Spy plane disrupts air traffic control

“A Cold War-era spy plane caused the computer systems of a major air traffic control system in Southern California, to malfunction majorly. This incident resulted in region-wide air travel delays affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers.”

Information on this article can be found here:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/faa-confirms-spy-plane-scrambled-air-traffic-control-california-n97751

According to the above article, “The U-2 spy plane, the same type of aircraft that flew high-altitude spy missions over Russia 50 years ago, passed through the airspace monitored by the L.A. Air Route Traffic Control Center in Palmdale, Calif., around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.”

This is amazing that a U-2 spy plane from the Cold War showed up again fifty years later. 

The U-2 spy plane was flying at 60,000 feet. The U-2 spy plane’s altitude and route overloaded the ERAM computer system that generates display data for air-traffic controllers. The spy plane also caused the computers back-up computer systems to fail.

Basically, the computer system malfunctioned and tracked the plane to be flying 10,000 feet or below when really it was flying at 60,000 feet. The system was built to control plane traffic to avoid collisions but in this case it was tracking planes that weren’t even close to each other.

“There were 27 cancellations of arriving flights, as well as 212 delays and 27 diversions to other airports. Twenty-three departing flights were cancelled, while 216 were delayed.” This happened at LAX. One of the busiest airports in the country. All these delays and cancellations were due to this U-2 spy plane throwing the whole system off.

The air traffic control computer system was repaired an hour later. In order to prevent this from happening again in the future the air traffic control computer system now requires specific altitude information for each plane.

Coca Cola drops ingredient

Coca Cola decided to drop brominated vegetable oil from their products this week. This is a similar move to Pepsi removing it from their product of Gatorade last year. Brominated Vegetable oil is found in Powerade, and drinks like Fanta and Fresca.

The reason for this brominated vegetable oil being removed is due to petitioning on Change.org by a teenager.

A teenager from Mississipipi, named Sarah Kavanagh wanted the brominated vegetable oil from Gatorade and Powerade products.

According to an article that can be found in the link that is below, “The Food and Drug Administration says the ingredient is used as a stabilizer for flavoring oils in fruit-flavored drinks. But Kavanagh's petition noted that it has been patented as a flame retardant and isn't approved for use in Japan or the European Union.”

However, brominated vegetable oil is legal and complies with regulations in the countries it is sold in.

The article on Sarah Kavanagh’s petition and why Coca Cola and Pepsi companies have removed this product from their products, can be found here:

http://money.msn.com/businessnews/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20140505&id=17586970

Brominated vegetable oil is used for improving the stability of its drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade. Brominated vegetable oil can also prevent certain ingredients from separating in drinks.

The article tells readers that Coca Cola will instead use sucrose acetate isobutyrate and glycerol ester of rosin, which it said is commonly found in things like gum and other drinks. Coca Cola said sucrose acetate isobutyrate has been used in its drinks for over fourteen years.

This whole thing just goes to show you that you should look into what goes into your foods as well as if you want to make a change you do have a voice and you should use it. This is related to the Food Inc movie in many ways. Both tell us to “Speak up America!”

Why crush someone's dream?

Some people have their life all together and planned out when they are young, others ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ as they say. But hey, whatever makes you happiest. Life’s all about planning whether it is short term planning or long term, it always helps to have a plan.

When you are young you usually plan out what you want to be when you’re older and you usually picture something more extravagant than you will be able to afford. So on the chance, which sometimes can be small in today’s world, in which everything does work out for you and you can afford you should take that chance on your dreams.

Dreams are important, they drive our success. They help you want to work hard so that you can come close or potentially achieve your dreams.

Kids often have dream jobs, and cars, but what about homes? What is your dream home like?

In my last blog, a couple was inspired by the Disney Pixar movie, “Up”, and painted their home to resemble the house.

A link to this blog can be found here:

http://lydiasblog0703.blogspot.com/2014/04/up-inspired-home.html

This was their dream after seeing this movie and falling in love with it. They faced some ridicule by their neighbors for damaging the Victorian image of the neighborhood but they didn’t care this was their dream.

This relates to the article I am reading now about Lois Cherry and his wife, Marsha Gordon. Cherry is an architect and he too wanted to build his family their dream house. Their home is located in North Carolina. The modernly built design has neighbors up in arms, so to speak. The neighbors are angered that is disrupts the Victorian style of their neighborhood. This sounds very similar to the article about the “Up” inspired home.

This couple had to face a four hour hearing to get the proper building permit for their modern inspired home. They made it clear it would be this too.

They started to build their beautiful dream home and fell in love with it, but the neighbors did not.

Neighbors are hiring lawyers to accuse Lois Cherry and Marsha Gordon of violating “Historic Development”.

All I have to say to this is really people? It’s one house on the whole street. Who cares if it looks different? This provides a contrast for people to admire no architecture and old.

If it’s their dream why crush it? How would you feel if someone crushed your dreams?

To read more on this issue:

http://www.today.com/money/neighbors-want-architects-dream-home-torn-down-its-devastating-2D79606820

"Up" inspired home

Watching movies and TV shows, is just part of our American Culture these days. Have you ever seen something in a movie and said to yourself, “wow I want to do that?” I know I have a million times. Whether it’s playing a prank on someone, pulling off a stunt, or just simply changing yourself or something you own to look a movie, many people have had these thoughts. This is how our culture is influenced. We are influenced through things we see in movies that we want to make our reality.

Hosam Haggog and Fatima Rahman have done this as well. They have spent two years renovating their house to look like the house from the animated Disney Pixar movie, “Up.” I find this absolutely wonderful because I myself have a special appreciation for all things Disney, not to mention all things Pixar.

Their home is located in Santa Clara, California on Harrison Street. Although, I, myself, think this is an absolutely wonderful idea. Hosam Haggog and Fatima Rahman’s neighbors do not agree.

“Harrison Street is the oldest street in Santa Clara with homes more than 100 years old. Many residents take pride in preserving the original look and style of their Victorians.”

The above quote is from the following article that can be found at think link:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/neighborhood-arms-over-movie-inspired-home-n90971

Many neighbors argued they were making the “house look like a clown”. I think this is an overreaction. Hosam Haggog and Fatima Rahman own this house. I don't think their neighbors should be angry. It is their home they should be able to do with it as they please.

In my opinion, if they are this passionate about this movie, they should express this.

I think what we can all take away from this, is that if you see something in a movie or on a TV show, that you want to do, then go for it and don’t hesitate because of what others think. Anything is possible.

How do you see it?

What is your take on policemen or the government looking through your cell phone?

What about when you get arrested, should police be able to go through your cell phone’s texts, calls and pictures without a warrant?

This is being debated in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

“It's an important case, given that more than 90 percent of American adults now own a cell phone and 58 percent have a smart phone.” this was stated in an article on the subject.

This article can be found at the following link:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/supreme-court-takes-police-power-search-cell-phones-n90046

The constitution prevents police for searching through personal items without a warrant for search; however an exception could be made in the near future for the use of cell phones.

You know what they say; a person’s smart phone holds all of their secrets. That’s why we all protect them like gold, right?

The Supreme Court will be faced with two cases on Tuesday. The article reads as follows, “The Supreme Court will now hear two cases on the privacy issue, both involving criminal defendants who sought to have evidence taken from their phones thrown out on the grounds that the police did not first get a warrant. Lower courts came to opposite conclusions in their cases.”

I think this is an interesting topic up for debate. It will be interesting to see what they rule.

I think my argument to this particular issue is qualifying.

I don’t think it is right for the police to look through your belongings without a search warrant. I think it is wrong and a violation of our privacy, as privacy is one of our freedoms as an American citizen. However, I can also see the other side of this.

The way I see the other side in this, is that, let’s say, you had something happen to a family member, a friend, or a loved one and the police had a suspect. What if the information needed to find this family member or to find out what happened was somehow on this suspect’s cell phone. I would want to know as soon as possible what this person knew. I wouldn’t want to wait around for a warrant.

I see both sides, how do you see it?

Prom

The buzz right now for high school students all across the United States, is prom. It is prom season, and girls are busy pinning hair ideas on Pinterest, and getting their nails painted, while guys are trying to rent tuxes for the night all high school students look forward to.

This is such an exciting time of year for students but what happens when one of your best friends or your prom date gets murdered after becoming prom queen?

I thought, this can’t be real, this sounds like a seen from a movie, but it’s real for students in Connecticut.

At Jonathan Law High School in Connecticut, a 16 year old prom queen was murdered by a classmate.

Maren Sanchez was stabbed to death Friday morning in Jonathan Law High School. According to reports she was stabbed by a classmate, (who’s name can not be released because he is a minor), because she didn’t want to go to prom with him. Or at least this is what is suspected. This kid must’ve felt pretty rejected in order to act out in this way.

This is a tragedy. People need help with their mental illnesses. We need to find ways to prevent these things from happening. Maren Sanchez or her friends or family did not deserve this.

According to an article that can be found here,

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/connecticut-town-mourns-girl-killed-prom-n90886

“The suspect is currently under psychiatric evaluation and a 15-day emergency commitment at a medical facility.”

The above quote is from the suspects attorney, Rich Meehan. According to Meehan the suspect will be charged as an adult.

Friends of the suspect say he was a great kid from a great family. The suspect is on the football team and one of the nicest kids. No one is sure why he caused this tragedy to happen, though it is suspected to have something to do with Maren Sanchez not attending prom with him as her date.

The stresses that things like prom put on high school students of my generation are absolutely ridiculous in my opinion, especially if they cause someone to be mentally ill and to commit a crime of this demeanor.

Please talk to your friends or your kids or someone you know and remind them that these events are meant to be joyful, and these times in your/their lives are supposed to be worry free. We want to prevent tragedies like this from happening. We, as a society, need to take away the stress of these things on our young adults today.

For more on prom related, visit my last blog here: http://lydiasblog0703.blogspot.com/2014/04/asking-celebrity-to-prom.html

Asking a Celebrity to Prom

Being famous would really be something now, wouldn’t it? It’s prom season, and all over social media you hear of kids asking celebrities and famous people to be their prom dates. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a celebrity actually saying yes and going with a student to their high schools prom but I do find it interesting that these students are so intrigued by someone they have never met before.

Have you ever thought about this? Why are we so intrigued by other humans who are popular in the media? This seems weird if you really think about it. It’s like you always thinking about your loved one, but when you think this way about a celebrity it’s almost creepy, because you have never met this person before in your life, yet you love them.

What about being a super model? People all over idealize about what it would be like to look like you or date you, if you were a model. None the less, being Miss America, yeah that would be pretty fabulous. People all across the country would love you.

This year’s Miss America, Nina Davuluri was visiting high schools on a tour when a young boy at a Pennsylvania high school asked her to prom. This boy wanted more than anything to go with her but unfortunately, The Miss America, Nina Davuluri, had to decline due to her busy schedule.

Even though, Miss America, Nina Davuluri was not offended by this boy’s request for a prom date, the school thought otherwise.

This school gave this student a three day in school suspension according to the following article:

http://www.today.com/style/miss-america-defends-student-suspended-asking-her-prom-1D79552132

 Miss America, herself, stuck up for the student and said he shouldn’t be in any kind of trouble for asking her. However the school released a statement about student behavior.

This statement reads, “"It is not our practice to discipline a student for asking someone - even Miss America - to a school dance," the statement said. "However, it is our practice to set expectations for student behavior, to communicate those expectations and rules to students and families and to ensure those rules are followed within our schools."”

This I can agree with, that students need to follow behavior expectations when a visitor comes, however I think he shouldn’t have been suspended.

Read the article above and tell me what you think!