The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson. America is now in the year 2013 and is drastically different than 237 years ago. In the document, Jefferson states eighteen complaints about King George III. In the second complaint, he states “He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend them.” This means that King George III did not let the Governors pass important laws that were needed at that time. He needed to sign them but he did not and let the country suffer. This has changed in modern times because the President of the United States wants what is good for America and wants the people to like him. He does what is important and needed to help America be a better place. In the seventeenth complaint, Jefferson states “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.” This means that he has managed to have people, within their own colonies, fight each other. He wants to rule like the Native Americans who lived with war and destroyed anyone under any circumstances. It is very different today because people are trying to have World Peace and abolish war. All King George III ever wanted was war, war, and more war. That does not happen in present day America. It is curious to one how America is different now and how life was a couple hundred years back.

When will this all stop?

“Proud mom, model student among 4 found killed in Tennessee”

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/13/us/tennessee-slaying-victims/index.html

“Man, girlfriend indicted in Tennessee quadruple slaying”

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/20/justice/tennessee-quadruple-slayings/

By Greg Botelho and Mariano Castillo

Source: CNN

A twenty-six-year old man and his girlfriend were charged on Friday for killing four young people in a car after a drug deal in Tennessee. Jacob Allen Bennett and his girlfriend Lina Yvonn Moser who is twenty five have both been charged and this is the first time Moser has been in any criminal trouble. What was supposed to be a drug deal, turned into a robbery, which led to the killing of four people. Among the four people killed, Dominic Davis was one. He was seventeen and moved to Tennessee to make life better for him. In a class assignment he wrote, "I want to be remembered not as the best man alive, but the most respected." Steven Presley was another among the four. He was also seventeen. Presley would make people’s lives better. The district of the school described him as "always happy, smiling, funny, kindhearted, sweet and polite," the type of person "who would do anything for anyone (and) was loved by all who knew him." Another person killed was John Lajeunesse. He was sixteen. He would have been seventeen next month. And the fourth person who killed and was sitting in the driver’s seat was Rikki Jacobsen. She was twenty two and a young mother of a young boy. Bennett and Moser tried to rob Davis and Jacobsen. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said “Bennett faces four counts of felony murder, four counts of premeditated murder and two counts of attempted aggravated robbery” during a press release on Friday. 57,000 residents were shocked. The residents live in a neighborhood where everyone knows each other. Twenty hours within the crime, Bennett was arrested after being spotted in a nearby car, which was seventy miles west of Knoxville. Moser was arrested on Friday morning in her home which is forty miles south where she took place in the crime. Those four victims were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Police Have Taken it Way too Far with "Accidental" Killing

“Charlotte police kill unarmed man who may have been running to them for help”

By: Jessica King and AnneClaire Stapleton

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/justice/north-carolina-police-shooting/index.html?hpt=us_c2

 In North Carolina, a man was shot and killed by police who was running towards them Saturday morning. The man was twenty-four- year-old Jonathan Ferrell. He was shot several times and died instantly. He was unarmed. There was a call earlier to 911 about a man entering and breaking into a home in Charlotte, North Carolina and the police believed that Ferrell was the man that was breaking entering because he matched the caller’s description. Turns out he was only running towards police for help involving a car accident. Police found a car wreck nearby and they believe that was the car wreck Ferrell wanted help for. Chief Rodney Monroe told CNN that the accident was pretty serious. Authorities believe that Farrell had to climb out of the back window because of how serious the accident was. Officer Randall Kerrick, the man who shot Ferrell, turned himself in Saturday afternoon. He was charged with voluntary manslaughter. “A charge of voluntary manslaughter means the person used excessive force in self-defense, or carried out the act without intent to kill.” One would think that Kerrick shot Ferrell on purpose in self-defense. Kerrick could not have possibly hurt Ferrell without intending to kill if he thought Ferrell was charging at them. Kerrick had no right to use his gun during that time. There were three officers at the scene but only Kerrick had a gun. All three of them have been placed on paid leave. That means that the officers are put on investigation for a wrong doing and they cannot come to work but are not fired yet until proven guilty, but they still get paid at home. Ferrell’s family is devastated. Ferrell had one brother who played football with him at A&M University. Ferrell was engaged and would have turned twenty-five next month. There have been many incidents with police killing innocent people by “mistake.” Police have taken their gun ownership too far and need to calm down and not assume. Now that is a big mistake.

Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball" Review

By: Bill Lamb

http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/Miley-Cyrus-wrecking-Ball.htm

Miley Cyrus released a brand new song called “Wrecking Ball.” Bill Lamb wrote a review about this song and pointed out the pros and the cons. He uses claims of value throughout the whole article and mentions some points for claims of fact and policy. He says that Miley’s performance in the song is strong but it sounds like “Dr. Luke tossed off the production in his spare time after devoting more attention to Katy Perry.” A pro he mentions is that she had strong vocal performance. She hits high notes throughout song and one could hear the strong vocals Lamb is talking about (claim of fact). A con he mentions is that it is an overly familiar production (claim of policy). Many artists in this day are making music that sounds strongly a like and it is no surprise Miley’s song sounds familiar to other songs that have been made. Another con Lamb mentions is lack of development in the lyrics (claim of policy). By saying this, he means that the song’s lyrics have not been put much time into it and some lyrics are repeated much like other pop songs. Lamb talks about how Miley is becoming controversial about what she is doing in her career and how “Wrecking Ball” is boring after hearing it a couple times knowing how crazy she has become (claims of value). Lamb mentions that her vocals are pleasant to hear but the song has weak elements (claims of value). The song is talking about how entering a relationship is “like a wrecking ball” and she says in the song “all you did was wreck me.” Lamb says how that is too easy that the point is not developed (claims of value). Lamb says at the end of the article that Miley’s old song “The Climb” is better and people should listen to that (claims of value).

107 year-old-man had energy to shoot police officers and assault people.

"107-year-old man killed in police shootout in Arkansas"
By Faith Karimi

Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/08/justice/arkansas-107-year-old-man-death/index.html?hpt=us_c2

In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a 107 year-old-man was shot and killed by SWAT officers on Saturday night. It was during a confrontation in which he was shot during. His name was Monroe Isadore.  It is said that an aggravated assault had occurred against two people at the residence. The two people were led out of the house. It is not mentioned whether how the suspect was involved or what role he had in the assaults. The officers walked towards the bedroom and Isadore was hiding there. Once the officers walked through, Isadore started shooting at them. None of the officers were hit by his gunfire. They went to safer area and called for backup and the SWAT team arrived. They started making negotiations with Isadore. One of the officers slipped a camera into the room and noticed that Isadore had a gun. The negotiations did not work so officers through gas into the room through the windows. Isadore started firing his gun at the officers but they shot back and killed him. It is not said what distraction device was used. Only eight percent of USA citizens are over 104 years old and it is surprising to think that a 107 year-old-man did this. Who knew he had the energy?

One-Year-Old Shot in the Head

"16-month-old baby shot dead by killer gunning for his father.''                                                         

By: Larry Celona, Kenneth Garger & Antonio Antenucci                                                            

Source: CNN              

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/baby_shot_dead_go2q1H80N6CBufwDQcyznJ

A killer shot a sixteen-month-old baby on the side of the head in Brooklyn on a September first around 7:50 pm while he was actually gunning his father down. The baby’s name was Antiq Hennis. He was shot right in front of his parents. He was in a stroller and his parents were pushing him from behind. Antiq Hennis died at the hospital an hour later at 8:50 pm. Gina Gamboa, a witness, heard three to four shots fired and said she saw a man screaming ‘My baby got shot! My baby got shot’ near the stroller. Gamboa said that she could see the baby laying in the stroller after all the smoke cleared. She saw the baby’s chest was moving but his head was titled towards the side. She also mentioned that there was blood everywhere. The police believe the bullet was actually meant for Anthony Hennis, Antiq Hennis’ father, not Antiq Hennis. In New York and Pennsylvania, Anthony Hennis has a record of more than twenty counts of arrests. These arrests include narcotics, weapons possession, car theft and assault, according to the source. Chris Dovsen, Antiq Hennis’ uncle, said that Antiq was vibrant and full of energy. He also mentioned that he was starting to learn how to walk. Police are still looking for the killer. Killing is starting to increase by number every day.  Guns are not doing the killing, people are and one will never understand how a human being could kill another human.

Red Velvet Ice Cream

Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake ice cream by Blue Bunny is amazing and definitely my favorite flavor. I am a big fan of red velvet cake and cupcakes so when I found out this was made I got so excited. Once I bought it and tasted it, it was like my taste buds were dancing in heaven. I bought it again once it ran out. Blue Bunny is known for their delicious ice cream so I knew this would not disappoint (ethos). Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake is rich, creamy, smooth, savory, bursting with flavor (asyndeton) and it is mouthwatering just thinking about it.  I really want to personally thank Duff Goldman, the creator of the ice cream, for making this brilliant flavor. He probably already knows a lot of people like his ice cream (rhetorical statement). Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake is a succulent ice cream flavor you can never get sick of. Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake has tiny red velvet cake chunks in. That is like a huge bonus to red velvet lovers who eat this ice cream. Eating ice cream is much easier than explaining it. Maurice de Vlaminck once said “Good painting is like good cooking; it can be tasted, but not explained” but I take it as “Good painting is like good ice cream; it can be tasted, but not explained.”