he had but did not actually need, I did not realize that I was moving along the same path. His article taught me one major thing about my life, I need to downsize in order to reduce the stress level that I have when I am at home. Simple living is the key to a happier life and, following in Grahams example, I am going to do exactly that. Article: Wealth Over the Edge: Singapore URL: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324662404578334330162556670.html Response: I already knew that Asia was the emerging economic leader in the world of business and pleasure. But the extent of the fast paced growth did not really occur to me until I read about the excessively luxurious lifestyle that the rich and famous currently enjoy in Singapore. I will admit that although I envied them because of their liquidity, their excesses and haphazard spending left a bad taste in my mouth. While the rest of the world goes hungry and nations near the verge of economic collapse, these people, who can do better with their money, have chosen to live a lifestyle that should be declared a crime against humanity and world economies. Article: Falkand Islands Hold Referendum on Disputed Status URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/10/world/americas/falklands-referendum/index.html Response: It seems that there is a lot of disputed territory going around the world these days. From the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the island of Sabah in Malaysia, and now, the Falkland Islands, there seems to be a trend towards countries usurping and claiming other parcels of land for their own. The Falklands referendum though, shows people who to deal with territorial disputes in the 21st century. By holding a referendum, the people of the Falklands will actually decide their own fate, not the U.N., not an invading force. And that, is just how it should be because in all of these disputed islands, it is actually the people living on the island in question that have to deal with the final decision for the rest of their lives. Article:The New Leader of the GOP: Rand Paul URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/08/opinion/elleithee-gop-rand-paul/index.html Response: Rand Paul and his 13 hour filibuster in the hallowed halls of the senate proved only one thing to those who read this article, the Republican Party is far from rolling over and handing over the leadership of the United States to A singular political party in the form of the Democratic party. Rather, the Republicans are now ushering in a new era of politicians within their party. Rand Paul is currently the most notable one of the roster that includes Marco Rubio because Rand Paul showed the public what true politics is about and that if you make enough noise, Washington leaders will actually answer your questions. If Rand Paul keeps up his high profile momentum from his filibuster, he is going to be an excellent GOP candidate for the White House in 2016. Article: Singled Out (For the Single Supplement) URL: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/travel/singled-out-for-the-single-supplement.html?pagewanted=all Response: This article reminded me of something that I had almost forgotten because of the way that I live my single life at the moment, not everything can be done alone. In this instance, it seems that taking a solo vacation is something that vacation companies frown upon because of the lack of income it provides. I can understand their point of view on the matter. But, matching up a solo traveler with an unknown roommate is not exactly a safe way to spend a vacation. Neither is it the kind of vacation that a person wishing for solitude during his vacation would prefer. I know that I would prefer to go on a solo vacation, provided that I can get a discount on a double room rate. Article: How to Resurrect Lost Species URL: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130310-extinct-species-cloning-deextinction-genetics-science/ Response: I would title this article “Jurrasic Park Isnt Just a Movie” instead because of the reference to reviving dinosaurs or the possibility of extracting ancient animal DNA for further testing and possible cloning. Even though the article claims that the technology to do just that might be available in the next 20 years, there is just something about the thought of reviving prehistoric animals that makes my skin hairs stand on end. I guess for me, I would rather let the lost species remain that way because nobody knows how reviving the species will affect the natural balance of the human life in our current era. But, I will not discount the fact that studying the prehistoric DNA may have its benefits in terms of future use. But just like everything else in the scientific community, it would be best if the thought of reviving an extinct species were met with extreme caution. Article: Death in Jail of Man Accused in New Delhi Gang Rape Sparks Criticism of Prison Security URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indian-police-official-says-man-accused-in-new-delhi-gang-rape-has-committed-suicide-in-jail/2013/03/10/91d25dea-89f4-11e2-a88e-461ffa2e34e4_story.html Response: This article raised one question for me which is feel is of the utmost importance in this case. Should we really care that a man, accused of being part of a group that gang raped a woman, resulting in her death, took his own life while he was in prison and awaiting trial? In some instances, such an act would be taken as an admission of guilt from the defendant and therefore bring some sort of closure to the parents of the victim. In my opinion, it should matter and we should care simply because it would have been better for everyone concerned to have known that he was either guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, or just falsely accused as was implied by those who knew the man. Article: Research Ties Economic Inequality to Gap in Life Expectancy URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/research-ties-economic-inequality-to-gap-in-life-expectancy/2013/03/10/c7a323c4-7094-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.html?wprss&google_editors_picks=true Response: Lets look at this report in the perspective that the longer we live, the more money we will need as retirees. The more money a person has, the longer his life will be because he can afford to maintain his medical needs. While those with less money will sacrifice their medicines. Yes, I can definitely see a finance based inequality in the range of life expectancy for people these days and that is a trend that should be changed. People, regardless of financial status in life, should be allowed the same opportunity to live a full and productive life. Article: Eleven People Shot on DC Street Corner Overnight URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/up-to-11-people-shot-on-dc-street-corner-overnight/2013/03/11/d7c5197e-8a39-11e2-a051-6810d606108d_story.html?wprss&google_editors_picks=true Response: We all know that New York has been struggling to get back on its feet since the events of 9/11. However, the overnight shooting of people in New York citys NoMa district does nothing to improve the security image of the city. It seems that rather than becoming a safer place for people to stay in, even at night, New York has becoming a thug capital where even innocent bystanders are not spared from the participants of gang related violence. Needless to say, I am never going to be seen in New York city until their security situation improves, most specially at night when the security forces need to be the most visible. Article: Catholic Cardinals Finish Meetings Ahead of Choosing Pope URL: http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-pope-catholic-cardinals-conclave-20130311,0,6183120.story Response: I never realized how political religion was until I heard about the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. This conclave thing is something very new to me but I seem to understand it mostly as the campaign period for the people chosen to elect the next leader of the Catholic church. I guess it is similar to a presidential election for that matter. But with all the scandals and questions surrounding the Catholic church at the moment, it seems to me that electing a new pope isnt going to save their flock from dwindling away. Specially since the politics of electing the next pope is now known to most people and is no longer as magical and ethereal as it used to seem. Article: North Korea Leaves Phone to South Korea Off the Hook URL: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2013/0311/North-Korea-leaves-phone-to-South-Korea-off-the-hook Response: In a world full of global uncertainty, the last thing that we need is for North and South Korea to go to war. We already know that North Korea tends to act like a bully most of the time, even though it has no financial or international support to speak of, yet its newly ascended leader chooses to rock the boat and see how far he can go before the South or America finally retaliates. Threatening to nuke the United States was not a good move on the part of the North either. Just because the United States is cash strapped at the moment does not mean that it has lost the ability to deploy and use their military forces in defense of their country. All of this political stances that the concerned parties are taking just serves to make an already delicate situation even worse. Article: Two Years On, Fukishima Casts No Shadow Over Nuclear URL: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-11/two-years-on-fukushima-casts-no-shadow-over-nuclear Response: On the anniversary of the Japan 3/11 Tsunami, it is important to look back on the after-effects that the situation had on the Fukushima power plant. Although it still does not seem to pose the same threat level as that of the Chernobyl accident in the 20th century, one still cannot help but remind himself that nuclear power is a dangerous thing to use. After reading the article, I became even further convinced that nuclear power should be eradicated from the world. It poses a threat that affects not only the country where the explosion happened, but its surrounding countries as well. It causes illnesses that cannot easily be cured, and puts the lives of everyone on this planet at risk each time the power is used. Therefore, in order to protect our planet for future generations, the best thing to do is to simply stop using that nuclear power source. Article: The Next Pope -- Looking for Joy and the Right Personality in Rome URL: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/03/11/looking-for-joy-and-conviction-about-mission-from-next-pope/ Response: Living in such a flawed world, I cannot help but wonder if it will be at all possible to choose the right person to lead those of the Catholic faith. They who have a penchant for turning every single little social issue into an unreasonable political debate that they, as religious leaders, should have nothing to do with, will try to elect someone to lead their dwindling flock. Beset with sex scandals, accusations of money laundering, and other improprieties, I cannot help but wonder if there is actually a man within their roster of candidates who can save the beleaguered church. Somehow, I do not think that simply choosing a new pope will solve the problems of this church nor spell out a new mission for a cult that is fast losing members to other mega church / entertainment based cults that seem to be the religious trend of the 21st century. Read More