Social Studies blog

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/tough_new_state_tests_spur_hig.html
In the state of New Jersey, about half of the students are failing school. Some of the schools say that the state requirements of passing are easy, but the students were being pushed into pressure. Governer of New jersey, Jon Corzine, said that in many places like Camden and Paterson had many failing students. Ranging from 40 percent to 70 percent of failing students.

My opinion of this article is that teachers should not push hard. Also, students should seek help from their teachers. If this happens, and they study, schools would become better and the percentages of students failing would decrease. Thus, I think if a student is failing, the school should get help right away instead of leaving them fail and do very little to help.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/other/press/links/web_specials/story/394602.html
In Trenton, New Jersey the teachers have made a test (kind of like the NJ Ask) and many students have passed. The problem is that the huge numbers of people failing are grades 5, 6, and 7. Also, the problem is that the difference between the failing and passing students in the given grades are ranging from 10 to about 50. This is not good. Schools should get help as soon as possible and should encourage the students to study so the percentage of students failing would go down and the percentage of the students of the students passing would go up.

My opinion about this article is that teacher should give home work to the failing students. Also, for teachers to help failing students, they should encourage the students to study and give frequent test or quizes to help their grades.

Class Response (Friction)

There are many ways types of force. One type of force is called friction. Friction is when a force that acts in an opposite direction of the moving object causing it to stop and eventually come to a stop. For example, the brakes on a car. The wheel is moving forward while the brakes are applied and move opposite of the wheel (backwards). There are three types of friction. They are sliding friction, fluid friction, and rolling friction. Rolling friction has to do with anything that has rolling items like wheels on a car. Fluid friction has to do anything with any gas or liquid. Finally, sliding friction has to do anything sliding like pushing a box.

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/newtlaws/u2l2b.html
Friction is not good and very useful in many ways. One useful way friction is used is the tires of your car. You need friction because the car can stop. Also, in the brakes. If the brakes are too smooth, the brakes would fail and you would get into an accident. A way that friction is not good is that when you ave a heavy box, and you need to slide, it will be harder to slide it because of the weight and the friction. Lastly what causes friction is because of the two different surfaces. Like tire on concrete or wood on wood.

Curent Events (the first flying car)

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article5489287.ece
Many people have made lies about the flying car, but this time it's not a lie. Scientist are working on a car that could fly and is small enough to fit in your garage. The only problem is that they still have to test the car in the flying part. They already passed the part for riving. Also, another problem is that it is illegal to take off of a regular road except for Alaska. If this becomes legal, there will be another problem because if you are on a highway, it is really hard to find an open spot to fly off of. The features of this plane is that it has wings that could bend because if you are driving, and is a two seat car/plane. Scientists say that they will work on the engine for flying and hopefully test fly it in February. If it is successful it will be a huge accomplishment. Too bad the flying car was said to be about $800,000.00!!!!!

My opinion of this article is that they should not make this car because it will cause more pollution in the air causing birds to die. This is not good because the flying car only take 500 miles per tank. It's not fuel efficient in any way because it will take a lot of fuel. (Plus to see how the car/plane works, there is a little video of it).

Social Studies blog (Inauguration of Barrack Obama)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/inauguration_rdp
On Tuesday 21, 2009 a a special moment came upon us. As the inauguration came, there is also a new page of history to be made. Therefore President Barrack Hussein Obama has became the first African-American president of the United States of America. In his speech he said, "We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." Meaning that we are brave and not scared, and that we have to fix the conflicts and harmony between us and others. Also, his speech was very influencing because he is proud to do what was never been done before, being the first black president of the United Stated of America.

My opinion about this article is that I am amazed that there were many people were really pleased with the arrival with the president Barrack Obama, and that we are proud to have our first African American.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/21/inauguration.online.video/index.html#cnnSTCText
On Tuesday 21, 2009 are record was broken. During the presidential inauguration, more than about twenty seven million people from around the world were watching President Barrack Obama being sworn-in. Those countries were including Kenya and Indonesia. Also, President Obama said, "We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion. All of this happened because of you." Meaning that Obama wouldn't have been president if a lot of people didn't vote for him. Many people around the world were happy because of Barrack Obama.

My opinion about this article is that I am amazed that a lot of people were watching the inauguration for around the world, even though they are not in the United States. This also tells me that they deeply care about other countrie's presidents as much as their own.

Class Response (Waves)

There are many types of waves including sound waves, water waves, and Heat waves. There are also many different types of waves.Two types of waves that some waves appear in are the longitudinal waves and transverse waves. Longitudinal waves are visible if you push a slinky with force. You will see a part that are close together(compression) and when the parts of the slinky stretch apart is called rare fractions. Now in the transverse wave, you will need a coiled spring and shake it vertically. It will make a wave(similar to a water wave). In the transverse wave, the high point is called the crest and the low point is called the trough.


http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/tralon.html
There are many ways to see a transverse wave like on a string or waves of an ocean.Also, transverse waves are sometimes invisible(like sound waves). As for solid objects, transverse waves can travel through them easily. Transverse waves move on the surface of liquids such as water, milk, soda and many more.Except for gas.As for logitudinal waves, a great example of longitudinal waves are sound waves because the waves move back and forth from person to person.

Current Events(Snow falls on Mars)

Nasa currently have a mission of going to mars, but only sent a little rover. The little rover detected snow, but the snow melted and evaporated before landing on the ground!It collected some samples of soil and detected that the soil was wet as if it had just rained.Bringing Nasa to the question of "Is mars suitable for life?"Also, They found calcium carbonate, a substance used to create clay.This identifies that there was water on Mars in the past.In conclusion, this this type of clay only forms in the presence of water and that mars might be favorable for life.Mars is starting to be a lot like earth.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080929.html

Current Events(The first cure of aids)

A 42 year old American living in Berlin suffered from aids for more than a decade.He was cured after he received a targeted bone marrow transplant.Doctors say that this type of transplant is used to fight leukemia(a type of blood disease).The doctors had a bad readings till 20 months later after the transplant,there was no sign of the virus.The doctors looked for more reading, but there was still no sign of the virus.doctors also tested this transplant on people with hiv and it worked.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_he_me/eu_med_aids_treatment;_ylt=ArRLF.vz4tYTMsa_zGyT0K3VJRIF