Quality of Animals’ Life

EAP2WW

Do you like zoos? Do you think the zoos are good? “Zoos may be popular with children but zoos have been frequently criticized by animal rights groups” (Yau, 2008, para.1). The zoos have been criticized by people for a long time. People didn’t know what was wrong about the zoos, because the zoos are the safest place for the animals without hunters and infections (Yau, 2008). The zoos protect a lot of animals; also the zoos help to breed animals. Breeding became the biggest part in the zoos. “Breeding exotic animals has become a science in matchmaking at the National Zoo and Aquarium” (Animal instincts on love, 2008, para. 1). People all know that zoos did a lot to protect animals. So sometimes people think that’s unfair for the zoos, but later they know the reason the animal rights groups criticized the zoos. The groups want the animals to go back to the wild, because the living environment for the animals is too bad. Sometimes people can see there are a lot of natural features in the zoos, but that is not true. Most of the natural features are made of concrete (Hancocks, 2007). The animal rights groups want the animals to be able to live in the natural habitats. The animals can feel bored that they are always staying in the cages. Also, according to Hancocks (2007, para.10), “hardly any animals born in zoos are introduced to the wild.” That’s why the animal rights groups don’t like zoos. Because the animals’ lives are not good, that makes many people feel angry at zoos. And more and more zoos are criticized. They need more wildlife parks, or some spaces that feel like the natural habitats for the animals. Also, people should learn how to share the world with the animals.

First, more and more wildlife parks are needed for the animals. Nobody likes to stay in the cage. Almost all the zoos keep their animals in the cages. People know the cage is to protect or keep the animals, but it still hurts animals. The animals always live in the wild and they are free to run or play. When they stay in the zoos, they don’t have freedom anymore. It feels like putting someone in jail. “Life in the wild is complex, unpredictable and frequently dangerous, but it is where animals belong” (Zoos: The debate, 2004, p.22). “The breeding program was about conserving species, so that one day they might be released into the wild” (Animal instincts on love, 2008, para.12). There is a problem that the animals that are born in the zoos have difficultlty going back to a wild world. Many animals that go back to the wild from zoos have died. The wild is the best place for animals, but it’s still dangerous for the animals. So more and more wild parks are needed for the animals. The wild parks are some natural places for the animals that belong to the zoos and are protected by the zoos. Animals can live in the wild parks with people’s protection. Also, they can feel free to live in the parks, because they have more space to have fun. By this way, the animals that are born in the zoos can easily go back to the wild, because they can learn how to live in the wildlife park. They still have the abilities to live in the wild by themselves. According to Yau, “it is a popular tourist attraction and visitors travel around in trams in jungle-like setting dotted with moats instead of cages and steel bars” (2008, para.20).

Second, some spaces that are natural habitats for the animals are necessary. According to Gooddall in her article “The role of zoos”, “The habitats of wild animals around the world are in jeopardy because of human population growth, global environmental threats and unsustainable economic practices” (2008, para.2). So we should find some ways that could give animals a better place to live and also save some spaces. The spaces that feel like the natural habitats are needed. So zoos should build some places that feel like the natural habitats. And there are already some places like this that have been built. According to Hancocks, the goal for the spaces is, “give maximum opportunity for animals to engage in natural behaviors in large and complex natural landscapes” (2007, para.7). When the animals live in this place, they will have enough space to play. Also, they can feel that they still live in the wild. That can make the animals keep their wild habits, because people don’t want the wild animals to become pets. According to David, in his article “Zoos without bar open doors”, many visitors like to go to Underwater World; also they can swim with the fishes (2009, paras.7-8). Also, people like to go to this kind of zoos, because nobody likes to have fun in the jail. To visit this kind of zoos can make people feel like staying in the wild. It feels more natural than other zoos. Zoos don’t need to find wild space for the animals. They can just build a place for the animals. Animals can stay away from the cages; also they can live in a good environment. By this way, more and more people want to go to this kind of zoos, because these kinds of zoos feel more like a natural place. Nobody likes to go to jail.

Finally, people should learn to share the world with the animals. All the species are equal in the world. People may not think they are the best species in the world, but they use most of the resources in the world. They are too selfish to use the space, forest, river, and so on. People cut a lot of forest to built cities. People have homes to stay in but that has made animals lose their hometowns. More and more wild spaces have been devastated by humans. Many rivers are full of pollutions which makes animals not have water to drink. Also, people kill animals, which makes more and more species disappeare in the world. Because of all these reasons, the zoos are needed. But the living environments for the animals are too poor. So people should learn how to share the world with animals. The education program is a popular way to teach people to love animals. To educate children is a good idea, because the children like this kind of education and they can bring this kind of information back to their parents. “Zoos teach children to connect with nature, love and appreciate animals, preserve biodiversity and how animals and human can co-exist” (Yau, 2008, para.17). Many zoos have the education programs to teach people to love the animals. But education is not enough anymore. People should have their own ideas about protecting animals, and then they can try to share the world. People can easily do something to help the animals. The important thing is try to remember there are still other species that need people’s help. People cannot use everything in the world.

It has been argued that the zoos are good enough to protect animals. However, better living environments are needed for the animals. Most zoos just keep the animals in the cages. Maybe to keep the animals in the cages is a kind of protection. But people still think that is too bad for the animals. They cannot run or play in the cages. The only thing they can do is stay in the cages. If this is a zoo, the zoo is the same as a jail. Maybe the jail is better than a zoo. People think that the better zoos are needed to protect animals. The animals need quality of life. Zoos should try to give this to the animals. Zoos can do a lot of things to help animals to get a better environment. The zoos are not enough for the animals. There are still a lot of things that should be improved. A jaguar just died in the cages in Hong Kong Zoological and botanical Gardens (Yau, 2008). A zoo is the place that can protect animals, but the jaguar just died in the cage. The zoo must find some ways to change the animals’ living environment. Zoos can find some wild spaces or just build some natural habitats for the animals. But the most important thing is people should know how to share the world with animals.

In conclusion, the animals need better living environments to live in. “For more than 30 years I’ve been directing and planning them; thinking, researching and writing about them; pleading for them to try to meet their potential. It has often been like pushing water up a rope” (Hancocks, 2007, para.1). The people who love animals make many good ideas, but zoos never pay attention to the ideas. People didn’t do enough in the past, so they need more innovation right now. Changing living environment is the most important thing for the zoos. And zoos should do this as soon as possible. Many animals are still staying in the cages. It’s the time to make some innovations to change animals’ life. People should learn how to share the world, and build more wildlife parks, and natural habitat spaces are needed for the animals. If people want to do that, the living environment for the animals will change a lot. In the future, more and more better zoos will be built. The animals can live in a good environment. They can stay away from cages and boredom.

References:

Animal instincts on love, (2008, November 2). Canberra Times. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

David, K. (2009, March 15). Zoos without bars open doors. Sunday Tasmanian. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

Goodall, J. (2008, May 26). The role of zoos. The Times. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

Hancocks, D. (2007, June 20). The right and wrong ways to zoo it. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved May 31, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

Yau, E. (2008, September 30). Seeking a cosy haven for animals; Zoos claim they help protect endangered species while activists say animals should be left to roam in the wild. South China Morning Post. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

Zoos: The debate. (2004, February). Ecologist. 34(1). Retrieved June 2, 2009, from EBSCO database.

Wikipedia!

Do you know Wikipedia? Have you used it yet? Wikipedia is a website where you can find everything you want just like a encyclopedias. According to Wolverton, in his article “Wikipedia Wisdom”, “it is already the ninth most popular Web site in the United States, according to Alexa Internet, a company that monitors Web traffic” (2007, para. 9). Many people use this website to find the information that they want. Also, it is the second best website to find business information (Gapper, 2008). Most people like it because it includes a wide range of scientific subjects, and it’s the most up-to-date encyclopedia you’ll find; also, it’s completely free.

First of all, people can find almost all the information on Wikipedia. It’s the web that feels like an encyclopedia. On most of the website, people can only find several kinds of information. But on the Wikipedia, people can find everything; that is why the Wikipedia is a very popular website. “This website has grown into an immensely useful resource for background information on a wide range of scientific subjects” (Parry, 2008, para.6). The only thing that people need to do is type the subject that people want to know, then people can find the information. It’s much easier than finding some information in the library. People don’t need go to the different parts of the library to find the different information; they just type in the topic and that’s it. Easy and fast.

Second, Wikipedia is the most up-to-date encyclopedia. According to Lengel, in his article “Authority”, “Wikipedia is an encyclopedia compiled by the voluntary contributions of hundreds of writers and editors. Anyone can write an article and post it to the Wikipedia; anyone else can come along later and edit the article” (2006, para. 6). People cannot find an encyclopedia that can always be up-to-date. People all know that the knowledge is always changing because more and more new theories are found. So people can always find some wrong information on the encyclopedia. But on the Wikipedia, people can always find new information, because there are so many editors who are changing the information.

Finally, Wikipedia is completely free. There are so many websites where people can find information, but they need to pay. People can buy some encyclopedias or rent books from the library. People always spend money on this. But Wikipedia is a completely free website. People don’t need to pay any fee; they even don’t need an ID. They can just go on the website and find all the information they need.

It has been argued that going to the library is the best way to find information. However, Wikipedia has wide range of information. You can find all the information in the Wikipedia. All the information that you find in the Wikipedia are newest, because there are a lot of people are changing the information.

In conclusion, Wikipedia is a very good website to find information. Maybe some scientists don’t like it because there is some wrong information. But most people like it. Wikipedia includes a wide range of information, it has the most up-to-date information, and it’s free.

References:

Gapper, J. (2008, January 23). Wikipedia is popular but scary. Gapperblog. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://blogs.ft.com/gapperblog/2008/01/wikipedia-is-pohtml/

Lengel, J. (2006, February 7). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://tinyurl.com/n5clt2

Parry, D. (2008, February 11). Wikipedia and the new curriculum. Science Progress. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/02/wikipedia-and-the-new-curriculum/

Wolverton, J. (2007, January 22). Wikipedia wisdom. Valley Vanguard. Retrieved June 5
, 2009, from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141

The innovation is too early

According to David Hancocks in his article, “The right and wrong ways to zoo it,” the author directed the zoos for more than 30 years, but he doesn’t like zoos. The author believes people need zoos that are better than the typical zoos. The needs of animals are most important is the best attitude. The spaces that feel like the natural habitats for the animals and innovations are needed for the zoos. Zoos always boast about their good environment for the animals, but that is not true. The goals of zoos are attract and entertain visitors. Breeding is the only way to protect animals for most zoos. “In truth, government and non-government agencies are most successful in restoring habitat and reintroducing wild species,” but zoos think that all the glory belongs to them. If zoos thought their goal was animal welfare, they would be very effective leaders in protecting animals. Zoos can make more contributions, if they have new attitudes and philosophies for the animals.

The author is an architect of zoos, and he gives us a lot of interesting ideas to change the zoos. He thinks animals’ needs are above everything and zoos should have spaces like natural habitats. These are very good ideas but I think they are also too impractical to do. He thinks zoos only breed their animals for conservation. I think this is the basic way to protect animals.

First, the author thinks animals’ needs are above everything, but I think this is impossible. People all know that we should protect animals, but can we put the animals’ need first? I don’t think so. For example, if the animals need more space to make the zoos innovative, can people give an area for the animals? I think the answer is no. There are so many countries that face population problems. People don’t have enough space to live in; that is why so many high buildings were built in the world. How can people give some space to the animals? Many people still don’t have quality of life; how can we give animals high standards? I’m not saying that people are more important than animals, but if people don’t have high quality of life, how can we put the needs of animals above all others?

Second, the author said the spaces that feel like natural habitats to animals are needed in the zoos. I want say that is great idea, but how? To make a natural habitat with large and complex natural landscapes is very difficult to do. The animals are living in the different environments; we cannot make all the different natural habitats in the same zoo. Also, there are many plants that cannot grow in other places. That is why there are so many concrete landscapes and false plants. I don’t think this is the zoos’ deception; they just don’t have the ability to recreate environments. I think the zoos did their best to give a natural habitat to the animals.

Finally, the author thinks, “conservation for most zoos just means breeding.” I don’t agree with him, because breeding is the foundation of protecting animals. To breed animals is not a business for the zoos, it’s the mission for the zoos. If zoos don’t breed animals, many species will disappear in the world. Maybe the zoos are not successful in reintroducing wild species, but at least they protect the species. When some wild species have disappeared, you can still find them in the zoos. That’s why we need zoos.

In conclusion, people still cannot put the animals’ needs first without losing their high quality of life. The natural habitats are too different to make in the different zoos. Breeding is necessary for the animals. As I said before, these are great ideas, but people cannot do that. I hope all the ideas can be used, but I don’t think people can do those right now.

Reference

Hancocks, D. (2007, June 20). The right and wrong ways to zoo it. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved May 31, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

Zoos are important for the animals

According to Elaine Yau in her article “Seeking a cosy haven for animals; Zoos claim they help protect endangered species while activists say animals should be left to roam in the wild,” the zoos are trying to do better to protect animals but the activists say that animals should go back to the wild. A jaguar called Siu Fa died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in June. A spokesman for the LCSD said that they would have an international breeding and conservation program. An activist in the Ethical Treatment of Animals said that zoos are using animals for money. The zoos will have some programmes to keep the animals active. The zoo will create a place for the animal just like their natural environment. But the activists still don’t believe that. The activists think the animals do not live for the purpose of entertainment for people.

The zoos have tried to protect animals for a long time, but the activists always think the animal should go back to the wild. In my opinion, the zoos did a good job to protect animals for a long time. Instead, the activists did nothing to protect the animals. They just criticized the zoos. I think the zoos help the endangered species stay away from poachers and infections. Also, they are trying to give a better living environment to the animals. And they also teach people to love and appreciate animals.

First of all, the activists always say that the animals should go back to the wild, but I think staying in the zoos is the best way to protect the animals. Ethically, the wild is the best place for the animals, but are there really wild places for animals? I don’t think so. Humans used so many places for themselves; there is no space for the animals. Also, there are so many poachers and infections waiting for the animals. If the animals go back to the wild, they will be dead soon. In the zoos, there are many people who can take care of the animals and protect the endangered species. Right now, there are some zoos that have the open-air enclosures for the animal. The animals have enough places to have fun. I think this is the best that the zoos can do.

Second, the activists think that zoos are using the animals to earn money. I agree with this, but it’s necessary. The zoos need to feed the animals, cure the animals, and try to give a better living environment to the animals. They need money to do all of these things. If the zoos don’t open for people, who will pay money for the animals? I don’t think the government will give enough money for the animals. I don’t think zoos opening for people can hurt animals.

Finally, I think the animal entertainments for humans are good for the animals. I think all the people like to watch the entertainments and people can learn to love and appreciate animals. For example, wolves are always playing a bad role in the stories. In face, the wolf isn’t a bad animal. They only hurt people when the people want to hurt them and the wolves are protecting their family. I learned this in a zoo. This can help people, especially the children, to learn about animals. If all the children love animals, the endangered will be safe everywhere.

In conclusion, zoos play an important role to protect animals, and they do very well. They protect endangered species; give the animals a better living environment, and teach people to love animals. The activists just criticize zoos, but they didn’t see the improvement of the zoos. I think the zoos are doing a good job.

Reference

Yau, E. (2008, September 30). Seeking a cosy haven for animals; Zoos claim they help protect endangered species while activists say animals should be left to roam in the wild. South China Morning Post. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from Lexis Nexis database.

The Earth is still dying

According to Stephen Leahy in his article "Climate Change: Chemical Lobby Weakening Ozone Treaty," the ozone hole is much bigger than before, and there are more and more people who get skin cancer. The Montreal Protocol plays an important role to protect the ozone layer. Also, the CFC refrigerants were changed to HCFCs and HFCs, which is successful to decrease the damaging chemicals for the ozone layer. But HCFCs and HFCs are very strong greenhouse gases. Right now, 40% of refrigerators in the world are "greenfreeze" refrigerator. They are widely used in many countries but "the U.S. and Canada have banned them." There are many countries that are trying to develop new refrigerants to protect the ozone layer, but that is very difficult in an economic downturn.

The article tells us several ways to protect the ozone layer and the danger of UV rays, but I don't agree with the author. That is because these ways just decreased the destruction of ozone. They didn't address the problem. Also, more and more problems will be found because of the change of refrigerants. I think the government should work on a new chemical, even in an economic downturn.

First of all, I think people didn’t find a way to stop the ozone-destroying. People try to change CFC to HCFCs and HFCs. By this way the ozone-damaging has declined. But as we know, the HCFCs also destroy the ozone; it is about five percent the rate of CFCs. It seems like people fix the problem; in fact people just slow down the destruction of ozone. This is not the way to fix the problem. I think people should find some new chemicals in place of CFC, and make sure that the new chemical will not hurt the ozone layer at all.

Second, I think use HCFCs and HFCs as new refrigerants is a bad idea. They can fix the ozone problem, at least they slow down the damage of the ozone. But they are powerful greenhouse gases. These chemicals can emit billions tons of carbon dioxide. They will make global warming far worse. We cannot only focus on the ozone layer and ignore the global warming problem, because global warming also is a big problem in the world. As I know, there is no more spring in my hometown because of global warming. All of these problems are important to our planet. Maybe we can fix the problem by changing refrigerants, but global warming will kill us. This is not the result that we want. People cannot ignore this leak, because it’s too dangerous for people.

Finally, I think the problem is global, and can no longer be solved by individual nations. According to the article, “U.S. chemical companies are working on a new ozone-friendly chemical, German car manufacturers facing tough legislation in Europe have developed a new carbon dioxide refrigerant that could replace current HFC use by 2011.” These are many countries working on the ozone problem. But it seems it hasn’t worked very well. I think the countries should change their way to keep working. The countries and companies should working together for solution just like the globalization of the economy, because this is the problem for all over the world.

In conclusion, the author didn’t give people a good way to protect the ozone layer, because the HCFCs still hurt ozone, HCFCs and HFCs are greenhouse gases, and people didn’t fix this problem as a global problem. I think the best way to protect the ozone layer is that the world should fix the problem together and find a new ozone-friendly chemical.

Reference

Leahy, S. (2009, May 19). Climate change: Chemical lobby weakening ozone treaty. Inter Press Service. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=43888.

My major

Most people know that I didn't decide my major, right now. Actully, before I went to America, I choose business management as my major. I don't know is business management, I choose this because the major that I had before. Sports industry management and Basketball, these are my majors in my sports university in China. I choose these two major because I like play basketball. But I know that it's very differeicult to be a superstar in China, because I'm too short and didn't do a lot of professional training. So I decide to learn about sports industry management. It's responsible for all related with the sports field of production and operating activities. I think this major is related with sports and business. So I choose this major after I graduate from high school. But I didn't go to the sport university, because I hunt my leg. So before I went to America, I decided my major as business management. Because I didn't found sports industry management in the menu. And I think that the business management is similar as sports industry management. Also my uncle own a company, he wants someone in our family can help his company. His son is learning about art. So he wants me to help him. Then I decide my major as business management. But I'm not sure that I will study this. I'm thinking about change my major. Because business management is not a good major in America. So, I don't know about my major.

The strange thing that I ate

When I was a littlt kid, I ate many kinds of insect,like dragonfly, grasshopper, silkworm and so on. At that time, I don't afraid the insects and they are really delicious. My friends and me always catch some insect, try to cook them, and eat them. When I was older, I know that the insects are not clean, so I stop eat them. When I was 14 years old, my family more to a bigger city. In the city, there is a restaurant has many meals are cooked by insect. My father take me to that restaurant several times. The insect meals are very good. People always feel gross when they know there are insect. If they don't know, the people will always said good. In the restaurant, I like to eat scorpion and pupal cocoon. But I can never try spider and centipede. Because I'm afraid them. I think scorpion is really good. I ate some fried scorpion. Sometimes I'd like eat scrpion when they are alive. This is called drunk scrpion. People put the scrpion into the wine, when the scrpion were drunk. People will cut part of the scrpions' tail. When you really to eat, you can see that the scrpions are move. You can take some sauce or just eat with salt. That is really good.

My epitaph

First, I want say that there are a lot of epitaph in old China. But Chinese people do not write epitaph on their gravestone right now. So I never think about the epitaph for myself. If you want me to write epitaph for myself, I think I'm going to say something fun. For example, "don't always look at my house, you will also have one in the future". "If it's possible, please wake me up". "When you see these words, you step on me". "You don't need a lot of sleep when you alive, because when you died you can sleep forever". I don't think I will write a lot of on my gravestone. Because I don't think that I have enough thing to write. So something that can make people happy is enough. If I really want wirte some serious thing, I will say that the man who live in here is just a common man. He always plan his future very perfect. But he never work hard for his plan. Then he will found some reason to explain for himself. But finally, he finish all the thing in his plan. But I still think that something for fun is good. Like a man said that if someone can remember your story, you can be immortal. My stories cannot let people remember for a lot time. But something for fun can make people remember for a long time. Maybe you will find something really interesting on my gravestone.

FZL

First, I want say that the person in the picture is a man. In China, there are a lot of people who looks like the person in the picture called FZL. It's very different to explain what is FZL, is like a group of people who like to wear clothes in the non-mainstream way. Also, there are some people said that FZL come from punk. Most of FZL are boned after 1990s. Their hair style is very crazy and colorful, sometimes the hair style can scare their grandmother. You cannot always see these hair styles in normal life, because they mimic them in the computer games. Sometimes, the FZL girls like to wear male's clothes. After they buy some new jeans, they always to broken the jeans and wear them. They also like to wear by hip-hop style. When they take pictures they always like make some stupid or decadent pose. Most of the pictures are toke by themselves. They like to fix the pictures after they toke. Also, when they write something by the internet, they always break the Chinese word or use some wrong word. They saw to write like that is very cute. Sometime, the native speaker cannot understand. when they speak, the pronunciations are not clear. Some Chinese don't like FZL, because the wrong Chinese can affect the cultural heritage.
Actully, I don't really understand what is FZL. So these are what I know.

Chinese flag

The Five- Starred Red Flag is the national flag of the People's Republic of China. I think it has a very simple meaning. That's means all the Chinese can be together and fight for the same goal. Actually, it's not true. The Chinese Flag has a lot of meanings. The Chinese flag design is composed of a solid red background with five gold stars positioned in the upper left hand corner. The red background means revolution. The yellow stars mean that we are yellow people. The largest star means the Chinese Communist Party. The other stars mean four categories of the people in the state. The four categories are workers, farmers, intellectual, and business. The five stars signify the unity of the people of China under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The flag was officially unveiled in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949, the formal announcement of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. That's all I know about Chinese flag. I think the Five-starred Red Flag is a very good flag. The flag is simple, only five stars on the red background. But there are many meanings in the flag.

RRJ #3

Reference

Luhby. T. (2009,February 16). States counting on their slice of $787B,CNNMoney.com. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/news/economy/stimulus_states/index.htm?postversion=2009021609

Summary

According to the article, states are counting on their slice of $787 billion. This money will be used for Medicaid, education and infrastructure. It can help states on the budget gaps. Most governors are calculating how much they can get from the $787 billion. Also, there are still many people losing their jobs. The money is a big help for the states. There was a stimulus package that provided the money. Most of the money will be used to help for Medicaid, transportation projects, and education. But the money cannot help the states for everything. They still have to do something to fix the problem. The people can find some chances for jobs after the money is used. Someone said that the money is just to keep the people working during the hard time.

Reaction

Right now, the economic problem is not finished. The government has used $787 billion for Medicaid, education and infrastructure. As I know this is the second time that government has paid for the people. As I said in my first RRJ, the government will spend $200 billion for the economic problem. Right now, it is almost $200 billion. I do not know if it is enough, but the government did the right thing again. Using the money for the Medicaid, education, and infrastructure was a right decision, because they can show the people that the government is strong enough for the economic problem. It also can make sure that people can work hard during the hard time. There are still some budget gaps in the states. It is difficult to fix, but I think the governors will find a good way to fix them.

RRJ #2

Reference

Tymkiw, C. (2009, January 31). Gas prices: Up 14% for the month. CNN Money. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from  http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/31/news/economy/gas_prices3/index.htm?postversion=2009013114

Summary

According to the article, “Gas prices: Up 14% for the month,” the gas prices are going up. The gas prices last Saturday were 14% higher than the start of the month. The prices were on an upward trajectory for most of this month. But the prices are 38% still lower than the same time a year ago. It’s also 55% lower than the highest price of $4.114. We do not need to worry about the prices become $4 soon. The drivers started shying away from the roads in the summer; this is another reason to cause the gas prices to go down. Because of the crude oil prices were dropping-off, the gas prices also were pushed lower. Saturday, there were only 5 states where gas prices were above $2; the cheapest gas price was $1.535 per gallon.

Reaction

As a driver, I think gas prices being still lower than before is a good thing. It helps me save a lot of money. But the lower gas prices also show that the economic problem is not finished. This money for the gas prices was 14% up; I think it’s a good thing, because that means the economy is better. There are many reasons that cause it, the gas prices, the crude oil prices, the auto companies, the season and so on. Half month ago, the US government spent about $1,000 billion to help the people. I think this also influenced the gas prices. I hope that the economic problem will be solved, but I do not want the gas prices to get high.

Reading Reaction Journal #1

Reference

Sahadi, J. (2009, January 15). House Dems offer $825B stimulus bill. CNN Money. Retrieved January 20, 2009, from http://www.cnnmoney.com/2009/01/15/news/economy/house_stimulus_bill/index.htm?postversion=2009011512

Summary

Barack Obama talked with his top aides for several weeks, House Democrats on Thursday decided on a plan that calls for $550 billion in spending and aid to states and $275 billion in tax cuts. The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “Obama will reach the money in mid-February and this is just the first step.” The money will be sent to the relevant House committees. Also, the money will be used in some other things, like to modernize roads, for education, to decrease the unemployment rate and so on. The middle-income workers will get a tax cut equal to $500 a year for individuals and $1,000 for couples. The money also includes an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Reaction

In fact, this is a difficult article for me. There are many vocabulary words about the American government. Sometimes these words made me very confuse. Right now, the American economy is not good. Many employees were fired in the US. Many companies will be closed. It is the time that the government should go out and help the people. They use $550 billion in spending and aid to states and $275 billion in tax cuts. I think Barack Obama did a good job in this. But I think the money cannot help all the people. I think they may need $200 billion to do some other things to help the people. But some specialists think if the government uses the money for the people, the government will have a $2,000 billion deficit. It will be a big problem. But I think the government should use the money to help the people, if the people cannot live very well maybe the country will be finished. So I agree with the government; they did a really good job.