Student Loan Bill Poised to Pass in Health Vote

The article "Student Loan Bill Poised to Pass in Health Vote" by David M. Herszenhorn was published on March 21, 2010 in the NY times. The articles talks about how the Student Loan Bill will increase the Pell Grant studnets can recieve in financial aid. In 2010 the maximum a student can recieve in a Pell Grant is 5350 but in 2017 the maximum will be 5975. The Bill is supposed to cut out the private banks as intermediaries which will save taxpayers sixty one billion dollars over ten years. The Student Loan Bill was passed alongside the Helathcare bill. Demorcats called both bills a truly landmark occassion.

While some Americans disagree with healthcare, all Americans would probally agree with the Student Loan Bill. Why didn't Congress and the Government do this sooner? Was the recession the event that caused this to pass? I believe that this is a great thing for America and American education. I have to admit that the Government and the Demorcats did a good and just thing by passing this bill.

U.S. and Mexico Set New Anti-Drug Strategy

In today's edition of the NY times, there is an articl called "U.S. and Mexico Set New Anti-Drug Strategy" by Ginger Thompson. The articles focuses on the new strategy of the U.S. and Mexico to prevent drugs from being smuggled into the United States. Senior White house officials like Clinton, Gates , Nepalitano and Joints Cheifs of Staff made their way to Mexico City for the anouncement. The anounced the 331 million dollar plan to create programs to train officers, judges and prosecutors. The hope is to better educate people in Mexico rather than building a wall to keep them out.

Some Americans still support the buliding of the wall, while others feel this strategy will work. Why wasn't this tried sooner? Will this actually stop the flow of drugs from Mexico into the United States? I think that no matter what we do in Mexico, there will still be drugs coming in from Mexico. I think that this program will "stop the bleeding" but in reality we are still way behind the drug cartels in Mexico.

Union Looking to Tweak Rule on Head Hits

The article,"Union Looking to Tweak Rule on Head Hits", was published by the Associated Press on March 22, 2010. The article deals with the increasing number of hits to the head in the NHL. The latest incident pertaining this matter was the Boston Bruins' Marc Sarvard who was blindsided by an opposing player and was knocked out cold. The general managers passed a rule aout head hits earlier this year and the NHL Players Union wants to alter it slightly. The Union expressed that they need a short term solution for this season while not forgettign that they need a long term solution after this season.

Some feel that a rule should have been altered a long time ago, while others feel it was not mandatory. Why hasn't a rule banning these types of hits been created sooner? Why does it take someone getting hurt to create a drive for change? I believe that the NHL and the Players Union should have created this alot sooner. It is just common sense, you do not hit another player in the head when you check them. I play hockey and I know not to check someone above the shoulders then why don't NHL players do?

Ideas Emerge to Make the Final Minute More Like the Other 39

In yesterday's edition of the NY Times, There is an article called "Ideas Emerge to Make the Final Minute More Like the Other 39" by Ray Glier. The article focuses in on wether there should be major changes affecting the last minute of a Men's college basketball game.Some of the speculated chages are a 24 second shot clock instead of 35 seconds and getting one free throw and the ball back instead of two free throws. All these changes are trying to prevent teams from using foul for profit tactics. These tactics are used by a losing team to try to foul the opposing team to try to get back into the game. The purpose of the rule changes is to give the last minutes of the game more fluidity. There is a relatively slim chance these changes will pass but there is still a chance.

While many coaches and players oppose these changes, viewers cannot help but see the benefits. Will is these changes really help the game of basketball or hurt it? If the NBA does not have these rules, why should colege have them? I believe that these rules would help the game be more smooth bu then I believe the rules are the rules. You cannot just change the rules that have been set for years and that have either helped or hurt teams in the past.

Obama Signs Landmark Healthcare Bill

In today's eition of the NY Times, there is an article, "Obama Signs Landmark Healthcare Bill", by Sheryl Gay Stolberg. This article focuses in on the signing of the biggest piece of Healthcare Legislation in American history. The bill will cover the approximately 30 million Americans who do not presently have healthcare. THe cost will be about 938 billion over ten years but accordly to the CBO (Congressioonal Budget Office) will save about 138 billion over ten years. There were several important guest such as Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Vicki Kennedy and Patrick Kennedy.

While the signing of the Healthcare bill is celebrated by Democrats, Repiublicans are already working on how to repeal it. Why are Demorcats and Republicans so divided on this issue? Will this actually save money over ten years? HOw are we going to pay for this when we have a 13 trilion dollar debt? I believe that the current bill is not up to par with what the American people want. I think people want a bill that is bi-partisan which is supported by Republicans and Democrats.

Olympic Hockey

2014 Olympic Hockey

In “N.H.L. Commissioner Lists Reasons for Failing to Commit to 2014” by Jeff Klein, in February 18^th’s edition of the New York Times, the author explains the growing controversy of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The article explains how the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, is contemplating whether to allow NHL players to participate in The 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The advantage of letting the players participate is the exposure of hockey to the world. The disadvantages is the risk of injury to the players who have contracts at an estimated 2.3 billion dollars.

Some feel that letting NHL players play in the Olympics is detrimental to the sport while others feel it helps hockey in many ways. What do the players who participate in the Olympics feel about this? Will this affect the 2012 Olympics in Vancouver? If I was an NHL player, I would be outraged if I could not represent my country in the biggest sports event in the world and on the biggest stage in the world.

Ford earns 2.7 Biliion in 2009

Richard LaFaman
English 122
Mrs. Kern
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100128/ap_on_bi_ge/us_earns_ford
In the article "Ford earns $2.7B in 2009, first profit in 4 years" by AP Auto writers Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher written on January 28th. The image you usually get from U.S. automakers like GM is that of a struggling company begging the government for bailout money. Ford is not one of those domestic car companies. Ford made an estimated 2.7 billion in 2009 which was it's first annual profits in four years. Ford's profitfor 2008 was 118.4 billion dollars which was a 14 percent decrease. The company gained a market share in South and North america and Europe but no market share of Asia.



While some experts say that Ford's profits are unsustainable due to profits of Ford credit but the CFO Lewis Booth is predicting that Ford will earn a profit in 2010. I was very happy to read this article because finally an American automaker is making a profit. Why has Ford no been able to tap into the market share of Asia? How will Ford be able to slim it's deficit and be able to get it's balance sheet in the positive?

Rich LaFaman

Rich LaFaman
Faulty Pedals
In “Carmakers Pounce on Toyota Owners” by Nick Bunkley In January 28th’s edition of the NY Times, the author explains Toyota’s growing problem. The article explains Toyota’s recall of millions of cars due to a faulty gas pedal that gets stuck to the floor due to condensation from turn the heater on in your car. The economic impact of this problem is enormous because Toyota has earned a reputation of providing safe and reliable vehicles. The author explains how General Motors is trying to seize the opportunity by offering Toyota owners a risk free solution to their problems by giving them big incentives.
While experts say the faulty gas pedal is a rare and isolated situation, many Toyota owners are still worried. If I owned a Toyota I would very concerned about the recall because even if I did not own a model that was recalled because the thought of that happening is very frightening. Is there any other recalls dealing with car models in America? How does condensation, something so usual and common, affect a major part of a vehicle?