Healthcare Discussion Reflection

The discussion we had on Friday was fun and challenging at the same time. I'm usually the type of student who would strive for an A on a test, but this particular test was a bit nerve-wracking, which prompted me to hold back on what I wanted to say. It was the very first time that I participated in such a huge discussion group, and with the topic being Healthcare, there were a lot of points and arguments to get across, many of what we've seen in our class. As more and more of these clever arguments and points were discussed, the less I had to say something. I was simply unprepared because I didn't do an extensive amount of outside research, and I truly wish I had done it. While I was filled with a bit of trepidation from our class discussion, I refuse to let my nerves get the best of me. I shall do my best for our next class discussion on the Mosque controversy.

Thousands Protesting in Egypt

"Mubarak names deputy as protesters defy curfew," by Edmund Blair and Dina Zayed. January 29, 2011.

There was an uprising in Egypt when President Hosni Mubarak picked Omar Suleiman as vice president, ending the 30-year vacancy of that position. Some protestors disapproved of this decision because of the ensured power in military and security institutions. Other protestors were complaintively furious over the poverty, corruption, unemployment, and lack of democracy under Mubarak's presidency. President Obama urges President Omar to resolve the issue through reformation.

Blindness and Hypocrisy over Obamacare

"Obama Admin Lobbies Faith Leaders for Pro-Abortion Obamacare," by Steve Ertelt. January 27, 2011.

Many Catholics and Christians consider abortion as murder, but apparently religious leaders like Rev. Joel Hunter of Northland Church in Florida and Rev. Linda Hanna Walling of Faithful Reform will be joining in the support for Obamacare. It was heard that President Obama would remove the abortion issue, but many pro-life members have said that it would not extenuate abortion funding, as it could possibly be reversed in the healthcare bill.

For the Better

"Ohio Mom Jailed for Sending Her Kids to a Better School," by Madison Gray. January 26, 2011.



Any parent would want the best education for their kids, but unfortunately for Kelley Williams-Bolar she was sentenced to prison for sending her kids to a school whose district did not correlate with their home address. Because this was an act of felony, the Ohio law has banned Williams-Bolar from earning her desired career: being a teacher.

HHS Lists Healthcare Benefits

"As GOP Readies Attack on Healthcare Reforms, HHS Touts Benefits," by John Commins, HealthLeader Media. January 25, 2011.

The Obama Administration is stepping up about the positive things of the Affordable Care Act for Medicare beneficiaries. Beneficiaries are being mailed rebate checks and the Affordable Care Act will be reducing the cost of prescription drugs each year.

Tampering With Lincoln

"Archives: historian tampered with Lincoln pardon," by Matthew Barakat. January 24, 2011.

For years, the presidential pardon issued by Abraham Lincoln to a military deserter has been dated as April 14, 1865. Archivist Thomas Plante noticed one tiny, bothering detail about the date, as it appeared that the number 5 was "darker" than the other numbers of the year 1865. Thomas P. Lowry, who was lauded for his amazing discovery of this historical document in 1998, admitted that he changed the date just to make it look historically significant. The actual date of the presidential pardon is 1864.

MT Democrats React to Healthcare Reform Challenge

"MT Democrats react to healthcare reform challenge," by Marnee Banks (Helena). January 21, 2011.

Today, a vote of 6-5 was the result made by the Montana Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of having MT Attorney General Steve Bullock join a lawsuit that challenges last year's healtcare reform law's constitutionality. MT State Senator Larry Jent says they can't do anything in their power to nullify the law and adds that Montanans will see the folly of the major policy proposals over the healthcare law made by the Republicans.

House GOP Members' Plan on the Healthcare Law

"House Republicans offer own healthcare legislation," by Noam N. Levey and Lisa Mascaro, Washington Bureau. January 21, 2011.

The House Republicans' goal over the healthcare law is to lower premium costs, assure access to coverage for people with preexisting conditions and increase the number of insured Americans, all without raising taxes. One of their highest legislative priorities is to place more restrictions on federal funding for abortion services.

Unhealthy Cereal
"Parents, beware: These kid-friendly foods claim to be healthy, but they're not," by Lylah M. Alphonse. January 19, 2011.

Parents may be attracted to the official healthy food labeling on the cardboard boxes of cereal, but they're not getting behind the real study of its' nutritional facts. In a certain study where fifty-eight popular kids' foods were examined to see if they met basic nutritional standards, a whopping forty-nine of them failed the test. The winning healthy foods are mostly Kid Cuisine meals. The other ones are Capri Sun 100 Percent Juice Fruit Punch, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (25 percent less sugar Chocolate Chip only), Kool Aid Fun Fizz Drink Drops (Giggling Grape only), and Campbell's Princess-Shaped Spaghetti-Os.

Not in the Historical Sense
"Palin Explains 'Blood Libel' Comment," by Larry Margasak. January 17, 2011.

Palin may very well know the term, and she meant to use it to refer to those who "falsely accused of having blood on their hands." Palin claims that her using the term wasn't original of her and says that many Democrats have used it. Knowing that she'll receive a lot of hate from the crowd, she refuses to let that get her down and continue to speak her mind.

Arizona Tragedy: A Challenge for the Media
"Caught in the cross hairs, magazines put Tucson on the cover," by Joe Pompeo. January 17, 2011.

Magazine companies are taking the opportunity to cover the story of the Arizona tragedy. Such an event serves as a challenge to all journalists: go too far and you may be accused of yellow journalism, or play it too safe and get dumped in the crowd. Many of the magazine covers made use of Jared Lee Loughner's face to appeal to the eyes of citizens and prompt them to read their stories behind the tragedy.

How it all Went Down
"Photos add bizarre twist to Tucson suspect's frantic last night," by Tim Gaynor. January 14, 2011.

Hours before the horrific scene was displayed by Jared Loughner, the police found out about Loughner picking up a 35 mm film from Walgreens. In some of the photos contained a picture of Lougher naked, holding the Glock 9 mm pistol next to his buttocks and wearing a bright red G-string.

How to Save a Life
"Boy saved brother’s life in Australian flood," by Liz Goodwin. January 13, 2011.



The greatest display of bravery and love was shown by 13 year old Jordan Rice in Australia when a rushing flood came into their town. Rather than being the first to be rescued from the flood, Jordan told the rescuer to take his 10 year old brother first. Consequently, Jordan Rice and his mother did not make it out of the flood as they were swept away by the rushing waters.

The Mansion on Skid Row
"Woman Builds French-Style Mansion on Skid Row," by Julia Flynn Siler. January 10, 2011.

For more pictures, click here.

Before the construction began in 2006, Gertrude Zachary spent ten years searching for the right pieces all over Europe to build her magnificent $1.3 million castle. The house is made up of collected religious art, stained glass windows, and antique arched doors. A few believed that the construction would turn out to be a house or a scientology building, but when the construction ended in 2008, this is what it came to be.

Vote to Repeal Healthcare Bill Postponed
"Healthcare vote postponed due to shooting: Cantor," by Andy Sullivan. January 8, 2011.

A shooting had occurred at a public event in Arizona, consequently leaving the House of Representatives to postpone the vote to repeal the healthcare bill scheduled for next week. Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords, a supporter of the healthcare reform bill, was one of the victims in the shooting.