School Fines

               

                This Article is about a charter school system in Chicago that gives fines out for detentions as well as demerits. The school has a very unique discipline system, in which if you break the smallest of rules, by smallest of rules I mean not buttoning a button or having your shoe untied, and not looking at a teacher by following Her/him with your eyes as they walk around the room. They a sort of conversion system of discipline currency four demerits in two weeks equals detention which will cost $5 to attend? Some things that earn you demerits are one demerit for untied shoes one demerit for unbuttoned button and four demerits for having a phone out. So phone caught out equals four demerits, which equals detention, which equals 5 dollars to attend. People in the article defend this policy as it helps discipline children growing up in very poor and unfortunate neighborhoods. They argue that their SAT and ACT scores are very high and that they have over 90% of their students enroll in college once they finish learning at Noble charter schools (Sorry I didn’t mention that name earlier.). People and troubled parents though argue that it just puts too much pressure on its poor students especially it’s students come from these unfortunate neighborhoods. What I think is the problem with this system is the fact they are charging to high of an amount to these unfortunate students, especially if the infractions which can earn you demerits are so miniscule. The discipline at our high school is fair while no large problem is apparent such as fights though they happen are not entirely frequent, although not a big problem it could help if we had a more strict system though forcing students to pay fines is absolutely absurd. (If you will criticize me for not coming up with my own solution leave a comment I will make one.)

Part 2

                Upon researching discipline policies of schools around the country I’ve found one to be completely identical to my middle school (undisclosed) in which there is no tolerance for violence dangerous weapons or hazards to the student and teacher body the infraction are immediate suspension and immediate recommendation for expulsion. (Meaning you will sort of be put up for trial to see whether or not you will get expelled based on the type of infraction.) The anti bullying policy is nearly universal now that Obama has signed an anti-bullying Bill making it crime to bully and the same consequences go around, though some school systems add to that. Another system I have researched is something called the point system where a student has points tallied up against them and if they tally up points they go through a sort of makeshift due process of law. In which they are even given an impartial hearing and Trial on whether or not they should be punished. Rather not if they should be punished but if the consequences will be limited. I also looked at Chicago University’s disciplinary system. I know it goes off the beaten path in which I have been talking about Middle and High school but their disciplinary system goes beyond the campus to how they act outside of the campus as an individual and a group. As young Adults are the usual audience of these campuses there is a very strict system. Plagiarism and copying is strictly enforced as well as violence planned violence and it is fairly simple infractions can stall your graduation time withhold credits or expel you fro that campus in which all your time there was useless. Now granted you may not be able to do that for kids. I prefer the Point system it gives young students a strikingly similar system of discipline as to life out as an adult and is a learning experience within a consequence for their action, although it may be the hardest to put in place, due to its complexity.

Napster

The article is mainly talking about the increase of pirating in music over the next couple of years it talks about how companies used to target big sites for pirating but now are planning to go to the personal level. Recent court rulings though might just change that allowing recording companies to get names address and other information from your internet service providers if you are suspected of pirating and sharing DVDs, CDs and songs. The article talks about a man who has pirated over six hundred songs about 60 CDs worth of music considered an average collection most likely meaning to tell us that it is a big deal to go after people and not just the sites. The article then goes on to talk about super users which are people who own a good piece of the music in the pirating world. These are ten percent of pirates owning ninety percent of the music this slice of people are our super users taking them down would greatly cut the size of the pirating industry. The article also tells us that internet service providers don’t really plan to sue but just send warning messages, but to very large and repeat offenders, consequences may be more severe. It goes to talk about how if teens do it their parents may be liable. The article goes on about robots that can survey sites and about some minor accidents from these robots. People should get in trouble for this because it is a direct copyright infringement they should not because it is the sites that are giving people access to the free media somebody might not no it’s wrong. I use iTunes to get my music or I use Pandora to listen to free music radio. No I want to be aid for the songs I make this no different from braking into my house and stealing something. Photo shoots endorsements and licensing for some brands some are even making their own brands. Pirating is bad and should be stopped. It is on the rise and is becoming a greater problem.

A particularly large name on the Rollingstones website is Jammie Thomas Rasset she is a Minnesota mother being fined a very large sum of money because of illegal downloading. She says it was probably her kids or Ex-boyfriend who downloaded it but she is taking the blame. Originally fined 1.92 million dollars for only twenty four illegally downloaded songs. She has gone to court to get her sentence reduced to 468’000 dollars lowered substantially .Being fined about 468’000 dollars she only has possession of 24 illegally downloaded songs she is being fined about 19’500 dollars per song. It is crazy the amount of money she is being forced to pay for only 24 songs she continually goes to court to get the charges removed for she says it is not her doing. Her and her lawyer are rejecting many proposals not accepting anything less than a cleared record and no fines. If there is someone in possession of say 600 like in the Napster article they are in some deep trouble with this one and are likely never going to be able to dig themselves out of that hole. Congress is working on passing a bill on internet piracy allowing the government to get court orders against sites that are hubs for illegal downloading and sharing. These sites would be shut down and IP addresses will be traced to their visitors. Yes it makes you easy to find having an IP address linked to that website if it is that easy for the government to track you I suspect  a very large drop in piracy actions.  

Is College worth It

This article is about how much money a college graduate will earn compared to a high school diploma. It first tells us about estimates done a while ago with non-profit organizations, these organizations predict $800’000 or $1’000’000 more earnings for college graduates over high school diplomas. Then it introduces you to a man named Dr. Schneider. Dr. Schneider did an independent study and found that these earlier prediction failed to account for tuition student loans and other fees for college. Dr. Schneider then did his own research and found that the average college graduate only earns more than$270’000. It also introduces us to Lauren Asher. Who says none of these studies are accurate that what you major greatly effects income. Also many colleges’ prices are very different to. The estimated total earnings are range from $270’000 to $450’000 and $800’000 and even a million dollars more total lifetime earnings for a college graduate. Yes college is worth it despite raising prices and college loan even with all of that plugged in to the debated equation the graduate of college will still earn $270’000,and if you get scholarships or other financial aid that won’t  put you in debt you will benefit even more. When I go to college I plan to have some scholarships to back me up and many college funds saved by my family for me and my brother but the biggest source of aid will come from military scholarships such as the, post nine eleven G.I. bill.

Part 2

                Without student loans or anything else for an 18 year old living on campus estimated net price for four years at UCF is about $15’7000 for a year so $63’000 for an in state tuition out of state tuition is double. For four years UCF is an expensive school for in state attendees out of state attendees have double the yearly costs leaving overall costs at $31’400 that’s $126,000 for four years. Four years at FSU lands you at the four year cost for an average student just out of high school at $20’060 so that is 80’400 for four years; it is again double for out of state attendees $40’400 per year so 160’800 for a four year degree this one doesn’t include books or other miscellaneous expenses. This price could easily land an out of state attendee at over $200’000 dollars to attend FSU. They all recommend student loans colleges just like credit cards want students in debt to them so they the company can get more return on interest. They recommend bright futures and was even a factor for the net price calculator (which I didn’t select I had when calculating). To buy a brand new freshman level English book for college it cost anywhere from $50-$100 for a new book this is cheaper if actually purchased online. At this rate of college prices soaring and jobs providing less money it seems college may soon not be worth it to the common wealth. These finding are based on independent research your findings may be different.                                                                                                       

Going to Bat

                This article is about how a rich Dominican player for The Los Angeles Angels is giving back to his country the Dominican Republic. Living in Don Gregorio de Nizao, Vladimir Guerrero, a slugger for The Angels recently signed a 70 million dollar contract with them. He is one of four brothers all in American baseball. It explains how rather than do the traditional give to random they invested in a work force for the community. They are buying businesses and building buildings to house those business generating jobs and steady income rather than a single large donation. The article also describes the town of Don Gregorio 40 miles from the Capital Santo Domingo, having few jobs many rent motorbikes and shuttle housewives on errands around town. Then tells the success of “Vladdy” Guerrero signed 70 million dollar contract in 2004 bats a 337 and hit 39 home. Guerrero’s brother Wilton gave him the idea to mix profit with charity to provide work rather than give large handouts, a lasting in come.  Guerreros giving back relates to our chapter of giving back to the community because they are chipping in their money to help pick a country up out of the dust giving jobs money and generating work and businesses. If I were a rich celebrity I would give back to the community it will make you appealing to public relations could increase ease of joining a new team for a more expensive contract and people will admire you.  The brothers have it down it is the perfect way to give back. More athletes should do this.

               

                A charity I would support if I were a rich celebrity is animal cruelty specifically the ASPCA and, cancer research by the American cancer society and, Feeding America. The ASPCA is a charity/shelter group operating in the U.S. to end animal cruelty and neglect and make  most of the sad dying cat and dog commercial I love animals (I’m not a crazy cat or dog person though hoarding is Bad!) plus the commercials reach a large audience and would boost my appearance.  You can register online give 18$ a month and you get free ASPCA gear. Cancer is a huge problem in the U.S. Record numbers of diagnosis we need a cure and everyone knows it’s a problem and the American cancer society is fighting back you sign in and register and donate monthly. Hunger in less fortunate communities in America and globally is a great enemy we need to undertake feeding America donated 37 million meals last year. You select your gift amount these are in the thousands of dollars sign up and give money to the charity. The ASPCA saves hurt and neglected animals abandoned by owners under fed and unkempt in disgusting places affecting the owners and animals negatively. The American cancer society gives money to labs and universities currently attempting to find a cure for cancer. Feeding America gives meals to hungry people in fortunate areas of America donating the money helps them purchase and distribute food.

         

 Leon Ciesla pd.2

Yes employers should have the ability to hire you or not based on your body art most of the time it is an indicator to something in your life that could be unappreciable to the company. If I’m an employer I would be more likely to hire the non tattooed candidate rather than the one with multiple body art images. It is similar to discrimination in you are preventing someone from doing something based on who they are. Unlike other forms of discrimination it is a professional decision whether or not you get the job and truth is tattoos look unprofessional. Also businesses have the right to hire whoever they want you can’t not get hired and then sue them because you didn’t get the job because your tattoo was the reason you didn’t get it, getting the tattoo was a choice you got that because you wanted, and if your employers don’t they had the right to like what they do and not like what they don’t. People aren’t hired all the time you can’t sue for a tattoo when someone else had a perfect résumé. If I owned the business I would be less likely to hire the candidate with the tattoo it looks unprofessional and the people I see with tattoos are usually the unruly people who drink and smoke.

Yes 15 years ago tattoos were a obscenity and you would probably not make it through a whole interview.

Employers have the control, cover tattoos if you can.

Part 2

Discrimination occurs in eleven different ways according to the U.S. government. There is age not letting someone interact in a group because they are too young or old, there is disability not allowing someone interaction because of a mental or physical disability, there is equal pay/compensation giving a certain gender more or less pay, there is genetic information which is leaving someone out due to a genetic disease or disorder, there is also origin where you come from, pregnancy not allowing interaction because they are pregnant, there is race not allowing someone association because of skin color. Religion is another big one not allowing people equal interaction because they practice a certain religion. Retaliation is a form of discrimination carried out by employers by retaliating to people by not hiring, firing, demoting and refusal to promote because of discrimination. Another reason for discrimination is gender not allowing a person a job because of their gender. Sexual harassment is another issue which is harassing someone by making sexual advances or jokes.    http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/index.cfm



Dogtown South

The article is about a Brazilian kids rise to fame through skateboarding. It explains his childhood when he got his first skateboard and took around the skate areas of the city and was crowned the amateur “vert” champion of Brazil. This got him a sponsorship from Guarulhos surfing and skateboarding shop. Then place fourth in a competition overseas in Munster Germany. He went around winning multiple competitions or at least placing well. In 1992 he got shoulder injuries requiring surgery during this there was a recession so he abandoned skate boarding to work with his dad. Since recovery he has started skateboarding again and has multiple well off sponsors he also owns a company making skate-wheels.

Skateboarding in Brazil is popular as a pastime and a ticket out of the country to the U.S. wanting to go out and get famous.

Companies need to be able to distribute a popular product in that country so they can make more money in profit due to the high demand.

Ueda’s first sponsor was Guarulhos surfing and skateboarding shop this company helped with money and the ability to practice at their facility would have been a good deal so he could practice and become better at the sport.

Ueda made money on the sport he loved I think this is a good deal

There is a lot of money to be earned in skateboarding.

Dogtown south part 2

 Leon ciesla-Pd.2

Mega Bucks

                This article is explaining the massive amount of income and expenses generated by college football teams and basketball teams. It talks about the athletic programs of Ohio State with an annual budget of 109’382’222 for all of its sports programs. The article says that revenue for almost all of its teams is funded by the football and basketball teams. The school even has a private jet.

                The school is bringing in its money from the football and basketball teams as discussed, but more specifically from football ticket sales 31.65 million dollars in ticket sales account for most of their sports budget. They also got almost 4 million from the NCAA just for getting to the championships. To give a comparison in order to see how essential the football team is thinking of it this way, hockey there costs 1.2 million dollars and only brings in 1,600 something dollars, everything else is payed for by the football team.

                UF brought in an astounding 34 million dollars in ticket sales after winning. This is in ticket sales alone.

                The schools are using this money for paying for other varsity teams and are also sending some money back into the programs. With expenses like a private jet for recruiting and remodeling there stadiums they need to keep making their money. Not to mention without a football team they wouldn’t have very many other teams.

                The reason it is so important for colleges to have a strong football program is so schools can have a source of high level income. This could bring other sports to the college as stated above. Without a strong football team the college won’t get as much money as possible and prices elsewhere could rise.

                My opinion on this dependability on the football team is indifferent if the team is good the college will benefit but what about if the team isn’t so good and the football team is falling behind in expenses itself this could be very bad.

                My conclusion to this article is a good football team is priceless and the marketing and competition around it is growing.