Final Post

The end of the year is here and I still not media literate. To me, media literacy is being able understand, analyze, and comprehend news in the world around you. I have been in a media literacy class for about 4 months now. I am not literate because I do not listen to the news. I have been trying, but it's hard. I do not watch the news on a daily basis, nor do I read newspapers. I just pick up information from what I hear people talking about or whatever comes across my timeline on Twitter. That is my main problem. Although I do not keep up with news events, I can accurately recognize information that is newsworthy. I know the different news neighborhoods and elements of each. Determining what is news is probably my strongest ability.
Taking this course has showed me that news isn't just major court trials that are always on Nancy Grace. News can be a variety of things. It can be something as simple as Wiz Khalifa becoming a father. I now know that news can be accessed from different places and can cover different things.

Standoff in Trenton

2013 has not been a good year for the citizens of New Jersey. The state is still in recovery from the damages of Super Storm Sandy. And, more recently,  there was a standoff over the weekend. On Friday afternoon, the police went to a home in Trenton, New Jersey in response to a call from a family member of Carmelita Stevens. Stevens was not heard from for some time, and her two daughters were not in school for 12 consecutive days. The police received no response after knocking on the house door. They proceeded to use force to enter the home. Ralph Rivera (Trenton  Police Director) reported that officers on the scene immediately noticed  a strong odor "consistent with a decomposing body," as well as saw maggots throughout the house. The police discovered Murphy in a room with a dead body and 3 hostages (aged 18, 16, and 4) after following his voice up the stairs. Murphy told authorities that he was armed with guns and explosives. Through a window, Murphy could be seen with a handgun. After seeing that children were inside the house, the officers began sending food and water to them through a window. Hostage negotiators stayed in contact with Murphy on and off throughout the 37 hour standoff. At 3:45 a.m. Sunday, police confronted Murphy and rescued the children from the room. A single shot was fired by the New Jersey State Police that wounded Murphy. He died from his wounds in a hospital after being taken into custody. The two bodies discovered in the house were that of Stevens, age 44, and her 13 year old son. They were both killed two weeks ago. Murphy had an extensive criminal record that included aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy, robbery, weapon offenses, and child endangerment. Murphy was Stevens' boyfriend, but not the father of any of her children. The reason for the murders are unknown, and the case is still under investigation. More information of this case can be found in the article Mother and Son Dead in Trenton Home.

Amanda Berry Found Alive

A guardian's worst nightmare is having their beloved child taken away from them by the hands of a stranger. 10 years ago that very thing happened. Amanda Berry was only 16 years old when she went missing. She was abducted after her night shift at Burger King. Her family was terrified when she did not return home after work. When they contacted the police, they were blown off and Amanda was classified as a runaway. Her family knew better than that though. They knew that foul play was involved because she was not a problem child, she went to school and work every day faithfully, and it was the day before her 17th birthday that she did not come home.
10 years after being kidnapped, Amanda Berry (and others) were rescued. On Monday, May 7, 2013, Amanda escaped the house where she was being held captive and managed to make a daring call to the police. In an interview, her neighbor (Charles Ramsey) discusses how he was confused when he saw her. She screamed "help, save me, please help." It were those pleads that gained his attention. He said "when I looked at that girl, I said "you look familiar." I'm prying the door open ans she trying to get out and she climbed through the bottom of it, and soon as she got out she said "my name Amanda Berry; call the police.""
When someone goes missing for over a year, people begin to assume that they are dead. The chances of them being found are slim to none. Amanda's grandmother told reporters "I didn't think she was dead. No, never." Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus (another captive) reunited with their families on Tuesday. Amanda tells her story of being kidnapped, raped, sodomized, and bearing the child of her assailant, Ariel Castro.For further information on Amanda's rescue, read Amanda Berry Found Alive After a Decade.

Decisions, Decisions

Today is May 1st. For high school seniors, the date is significant. It is Decision Day. Today is the day that seniors are supposed to make the final decision on the college or university they plan on attending in the fall. It is one of the days I have been dreading since the beginning of the school year. I have applied for over 10 colleges. However, I was only accepted to two. Of those, I truly want to go to one, but my mother has her own opinion on where I should go. She wants me to go to Albright College. It is a relatively good school. It is private and has a high rank and graduation rate. Albright is in Reading, Pennsylvania. All that is fine I guess, but the tuition for one year is $46,300. I am not sure why but my mother insists and has her heart set on me going there. I want to go to Xavier in Louisiana. They have a 4 out of 5 star psychology program. The school's volleyball team uniform looks nice too. Plus, Louisiana is the home of Mardi Gras. I want to be at Xavier because it will be a fresh start in a completely new environment. Being that far away from home will force me to rely solely on myself. But my mother will not even consider the admission. There is only 2 hours left in the school day, and I still have not made a decision on which school to attend.

"And I'm Gay"

Homosexuality has always been something that was shunned, especially in sports. Jason Collins is an NBA player. He plays as a center for the Washington Wizards (was traded mid-season from the Boston Celtics). He stands at 7 feet even. And for over a decade, he was silent about his sexuality. Collins said that he wanted to keep his sexual preference a secret because he was terrified of what teammates, opponents, fans, and the world would think of him. But his mind state changed after the Boston Marathon bombings. "[The bombings] reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully," says Collins. He continued to say that he "endured years of misery and [has] gone to enormous lengths to live a lie." Jason Collins is crowned as the first active player in a major league sport to come out as gay. He wrote an article posted Monday on the Sports Illustrated website that started with "I'm a 34-year old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." Collins was surprised of the praise, approval, and support that he received after coming out. He was congratulated by teammates, a new sponsor, and Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Jason Collins plans to continue playing for the NBA, and marching at Boston's Gay Pride Parade on June 8th.
I think that having a prominent basketball star publicly announcing that he's gay will allow others to feel comfortable and open about their own homosexuality. For further reading on this subject, please read Jason Collins Breaks Barriers.

Prom Is Here

As the school year winds down, things we seniors actually care about are slowly but surely approaching. Those things include (but are not limited to) graduation, leaving for college, and prom. Yes, prom season is finally here. And speaking of prom, mine is this Friday. I am extremely excited. The class of 2013 chose this year's theme to be Springtime in Paris. I like spring colors because they are soft. I cannot wait to see how the ballroom will be decorated. I finished up my prom shopping yesterday. I chose my dress sometime in February. It took a while to find it, but I knew it was the one after I tried it on. My shoes are absolutely gorgeous. They are simple pumps, but they accent my dress so well. I already have my accessories and everything. The only thing I need now is a small to medium size clutch. The handbag will definitely complete my look. I am not much of the dress wearing type, but I am going to turn heads on Friday. My best friend and I will essentially be double dating that night. My parents will be our chauffeurs for the night. I am so excited to see other people's outfits. Friday cannot come quick enough.

Ricin Letters

About a week ago, ricin-laced letters were sent to President Obama, Senator Roger Wicker, and Judge Sadie Holland. Ricin is a highly toxic protein, that when a small dose is inhaled, can kill an adult human. Paul Kevin Curtis was the first suspect of the crime against the President. Kevin Curtis was on an one-man campaign for over a decade to expose the "illicit organ harvesting scheme" at a Tupelo hospital. The poisoned letters were signed "I am KC and I approve of this message." The signature led to the investigation of Curtis. After a thorough search of Kevin Curtis and his ex-wife's house, there was no sufficient evidence linking Curtis to the crime. With the lack of evidence, all charges against him were dropped by federal investigators. Curtis's family and his brother (Jack) did not immediately think that the charges against Kevin Curtis were false, due to Curtis's history of mental illness. However, they knew something was wrong when informed that a poisoned letter was sent from him to Obama. "Somebody messed up because he likes Obama," said Jack. It was then that the family suspected that Kevin Curtis was framed. Jack told the authorities to take a look at Everett Dutschke (a former employee of his that had an "antagonist" relationship with Kevin Curtis). On Tuesday and Wednesday, Dutschke's home and his former school was searched. Evidence was recovered that connected Dutschke to the contaminated letters. After careful inspection, it was concluded that the letters were in fact forged to mimic Curtis's handwriting, and the usage of his slogan sealed the deal. Everett Dutschke was arrested Saturday morning at his home. He was then turned over to the U.S. marshals. He is currently facing charges of the possession, development, and stockpiling of a biological toxin, and a delivery system to use a weapon. If convicted, Everett Dutschke can serve a life sentence in federal prison. For further reading on this topic, see Contaminated Letters.

"Friends"

It is just registering to me that everyone cannot be trusted. People that you were once close with can (and most likely will) turn on you. When people used to tell me stories about stuff like this, I thought that they did something to turn the person against them and just didn't want to tell me. So when it happened to me, I was astonished. The person was introduced to me by a mutual friend. When they first came around, I was skeptical of them. I made it known immediately. But "our" friend told me to at least give them a try. Although I wasn't comfortable with it, I let my guard down (since my best friend was vouching for them). As time went by, we got closer. They would tell me things, and although they often clashed with other things that were said, I did not call them out or cast judgment. I thought we were actually making some type of progress. Boy was I wrong. About a month or two ago, the person had an attitude. I asked what was wrong, trying to be a caring friend. But I got ignored. It did not just happen once, but at least three times. I stopped asking and stopped caring. The person was also acting flaky towards "our" friend. The person doesn't sit with us or talk to us, or even look at us. Whenever they were asked why they act that way towards me and my best friend, they come up with an excuse (they got worse and less believable each time). I just do not understand how you can be cool with somebody one day, and nothing bad happens, but you're throwing endless shade. It is crazy.

Senioritis

Senioritis (n): an ebbing of motivation and effort by high school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades. I thought that senioritis was a myth. I thought is was just an excuse for people to not do their work. But I know it is real. The 2012-2013 school year is quickly winding down. There is only 4 (YES 4) weeks left. And senioritis has set in heavy. I am usually on top of my work. Not saying that I am the best student, or the worst, but I am generally able to get things done. However, I have not been on my game lately. Since winter break, I haven't done any good quality work. I have been doing just enough to get by, and even that isn't working for me. I skimp on assignments and turn in incomplete work. I know it's bad but I am just not motivated anymore. Focusing on school work is becoming more difficult by the day. I am worried more about life after high school, rather than doing what is necessary to get out, and it is being reflected in my grades. Typically, I get B's and high C's. Right now I believe I have at least 2 F's. It is not that I don't understand the material. It is that I'm just not doing it, or I turn in crappy work. With only 21 days left in the school year, I cannot afford to start slacking. I will find a way to cure this case of senioritis because Jonae Hodge will walk across the stage on June 12, 2013.

Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is one of the most anticipated races of the year. Running the marathon is a way to qualify for the Olympics. On Monday, April 15, 2013 a race was being ran. However, this was no typical race. About three-quarters of the 23,000 participants crossed the finish line when a bomb exploded. The bomb was set in a trash can near the finish line. It went off around 2:50 pm. The bomb exploded on Boylston Street (near the heart of the city) amongst a vast number of people. Thirteen seconds late, another bomb exploded only several hundred feet away. Jarrett Sylvester said said "the first one went off, I thought it was a big celebratory thing, and I just kept running." Many people were unaware that the blast came from a bomb. They were convinced that it was planned after the second one though. The explosion kill 3 people, and injured 175.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was hospitalized after going on the run. He is being charged with using weapons of mass destruction. Tsarnaev said that he and his brother (now deceased) acted alone, and are not connected to any terrorist group. He admitted his role in the bombing. Due to his injuries, he cannot speak. He wrote information about the attack for detectives.

No End in Sight for North Korea

Recently, North Korea has been upping their threats against the United States. The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has planned to have military rockets on standby. The missiles are aimed toward the United States and their allies. Should Americans be afraid? Should we flee the country immediately? The answer to both questions is no. Although South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday of "brisk activity" around North Korean missile sites, there is nothing to fear. Defense official at the Pentagon in Virginia reported that the recent activity is not "out of the ordinary". U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman, Martin Dempsey, said "there have been some artillery movements, but nothing other than what's consistent with heir historic patterns and training" at a news conference Thursday.

The Pentagon flew two B-2 bomber planes near North Korea. The planes did not attack the country. The deployment of the planes was merely a demonstration to North Korea as well as the allies of the United States, assuring everyone that "we [the U.S.] can bring force from anywhere..."

For more information on this issue read the article Tension with North Korea, and watch the video included.

You Smile, I Smile

I've decided to be nice this week. I did something sweet for my friend. He told me that he lost his headphones about a week ago. He was pretty upset since they were new. In February, I told him that I would buy him something, but I never said what exactly. This weekend, I purchased some Skull Candy headphones with a mic. I got them in purple. That is his favorite color. I also bough him Halo 4. I've never played it before, but the guy at the store said that it's new and really popular. This morning I gave him both items. When I pulled them out, his smile was really wide. He hugged me very tight. I think I surprised him. I hope he enjoyed his gifts. Seeing him smile made my day.

This Weekend

This has been a draining weekend. It all started Friday night. I left my best friend's house to come home. When I arrived, I was greeted by my sister. Seeing her was fine, except she's like a kitten. She likes to play...a lot. Saturday morning we decided to go to the mall. We caught the train out Wheaton, but they were doing track work on the red line so it took forever. We left the house at 10:30 but stepped foot in the mall at 12:30. My main mission of the day was to purchase the new Jordan's that came out (the 13s), but no store had them in my size. I went to 6 different stores. I couldn't even buy any clothes because I didn't have any shoes to match what I wanted. Not getting the 13s ruined my entire day. I became antisocial,  and drifted off from the others. When I finally chose another shoe to buy, DTLR didn't have them in my size either. I felt crushed. I gave up all together. After walking through Wheaton for 8 hours,  I decided to leave. It was about 11 when I got home.

I Cannot Deal

A lot has been going on lately. My father had a heart attack last week. I was accepted into Xavier University. And my friend has been the most random mood swings ever. The mood swings are what bothers me the most.

Everything could be going well. My friend and I could be laughing and talking all day. Then all of a sudden, he gets mad. It's almost always over nothing, but he never sees it like that. He will be mad all day and all night over the littlest, tiniest, smallest thing. What makes it worse is when I ask him what's wrong. That is another argument within itself.

We go through this at least twice a week. I don't know why or how it even starts, but it happens. At times I want to leave everything where it is and walk away, but I can't. Despite the arguing, we're usually happy together. When we are good, it's amazing. But any other time, we're at war. I understand that arguing or disagreeing is a part of all relationships and friendships. I just wish it didn't happen as often.

Summer, Summer, Summer Time!

Summer is right around the corner. Ladies bring out your bikinis. Men bring out your swim trunks. I am impatiently waiting for the spring to come and go. I’m too excited for summer 2013. This year I will be 18 in July. That means, PARTY! I plan on going out with my friends to a nightclub for the very first time. Besides my birthday, I am excited for change that is bound to come this summer. My closest friends and I will technically be adults. To me that means responsibility and independence. I’m not too sure about how I will handle either one of the topics, but I am ready to try. I’ve been depending on my mom for pretty much ever. I have recently started doing things for myself, but she is still there to help out from time to time. Having to do major things on my own (buying clothes and food, renting an apartment, doing my hair) will probably be a hassle. I feel that I am prepared in some ways though. I know how to take care of a household, doing things like cleaning, cooking, and paying bills. I already made a budget to manage any money I have coming in. I also know a little something about decorating. I am still worried that having the freedom to do whatever I want will negatively impact me though. No one will be there to make sure that I wake up on time. No one will remind me of the things I need to get done. My mom won’t be on my back when I mess up or get off track. I think that I will be able to overcome any challenge thrown at me, but I won’t have my mother there to pick up the pieces when I fall short. That scares me the most.

Are Modeling Sites Leading To Abductions?

Three women have gone missing in Colorado. Each of them had a profile on a modeling site. Two of the women's profile was on ModelMayhem.com. The National Women's Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation said that the website has been a common link in cases like this. The cofounder of the organization said "we're up to 13 or 14 cases that we're familiar with." One of the women reportedly told her friends that she was going to a modeling job. The woman, Kara Nichols, has no tbeen seen again. Another woman, Raven Furlong, age 17, also went for a modeling job. She was last seen on February 5th. However, the police has classified her as a runaway. The third woman's profile was on a different website. Kelsie Schelling was listed on the site Explore Talent, and was last seen on February 4th.

When Raven Furlong's aunt discovered her niece's profile on Model Mayhem, she was disturbed. The aunt told reporters "the photographers [were] asking her to do nude photographers after asking her if she was 18 and her telling them no."

Jillian Mourning (professional model), age 25, also used Model Mayhem. While in Arizona for a photo shoot, she was sexually assaulted. She said that she was videotaped while being raped. Mourning was also trafficked and forced to have sex with men until her "manager" went to prison.

For more information on this topic, please read 3 Missing Women and Modeling Profiles.

To Buy, or Not to Buy? That is the Question

Just like many other females, I have an obsession with shoes. Not heels and stilettoes though. I prefer tennis shoes. I will choose a pair of sneakers over any other shoe any day. The shoe I have my eye on is not just any shoe. It is a pair of Spizike's. Spizike's is a common name for a design of Jordan's. Something about this shoe caught my attention. It definitely is not the price tag though. It will be sold in retail stores for about $175. I am not the richest person alive, but I think that spending 200 dollars on a pair of shoes is worth it. I love Jordan's. They are one of the most comfortable shoes I've worn. I like that these have yellow in them. I don't own a pair of yellow shoes, so it would be something different added to my wardrobe. Although I am all for the shoes, my mother isn't as enthused. She believes that the price is too high for something that's "useless". She says that I can take that money and put it towards college. The Spizike's are subject to release on March 2nd. That means I have less than a week to convince her that I NEED these shoes. It's a challenge, but I am up for it. Owning these are a must. Yellow & Black Spizike

It's Time For a Change

I am tired of seeing our fellow African American youth die. It has always been bad, but it is getting out of control. Black youth in the DC Metro Area are being murdered over the dumbest things. The most recent of the slayings involved a student from Suitland High School. On Monday, Charles Walker Jr. was killed for a pair of shoes. 5 men (all have been charged with first-degree murder) attempted to take Walker's shoes from him. The actual trigger man has not been identified, however, everyone admitted that they have played a role in the Walker's death. Walker's death was the second murder within a 24-hour period of Suitland's students. For more information, check out Charles Walker Jr.'s Murder.

This story is important to me because I lost a close friend to the same thing. It is stupid. That is the only way to describe it. It truly irritates me that it happens as frequent as it does. Anyone can be a victim in today's society. Earlier this week I was going towards Anacostia Station. When I was approaching the W2 bus stop, I overheard a conversation between two African American males.

Boy 1: "They walkin' back and forth and s***. They makin' it hot. I'm tryna get them shoes up off slim."
Boy 2: "I don't even want them, they don't look like my size."
Boy 1: "I don't give a f*** if I can fit them or not. I'm takin' them off his feet."

Conversations like that disgust me. What is the purpose of taking something someone else has? If you want it, work for it, and get it yourself. There is a definite problem with today's youth. Something has to change.

"People These Days..."

Do you want to know what grind my gears? People. People have been irritating me a lot lately. It's not their presence that's the problem. Simply put, it's the things that they do. The little things about people bother me the most. I cannot stand when people make plans, but do not follow through. I believe that if you say that you are going to do something, you should do what you said you would. It's not that hard. Do not make promises or plans when you know you have no intentions on following through. Don't get me wrong, I understand that things happen. I know that situations and emergencies do come up. In that case, you should give the other person a heads up, a warning, call, text, or something. For the most part, I believe in second chances. However, when I give you the opportunity to re-do something, take advantage of it. Making the same mistake is not acceptable at all…especially when the situation is the same. I truly hate when people constantly do stuff, then claim that they are sorry afterwards just to turn around and do the same thing again. I think I am a pretty understanding person. I would rather have people announce when they are going to cancel their plans than have them not show up at all. People these days are just rude and self-centered. They are lacking courtesy. Or maybe I am being unreasonable. I could be asking for too much. I think I expect too much from people. Saying I’m disappointed is an understatement, but I will still make the most of my day.

 

 

Trouble in Paradise

A group of tourists went to a resort in Acapulco, Mexico. The resort is a beautiful place. It has a gorgeous beach view. However, their lovely trip turned ugly quick. On February 4, 2013 seven men rushed into the resort armed with guns. They gathered everyone there up. When everyone was together, they decided their next move. The seven male tourists were tied up with phone cables. Six women were then raped. One of the women was safe because of her nationality. Attorney General, Martha Garzon, said in an interview that "they told her [the victim] that she has 'passed the test' by being Mexican. and from that point they didn't touch her." In addition to the rape, the seven gunmen took items that included electronics and tennis shoes from the victims.

It is believed that the victims met their assailants prior to the assault. Mexican authorities say that the gunmen clearly are not part of a criminal organization. They suspects may have been involved in a drug transaction with the victims though. The Mexican police are currently holding five suspects in connection with the rape of the tourists. Checkpoints have been established to apprehend the other two suspects. For further information on this matter, read Mexico Tourists Raped.

Recently, Mexico has been getting a lot of heat for being one of the most dangerous places for tourists. When talk of Mexico being a violent country finally subsided, the multiple rapes occurred. The event grabbed national headlines and Mexico has started receiving bad publicity once again. To reduce the violence in Mexico, authorities should become more strict with gun laws. They should also stop drug and human trafficking, for those are big reasons that people are being murdered.

Losing to Gain

Good afternoon world. I have decided to make a change in myself. I recently concluded that it's time for me to lose some weight. We are currently less than three months away from my senior prom. Of course I want to look gorgeous for that. (Whether I lose weight or not, I will still look good.) But I also want to become the healthiest me possible. According to my primary care doctor, I'm "obese". I personally don't think I'm that big but hey. Maybe it's just that my height makes my weight even out. Whatever the case, I should shed a few pounds. I don't think it will be very difficult. My mother is trying to lose weight too. She takes some vitamins or something that her doctor prescribed. The doctor also put her on a diet (they call it a "healthy lifestyle choice"). Since her food choice is limited,  we don't really have snacks in the house anymore. We can't go out to eat often, and we have to get low fat everything. This semester I take PE 1. The class focuses primarily on sports, so I will always be active. I also walk to and from school everyday. That should burn a couple calories. My mom and I are finally coping with portion control. At first it is was hard (and I was always hungry), but it's getting easier as time passes. I think I will be successful because losing weight is something that I actually want to do and I have the support of my mother. Everybody will see the new me on May 3rd. I can't wait.

Keeping It In The Family

The Holocaust was a horrible time for the Polish and Jewish everywhere. The Nazi Party (which was run by Adolf Hitler) went around terrorizing everyone. They wanted a “pure” society. This meant that they needed to eliminate everyone they had a problem with. The Nazis attacked Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the physically and mentally disabled, and people didn’t support them. But the Jews were the main targets. Hitler convinced his soldiers that Jews were the cause of all of their problems and that they should be killed. The Nazis gained power quickly. They began rounding Jewish people up by the dozens. After a large number of Jews were in captivity, they were transported in small, cramped trains to concentration camps. Concentration camps were massive facilities that people were forced to live and work in. If they didn’t the task a Nazi officer wanted them to, they would be killed. People inside the camps were given little food and lived in horrible conditions. By 1945, majority of the camps were liberated by the Allied Powers. Only about one-third of the people that walked into the camps’ gates were able to walk out.

Recently, the decedents of Holocaust survivors have decided to remember what can be called the worst years in history. The grandchildren of concentration camp survivors have decided to get the same tattoo on their arm as the actual survivors in their family. The Nazis tattooed numbers on their prisoners to keep track of them. People have said that they chose to get the tattoo because their generation “knows nothing about the Holocaust,” and they are determined to remind them of the struggle. Getting the tattoo has become a trend. Having the numbers on the decedents allows them to be connected with their ancestors.

My Future Is Bright

The saying 'when one door closes, another one opens' is pretty true. Today I experienced it first-hand. About a month ago I applied to Johnson & Wales University in Northern Florida. I chose that school because they offer culinary arts as a major. I love to cook and experiment with food, so I thought that it would be a good fit for me. My best friend in the whole wide world applied there too so that was an added plus. I've never been to Florida. I thought it would be nice to live down there for a while. But my world came crashing down and shattered into oodles of pieces last week. I received a letter from the school saying that I was denied. As soon as I read those horrible words, I began to get teary eyed. I felt bad. I didn't want to go to school anymore, or eat, or anything. I stayed in my room. However, today my confidence was restored a little. Allegheny University in Meadville, Pennsylvania contacted me. Their Chief Admissions Officer emailed me letting me know that all of my materials were submitted. Then he added that he has a "good feeling" that I'll become an Allegheny Gator really soon. Allegheny was one of my top schools. If I get accepted I'll be the happiest person ever.

Confessions of a Senior

Hello world! I am Jonae Hodge. Nobody usually calls me that though. I tend to go by Jon or Nae, but NEVER together. I am a current senior at good ol’ Thurgood. I am a fun kid. I love to laugh and play. People that think I’m always serious or mad OBVIOUSLY don’t know anything about me. I am a total goofball. My best friend is the most incredible person ever! When we get together, we can’t stop laughing. I am an honest person. A lot of my honesty is taken as being “mean,” but that’s never the case. I never try to intentionally hurt people. I am very trust worthy. I am loving and kind. And full of excitement. Smiling is probably my favorite thing to do (next to listen to music of course). In Computer Apps 2, we have to blog regularly. I hope that blogging will allow me to become a better writer, and offer people a look into my life through my big spectacles. I think that blogging will also keep me up-to-date with news and the happenings of the outside world. Blogging seems fun because it can become a new outlet when I’m stressed or need to talk. But then I think about whether people would want to read what I have to say.

Secret Meetings in Murder Trial

Chandra Levy was born in 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio. At some point in her life she moved to the Nation’s Capital. She worked at the Federal Bureau of Prisons here in DC. Levy was enjoyed jogging and visiting local parks. In 2001, she went missing. She was last seen exercising in Rock Creek Park. A whole year after she disappeared, Chandra Levy’s skeletal remains were found in a wooded area near the park. The case was determined to be a homicide.

In 2010 Ingmar Guandique was charged and convicted with Levy’s murder. There was no DNA evidence or witnesses that pinned Guandique with her death. However, Armando Morales, an inmate, testified at the trial saying that Guandique confessed to him that he killed Levy. The only thing the prosecution can use against Guandique is Morales’ testimony. But how credible is Mr. Morales? The prosecution also believes that Chandra’s death fit into the other attacks committed by Guadique.

The closed hearings show signs that there could be potential problems with the previous conviction. If Morales testimony proves to be false, Ingmar Guandique may have a chance to reduce his sentence. Levy’s father said that Guandique was a “convicted rapist and an illegal alien," but added, "if he's innocent of murder, he shouldn't be in jail for it."