There is a big controversy concerning the new procedures used in airports. Many people think the new methods are invasive and harmful. Passengers are angry because they have to go through full-body image detectors and probing pat-downs. Security officials say this is a necessary precaution to ward off terrorist attacks. But despite their assurances that this is only to protect the country and keep everyone safe there has been a lot of complaints.
An aviation professor said that two trends are colliding: the usual holiday security increases and the addition of body scanners and new heightened measures due to the recent attempted cargo bombings. Several airports are also short-staffed, which will add to delays.
Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration are really in favor of changing airport screening from familiar scanners to full-body detection machines. The new machines show the body's contours on a computer in a private room away from the security checkpoints. They assure that a person's face is never seen and the person's identity is supposedly not known to the screener reviewing the computer images.
However, concerns about privacy and low-level radiation emitted by the machines have led some passengers to refuse screening. Under TSA rules, those who refuse must go through rigorous pat-down inspections that include checks of the inside of travelers' thighs and buttocks. The American Civil Liberties Union has denounced the machines as a "virtual strip search."
Concerns about procedures are not limited to the U.S. Organized protesters in Germany stripped off their clothes in airports to voice their opposition to full-body scans.
Employees say that resistance to the new methods is what will cause delays. If people consent to the scan it takes 30 seconds, whereas if they refuse the pat-down will take about 2 minutes. Another thing they are doing is that luggage and personal identification will be more closely examined.
Top security officials spoke out to defend their new policies. They insist that the new methods are safe and the procedures are better for everyone. They pointed out last Christmas a Nigerian man tried to blow up a jetliner using explosives hidden in his underwear.
There are currently about 300 full-body scanners now in 60 U.S. airports. TSA is on track to install approximately 500 units by the end of 2010.
There have been misunderstanding about the privacy and safety concerns but representatives argue that TSA’s concern is only the safety of the passengers and the advanced technology is beneficial for all.
Some pilots don’t agree with the screening but many are part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program so they don’t have to go through scanners and pat-downs. Pilots are also concerned about the cumulative effects of radiation. Depending on their schedules, pilots can go through a scanner several times a day and several days a week.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Failure Is Impossible for High School Students! (No, really)
by Mira Jacob
West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia has decided to try out a new system and they took F's out of their grading system, they will use 'I', which stands for incomplete, instead. They think this is more effective because it will give students a chance to learn a lesson and catch up, when they do they will be given a grade, like any other student. But there is divided opinion concerning this new method.
An english teacher stated that it's a bad method because not only does it affect the students it affects the teachers. Students will be under the impression that they could do whatever they want and it takes the only tool that teachers had to make students learn.
Others argue that this method isn't meant for those purposes but to benefit those who learn slower than their peers. They claim that if we really want students to learn giving them an F and moving on isn't going to help them; whereas if they get an 'I' and more time to learn/complete assingnments they will understand better.
Some of the nation's highest educational institutions, including the law schools of Stanford University, Yale University, and UC Berkeley all have non-traditional grading systems. Other high schools like the Big Picture high schools in Rhode Island, which focuses on internships, have found that learning goes better when uncomplicated by grades. They show this is a successful method them because most of their seniors go on to college and they have high college graduation rates
West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia has decided to try out a new system and they took F's out of their grading system, they will use 'I', which stands for incomplete, instead. They think this is more effective because it will give students a chance to learn a lesson and catch up, when they do they will be given a grade, like any other student. But there is divided opinion concerning this new method.
An english teacher stated that it's a bad method because not only does it affect the students it affects the teachers. Students will be under the impression that they could do whatever they want and it takes the only tool that teachers had to make students learn.
Others argue that this method isn't meant for those purposes but to benefit those who learn slower than their peers. They claim that if we really want students to learn giving them an F and moving on isn't going to help them; whereas if they get an 'I' and more time to learn/complete assingnments they will understand better.
Some of the nation's highest educational institutions, including the law schools of Stanford University, Yale University, and UC Berkeley all have non-traditional grading systems. Other high schools like the Big Picture high schools in Rhode Island, which focuses on internships, have found that learning goes better when uncomplicated by grades. They show this is a successful method them because most of their seniors go on to college and they have high college graduation rates
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
2010's Most Talked About Campaign Ads
Link to video: video.msn.com
I like this video because it shows a couple funny ads. I think it shows that politicians are trying very hard and spending a lot of money because they are aiming to attract everyone's attention. They can't please everyone but they are doing different things so that more people can relate to their advertisments.
I like this video because it shows a couple funny ads. I think it shows that politicians are trying very hard and spending a lot of money because they are aiming to attract everyone's attention. They can't please everyone but they are doing different things so that more people can relate to their advertisments.
Campaign Ads Turn Vicious
Link to video: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/8354511/2233
As it was getting nearer to elections all of the candidates began to bring out information to make their opponents look bad, it made them feel like they had a better chance of winning. Republicans began bad mouthing Democratic candidates and vice versa. Some ads simply ridicule the opponents.
As it was getting nearer to elections all of the candidates began to bring out information to make their opponents look bad, it made them feel like they had a better chance of winning. Republicans began bad mouthing Democratic candidates and vice versa. Some ads simply ridicule the opponents.
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