Daily Archives: March 13, 2012

Current Events Blog

Weather is one of the most unpredictable phenomenons on our planet earth today. As you have most likely heard on the news, seen in newspapers such as the New York Times, or read on a social networking site, Japan was demolished in a tragic earthquake and tsunami last year on January 11, 2011. After a devastating 8.9 earthquake shook and destroyed Japanese grounds, an enormous tsunami crashed upon the victims once again. Very quickly after this tsunami slammed down onto the ground, the internet and news stations were swarming with fear. The people of Japan were stranded and helpless against this overpowering wall of water and wind that was destroying everything that they had worked for. Most importantly and tragically, many thousands of people were unable to save their family, friends, and themselves. Houses and cars were swept into the roaring ocean and roofs were lifted off of homes and thrown miles away. Today, the citizens of Japan are continuing to rebuild their cities and homes, but they will never be able to make up for the losses of their loved ones.

As soon I heard of this horrible disaster, I felt deep sympathy for the victims struggling just to stay alive in Japan. Living in this part of New England, I have never encountered a storm of this extreme, such as an earthquake or tsunami. Just from viewing the videos and looking at pictures, I realized how horrifying this really was and still is, as the devastation has lasted for a year after. It will have very long term consequences in the years to come for people’s health and the environment. Putting myself in the shoes of a victim of this storm is very hard to imagine. But, one question I asked myself after this happened was,”How can I help?”

Many people who work for rescue services immediately flew down to Japan to help victims out of collapsed homes and to save lives. Even at Dodd, a place very far away from Japan, there are most likely relatives of students who traveled to lend a helping hand at the time of the earthquake and during its aftermath. Thirteen or fourteen years old is an age where we are too young to be at the site of the disaster, but that definitely shouldn’t keep you from assisting if you are able to. Many very popular stars such as Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey were promoting the message “Save Japan” and raising funds to support the people living in shelters after the storm. Sometimes, I think that people can become absorbed in their own lives and aren’t fully aware of the true state of others during a time of need. Raising awareness of ways to help others by giving donations, participating in fundraisers, or going on walks is a very important step in continuing to help the victims in Japan. So, even if you have a few spare minutes on a Friday afternoon, or have nothing to do on a Sunday, I would recommend researching this event to learn more about the tragic morning on January 11, 2011 and to find out more about ways to help. Also, Japan is not the only place in need of a helping hand. There are poverty stricken cities and places in need all around the world. As I have asked myself, what do you think you can do to save Japan?

~Micaela Estrada

Cyberbullying is a Colossal Problem

Wait! What’s up with cyberbullying? The use of technology to hurt someone, target someone, and/or embarrass someone and it really needs to stop! Cyberbullying has become an enormous, growing problem with teens during the last few years. Examples of cyberbullying are threats online, mean/rude texts, mean posts on Facebook or Twitter, and posting someones personal information on the Internet. Basically it is anything that is posted online intended to hurt someone in some way. This is an extremely bad problem because whatever goes on the Internet stays on the Internet. It is like ink on paper. Ink on paper will never disappear.

OK. I think that cyberbullying is  worse than regular bullying for one reason. It stays on the Internet forever. If you encounter cyberbullying, tell an adult you trust or close whatever or wherever you found it and go do something else that will help keep your mind off of it. If it doesn’t stop, try to block that person sending threats from your Facebook page or so they cannot text you. One question I have is why would somebody want to do this? It could only make everything worse than it is. I think this is a horrible problem that needs to end now. But as I was researching cyberbullying, I saw that some of these encounters with cyberbullying are not meant to be mean and are sometimes meant to be little jokes not intended to hurt. But the majority of the time it is not. Cyberbullying “needs” to stop.

~Evan Perlroth

You’ve Got Mail! But Why is it in a Box?

Do you ever wonder, as you drive, bike, roller blade, skateboard, run, and/or walk down the road, when did we start using mail boxes? I did. While I was on my way to school, I looked out the window of the bus and started thinking. As an avid fan of “Little House on the Prairie,” I began contemplating the use of mail boxes and who invented them in the United States. So, like any other curious George, I did some research.

Albert Potts. Now before you rack your brains trying to figure who he was, you probably have no clue. He was, in fact, the man who patented the first version of a mailbox, which he called a “new and Improved combination of Letter-Box and Lamp-Post for Municipalities” on March 9, 1858. It was a place where you could drop off the mail you had to be delivered, instead of going all the way to the post office. Towns loved it, and it caught on fast. On March 9th, to this day, Albert Potts is celebrated by the National Postal Museum in the Smithsonian.

Shortly after Albert Potts’ letter box, Philip Downing patented the “public protective mailbox,” which had a lid, in 1891. This model was closer to the mailboxes we are currently using. The next year, 1892, George E. Becket created the mail slot that is permanently inserted in a persons front door. This was necessary because mail was being delivered to individual homes by then. You can still see Beckets “mail slot” today on older homes and even a few new models. Just a little history on where our mail boxes come from. So remember, next time you complain about going to get the mail, your lucky you just have to walk to the mail box and not the lamp post or the post office.

~Carson Lee Harper