Walking in the Sky

I'm going Vegan...

2008-07-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

So after a few months for frustration, I've decided to become Vegan... I will be on this vegan diet for 5 months.. i want to slim down for florida.. but friday is sophia's birthday and we're going out to eat.. so that is ONE day i might be vegan

Judge Favor Austin School in a Student Sex Case

2008-05-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

In winter 2003, was the time a former student that attending James Bowie High school, claimed he had a sexual relationship with the color guard instructor, James Scott Johnson. In 2004, Johnson was fired after the mother showed the school principal phone records between the teacher and student. The former student filed a suit against the school stating that the district didn’t protect the student after the teacher made a comment to other employee that he was “coming out,” therefore it violated the Title IX of the federal education code. The U.S. District Court Judge ruled that there were no evidences of their relationship nor did other employees knew of their relationship.

Johnson claimed that he was just being a friend to the student because the student had problems with the parents finding out the student was gay. The student claimed that they had several sexual interactions, in the school’s closet, at Johnson’s apartment and car (it was in the article).

The suit was filed in January 2007, when the incident claimed to occur in winter 2003. Even though, the mother had phone records of the two exchanging calls. The only hard evidence the student has is the phone records from 2003. The student did not have any evidences of other employees knowing about their sexual relationship.

The student is suiting the district because the “district did not do enough to stop the relationship.” At the time of the incident, the teacher was 25 and the student was 16. In my opinion, the student was not forced into the relationship and was aware of what was going on. I know that it is consider statutory rape, and there is not statue of limitation on statutory rape. But it makes it hard to believe that the student will file the case four years later.

If I was the U.S. District Court Judge, I would rule for the school to because there was just not enough evidence in favor of the plaintiff. I think that if the case was filed after the phone records was presented to the principle, the student would have been favored over the defendant.

The Debate about Abortion

2008-05-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am comment on A Piece of Pecan Pie's Blog 7, it states that Texas should not allow abortions. I do NOT agree with that. I believe that any woman can make their own decision.

There is a reason why abortion has not been abolished. It will go against some US constitution law, which Texas constitution is almost identical too. The Roe vs. Wade case was overturn. Not only that, some individuals have their own religion beliefs. Sometime a mother needs to have an abortion if their life is at risk just by carrying or delivering the child. And of course, it will be suggested by their physician.

I do agree that abortion should not be depended on just in case a woman gets pregnancy because of an irresponsible decision. However, for those that use contraceptives in all measures and got pregnant, or rape victims, I believe that the woman can make any decision they want. Who are we to judge? We all have different preference of religions and different opinions. I think it is no one else business.

Yes, adoption is an alternative decision rather than abortion, but the woman has to go through the 9 months of pregnancy and delivering the baby. It is found that mothers go through depression after giving up their child. Then, when the child grows up and discovers that they were adopted they question why they were given up at birth. There is a lot of psychological problems in the future.

Sometimes parents or the mother can not financial take of this child. Texas has a high percent of families on wealth fare and that includes single mother. Our state tax would increase.

Over all, I disagree and I think it is up to the woman's decision.

TX's Backup Plan For Gas

2008-04-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

According to Austin American Statesmen, California has the most expensive gas and New Jersey has the lowest price, and Texas is in the middle. In the Dallas Morning News, it was stated that Forth Worth has the most expensive gas. It is averaging $3.49 per gallon, which is about 13 cent increase. The shocking news that scares all citizens, gas price in Texas might or WILL be over $4.00 per gallon.

I am pretty sure all citizens in the United States are affected by the dramatic gas price increase. But within Texas State itself, what are some problems does Texans face? For the lower income citizens and families, the price increase is a major problem for them. According to the Center for Public Policy Priorities, minimum wage is $6.55 an hour, and there are actually mothers, fathers, students or any citizens that work for $6.55 an hour. With the financial income, they cannot afford to pay the price gas, especially at what it is now.

Of course, we look at alternative method for transportation, such as riding the bus, car pooling, bicycling, using electric bicycle or scooter or simply just walking. It brings up the inconvenience for time, it might be a handful of hassles, might be uncomfortable because of Texas’s weather and other factors that come along with not driving your own car.

I want to bring up the question about the oil fields in Texas. Do we [Texans], even have oil in our land? What are we doing with the oil fields? Why aren’t we using it? If we are not using it, why are we saving it? I do not know exactly who to turn to for answers, or I don’t even think there are any correct answers for my questions. But my assumptions are, we [Texans] are saving our oil for the future. The United States are purchasing gas overseas and those countries are charging a lot. When those foreign oil is all out, we have oil from Texas’s oil field to keep our economic going. It will be supplied for Texans to use and for other states or countries to purchase. And Texas will charge A LOT for our oil since we have a lot of oil fields.

Being a Texans, I am not too worried about gas. We have a lot of oil in Texas, and Texas is a smart state. We have good, smart officials that will take can of the Texan citizens.

Death Penalty: A Fair Punishment

2008-04-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

This posting is in response to a classmate’s blog regarding the death penalty. This blog can be viewed at A Citizen's Thoughts Blog.

I agree that Texas should never get rid of the death penalty. To be sentence the death penalty, the murderer have had committed dreadful murder or murders. It is good to know that Texas does not overuse this punishment. It has been use 405 times for the last 32 years, and “there is no conclusive evidence that any of these people were innocent.”
The death penalty is to prevent more murders from happening. It is an act to make our society safer. For the family that lost their love one, when a murderer is sentence to be executed, is a sense of relief but the pain of losing their love one still continues. I think that the death penalty is one way to show that our justice system is working us citizens. Why should a murderer deserve to live if they have killed an innocent person? It cost a lot of money to provide a prison, security, guards, food and clothing for these murderers. Who is paying for these murderers’ food and shelter? Tax payers?

Tuition Cost Increase

2008-03-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

Dallas Morning News had announced the disappointed news. I am not excited to learn that all University of Texas campuses are going to increase their tuition cost. The board unanimously approved the new rate; tuition will increase five to thirteen percent for the next two years. This will affect independent students and students from a low-income family. One student from UT-Arlington is considering going to a college that is less expensive or a community college. Students that depend on grants and financial aid, the government have to provide more money for them.

At UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas, in 2005, the student agreed for an extra $120 a-year fee for transportation, recreation center and other services. I think it is great that the institution asked for the students’ approval and the extra fee is going towards something for the student. But it brings up the question about other campuses.

What are they doing with the extra fees? Is the money going towards the student? What does the student benefit from the extra fees? I am a student that receives no financial support from my parents and it is announced that tuition will increase; I think about the cost that I have to pay for school. Do I really want a new recreation center? No, I want to go to a University and graduate, but costs are increasing dramatically? What should the Texas government do about this?

I think tax payer pay should pay more taxes for education. I, as a worker, pay more for Medicare and Social Security. It brings questions, whether I will even get my Social Security when I turn 65. If we give money for Medicare, I think we should give a little more money for education. I know that our economy is going through inflation and that includes tuition cost. But what is the money going towards?

Student Healthcare

2008-03-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

In the Dallas-Forth Worth area, Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and John Peter Smith Health Network joined to provide healthcare to the students. JPS is the county hospital for Tarrant County in Forth Worth, Texas. As of January 16, 2008, the clinic will serve all students and their siblings up to the age of 18 that are in the GCISD. The clinic will treat acute conditions, minor injuries, give immunization and physicals. The agreement between the district and JPS is that the district will provide space and all repairs, and JPS will provide practitioners, medical staffs and supplies. Students with insurances will pay the co-pay and students without insurance will pay $5 for an office visit. The clinic is having a smooth start.

This consolidation is important to the low-income families and families with or without health insurances. Students will have access to the health care provider and it will be affordable. It is believe to decrease the number of absences. The school district spent more than $127,000 to remodel the building. The issue is not about spending or making money, the main concern is about students being healthy and getting correct medical attention. By getting immunization, physicals, medicine will help prevent further health problems and educate the students to stay healthy. A newsletter sent out to all students’ home and parents are informed.

We hear it on the news, in social conversation, and presidential candidates’ speak. We all know that medical care is unaffordable. But what have the government done about this problem? Health care CAN be affordable. I work at a family practice clinic and our prices are specially design to service the community and to be affordable. It is ridiculous what practitioners are charging for service and fees.

This is one of the first steps that all county should do for all students that are in their district. The potential benefits are keeping our children healthy and preventing disease or illness. However, if this was the perfect solution, it would have been done before and every county would have done it. There some downside to this, such as expenses, staffing, the size of the population and more. I do believe that the problem will improve. The problem cannot be solved over night nor does the solution can fix everywhere in the United States. By taking a large problem, fixing a small portion of it and later fixing more, is a great start. This small portion begins with one school district and one country hospital.

More Money for College Aid Programs

2008-02-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

I am relief to know that Texas financial aid directors are aware that there is not enough money for the low income students. I am not happy to learn “that less than half of students who qualify for grants actually get it.” Therefore, the financial aid directs, advisors, and experts are urging Texas lawmakers to put more money into college programs. It is very important for the low income students and families to receive aid for college, because most of those students won’t go to college if they didn’t have those funds. Many lawmakers and state officials state that they have other priorities. They are more concerned about the education investment they are putting in and the return they get from the student, graduating on a timely matter. “They all want the money to be used properly and correctly,” and legislatures are aware that colleges need to be more affordable. It is hard on both parties because the legislature have to some how find a solution to the problem and the low income students have a problem, they have a chance not getting their aid. What should government do about this problem? It’s hard to say, if there is not much money to give to college aid problem, then there is not enough. I think the problem begins at the tuition cost. The cost for higher education is ridiculous. The better the institution, the more it will cost. If the cost for education is so high, students will need more financial aid loans or grants. But if they cost for high education decrease, low income student could be affordable. This subject is very sensitive to me because I am under the age of 24 and can not receive grants because of my parents’ income. Therefore, I have to work and go to school. Being independent and going to school is not an easy thing and paying for tuition is not affordable even at a community college. I do plan to transfer to a university and my biggest worry is in regard of the tuition cost.

For more information:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/022208dntexfinancialaid.14af1e11.html

Two Religous Leaders Child Sex Conviction

2008-02-08T00:52:00.000-08:00

This article is about two religious leaders that were convicted for federal charges of having sex with children. Harrod is from Sacramento, California and Labrecque is from Forth Worth, Texas. One of the charges was interstate transportation of minors for sexual activities. Their wives where also charged. Laqrecque’s wife plead guilty for transporting 7 year old son to Texas to have sex with Labrecque. She is cooperating with law enforcement to testify against the two predators. Attorney White states that the crimes were committed in 1991 and 2002. The two are waiting for trail on April 21 and they are facing federal charges.

I wanted my other classmates to read about this article because it shows that our government system is on our side. These crimes were committed in 1991 and 2002. Regardless how many years had, there is no statute of limitation. And whether it was committed in one state or another, they charges are federal and charges will stand. Our government system is working to get these two to serve the rest of the life in prison. We question whether we trust our government. Here is one reason to show that our government is on our side and justice will serve.

For more information: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/CA_Child_Sex_Conviction.html