What's Going On In the World and Around Us
Wacky Winter Weather
By: Larry McNutt
Brrrrrr... lately it has been quite a frigid winter, breaking the mild winter streak the lower part of the East Coast. Temperatures have been plunging so low, they're close to breaking past records, snow keeps making a mess of everything when we think its gone, and school has missed close to 2 school weeks due to dangers of the winter weather. The National Weather Service says the long-range models are showing a cold air outbreak around Valentine's Day. The Climate Prediction Center has released its three-month outlook and It is forecasting a warmer than average March and April. So be prepared everyone; looks like it's going to be a warm spring and hot winter!
Typhoon Crisis in the Philipines
By: Larry McNutt
A unprecedented natural disaster, that came in the form of Typhoon Haiyan, devastated the Philiphines Islands, also causing severe medical conditions. The Red Cross says it has ordered 10,000 body bags in preparation for the number of bodies it believes it will have to retrieve. The official death toll, currently in the hundreds, is likely to grow quickly as time goes on and more information is given. What the malicious storm left in its wake are 4.2 million people who have been affected by the storm, most who are dealing with thirst, hunger, and injuries. This storm that is said to be 3-1/2 times more powerful than Hurricane Katrina; it extricated all water and food supplies, along with homes and lives. Medics are struggling with replenishing support into the destroyed lives or the innocent people, who were struck by this anomaly. Medics are also worried about disease spread due to the pools of sanitation waste lingering around many areas.
Falling Satelites
By: Larry McNutt
Did you know that 6,600 satellites have been launched in the world? Some 3,600 remain in space but only about 1,000 are still operational, according to researchers (the ESA). Not all are still intact, and the U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracks some 23,000 space objects. A lot of junk comes down unnoticed; but a satelite that was used to map Earths gravity was incinerated as it entered Earths atmosphere. The rest of the "junk" that wasn't completely decimated, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean just of the coast of the Farkland Islands. Space junk, which consists of satelites and rocket stages or fragments, enter the earths orbit at around 17,800 mph, but then slow down to between 160 to 190 mph in the Earths atmosphere.
Partial Government Shutdown
By: Lawrence McNutt
On the 31st of October at midnight, the the senate and the state couldn't reach an agreement with Obamacare. Their were three proposals: defund Obamacare, postpone it, or get rid of the the benefits for the wealthy. All three were denied; so the government had to shut down not reaching the deadline in time. Everyone seems a little confused on what exactly will happen with the partial shutdown, and are quite frightened what will happen. Only national funded systems or programs will be affected (not medicade/ medicare, wealthfare, social security, or unemployement) such as national parks and The Statue of Liberty. Those people who took care of those areas and worked there are temporarily unemployed.
iPhone 5S & 5C are here!
by: Kaitlin Dougherty
On September 18th, 2013, Apple released its new addition to the iPhone family, the iPhone 5S & 5C! The 5S is the traditional titaqnium body, but the 5C is the new child to the family. The "C" stands color, which means the iphone's plastic body can come in the optional colors. Also on the 17th at 1:00 p.m. the new apple update, the ios 7, came out and was available to download for apple users. The ios7 changed the traditional iphone program to a new advanced one. You are now able to have reliable tools, such as a flashlight or calculator, at the flick of your finger. Also the mapping has been updated, different lock screen, faster assesibility, and even updated apps. Then came the ios7-2 udate, that also updated the programs even more.