Heads up!

     HEADS UP AMERICA! No that is not some type of motivational campaign to raise the economy in America. However, this campaign could stop any future economic issue in America. Heads up America is a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of America's community colleges. In other words, Heads up America is a battle to fight for free Community College in America. This campaign was started two years ago by Barack Obama the president of the United States and Dr. Jill Biden the Second Lady of the United States, who is also an American educator. President Obama and Dr. Jill Biden started the Heads up America campaign because they believe that free Community College can benefits the students and also the economy. During this campaign, Dr. Jill Biden went on a tour to Community Colleges all over the United States to give speeches to High schools and Colleges students on why free Community College is important to us. On November 4th 2015, Dr. Jill Biden visited LaGuardia Community College, along with Jean Chatzky, financial editor of the Today Show, Rachel Chambers, student of LaGuardia Community College and LaGuardia Community College President Gail Mellow. Students and teachers from five different High Schools, along with students and professors from LaGuardia Community College, went to support the campaign and listened to the speech.

     So how can free Community College benefits the economy? According to statistics datas from Jean Chatzky the financial editor of the Today Show, she stated that almost every four out of five job positions are offered to College graduates and left the last one out of five for the people who never went to nor graduated from college. She also stated that a high percentage of smokers smoke because of unemployment, that led back to one of the biggest reason of unemployment, which is college. This shows that how important colleges are. However, not all people are too lazy to go to college, some people just can't afford to go to college. Therefore, if Community College was free, the people who can't afford it would start going, and the rate of College graduates would go up. In addition, that means unemployment rates would drop, therefore, the economy of United States would rise.

     Community College is as important as University. Dr. Jill Biden gave us an excellent example on why that was being true during the speech. She gave us examples of successful people who once went to Community Colleges, such as Eileen Marie Collins, she was the first woman astronaut for NASA and Sarah Louise Palin, the former Governor of Alaska. These two successful characters received many honors in their life time. You would think they came from top Universities, but they actually started in Community Colleges. This example given by Dr. Jill Biden showed us that does not matter if you came from a Community College or University, you can still great stuff in life, Community College is just as important as any other four years College and University.        

Everyday Africa Response.

     What are some of the things that came up on you mind when you hear the word "Africa"? That was the question that I needed to think about when the founders of Everyday Africa came to visit my journalism class. Some of the things that came up on my mind when I think about the word "Africa" are Aids, Ebola, War, Kidnapping, Starvation, and much more stereotypes negative things. Basically, these are the same words that my classmate came up as well. I am sure that is what most people came up with when they hear the word "Africa". However, after the visit from the founders of Everyday Africa, they completely changed the way I look at Africa. Everyday Africa is a project on how Africans live everyday in Africa. Showing the "other side" of Africa, beside the typical negative things what people usually think about Africa. 

     It takes a photographer to be in the position of their subjects to understand them. Regular "parachute" photographer would not really understand the positive side of Africa. They are the ones who take photos on the stereotypes negativities and also the reason why we see Africa the way we do. They are called "parachute" photographer, because just like parachute, they would just go in for their photos they need with out understanding the subjects. Therefore, most of the time they would just photography the negativities. Unlike these "parachute" photographers, Everyday Africa captures the real side of Africa. Even though the negativities are what people want to see, Everyday Africa would rather goes against and show what is real. What you will find on their Instagram and Tumblr will surprised you. You will realize that everything you do here in New York City, you will find them doing it as well in Africa. Such as partying, playing spots, or even using their cell phones are just basic stuff to the Africans. At first, this was just a small project started by Peter DiCampo and Austin Merrill. Then, it became noticed, it was used as a front cover for a magazine, because people actually like to see what is real. That's when they started getting sponsorships from companies to continue to do what they're doing. After, that's when the "Everyday" project exploded. People all over the world starting to create their own everyday projects; Everyday Asia, Everyday Brazil, and even Everyday Bronx, no one would think even a small borough could have so much to tell. However, all these projects share one mission, their mission is to go against the stereotypes and to show the viewers the real picture on where they live or grew up. 

     I thought the visit from the founders of Everyday Africa was great. It made me want to start my own project in the future. I think it takes a lot to start something like this since it brings no incomes, but DiCampo and Merrill still managed to spread the positivities to us and the world. I hope they will continue their tour and inspire more younger generations.   

Look Ma, no hands.

   


     Tesla came out with a new feature for their Model S this month, many people were extremely excited about it. What could it be? It's the first AutoPilot system in the market. Tesla is the first successful all electric automobile company. Now with this new feature, it is a huge step in their company. They had been working on this new feature for the past few years, to make sure that it is flawless and legal. What is more genius about this system is that it is an upgrade you can install to any Tesla Model S, instead of just making it available to the new models. This way Tesla owners can always get the latest updates on their Teslas. This is why buying a Tesla automobile is a great investments. This is also a reason why no matter how many milage an owner drove his Tesla automobile, they can always resell it for close to the price they brought it for.

     So how does it work? Easy, Tesla's Model S has 12 long-range ultrasonic sensors that are located around the car. These Sensors can sense up to 16 feet in every direction at all speeds. That way the sensors can pick up if there are any car near by when autopilot is on. Many automobile in the market has car sensors, but not all of them has sensors up to 16 feet and all around the car. Next, Tesla also installed a high-precision digitally-controlled electric assist braking system in every Model S. This digitally-controlled electric assist braking system allows car to break automatically when in need. Once again, Tesla wasn't the only company that has electric assist braking system. However, it was very smart for Tesla to put both system together to create something smarter. Last but not least, Tesla also installed self steering wheel system on Model S when autopilot is on. This system allows cars to self steer within their lanes or changing to another when needed. Other companies did not release this system, Tesla was the first to release it.

     There were many news on this new feature Tesla released. One of the biggest news would be the video of a Uber driver who was on duty with his Tesla. Video showed that this Uber driver was driving on a semi busy road, then suddenly a car made a turn right in front of the Uber driver. It could've been an accident, but Tesla's digitally-controlled electric assist braking system stopped the car before it crash into the reckless driver. Tesla should continue creating more useful features. This will help the future of automobile.

Democratic Primary Debate 2015 Response.

     On Tuesday night October the 13th, five candidates participated in the first Democratic Primary debate. These five candidates include; Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Jim Webb, Martin O'Malley, and Lincoln Chafee. Unlike the second Republican Primary debate which was on September the 16th, it had 11 presidential candidates attending. This Democratic Primary debate seems much more empty.   Some of the issues that was being debated were race, gun control, college affordability, and much more. According to polls voted on the five candidates that were at this first Democratic Primary debate, Bernie Sanders came in first leading by 40 to 50 percents votes from the second candidates, Hillary Clinton. To most viewers, this debate was mainly between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

     So what some main issues these five candidates debated about? One of the main issue was gun control. Candidate Hillary Clinton blamed on the National Rifle Association. She stated that every majority gun owner or future gun owner should be receiving background checks before guns were sold to them. Candidate Martin O'Malley gave an example on one of the accident that was caused by gun. He mentioned that two of the audiences at the debates are parents of a child who was killed by a massive shooting. Candidate Martin O'Malley also stated that, after the shooting, the parents went to court for the case and lost. In addition to that, the parents had to pay $200,000 court fees. On the other hand, Candidate Bernie Sanders had a different point of view on this issue. He believes that if gun owners are in a right mindset, they would not do stuff that aren't right. 

     Another main issue they debated about was race. Sterling Arthur Wilkins, a student from Iowa asked the five candidates if black lives matter or all lives matter. Candidate Bernie Sanders started the debate with "Black lives matter". He also used the Sandra Bland case as an example on why black lives matter. On the other hand, Candidates Jim Webb said "As a president of the United States, every live in this county matters". He also stated that he had a long history of working with the situations of African American.

     In this first Democratic Primary debate, each candidate had their own point of view on different issues. Some agree with each other, some disagree and debated over it. However, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton did win the most votes on polls. Even though Bernie Sanders archived 40 to 50 percents votes over Hillary Clinton.