Central Texas Digest: Armed man arrested at Capitol

According to the Central Texas Digest, presented on the statesman's website, (added link at the bottom of the commentary), "A 20-year-old man was arrested Monday after officials said he carried a knife blade into a joint meeting of three state House committees at the Capitol Extension."


DPS spokeswoman, Tela Mange, explained that the man stood up in the middle of the meeting and began speaking in a very loud tone. As he stood up, "an 8-inch-long knife blade, wrapped in a paper towel, dropped to the floor." The man was immediately arrested, however, his name has not been released because he has not yet been charged. "He is undergoing a mental health evaluation at University Medical Center Brackenridge, she [Mange] said. 


All of this comes on the heals of last weeks New York City bomb scare, as well as the trajedy at Ft. Hood a while ago, in my opinion. It is obvious that security at government buildings, inside of major metropolitan areas, along with army bases, needs to be increased in order to prevent people from attempting to commit violent acts, testing the system. "The incident comes about a month after the state's top leaders approved a plan to impose security screening on visitors to the Capitol. Later this week, House and Senate staffers will be briefed on the plan, which includes restricted entry points, metal detectors and X-ray machines. The $3 million plan would include the Extension."


Let's get with the program people!!


http://www.statesman.com/news/local/central-texas-digest-armed-man-arrested-at-capitol-681214.html

Adding to Jenny's beliefs and opinion on whether or not Marijuana should be legalized.

After reading Jenny's commentary on the issue of whether marijuana should or shouldn't be legalized, as well as Kristen's added thoughts and opinions on the idea, my views and beliefs definately lean more towards Jenny's stand point. In the event that this does become a legalized substance, there's no doubt that it's going to be tough getting used to. Sure, there may be "plenty" of "educated" individuals who are religious smokers, however, the majority of smokers are not. I mean who has heard of anyone going to get marijuana for a quick boost of motivation and desire to do something with their lives? I will have to agree with Jenny and say that legalizing this drug will only make the people around us even more ignorant and careless that they already are.

I believe that there would be a drastic, as well as obvious, change in how things are being ran around here. There would for sure need to be some regulations on when and where smoking would be allowed (i.e. school, work, church, driving, etc.) Think of the possible increase in car accidents due to an individual being high behind the wheel. That thought would surely have to be considered. I mean think of how people would react to President Obama smoking a joint for the world to see, in the event that it does pass. I could only imagine.

As far as helping out our economic issues goes, I personally don't agree with legalizing drugs in order to get back on our feet.

Obama: Begin work this year on immigration reform

“'There may not be an appetite'" "in Congress to deal with another hot-button issue immediately after grueling fights over health care and financial regulation."

For one, I believe that immigration should stand right up there with health care and financial regulation. I'm tired of everyone talking about it. How about we do something about it already!! Last Saturday there were 10,000 Austin citizens who met at the city's capital in protest to Arizona's new immigration law, which is in process right now. This law gives authority to the police academy to have a greater power to inspect those whom they may "suspect" to be an illegal immigrant.

Honestly, I have read many different commentary from many different people. I understand the frustration of working people loosing jobs to "illegal" PEOPLE- however, these people actually CARE about what they are working for. They are not only flipping burgers because they have no other source of money, they are doing this in pure intentions to get in greater with their employers, in order to be subject to gaining even more respect, and money. I mean, looking into their past and economic situations, can you blame them? They are merely wanting to provide for their families. They want the best possible. YOU go to where ever they came from and tell me what you would do any differently for your loved ones and family.

Brief Thoughts on Teaching to the Test: aka-TAKS Test

TAKS: At Least Our Children Won't Share Our ExperienceIn this blog,  Sarah briefly touches on a "new accountability system for Texas public schools," which is said to "increase academic standards, deemphasize the TAKS test score, give students more flexability on class choices, and make a high school diploma count for more."

Sarah and I pretty much have the same beliefs on this topic. She states that she believes that "the system will not only create less stress for the students but will allow teachers to actually teach beyond the TAKS curriculum. The "system also will address physical education needs" of the students."

"Immigration Reform Will Bankrupt Us With Obamacare"

This blog refers to the unfairness, or ignorance, of the situation with immigration and healthcare. The blogger is basically preaching to anyone who will listen, those who are for health care, as well as those who aren't. There is no hesitation in voiceing any brutal thoughts and honesty, "The Obama plan is to shove this health care takeover down the throats of the American people and then rapidly ram through immigration reform using the Slaughter Rule tactic if necessary." 


This is what I love about blogs and bloggers. They have a way of being a lot more opinionized and a lot less candid. The argument here is the fact that if and after health care is passed, all (11-20 million) illegal aliens will automatically gain legal status, due to following a few simple steps, which will ultimately lead us to a even higher bankruptcy, "Assuming the eventual legislation followed this path, the key point is that illegal aliens automatically would be turned into legal aliens from the moment they enter the system. They may have to wait for “lawful permanent residence” but they would not be here illegally anymore."


I definately don't believe it is reasonable or fair for anybody to become a U.S. Citizen, merely by following a few steps. I think that this will only put everyone in an even bigger bind than they were to begin with.


http://lonestartimes.com/?p=2058

Beliefs aside, abortion is legal

There's a lot of sarcasm thrown in the mix of this argument, which is about abortion being a medical procedure, paid with our tax dollars, for low-income women. The writer of this argument, CLEARLY, is against abortion. They believe that it is unethical for people to be helping fund for such a procedure. The blogger mocks Central Health,  formerly known as the Travis County Healthcare District, in their attempts to plead their case. They seem to view the district as, somewhat of a joke. 

I agree and disagree, in response to this argument. I agree that it isn't completely fair for us citizens, to be subject to contribute to something that he/she doesn't necessarily agree with. But on the other hand, with the world and economy the way it is today, would you want to force an unstable woman, with an unstable lifestyle, into becoming a "mother" of a child she knows she can't take care of? Whether they don't have a roof over their head, whether they can't put food on the table, or clothes on their backs. I know there's the option of adoption, but the chance that that option could fall through, is such a risk! I'm sure the next argument would be, "Well if she's not ready to be a mother, then she's not ready to be sexually active." This could be a true statement, but what about those who have been raped, or sexually abused? These girls have no choice. 

Everyone has their own opinions on what to do, and what not to do with a persons un-born child. However, I stand up for those who just don't have anyother option. 

Schools face big budget holes as stimulus runs out

Despite the Obama administration's $787 billion federal stimulus package, providing roughly $100 billion for education, the nation's public schools are severely suffering financially. States are blowing through education spending and federal stimulus money that was given to prevent, or delay, deep classroom cuts and widespread job losses. School districts have already suffered big budget cuts since the recession began two years ago, but experts say the cash crunch will get a lot worse as states run out of stimulus dollars.

Results???

• More teacher layoffs
• Larger class sizes for the remaining teachers
• Smaller paychecks
• Fewer electives and extracurricular activities
• Decimated summer school programs
• Weaken the nation’s public schools
• Worsen unemployment
• Undermine President Obama’s educational goals
• Widen the achievement gap between students in rich and poor districts

The situation is particularly ugly in California, Michigan, Washington, Seattle, and Florida. Will this take away from students’ quality of education and preparation for the real world? How long will this last? How is the stimulus going so fast? What is it being spent on? These are just some of the questions and concerns brought up, due to this issue. 

“Around the country, state governments are cutting money for schools as they grapple with huge budget gaps triggered by high unemployment, sluggish retail sales and falling real estate prices. A recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that 41 states face midyear budget shortfalls totaling $35 billion.” -Terence Chea, Associated Press Writer. Dallas Morning News

In this article, Lori Peck, a first-grade teacher at Vallejo's Patterson Elementary School, was mainly concerned about the importance of individual attention that each student craves for success in education. The more students in a single classroom sitting, the less individual attention each child will receive, "I feel like my class in general is further behind where they should be," Peck said. "My concern is they don't reach the standards by the end of the year."

As an aspiring teacher, this article was extremely interesting, as well as eye-opening, to me. I just hope and pray that all of these issues can be resolved by the time that I finish school.