MARYROSS' blogs

A group of buses carrying Iraqi refugees are heading from Damascus to Baghdad. This is the first time that some of the 1.5 million Iraqis who fled to Syria are returning home. In February 2006, at least 2 million Iraqis escaped to Syria and Jordan because of the violence in Iraq. The buses will travel about 500 miles. There are Iraqi forces that will protect the buses once they enter the Anbar province and from there, accompany them to the capital. The security in Baghdad has improved during the months and a U.S. officer also announced that security is "dramatically improving" in northeastern Baghdad were attacks have decreased to about 70% since May. The Iraqi government is paying for the travel cost of the Iraqi refugees to return home and each family will be given $800 to help them resettle.

Source of Article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/28/iraq.main/index.html

Rumors whether they are good or bad can affect a person in a certain way. While growing up, I have encountered two different types of rumors. One is spreading a rumor about a person and two is having a rumor spread about me. People may see me as a person who wouldn't do such a thing but sometimes it would just slip out. During my seventh grade year, this girl and I had a few conflicts with each other. One day I just had enough and told my friends that she was a slut, that she would sleep with any random guy and that she is really easy. I thought that everything I said about her was to stay between me and my friends. However there were some people who eavesdropped and spread the rumor that I started. When that rumor came to her, I saw how much she was affected. She tried her best to clean up what I said about her but everyone looked at her a different way. People saw her the way I described her to my friends. No matter how much I disliked her, I still felt guilty for telling my friends in the first place something that isn't true. Similar to the book, The Crucible, Abigail Williams is having an affair with Elizabeth Proctor's husband, John Proctor, and fired Abigail from working at their home. Abigail proclaimed that Elizabeth is a liar but Reverend Parris wondered why no other family has hired her is Elizabeth was a liar. Because of the rumor that went out, everyone looked at Abigail differently like how everyone judged the girl I spread the rumor about. Sometimes spreading a false rumor about someone is worst than having a rumor spread about you because if the rumor was about you, you know who you are as a person and you would know if it's true or not. It may hurt you deep down but if you know yourself and others know you they you know yourself, then you can get pass the rumor easily. It's harder to spread a rumor because in the long run, you feel guilty like the way I felt. It's harder to take back what you said because if people believe what you said about a person, it can affect the person deeply because that's the way people would look at her. Rumors can be good or bad, but it can affect a person's life in a way.

Labels: Short Essay

Avandia is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Avandia is for type 2 diabetes which is non-insulin dependent. In this article it was said that the government pasted a warning on this diabetes drug which tells patients that this drug may increase or not increase the risk of heart attacks. Although FDA is not sure is Avandia is riskier than other type 2 diabetes drugs. The FDA explained what was happening in a black box which is "the most severe type of warning" of the drug. Although it remains an open question if Avandia causes heart problems or not. In the article it says, "Avandia may be associated with myocardial ischemic events such as angina or myocardial infarction". Meaning that it may be associated with chest pains or a heart attacks. On the other hand, study suggests that Avandia can even help diabetics live longer compared to other type 2 drugs.

I think that people with type 2 diabetes should be aware of what they are taking and making sure that they understand what is on the label. Importantly look for warnings and side effects that may happen while taking this drug. Avandia helps control blood sugar by "increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin." There are so many drugs out there that can really affect your health. Even though studies aren't completely sure about this controversy, I think people taking this drug should still be aware of different side effects and precautions.

Article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/11/14/avandia.ap/index.html

Labels: Current Event

Loquacious- talkative.
I chose this image because it depicts what loquacious means. The man talking has bore everyone who was listening to him. Sometimes having a loquacious instructor can get really boring and uninteresting. Sometimes it can be irritating and annoying.


Reparation- restoration to good condition.
Sometimes when a piano gets out of tune or in some way it brakes, it always has to be repaired in order to play your music pieces in tune. I play the piano and sometimes I have to tune the keys to restore back to its perfect condition.


Metamorphosis- a form resulting from any such change.
In the image above, it shows both a butterfly and a tree that has transformed completely into something different from what it usually was. Caterpillars go through metamorphosis because they wrap themselves in a coccon and later come out as a butterfly.

Definitions:
loquacious- talkative.
metamorphosis- a form resulting from any such change.
nihilism- anarchy, terrorism, or other revolutionary activity.
obsequious- servile; obedient; dutiful.
oligarchy- government by the few.
quotidian- usual or customary; everyday.
reparation- restoration to good condition.
tempestuous- tumultuous; turbulent; stormy.
tautology- needless repetition of an idea, words.
supercilious- arrogant, scornful.
fatuous- unreal; illusory.
apathy- lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

Labels: Vocabulary