It's the end of the year as we know it!

Well all, it is now the end of one great school year. Summer is almost here, and we are begining to feel the sun's warm rays. I had a lot of fun going on this great adventure of blogging with you all, and plan to continue with it. I had a great time in class, sharing jokes and laughter about the books (*cough cough* Mythology), the world (aka Brad Pitt), and above all, about each other (Will). I am going to miss this class and all of our antics (except maybe Nick Tran throwing books at me... Haha still like you Nick). You are all a great group of guys, and I hope to see you all later. And thanks for being such a great teacher Mrs. Hake, and being able to put up with us (most of the time!). I'm looking forward to taking AP next year (especially with the iPads!) and hope to have you as a teacher again. Well, thanks again to everybody for a great year! I enjoyed it!    Your friend, Matt Swoboda

First Heart-Transplant Baby at Children's

In an operation early Monday morning, two-week-old Lainey Wilkinson became the first baby to recieve a heart transplant at Children's Hospital and Medical Center. The daughter of Jeff and Jessica Wilkenson of Council Bluffs, Lainey has been hospitalized since birth because of a congenital heart defect that could not fixed. Lainey is now recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Children's. Last month, Children's recieved interim approval from the United Network for Organ Sharing to start a pediatric heart transplant program that serves infants to seventeen-year-olds. The first adult heart transplant in Nebraska was performed on April 8, 1985 at Clarkson Hospital here in Omaha; there were also a few infant heart transplants performed in Nebraska in the 1980s.
     I am happy that Lainey was able to recieve this honor. The heart transplant was a great part of her life that will most likely allow her to live a longer and more prosperous life. This is also such a great milestone for Children's. I definitely feel for Lainey and her family, as I have heart problems as well (I have a heart murmur). I am so excited for Lainey and for Children's. Hopefully Lainey will have a great life ahead of her and Children's will be be able to continue the new pediatric heart transplant program.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130408/LIVEWELL01/704099959#2-week-old-girl-is-first-heart-transplant-baby-at-children-s-hospital

Much Enthusiasm To Reenergize Midtown Area

In the 40th and Farnam area of Omaha, businesses and developers are beginning to start reclaiming the former glory of the surrounding business district that was a thriving place of entertainment, commerce, and residences years ago. It all started when Brad Iwen and his wife Joey bought an old building and transformed it into a beautiful site for his photography shop. Other projects that have been started are shops, apartments, and eateries. JMJ Partners have the Blackstone Place project underway. This project will redevelop four commercial bays and will be ready for renters in the summer. Ryan Miller and Andy Willey, both from Omaha, bought a condemned property with plans to turn it into a microbrewery and pub, selling craft beer, panini, and salad. They also bought four occupied homes and have started updating them. Jay Lund of Lund Co. says "We're not inventing anything here. It was once a great district and it will be a great district again." Iwen says that now there is more energy and life on Farnam between 36th and 40th Streets since he first looked at that area when he was building his business five years ago. He says that “It always felt like a neighborhood where something awesome was going to happen."
      I am excited that people are beginning to take an interest in this area of town. Redeveloping such an old and dilapidated area is such a big undertaking. Hopefully as the businesses increase, so will the life down there. Being an older part of town, I believe it will look quaint and old-fashioned at night.I think that it is such a great idea to do this to our already beautiful, diverse city. It will add more flavor and more "must-see" places to Omaha. I am excited to visit this area!

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130321/MONEY/703219947/1101#couple-s-enthusiasm-to-reclaim-40th-and-farnam-area-energizes-others

Increase in OPS Graduates

A big concern in recent years for OPS has been their graduation rates. And the work of the nagging principals and teachers has begun to pay off. OPS is seeing an increase of students graduating and completing all four years of high school. Last year, for example, Benson High School went from 70.5% to 73.1% of students graduating. The graduation push by OPS has been consistent with an attendance increase in the district. According to State Education Commissioner Roger Breed, the new challenge that OPS faces with these improved rates is that graduates are well prepared for their future and that they have been well prepared and educated for college and beyond.
     I am happy that OPS is beginning to see better attendance and graduation rates. In today's economical world, people need a good education to get jobs, and to get good education one must go to school. Like Mr. Breed said, the concern now is whether or not the education provided is good enough to help adequately shape a graduate's future. Overall though, I think that these improved rates will give the incentive to improve the education provided. People will want better educations to get better jobs, and with a better attendance record, more people will see the education rates slipping or rising. And I believe that people will want the better education. So in conclusion, these improved rates are definitely for the best.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130210/NEWS/702109896/1685#ops-sees-increase-in-number-of-graduates

Suicide Bombing In Turkey

     On Friday, in Ankara, Turkey, a man killed himself and a guard at the U.S. Embassy. The White House described the incident as a terrorist attack. The man was identified as a member of the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front. The group has been taking part in bombings, terrorism, and assassinations since the 1970s. In the attack, a Turkish journalist and two more guards were injured. The guards were treated on site, but did not any hospital treatment. The rest of the staff at the U.S. Embassy was able to get to a safe shelter inside the compound soon after the explosion. The motive behind the attack has not yet been determined. Americans were warned to not approach any U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey and to be cautious in crowds.
     To see our world plagued by such evil things such as terrorism is very saddening to me. I feel happy though that I am blessed enough to be living here in America, where terrorism is kept at a low. When I hear stories like this, my heart goes out to all those who are affected by terrorism and spend their lives in fear. It really makes me realize how great of a life I have compared to them. I think that it would be awesome to make our government see how much we care about topics like this; then, maybe, we will be able to help foreign governments oust terrorist groups and keep terrorism down. I think this will help forge peaceful bonds between other countries. Those affected by terrorism will definitely be in my prayers tonight.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/report-explosion-in-front-of-us-embassy-in-turkish-capital-several-injured/2013/02/01/28790612-6c64-11e2-8f4f-2abd96162ba8_story.html?hpid=z1

The Controversy Over Birth Control

     One of the biggest controversies today is over whether or not companies and businesses should provide their workers with coverage for birth control. Many Catholics in the U.S. are standing up against this ruling, but as of thus far, birth control is required to be in employee health plans. Religious institutions and many private employers are filing suits against this plan, and most of them are probably lashing out at Obamacare and bringing up religious freedom. The Supreme Court will likely have to resolve this fight. Even though the future looks bleak at this point, there may be some hope. The government does say that it hopes that the burden will be transferred from organizations to insurance companies in the near future.
     As a proud Catholic and American, I am ashamed that our government is forcing employers to cover birth control and other contraceptives in their employee health plans. It is disgusting that they are doing this, seeing as it goes against our religious ideas and beliefs. Uh, hello? This is America! Whatever happened to religious freedom?!?! I understand that every religion (and at that, every person) has different beliefs, but if you are worried about becoming pregnant and giving birth, why not be more responsible with your sexuality? That seems like a safer idea to me. And certainly one that doesn't cost any money. Some times, I have to wonder what our government is thinking of when they make some of these laws. Hopefully we will be able to get through this controversy in a way that everybody can tolerate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/health/religious-groups-and-employers-battle-contraception-mandate.html?hp

In a recent article in the Omaha World Herald, the stories of two young people murdered by hate and racial discrimination are being brought to life at Brownell-Talbot in light of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. One of these stories, that of Anne Frank, is very widely known, but the other, that of Emmett Till, is not. As we all know, Anne Frank was killed during World War Two by the Nazis for being Jewish. Her diary, which has been read all across the world, tells us of her spending her final months living in a secret room on the top floor of a warehouse with her parents, sister, and another family. But the story of Emmett Till is less commonly known. He was a fourteen year old African-American boy from Chicago, who, while visiting some relatives in Mississippi, was kidnapped, beaten, and shot in the head by two white men after supposedly whistling at a white woman. His mutilated body was found three days later floating in the Tallahatchie River and sent back to Chicago. His mother insisted that he have an open casket so all could see what had happened to him.
In light of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I think it is a good idea that these stories are being told. We need to know about these hate crimes, and realize that we are not perfect. Though we don't hear much about segregation and hate crimes happening in America any more, they are still happening, though not always to the extent of when Dr. King was alive. Today we build stereotypes and racist ideas about other cultures, races, and religions. If America is such a great country, one that the poor and oppressed of other countries dream of coming here to be free to be whomever they want to be, then why do we have these stereotypes? If America is all about equality, than why are the minority groups living in the ghettos, afraid of being taunted and abused by others on a constant basis? Sure, we have abolished slavery and segregation and have set up the freedom of religion in our country, but that does not mean that we do not have problems concerning racial and religious differences. When I read about hate crimes, I certainly don't want think of America at being towards the top of the list of countries with most racial hate crimes. And I most certainly do not want to live in a country like that.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130119/NEWS/701199939/1685#tale-of-two-youths-killed-by-hate-brings-king-s-legacy-to-life