This takes the cake

So in reading and listening to this article I was both surprised and confused. A woman has a home that she can’t make payments on, is going to nursing school, and has three kids. So she does a remodel, that she seems to blame for her situation, and that the acting company she was with has gone under. I’m trying to figure out what her income is, does she have a job or was she just crossing her fingers with acting career and the substitute job? I'm confused. I read this expecting to read of a sad story of someone who'd been working and lost their job, but from what I've read so far isn't the case, it seems more like that she was living beyond her means and didn't want to give up the house. So what do you do in times like this? Look for a job or bake cakes? First she goes to apply for Obama’s Making Home Affordable plan but that didn't pan out as there was no response for three months, surprised, I think not. Well she decided to bake cakes, and take orders from multiple people with no plan on how to get them baked and delivered. Even though she’d already reached her goal in one week, that of course was not enough. It’s as though she wanted the story to get out and crossed her fingers hoping someone would help her out, wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what happened. So thanks to some 'angles' that have stepped in and helped solve the problem so can now afford her home, for the time being. Still trying to figure out what she plans to do in the future, the next time she needs her house fixed as it doesn’t seem to be completed, I’m sure some contractor will step in and fix it all for free. I'm always confused when I read stories like these, because it seems that people will step up when they know that it will get them in the lime light. I know that one of the groups helping her is a nonprofit company and I get that, I just think this goes to show that yes you can make a wrong go right, but thinking ahead would be nice too. She's baking cakes, or having others bake them for her, to help pay for a mortgage that she probably still can't afford going forward. This is one area that I feel is wrong with people today, they want and want and would rather go into debt then own up to the fact that they are no longer in a situation to be living the way they are accustomed to. Take a moment to read this and let me know what you think. Am I just to cynical?

Ann's take on government and health care

Reading this blog that you can find here it comes to light Ann's opinion of Obama and the health care reform. I think her blog is intended for those that do not support Obama or have come to change their opinion of him being elected to office. Ann is know for her controversial views and at the same time her views are those that many people do agree with, me being one. I think she has a valid point on how she views the process and the change that Obama is trying to enforce. I think it is true that many people expect something for nothing and feel that somehow they are owed it and it feels as though the government now feels that way too. I think I work for a living and pay for insurance coverage for myself and my family so why can't everyone else? I don't think it is fair that people that choose not to work and feed off the people should be allowed to do this. I think that somewhere along the line that yes there are those that hit rough times and they should not be punished for that, but they should show they are trying to better themselves somehow and not just mooch off the people. Ann has the views and based on her background and the work she has done she is someone that you can take what she says for what it is worth. She is not just a random person off the street voicing her opinion, that isn't a bad thing, but I think when someone has the experiences in the area that they are talking about then it is easier to believe not necessarily agree.

What do we really know?

When I think about Independence Day I do not normally think of the citizenship test that many immigrants have to take in order to become an American. Do you think you could pass the 100 question citizenship ? Those of us that believe we are Americans are the same that would barely pass the test. Reading this article made me see that it is true that we do not truly know all about our government and how it works, espeically high school students.
Reading this it would seem that it is intended for parents to read and to hopefully get them thinking about what their child is learing in school. Maybe the student to realize that maybe they haven't been taking their government/history class as serious as they probably should. The writer seems to do his research to give the comparisons that provide legitimate insight to how students are performing today.
It would have been nice to hear some examples of how he believes the students in today's world should be educated in school. Since there is no consistent way for teachers to teach, it is a roll of the dice what you learn in a class based on the teacher and your interest. I am one that if it doesn't make sense to me or is of no interest I just don't grasp or retain it. That is not an excuse but a think the way many students function today.
Overall, I think that the article was a good one and got to the point of the matter. If this test was a part of a curriculum for all students and was made to be understood that you should understand and know the answers and each year the test was taken, then maybe the appreciation for what the government is and does would be better appreciated. I think that once you understand the history and really learn it then you can grow to have an appreciation. The fact that some people might say what they want about immigrants they can pass this test based on the items that are taught in our schools. Isn't that something that we should be working on?

Brief Recap - Sotomayor for Supreme Court

I am not one that really follows the political day to day things, this would be one reason this class is good for me. But in searching for an article to read and write about that I could be somewhat passionate about I found this one in the Houston Chronicle. It talks about the last few days of Sotomayor's hearings. Again, this is not something I have been following so I am not strong one way or the other when it comes down to it. Although, after reading this I did find it very interesting how she is portrayed. Granted it could be the writer of the article that allows it to come across the way I've read it but I guess that could be the point. In this is talks about how the Republicans are questioning her and how it seems she doesn't really have an opinion on much. I do find this strange, I would expect to read this and find out answers to her stance on items such as abortion and gun control, whether for or against. Based on what I've read it seems she was focused more on entertaining the audience and making them laugh, is this the new way to get into comedy? It does concern me now that President Obama has nominated someone for the Supreme Court that doesn't seem to voice an opinion. Maybe that is what she was told to do in the preparation meetings, if so maybe that is the issue.

I think this would be a good article to read for someone who might feel strongly in support of Sotomayor and her joining the Supreme Court. It could possibly add some insight into a side of her that has yet not been seen.
Overall this has left me with a bad taste in my mouth for Sotomayor as well as peaks my interest to see how it all turns out.

Happy reading..