Sandy Hook Shooting

    On December 13, 26 lives were lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 20 of which were children. The other six were adults, who died trying to protect the children. Who would be so heartless to take the lives of innocent children? Children who hadn't even  lived their lives to the fullest or received gifts yet? Apparently, Adam Lanza (age 20)  had an inhumane motive to do so. In addition to the 26 lives lost, he killed his parents, and soon after the killings, killed himself too. Family members say that Lanza had come from a bad background (and that he was homeschooled).  Psychologists suspect that he had some kind of mental disorder.

       According to Huffingtonpost.com, Nancy Lanza (the mother of Adam Lanza) was planning to send Adam to a "psychiatric facility".  Adam did not take this well; he was very angry at his mom. Many believe that is what led to the Sandy Hook Shooting.

     Even if he was angry at what his mom was planning to do, he should have just agreed to go to the facility. There, they would have taught him to control his anger. Because he didn't go, lives were lost.

     Among those who died were:
       Charlotte Bacon (age 6)
        Daniel Barden (age 7)
        Rachel D'Avino (age 29)
        Olivia Engel (age 6)
        Josephine Gay (age 7)
       Ana Marquez-Greene (age 6)
        Dylan Hockley (age 6)
        Dawn Hochsprung (age 47)
        Madeleine Hsu (age 6)

       Catheline Hubbard (age 6)

       Chase Kowalksi (age 7)

       Jesse Lewis (age 6)

      James Mattioli (age 6)
      Grace McDonnell (age 7)
     Anne Marie Murphy (age 52)
     Emilie Parker (age 6)
     Jack Pinto (age 6)
     Noah Pozner (age 6)
   Caroline Previdi (age 6)
   Jessica Rekos (age 6)
  Avielle Richman (age 6)
  Lauren Rousseau (age 30)
 Mary Sherlach (age 56)
 Victoria Soto (age 27)
 Benjamin Wheeler (age 6)
 Allison Wyatt (age 6)
      Rest in peace, heroes and angels. You all will forever be remembered in our hearts and memories.

       Sources: (http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticut-school-shooting-adam-lanza-mother-visited-gun/story?id=17992396

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/12/17/reaction-connecticut-school-shooting
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/12/connecticut-school-shooting-complete-list-of-victims-names
www.huffingtonpost.com

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Talking SHIFT

     North Korea. What do you think of when you hear those two words? Nuclear weapons. Military unrest. A bad history of Kim's. But how many of you think about the people? Not the people in charge. But the people  that are hidden away from society's eyes. Yes, the citizens of North Korea are subject to cruelty, some since the day they were born. Trapped at prison camps that are claimed to be non-existent, these people face injustice everyday of their lives...some children have no education, no family, no food. Parents are often separated from their children.

    But how long until these people break? The people of North Korea in the prison camps often try to escape. Very few succeed; the few who survive seek refuge in neighboring China, but rather than people with rights, are labeled as illegal immigrants. This is the life they must lead, however, in order to stay alive. They must leave their families, flee from their birthplace, and live in the shadows in order to stay strong. We always focus so much on the nuclear weapons that North Korea is constantly building, but do we ever think to look at the faces of the people the suffer the consequences of having corrupt and plain-evil leaders? Rarely does the US government discuss what happens to the innocent people of North Korea. It's time to change that.

   Take action and do something about this injustice. Click the following links to watch a video about the "slaves" of North Korea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwwyzpEnK0M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PtZmfHjypY This is a video created by the  LiNK  association (Liberty in North Korea). For more information, visit their website at http://libertyinnorthkorea.org/

Please, just take 1 minute to imagine yourself as something less than human. Take 5 minutes to spread the word. Take 10 minutes to do something about it. Take a while to make a change.

If you are a person who cares, then I am sure you will do something. Act now before it's too late. 

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2010, 2011, 2012... Will There be a 2013?

            Each sunset and sunrise signifies the passage of time. As with the passing of each day, the crisp, vibrant leaves that fall away from their trees and powdery snow that delicately blankets the roofs of neighborhood houses are both signals that tell us that the winds of change are sweeping through our country.
            It seems like just yesterday when the beaches were crowded with the vivid coloring of bathing suits and the sun was focused on tanning the innocent people who strolled by. Looking at my calendar, however, the word “December” is stamped in bold, black letters across the paper. It is already the last month of the year.
            Yet, this year, 2012 is a special year. In 2007, José Argüelles, an American author, coined a certain theory that proceeded to convince the rest of the world that Earth would be destroyed in the year 2012. Argüelles’ theory sparked a chain reaction: the birth of thousands of other theories that elaborated on possible deaths of the world. Ultimately, they all led to one day: December 21, 2012, the day the world would cease to exist.
            Almost everyone has heard of the 2012 theory at one point. Countless science fiction films have also been produced over the years, exploring the countless events that could eventually lead to the demise of humankind. But what exactly is the 2012 phenomenon, and how did it come to be?
            When the man who started it all, José Argüelles, began receiving “prophecies” from ancient Mayan priests, he became convinced that the world would soon end. With the help of other religious men, their theory became a thickly woven prophecy.
            Although they all agreed that the world would end on 12-21-2012, their theories differed. The most famous and most publicized idea, the Mayan Theory, focuses on the Mayan calendar. A highly sophisticated and technologically advanced race, the Mayans created an accurate calendar that, despite the extinction of their ancient civilization around A.D. 900, continued on for thousands of years. That is, until the date, December 21, 2012. After the 21^st of December in the year 2012, the Mayan calendar reverts back to the beginnings of time, August 13^th 3114 B.C. It is hypothesized that December 21 marks the end of time, or possibly the end of the world.
            Another prophecy, the Galactic Alignment Theory, suggests that the world will end due to the alignment of the sun and the Galactic equator. The December solstice sun (when the sun is one-half of a degree wide) is predicted to be perfectly in line with the Galactic equator (which is the line that divides our galaxy, the Milky Way, in half). This only happens once every 26,000 years. The next time it is supposed to occur is December 21, 2012. Due to the disruption of the gravitational force of the sun in the middle of our galaxy, a massive black hole is predicted to open up. The disruption is suspected to throw off the gravity that pulls the moon to Earth, causing larger, monstrous tides. Subsequently, Earth will become flooded. Other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, are supposed to vanquish the remains of life on our planet.
            Yet another theory deals with volcanoes. The Super Volcano Theory reflects back about 74,000 years. Back then, a huge volcano had erupted, blocking out the sun and wiping out two-thirds of life on Earth. That catastrophe also marked the extinction of the dinosaurs. Due to geological changes and the ever-moving tectonic plates, many people believe that the “super volcano” in Yellowstone is long overdue for a big eruption. After analyzing scientific research, these people predict that the volcano will conveniently erupt on December 21^st and wreck havoc everywhere.
            The theories listed above are just three of the millions of theories out there. It is up to you to judge whether December 21^st will be Doomsday, filled with terror and death, or a day when the disbelievers of this theory sit down and laugh at the rest of the world. Are these theories realistic and all-too-possible or are they silly and imaginative sci-fi tales? The facts and science is laid out in front of you. It is up to you to judge the truth value of these theories.

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"Wreck-it Ralph" Will NOT Wreck Your Opinion of Disney

“I’m gonna wreck it!”

After “The Princess and the Frog” and “Tangled”, another movie has been sprung out of the creative minds at the “happiest place on Earth”, otherwise known as Disney. On November 2, 2012, “Wreck-it Ralph” was released in theaters and Disney fanatics flocked to their local movie theaters, stocked up on popcorn and were more than ready for another Disney classic.

They were not disappointed. Chronicling the adventures of the “wreck-it guy”, Ralph, the newest Disney addition did not fail its high expectations. Everyone has played arcade games before, which usually consist of the player (on the good side, of course) trying to win or beat the “bad guy”. In “Wreck-it Ralph”, Ralph, who is the “bad guy” in his arcade game, “Fix-it Felix”, is sick and tired of being jeered and laughed at. It is his job to smash windows and destroy buildings, and it is his friend, Felix’s, job to fix everything. Yet, while Felix is applauded and congratulated, Ralph is forced to live in a trash dump, constantly being put down by the other members of his game. When Ralph stands up and decides to perform a good deed to be recognized, he is whisked on a journey full of fun and laughter. Along the way, he meets new friends (such as a delightful young girl named Vannelope von Schweetz) and realizes that his role in “Fix-it Felix” is bigger than it appears.

A wonderfully thought-out creation, Disney’s high quality animations and graphics are eye-catching and engaging. Bringing together characters such as Bowser and Blinky (from Pacman), “Wreck-it Ralph” is a trip down memory lane for adults. Throughout the movie, silly antics and arguments will keep kids entertained and laughing. As for the older audience members, they will find themselves pondering the deeper themes embedded throughout the movie. You might also find yourself trying to repeat “Vannelope von Schweetz” five times twice as fast. There’s no doubt about it: “Wreck-it Ralph” is a phenomenal hit in people of all ages, and will definitely become a Disney classic.

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AIDS Awareness Day!

It's December First, and you may have seen some people wearing red.

...But not because it's Christmas time.

It's AIDS Awareness Day!

Although it is a bit too late to tell you to wear red by now to raise awareness, it's not too late to get educated!

And by educated, I mean telling you straight up the facts about this disease and dismissing the myths.

One totally ridiculous myth I have heard about AIDS is that it was conceived by a pig and a cow.  I don't even have any words for this. C'mon, seriously?! Oh, the magnitude of the asininity! Although, the stupidity factor of this myth may be due to the fact that I heard this from prepubescent scrawny 7th grade boys (We know they're not known to be the most mature). Fact: AIDS is believed to have originated in West Africa in the early twentieth century (the common belief is that hunters in West Africa killed and ate infected chimpanzees).


Another very untrue myth is one that states, "AIDS can be transmitted if infected people sneeze on you or you come in contact with their tears". Nope. That's not true in the least. AIDS can't be transmitted by saliva or tears. AIDS is transmitted generally by sex, contaminated needles and blood transfusions, and from mom to baby during pregnancy/breastfeeding. And no, you won't get AIDS if an insect bites you.

Some facts about AIDS are that it causes a weaker immune system, there is no cure (but it can be slowed with intiretroviral therapy in some cases; it's mainly used to treat HIV to stop the disease from progressing to AIDS), and 30 million people have died (since 2009). It's considered to be a pandemic, and Sub-Saharan Africa has been the hardest hit (15 million children are orphaned because of AIDS). Bottom line, AIDS/HIV is still out there and shouldn't be ignored; it's a horrible disease. There's been discrimination and stigma relating to AIDS/HIV infected people, but by raising awareness, hopefully we can make that and this disease a thing of the past.

To learn more follow this link : http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/

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What's Happening in Syria

         America is known for being just and the place that gives you the most civil liberties. We have freedom of the press, freedom of speech, the right to a speedy trial, the right to have a jury of peers, and so on.  To some people, America  is a utopian society; it's the place where all of your dreams come true. Yet not all of the countries in the world are like America.  Citizens suffer under a tyrannical dictator who does not give them any rights. If you don't support the dictator, they're very much like the Red Queen in the story of Alice in Wonderland- "Off with your head!".  This is the situation in Syria.
              Syria has been ruled by tyrants for the past few decades. From 1970 to 2000, it was Hafez al-Assad  who ordered his troops to  fight against Israeli troops in Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. After he died in 2000, it was decided that his son, Bashar al-Assad  would be next in line; he would become the next person who was in charge of Syria. When you're in charge of government, you want to make sure that you're treating the citizens well. It's common knowledge. However, as stated by John Locke- "If the government does not protect the rights of the people , then the people have the right to overthrow the government." Bashar al-Assad  took away most of the rights of Syrian citizens. But  as  soon as they try to overthrow the government or rebel,   they are tried before the  government and shot. The military bombs  Syrian cities non-stop, doing nothing to help the millions who are being killed before their eyes.  Citizens started to hate  the  Syrian army  and went to form one of their own. Their army is called the Free Syrian Army. Their main goal is to overthrow Bashar al-Assad and  to fight for freedom.

          The leader of the Free Syrian Army is Riad al-Assad, who used to  be a colonel in the Syrian Air-Force.  He's now the commander of the Free Syrian Army.  In the city of Hama, the Free Syrian Army protested against the government. The Syrian army  responded by bombing the city with air raids, using heavy weapons against the citizens,  and  firing the city from "their heavy tanks". Some family members  of the people who are in the Free Syrian Army were executed by the government, including the family of Riad al-Assad. While the Syrian government tried to celebrate Eid (an important Islamic holiday), someone opened fire.  It is not known if that someone was from the Free Syrian Army or the Syrian Army. Thousands of people are dying in this civil war.  Riad  has asked the United Nations for help , but so far there has been no response (  United Nations voted on this but China and Russia disagreed with intervening).   As people world-wide  are becoming aware of this issue, we as citizens and human beings , should try to help in every way possible.

Free Syrian Army Logo

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Red Bull - A Rant [Opinion]

In addition to manufacturing unhealthy drinks, it seems that Red Bull found another way to harm others -
recently, an unprofessional article about Mokpo containing demeaning and disrespectful comments about Super Junior was published. There are many points that I disagree with, but I will comment on only three.


1.) "At its peak, Super Junior had a whopping 13 members" 
2.) "Obviously not a man to do things by half he decided that if the traditional boyband comprises four or five pretty but ultimately talentless stooges then to guarantee massive success the best thing to do would be to double or even triple the number of talentless stooges on stage at one time."
3.) "Unfortunately, we could find no Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt or even a Psy from Mokpo. "
Final word: In addition to having talent, Super Junior has wonderful personalities aren't stuck up or egoistical.  The next time you wish to express your displeasure at something, research your facts and at least try to sound less foolish. 

I'm not sure where this 'reporter' got his facts from, but Super Junior had 15 members at one point, including those from sub-groups and now inactive members.

Super Junior isn't talent-less at all. Maybe you meant to say that some of the members are so talented that they make the others look untalented.  Here's a brief overview on Super Junior's talented members.
Henry: Henry may be young, but he is packed with talent. He received many awards such as the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Silver Medal for Level 10 Violin. He chose being an idol over a professional violinist so that he could play the piano, play the guitar, play the violin, sing, dance, rap, and compose at the same time. Oh, and he can speak Mandarin, English, Korea, Cantonese and a bit of Thai.
Zhou Mi: He is a tall, talent-filled guy. He composes, acts, raps, and dances well and doesn't look awkward despite his long legs. He also sings covers of songs, such as "I Will Always Love You" and "Because of You." His voic is filled with emotion and he hits the high notes perfectly even though he's a guy. He speaks Cantonese, English, Mandarin, and Korean. Before he debuted, he won multiple hosting and singing awards and even had his own fan base.
Hangeng: The odds of him winning the audition to get into the Korean music industry were 3000:1. His specialty is dancing and he can do all of the 56 Chinese traditional dances. He also sings, cooks, raps, acts, does martial arts, and is very flexible.
Leeteuk: The leader of Super Junior and how he manages to lead 14 dorky and childish guys is a mystery. He is known for his mcing skills and always manages to make everyone laugh. He raps, composes, sings, dances, plays the piano, plays the guitar, and acts.
Siwon: He got an invitation to model with world-famous Karl Lagerfeld. He is cast in many dramas, dances, sings, plays the guitar, and has beautiful handwriting. He also does Taekwondo, plays the piano, and plays the drums. He is the first Korean celebrity to reach over two million followers on Twitter, but that did not change his character at all. He continues to be humble and keeps his faith.
Ryeowook: Has one of the best voices in Suju; it is high and clear. He composes, plays the piano, acts in musicals, and dances. He is one of the first Korean idol to appear on a Chinese stamp.
Shindong: He is under rated because of his looks, but he actually has a lot of talent. He is one of the main dancers and rappers. He choreographs, writes lyrics, plays the piano, and plays the guitar.  He's known for his comedic image and hosts radio shows as well as mcs in variety shows.
Kyuhyun: Another great voice of Suju, it's very distinctive and can pull of a range of concepts. He is very smart and got into a top university without celebrity status. He dances, plays the piano, and plays the clarinet.
Sungmin: He does martial arts, is flexible, and can put out candles with a nunchuck. He has a sweet voice, dances, plays the piano, bass guitar, guitar, drums, acts, and hosts.
Yesung: Some would say that he has the best voice of Suju; it's very emotional and husky. He also has an amazing range. His does random dorky dances and plays the piano.
Heechul: He raps, models, dances, sings, plays the drums, and acts.
Eunhyuk: He is the main rapper, great dancer, and has a great voice. He also composes, choreographs, and plays the piano.
Donghae: He sings, raps, composes, models, dances, acts, plays the piano and the guitar. His father died soon after his debut and Donghae continues to work hard and dedicates his awards to him.
Kibum: Acting is his passion. He sings, models, dances, and raps, and plays the piano.
Kangin: sings, dances, plays the guitar, piano, bass guitar, and  mcs. His voice is deep and soothing.
Side note: They way I described singing and dancing makes it sound easier than it actually is. Have you tried singing on tune as well as so emotionally? Hard, right? How about dancing? It's very taxing to your body and isn't easy at all. Now try putting the two together. That's what Super Junior does, all the time.

Just because they are more popular doesn't mean that they're better than Super Junior. It's fine if you prefer them over Super Junior, but don't act so condescending about it. You have no idea how hard Super Junior has worked - even to the point where some members had to go to the hospital to get an IV drip. I'm sure you never went through the hardships they faced. Have you gotten into a car accident that threatened what you did to survive? In Kyuhyun's case, his precious voice was nearly lost and he might have never danced again. I'm also sure that you never got death letters and people telling you to crawl back to where you were born. You haven't been sent a poisonous cake and packets of blood with a picture of you being stabbed with a knife. Without talent, hard work, and perseverance, do you think they would win so many prestigious awards and be the leader of the Hallyu Wave?

Source 1: http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article/Korean-Grand-Prix-Six-of-the-Best-Things-you-never-knew-about-Mokpo-021243268221263

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Depression: It's a serious topic. Not a joke.

  You see a kid at school.  He's   the kid who always looks sad about something, cuts himself, and cries himself to sleep.  He's tried to swallow sleeping pills,   smother himself , and hang himself.   He's going through the worst time of his life.  You call him  the emo kid,  the messed up kid, the goth kid, and you laugh.    He hears you and looks like he's about to cry. You say that you're joking.  In reality,  you have no idea how powerful your words are. You think he'll   brush off your insults,  "suck it up" , and get over it  by the next day. The next day at school,  you don't see him  anywhere in class.  Oh well, you think.  He's probably absent , didn't want to show his pathetic face at school today.  The teachers at first think it's nothing too,  but then they get a phone call.  Your teacher drops the phone and sinks to the floor .  The principal comes on to the morning announcements and tells everyone  that  that kid will not be coming to school today,  tomorrow, or ever.  At first you don't get what he's saying , and then it hits you.   The kid that you called all those names  and hurt so much with your  laughter and stinging words  killed himself.


According to About.com , "61%  of teenagers have admitted feeling of depression,  36 %  lost all of their motivation to do anything in life, and 34%  have actually contemplated/attempted suicide".  Signs of depression include:  not being able to make decisions, or being able to concentrate,  loss of sleep/ excessive amounts of sleep,  sadness,   hopelessness,  cutting,    crying  every day,  mood swings,  fatigue, and hating yourself.   Ways to recover from depression are :  talking to therapists,  family or friends about what is bothering you.  In some cases these options  work, but in some other cases it doesn't. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP  for short) stated that  in 2010,  the suicide rate in America was 38,364 .  Teenage girls are 3 times more likely to commit/attempt suicide than teenage males do. (according to the AFSP).

So how can we help prevent a suicide?  If you suspect that you are going through depression , go talk about it to someone.  If it's a friend of yours  who you think  is going through depression , talk to them about it.  In most cases,  talking about  problems that happen in life to someone who is close to you is very beneficial.  It can help you get advice,  or it relieves you from the stress or sadness that you are going through.  The best thing to do when you know someone who is going through depression, is to let them know that you're there for them and you will always be. 

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Football player helps teammate score touchdown in memory of his father.

When someone very important in our lives die,  we feel broken.  Lost.  Confused.     The pain is  like a heart attack;  it isn't temporary.   A person who is grieving over the dead can take up to a lifetime to get used to that hole in their heart that was filled by that family member or friend. When  the pain is too much  we sometimes  have our friends or other family members to help us recover from this heartbreaking pain.   In football player  Logan Thompson's case  this proves to be true.   The running back on his team ( Michael Ferns )  was just about to score a touch down for the team,  but in the last minute,  he walked a yard away from the end zone  and  passed the ball  to Logan.  He then proceeded to switch roles with him  (Ferns became a fullback) so  that Thompson could score a touchdown in memory of his father.  Later that night, after winning the game,  Thompson posted on twitter : "Looking straight up into the sky after scoring my first varsity touchdown…i know the old man was watching! love and miss you so much daddy".  Ferns is an exemplary character for all human beings.  If a friend of yours is suffering  due to the loss of a dead one ,  help them out.  They're going through a lot of pain, and will appreciate your help.

(source: yahoo).

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Bullying- A Crime.

Bullying. A common problem in the world today.  Instead of turning to anyone and asking for help, several victims of bullying keep quiet and let it emotionally scar them for the rest of their lives. But Katie Uffens, after dropping out of Westview High School, turned to the police after  bullies started harassing her online.

     After hearing that classmates had made a KKK club (which stands for Kill Kate Klub), Katie, who was scared for her life, dropped out of school.
    She thought that would be the solution to all her problems.  She was wrong.
       Online, she started getting tweets such as "Fake tears bother me. Grow the [explicit] up" and "No one likes you". Even after her mom recorded calls full of horrible, menancing threats, and kept tabs on email and social networks, the bullying continued.
    At first, Katie's parents contacted the school adminstrators and the police, who did nothing. But after seeing how bad the bullying was getting, the police arrested Nick Aguirre and another student while they were in class.

  "Nick Aguirre admitted that he did taunt Uffens and that she was unpopular. But he says,'I'm the real victim here, being dragged out of class by the police.'  He and the other student are  now facing criminal charges." (From Good Morning America)

   It is not clear who bullied who.

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Europe's Uncertain Economic Future

A Long Road Ahead

In Madrid, economic hopes remain low. The Government in Spain has announced that the attempt to help failing banks will cause it to go over the deficit limit of 6.3% GDP(Gross Domestic Product, one of the basic measurements of a country's economy.) Instead, they project a 7.4% deficit. This could anger or worry other European nations, as they agreed with the other members of the EU(European Union) that the deficit would not exceed the cap of 6.3 % GDP. Not only does this action worry members of the EU, but it also pushes the country closer to asking for a bailout from other members of the Union so it can pay its bills. Spanish officials have said they do not miss the agreement if the money used to help banks was not included, and if the recovery of banks because of the spending is a result. Also, the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rojoy has said that they will only ask for a bailout if the country 'really needs it', and if the agreement is 'reasonable'.  Like other countries around the globe, Spain is still working with huge deficits, low tax income, and general consumer fear due to the housing collapse a few years ago. This has crippled the economy and has put the 4th largest economy in the EU into a long recession. The Spanish government has put in measures such as higher taxes and lower spending, but to the anger of many of Spain's people. Protests have erupted 3 times last week (as of 10-3-12) and citizens protest the government's actions. Like in the U.S., Spanish elections are upcoming, and this will definitely affect whether Mr. Rojoy stays or leaves.

Spain is not the only country in Europe hit with big news this week. Greece, one of the hardest hit countries in the EU, has taken their prediction of GDP shrinking lower than before, to a 3.8 shrinkage. Before, they had said that there would be a zero growth rate, a.k.a having growth go neither up or down. Now, Greece has predicted a negative track again, hurting the EU and the country itself, which is riddled by sky-high unemployment and bankrupt businesses.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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Racing Cross Country Tips

Running. Who runs for fun? That would be crazy. Just imagining running five miles gets me tired. On the other hand, if you are crazy, and do in fact enjoy running miles (like me), then you've come to the right place. Here I have prepared 3 tips for runners who want to be faster at races.

Step one. Drink plenty of water. Yes, I know it's redundant, but it is vital that you stay healthy and hydrated before the race, especially in hot weather. You should aim for about a gallon of water one or two hours before your race begins.

Step two. Take frequent trips to the bathroom. This correlates to step one. With all that water you're drinking, you definitely do not want to have to pee during the race.  You will run noticeably faster if you're not holding any pee in for three miles. In addition, make sure you take a dump before the race.  Aches, cramps, and general pain will affect you if you don't take a chance to unload.

Step three. Don't think. It's very hard, I know, but you run fastest when you are in the zone, not particularly thinking or concentrating on anything except the motion of you running. Just do it.
 Ignore the trees and the sidewalk, or what color shirt the person in front of you is wearing, or whatever the sign you just past says, focus only on the race. It's difficult to explain, but you'll know what I'm talking about after you compete, because you shouldn't be conscious of the fact that you're in the zone. Trust in your body, and if you practiced well, you'll run well.

The King

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Upcoming Video Games 2012

     Whether you're a hard-core gamer or just somebody looking for fun, you've probably noticed all the great video games that are due to come out. From Resident Evil 6 to Pokemon Black and White 2, there's a lot of great games coming at ya in the latter half of 2012. I'll give a basic rundown on some of the seasons most popular and influential games-to-come.

Assassin's Creed 3

      One of the major games coming out this fall is Assassin's Creed 3. The newest release in this famous series is one that will not disappoint. Placed in the time of the American Revolution, you now bring the fight to the classic antagonists, Templars, as a young assassin named Connor. This game is an obvious attempt from Ubisoft to sort of "shake up" the Assassin's Creed series, as it offers a classic components from the previous games in the series while bringing a new characters, settings, weapons and abilities. From fighting bears to wading through battles in the Revolution, this game will be a whole new experience. Nervous about all this? Don't worry, Assassin's Creed fans: even with all the change, you can still hide out in the iconic haystacks.

Resident Evil 6

        Ah, Resident Evil. The name reminds me of my days in Resident Evil 4, sitting back in front of my television, relaxing, and blowing the heads off of the restless undead. Yes the zombies are back in Capcom's most anticipated game of the season, and it sure as hell will be epic. Its been 10 years since the infamous Raccon City incident, and the world is facing a bio-terrorist attack. All over the world hordes of the undead are attacking, and nowhere is safe. Leon Kennedy, a Raccoon City survivor and classic protagonist, has come to the U.S. to help protect his old friend the President from the biological terror, and to make "his most important decision ever". Meanwhile, Chris Redfield is going to China to combat the attacks there, proving that nowhere is safe in this brave new world. With all new weapons, story, and a new combat system, Resident Evil 6 is a game I will most definitely get. And get this: you are now able to shoot while moving. In 2012. Amazing how games progress these days.

Black Ops 2

        The biggest and most influential game series in the present day is back once again. Yes, Call of Duty, with all the love from its fans and hate from its critics, is back. Though called inferior to other games due to repetitive everything, overused guns, and overall lack of quality, it is still the biggest game franchise there is. Placed as a sequel to the original Black Ops, the new game is a futuristic and new world, with new guns (not really) to new multiplayer (not really), to a new game which is obviously not a re-named and re-textured Black Ops (not really). Right now, Black Ops looks like an actually good game, but then so did MW3. The only reason I would brave the multiplayer servers full of 12 year olds and rage quitters is for the new zombies mode. This mode promises to have huge 8 player maps (finally no more being trapped in Five!), new weapons and an actually fun time. the Zombie mode is the only good reason to get this game, aside from riding a horsey, as shown in the trailer. I really like horseys.

Halo 4

        This is it. Halo fanboys like myself rejoice, as Master Chief is back. With new guns, vehicles, story, and enemies, 343 Industries is cranking out an amazing Halo game. Although some long time fans of the series see the game being turned into a COD like ripoff, it it still the innovative franchise we have come to know and love. With new, trippy enemies like the Promethians and the old nemisis of the Covenant back, who knows what Halo fanboys will have in store for them?

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