Protests in the Middle East

My sister, a Grad student studying Middle Eastern studies and Arabic, has drilled the idea into my mind that the recent events in the Middle East and North Africa are extremely historical and significant today.  My own interest has lead to research and an addiction to various news websites and nightly readings of what happened that day.  Because of the history being made and the importance these events have on our country as well as their own, I've decided to give a brief summary of what is happening in the revolting countries at this point.

Bahrain: The majority of Bahraini people are Shiite-Muslim, but the ruling government consists of Sunni-Muslims, which creates an obvious divide between the government and the people.  Demonstrations by the people have led to violent crackdowns in the country's capital, but people are reluctant to give up.  

Egypt: January 25th, 2011 will be forever known as the day that protests began in Egypt's now famous Tahrir Square.  The Egyptians demanded the removal of their ruler, Hosni Mubarak, who was in power for three decades.  Unemployment and the awful Emergency Law, which says any person can be arrested without a reason, were also driving forces of the demonstrations. Finally, Mubarak resigned, but Egyptians are uneasy due to little improvements in the regime.

Libya: Protests against leader Moammar Gaddafi have caused extreme violence and hundreds to thousands of deaths.  Gaddafi's threatening and harsh speeches and the large amount of corruption in this country have enhanced his people's anger, as pro-democracy rebels continue to take control of many regions in Libya.  

Tunisia: Unrest in this North African country due to unemployment and corruption caused demonstrations.  Unlike the other leaders, president Ben Ali fled from his country in January, and the Prime Minister, Ghannouchi, resigned as he finally listened to protester's demands. 

Other countries experiencing historical demonstrations and protests include Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, and Yemen.  I encourage students to keep up to date with the current events surrounding these Middle Eastern countries, as the United State's relations with the region are of extreme importance and the countries' steps to democracy will be momentous and significant from now on.   

Cool College Courses

Throughout the year, I have received numerous pamphlets, postcards, letters, and fliers from various colleges.  Some I have never heard of, and others are ones that I wish to attend, but the never-ending waste of paper has made me excited for the next four years.  As I apply to colleges and make big decisions, I spend a lot of time leaving through course catalogues.  Here are a few of the most interesting and humorous classes I have come across:

1. The American Vacation: University of Iowa offers this intriguing class, which discusses how American families of various backgrounds plan their vacations.  

2. Maple Syrup: The Real Thing: This course, available at Alfred University, reviews the production of maple syrup and it's significance in our culture today.

3. Joy of Garbage: UC Berkley offers this strange sounding course, which teaches students how to manage their garbage and encourages recycling.

4. Underwater Basket Weaving: This course stays true to its name, as students learn to weave baskets underwater at Reed College.

5. Tree Climbing: At Cornell, students can take this nostalgic class in order to learn to climb trees.

6. Finding Dates Worth Keeping: University of Sioux Falls offers this strange class for students who cannot seem to find the perfect match.

7. How to Watch Television: Seemingly a pretty easy task, students still take this course at Montclair in order to learn how to watch TV.

8. The Art of Walking: We learn to walk at quite a young age, but students at Centre College learn how to walk in a healthier manner.

9. Street-Fighting Mathematics:  Students learn the mathematical aspects of street-fighting when they sign up for this course offered at MIT.

10. Age of Piracy: Students from Arizona State can now learn the art and history of piracy.

I hope that in college, I have time to take an enjoyable class that will most likely teach me about something I never thought I would know so much about!

Would You Rather?

I'd rather write a data sheet.

Fruit!

Prickly Pear

Mango

Persimmon

The past couple of weeks I have been having a particular craving for fruit.  All this thinking about fruit has made me think about the different types I have have had in my life, other than the classic apples or oranges.  My personal favorite is the prickly pear.  My dad has to make special trips out to the west side of Cleveland to satisfy my cravings for this bright, reddish-pink, seedy and sweet fruit that I wait all year for to be in season.  Another favorite of mine is the mango, a more well-known fruit that tastes delicious off the pit, in a smoothie, or frozen.  A fruit that may be less common, that I love , is the persimmon.  Although it makes my tongue feel rough, the juicy, orange and tasty fruit remains at the top of my list.  The pomegranate, another foreign fruit, tastes delicious to eat with a spoon or in the delicious breakfast dish my dad makes on Sunday mornings.  Thinking of my favorite fruits makes me so thankful for the healthy and scrumptious treats.

Pomegranate