NASA's Curiosity May Have Made A Historic Discovery On The Planet Mars

When you look up at the stars, do you ever wonder, are there other forms of life up there? I know I have. I’m not that arrogant to think humans are the only ones in the universe. On Aug. 5, 2012, the $2.5 billion Curiosity rover landed inside Mars' huge Gale Crater. Curiosity’s mission for the next two years is to determine, if Mars has ever been capable of supporting microbial life. On November 20, 2012 NASA's Curiosity SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars instrument) was probing around and found something in the soil. What did it find? Is what they found, life as we know it? Or is it an alien life form? Is what they found going to affect us here on earth? Will this finding, challenge our religious beliefs? We were taught that God created the universe. Was there life on Mars and what happened to it? Can the scientist learn from what they find on Mars? Can what they found teach us how to treat earth with care. I sure hope so because. climate change here is real. Chief scientist John Grotzinger of Cal tech in Pasadena said, "This data is gonna be one for the history books." Are there other forms of life out there in this universe? We will soon see. Check back for more information on this very interesting discovery as it unfolds.

LM

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/11/21/mars-mystery-curiosity-rover-big-discovery/

Hostess Cakes End Of An Era. Or Is It?

When I heard the news this morning that Hostess Brand Incorporated would be shutting its plants in the United States I said, Oh No! I was remembering my Aunt who worked at the Hostess plant in Sacramento. Whenever she came to San Jose, she would bring us Twinkies, Cup Cakes, Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s, Snow Balls and Donettes. Hostess has been around for almost a century, they opened their doors in 1930 in Irving Texas. Hostess filed for bankruptcy in 2004 and their reason was that, the company was saddled with costs related to its unionized workforce. The company had been contributing $100 million a year in pension costs for workers. Hostess said the new contract offer would've slash up to 25 million dollars a year. Now in 2012, less than a decade here they go again. The reason this time is nearly a dozen executives received pay hikes of up to 80 percent last year with the company struggling. Then thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike. They rejected the company's latest contract offer. The Bakers Union represents about 30 percent of the company's workforce. When the company finely reached a contract agreement with the union, it was not enough. Hostess decided to suspend operations and filed bankruptcy on November 16, 2012. Hostess will be letting go nearly 18,500 workers, shut down 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers nationwide and 570 outlet stores.

 People are going a crazy. In San Jose where I live, I was at the grocery store the other day and I could not believe the Hostess cake shelves were nearly bare. This one man had at least 20 boxes of Twinkies and Ding Dong. On Ebay a box of Twinkies are going for 3 million dollars a box. That is insane!!! What in the heck are people doing? With the holidays upon us this money could be put to better use. Like helping people in need! It is too bad that management and the employees could not come to an agreement. I feel that it was greed on both sides, now everyone is out of a job.

 NEWS FLASH!  Hostess management and unions agree to mediation. Judge pushes parties toward mediation to save more than 18,500 jobs. Keep coming back for updates

LM

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/11/19/twinkies-likely-to-survive/1713941/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostess_Brands

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-19/business/chi-judge-hostess-union-agree-to-mediation-20121119_1_hostess-brands-grain-millers-international-union-mediation

The Presidential Election Is Over the People Have Spoken

    

For several months the Presidential election was brutal. It got on my last nerve, all the inappropriate things that were said throughout this presidential campaign. Well, when all was said and done the people spoke. I think Mitt Romney concession speech was classy. It was a particular part in his speech that made me look at Mitt Romney a little more kindly. When he said, “The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work, and we citizens also have to rise to occasion. We look to our teachers and professors. We count on you not just to teach, but to inspire our children with a passion for learning and discovery. We look to our pastors and priests and rabbis and counselors of all kinds to testify of the enduring principles upon which our society is built: Honesty, charity, integrity, and family. We look to our parents. From the final analysis, everything depends on the success of our homes. We look to job-creators of all kinds. We're counting on you to invest, to hire, to step forward, and we look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put the people before the politics.” I just hope Mitt Romney means what he said and sticks to it and not be on and off the fence like he was when he was running for president. This was the most powerful election in the history of the United States. Because of the record number of people who went to the polls. I was so overjoyed with the Presidents acceptance speech. One thing that really stood out and made me so proud to me an American and to live in the best nation in the world, was when he said, "America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunities and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter, whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight. You can make it here in America if you're willing to try." I think the people understood this and that’s why they gave President Barack Obama a second chance to bring this country together. President Obama has always been willing, but he has had opposition from the start.  I think he will bring the two parties together this would be good for the United States and the world. 

LM

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/mitt-romneys-concession-speech-transcript/story?id=17664448

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-helfenbein/obama-speech-election-2012_b_2086757.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

Hurricane Sandy Devastates East Coast

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On October 29, 2012, I was on pins and needles worried about my family on the east coast. Hurricane Sandy was causing destruction for the people on the east coast. My mother in-law lives in Baltimore Maryland. She called a day before the storm hit. She said that she had went out and bought can goods, water and batteries for her flash lights. She also froze containers of water to keep her food in the refrigerator cold just in case the power went out. I was a little at ease but still worried sense she lives alone. My mother in-law fared pretty well. She only had a little basement flooding. My Uncle who lives in Harlem New York also fared well.

That is not the case the people living right on the coast. Atlantic City New Jersey was devastated when hurricane Sandy hit. There are still millions people living without electricity. New York was hit hard subways were flooded, this shut down the city. The City of New York was thinking about continue the New York marathon, but that plan did not go head. What were they thinking? To have all those runners risking lives running through all that destruction was utterly ridiculous. I’m wondering how this will effect Election Day. The people who have lost everything will they still go to the polls on Election Day. Hurricane Sandy is a wake up call to everyone to ready for natural disasters. That means having a plan.

LM

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-live-updates/

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/27/us-storm-sandy-hurricane-idUSBRE89N16J20121027