Abstract

The Brazilian Amazon is a valuable commodity in many aspects. However, the most valuable facet of its existance is the role it plays in monetary gain. Self-interest, in all levels of society, is destroying Brazil. Its economy is unstable at best, as the government has placed loads of stock in the cattle and farming industries, two of the largest exports the country offers. The government pushes the citizenry to clear the Amazon, the government gets the land when it's all done, and the cattle companies benefit. On top of all this, the soil becomes infertile, the climate itself is in danger of shifting, and Brazil is releasing a comparatively massive amount of greenhouse emissions in comparison to other countries. There are a myriad of problems occurring in addition to deforestation. The overall issue is complicated and anh immensely difficult problem to remedy in anyway.
There are a few solutions that could be implemented, but outside help is essentially required and needed for both. One requires a worldwide ban by pivotal beef companies. They purchase products raised and farmed in Brazil, regardless of if they were grown illegally or in an incorect manner. By doing so, the government will run out of money to continue to fuel the continued deforestation. The other solution should be financial aid to Brazil. It would require the government to provide subsidies to companies and regular citizens to NOT log any further into the Amazon. As of right now, the government provides tax cuts and financial aid to people who deforest their properties. By paying them not to, the government essentiallybuys itself a window of opportunity. During this period, not much will be cut down, giving time to strengthen forest protection and increase measures to prevent any further deforestation.

Fewdiez

In response to the article, In Defense of Food.

1) There could any number of reasons as to why people choose products which are unhealthy to them. Some of the simplests reasons are ones like that is food they have become accustomed to, or just something they prefer to other possible alternatives. Other reasons could include being simply uneducated about the product they're buying. They may not even be entirely aware that what they're buying is artificial or otherwise unhealthy for them. It could also just be that no other forms of more healthy food is available to them, due to cost, transportation, or general availability within their area of convenience.

2) As far as the government goes, they should to a certain extent, have a hand in educating the general populace about food products. Consider the health reforms to the food industry due to squalid working conditions and standards held in meat processing plants back in the 30's and 40's. The government radically forced change in that system.
And while change may not be as 'important' to this system now, simply because the food does not pose an immediate, inevitable threat to our health, it certainly can affect our health. And if nothing else, the government should at the least be a little bit concerned with that.
That's not to say the government should be burdened with overseeing all the food, procesess and procedures of the industries. However, perhaps through programs or new policies, it should somehow have a hand in regulating new labels to give more information to the buyer in some manner. Anything to help a consumer be just a little more informed about their choices.

Biography: Novalina (To be edited later)

Novalina Betancourt was born in San Francisco, and grew up in San Diego. She is of Puerto Rican descent, and from there derives her favorite food, Puerto Rican rice and beans. Her parents are like her best friends, and her father like a role model and hero. Because, when he was growing up, he was told many times that he should just find a safe job like being a janitor. However, he was driven to become more that was what expected of him, to go beyond and exceed expectations of his life, and these are traits and characteristics Novalina respected and emulated.
She went to Hillsdale High School, and then to UC Davis for college. While she never really regretted anything major, she did once get arrested during a spring break incident in Mexico during her senior year. It was an incident involving some hotel rooms and sneaking around. Safe to say the story has a happy enough ending.
Novalina has tried to figure out what she wants in her life, whether it be career choice or what she wants out of a relationship. She once worked for a technology company as an inspirational team leader. She then got the opportunity to intern for Clear Channel, a radio broadcasting company, and became a DJ for a female based audience for a while. later on, she co-authored the book, "The Secret", and this led to her making her own book, which she works on now. The book, "Total Female Package", is a compendium of other people's stories, much like the style of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books.
Aside from all of her big life aspirations, she is also one of simple enjoyments. She loves to dance, and to read. She's not married, but she's had significant relationships before and that has taught her much. She has more of a spiritual outlook on life, and likes love stories. And we know her today indirectly through Nicole Pack's sister, who introduced her to Elika. At this point in time, her story ends with a bunch of high school kids interviewing her at large. A fascinating end thus far.

An American Pastime.

To a certain degree, it is probably correct to say that the United States is involved in one way or another with the vast majority of countries in the world.
By means of war, trade, support, or rebuilding, among other reasons.
There is no doubt that the United States has an enormous influence on world economy and politics. However, there is no excuse for intervening in a country where we are not welcome.

For no reasons should we ever become involved in a country that does truly not want us there to begin with.
The only purpose for which the United States, or any powerful country for that matter, should intervene in the business of another country is if assisstance is asked for, first.
However, this can be taken case by case, as well.
If a terrible wrong is being committed in a country, so drastic of something as a genocide, or oppression of the people, a decision will need to be made on whether or not to involve ourselves in the agenda of any other country.
It will always be subjective to many different opinions, and the variables surrounding the situation at hand.
Whether or not the United States should choose to intervene politically, in a militaristic manner, or otherwise, is a choice that must be made quickly, and logically.
We are powerful. But not enough so to justify throwing our weight around.

Save the Princess!

Having recently been made aware of the plight of his Child Princess, our orange-turbaned hero and his ever faithful flying mount, Barder, took to the skies.
In an attempt to rescue said damsel in distress, OT (Orange Turban) switched gears into Turbo, and toggled to nitrous. This pushed Barder's stamina and endurance to his limits.
As a myriad of snowflake shaped paper cutouts exploded out of his rear end, the G-force began getting significant. They had finally broken the sound barrier when the duo began to lose altitude. Barder telepathically communicated to OT that he was getting tired, and needed to eat something to regain his lost energy. So OT kicked it down a notch, something he was often very reluctant to do, in any situation.
Barder landed with a thud on an asphalt road, where a few tandem snowflake cutouts were still erupting from his hindquarters. It was precisely at this moment that a mysterious individual snapped a picture of the duo.
Yeah, I don't really know where I was going with this story.

The Edge of a Rim?

It was late in the evening, and Nate Seven was returning home after the most important transaction of his life.

A vested man of 6'2'', he walked through the turnstile.
His eyes were deeply etched with sleepless nights, yet for a man deprived of such a necessity, he seemed to be somewhat alert still, if not somewhat distant.

In his hands, he carried a pair of rims, which had been recently acquired through uncertain circumstances. However, these were rims of a special sort, a special stock. At the very least to those involved in the business of rim collecting.

These special, vital rims would help Nate, this lonely man, earn the love of his father. His father, Rodney, being a self-proclaimed rim collector and connoisseur, had always been totally dedicated to his hobby since the death of his wife and Nate's mother a year after his birth.

One could say though, that Nate's father had a nearly over-zealous passion and love for his hobby. It was precisely for this reason that Nate never truly earned his father's love or respect, because it was hard to compete with bicycle rims. Especially chrome bike rims.

Excited thoughts raced through Nate's mind as he passed through the train station and through the turnstile, for tomorrow he would give his father the hard-earned, one-of-a-kind rims, and perhaps, buy himself just a small place in his heart.

Perhaps.