Keating's blog

So for those of you who didn't  get the pun, I was referring to Guantanamo Bay, or Gitmo, the site of the United States' detention center for dangerous individuals. Most of these people were collected through the war in Iraq as insurgents or threats. In Gitmo, they are kept in housing cells and questioned daily through myriad interrogative schemes and torture tactics. Such practices have come under IMMENSE scrutiny by not only the United States media but also international diplomatic bodies like the United Nations.  Read More »

The whole premise of a dress code or uniform stems from a desire to equalize. Rich or poor, black or white, smart or lacking, each person is held equal in the eyes of their peers. Just because (she) isn't wearing her A&F shirt and is only wearing a school issued polo shirt and pants, everyone will no longer recognize her as the girl who held that party two weeks ago and who's dad pulls down a half mill each year. Additionally, uniforms can't possibly limit gang activities, violence or drug usage.  Read More »

I just returned from my temple's youth heritage program. As a student in the progrm, Vedic Heritage Class (VHS) for over 5 years now, I am greatly endeared to the merits of such a program, regardless of varying religious contexts of cultural basises.

{More coming}

Two weeks ago, a 16 year old Hispanic Houston student was brutally attacked and sexually assaulted by two older, white youths, including one 17 year old. The victim was severely beaten and bruised, and was in critical condition after having a pipe with a sharpened point shoved into his anus. He lost substantive amounts of blood and by the time authorities were on the scene, he was unconscious and quickly slipping. 

The perpetrators are known.  Read More »

That's essentially what House legislators said when they passed a competition legislating that 10 million dollars would be awarded to the scientist(s) or group that found the most innovative, resourceful use for hydrogen fuel.

We're finally turning our eyes away from oil. Well not because we're forced, but because we're too lazy to pay more for unliquified oil.  Read More »

With the first pick in the NBA draft, the United States Army selects John McArthur from Dallas, Texas.

Pick analysis: White male, married for 5 years to white female with 2 children, one boy and one girl. Works as a computer programmer for an independent firm. $62,000 salary. 

With the second pick in the NBA draft, the United States DoD selects Juwon Harris from Portland, Oregon.

Pick analysis: This was a great pick up by the Department of Defense.  Read More »

Did he deserve to die? Was a life sentence meet? Did he do ENOUGH to qualify for the death penalty? Was he a good enough scapegoat? Why not?

These questions engrossed jurors during their deliberations in the Zacarias Moussaoui sentencing. Ultimately, after three voting sessions of (11-1, 10-2 and 10-2, all in favor of the death penalty) the jurors were forced into sentencing the conspirator to life terms in jail.  Read More »

Over 50% of African American students drop out of California high schools. Over 52% of Hispanic students drop out of California high schools. Pretty bad? Consider that only 1 in every 3 California teachers is certified to teach their subject, or any subject completely. 

"Um, Ms. A, that's not really where Lebanon is. It's actually in the Middle East, not near Haiti."-Student

Taken from a recording my friend used in his muckraking piece on the Californian educational system, the quote conveys the state of education not only in the CA, but throughout the US.  Read More »