President Barrack Obama gave his first presidential press conference Last Monday, February ninth. In this conference, Mr. Obama incessantly displayed his focus and dedication to the $787bn stimulus plan that just cleared US Congress late Friday night.
As bipartisan conflicts continued to play an impediment to the stimulus plan during the first few weeks of his presidency, Mr. Obama explained that he knew it would take time to break old habits as such in congress. He also openly asked in the introduction of the conference for all of congress to act without delay and set their differences aside.
Mr. Obama candidly admitted in his speech that the plan is not perfect, and that no plan is. But with that he swore, “With complete confidence, that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis as well as the pain felt by millions of Americans.”
Mr. Obama’s compelling introduction for the conference tackled many concerns on American’s minds. He confronted the nation saying “My administration inherited a deficit of over one trillion dollars. But because we also inherited the most profound economic emergency since the great depression, doing little or nothing at all will result in even greater deficits, even greater job loss, even greater loss of income, and even greater loss of confidence. Those are deficits that could turn a crisis into a catastrophe and I refuse to let that happen. As long as I hold this office, I will do whatever it takes to get this economy back on track and put this country back to work.”
According to Daniel Dombey and Edward Luce, writers for Financialtimes.com, “The $787bn package… represents the most important legislative effort yet to pull the US out of its recession.” They also mention the fact that this stimulus plan is the largest economic stimulus in US history, and that it happened in the first four weeks of Mr. Obama’s presidency.
Repeatedly in the conference, Mr. Obama stressed that his main goal with this stimulus package is to create four million jobs. In the introduction, he explains that earlier that day he had visited Elkhart Indiana, the town in the United States that is suffering the greatest job losses thus far. In the last year, Elkhart- with a population of 52,000 residents- went from 4.7% unemployment to 15.3% unemployment.
Last month the United States lost 598,000 jobs. That number is equivalent to every job in Maine. It is for this extreme reason that the $787bn stimulus plan has been written and passed through congress, ready for him to sign into law, within such a short amount of time.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the bill could increase employment in a range of 800,000 to 2.3 million jobs by the end of 2009 and 1.2 million to 3.6 million by the end of 2010.
“For the sake of my future career and for all the other students of our generation, I pray to god this stimulus succeeds,” says Denver Jensen, a business major at SLCC.
Now the nation must wait while trying to cooperate with the plan’s goals to discover what success it will offer or not.
President Obama wrapped up the introduction to the conference saying, “The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate. But they endure when people of every background and belief find a way to set aside smaller differences in service of a greater purpose.”
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
North Idaho- too quick for SLCC. 2.8.09
The Bruins struggled during Saturday evening’s game against North Idaho’s Cardinals. It was thanks to high foul shot percentages by the Bruins and high foul call percentages on North Idaho’s fast paced team that the Bruins only lost 54-63 rather than 39-63. The Bruins completed 75% of their foul shots, gaining them an extra fifteen points for the whole game.
North Idaho’s insanely quick offence is what did the trick for them Saturday night. Having a field goal percentage of 47%, a free-throw percentage of 57%, and a 3-pointer average of 45%, North Idaho successfully vindicated their loss to the Bruins only the night before.
“We beat them yesterday- I don’t know what happened today,” said Ashlee Clayson, a Bruins cheerleader. On Friday night, the Bruins had won a close game against North Idaho by one point, but the same results did not hold out for Saturday’s game.
The Bruins repeatedly positioned themselves directly under their hoop, but to no avail. North Idaho’s strong defense time after time pinned the Bruins and made it difficult for them to complete shots. The Bruin’s field goal percentage was 31%; 16% lower than North Idaho’s.
Taylor Stevens of North Idaho wrought havoc on the score, making four of his six attempted 3-pointers that often seemed to come out of nowhere. Stevens alone accounted for thirteen of North Idaho’s final 63 points.
North Idaho completed nine 3-pointers throughout the game, where the Bruins only completed three. These clean-cut shots were North Idaho’s strength Saturday night, both in and outside of the paint. Only ten of their 63 points were scored in the lines.
Sophomore Nate Bendall and freshman DJ Wright from the Bruins scored 26 of the team’s final 54. Bendall scored twelve points and got a team-high of nine rebounds. Wright scored 14 points and threw two for two free throws.
When it came to the second half of the game, the Cardinals were simply running a much quicker offense and a more insidious defense. The Cardinals retrieved 25 defensive rebounds where the Bruins only recovered 16.
North Idaho racked up the offensive fouls in the second half, one after another for a total of twelve. The bruin’s shot with an amazing 83% accuracy, scoring ten more points. The Bruins free throw average for the whole game was 75%, leaving North Idaho in the dust at 57%.
The first half ended 36-24 for North Idaho, but the Bruins fought a decent comeback in the second half, scoring 30; 3 more than North Idaho’s 27.
Undoubtedly, after the Bruins close win the day before, the crowd left knowing the Bruins should have won. The Bruins are still in first place of the Scenic West Conference holding a 7-2 record.
“Come support your team,” said Tara Marrelli, another Bruins cheerleader. Morelli believes game attendance is increasing in numbers, but would love to see more fans and students come to cheer our team on. She added, “It makes them want to do better when they can see the support of their fans.”
The Bruins next home game is Feb. 10, 2009 at 7 p.m. vs. Western Wyoming Community College.
North Idaho’s insanely quick offence is what did the trick for them Saturday night. Having a field goal percentage of 47%, a free-throw percentage of 57%, and a 3-pointer average of 45%, North Idaho successfully vindicated their loss to the Bruins only the night before.
“We beat them yesterday- I don’t know what happened today,” said Ashlee Clayson, a Bruins cheerleader. On Friday night, the Bruins had won a close game against North Idaho by one point, but the same results did not hold out for Saturday’s game.
The Bruins repeatedly positioned themselves directly under their hoop, but to no avail. North Idaho’s strong defense time after time pinned the Bruins and made it difficult for them to complete shots. The Bruin’s field goal percentage was 31%; 16% lower than North Idaho’s.
Taylor Stevens of North Idaho wrought havoc on the score, making four of his six attempted 3-pointers that often seemed to come out of nowhere. Stevens alone accounted for thirteen of North Idaho’s final 63 points.
North Idaho completed nine 3-pointers throughout the game, where the Bruins only completed three. These clean-cut shots were North Idaho’s strength Saturday night, both in and outside of the paint. Only ten of their 63 points were scored in the lines.
Sophomore Nate Bendall and freshman DJ Wright from the Bruins scored 26 of the team’s final 54. Bendall scored twelve points and got a team-high of nine rebounds. Wright scored 14 points and threw two for two free throws.
When it came to the second half of the game, the Cardinals were simply running a much quicker offense and a more insidious defense. The Cardinals retrieved 25 defensive rebounds where the Bruins only recovered 16.
North Idaho racked up the offensive fouls in the second half, one after another for a total of twelve. The bruin’s shot with an amazing 83% accuracy, scoring ten more points. The Bruins free throw average for the whole game was 75%, leaving North Idaho in the dust at 57%.
The first half ended 36-24 for North Idaho, but the Bruins fought a decent comeback in the second half, scoring 30; 3 more than North Idaho’s 27.
Undoubtedly, after the Bruins close win the day before, the crowd left knowing the Bruins should have won. The Bruins are still in first place of the Scenic West Conference holding a 7-2 record.
“Come support your team,” said Tara Marrelli, another Bruins cheerleader. Morelli believes game attendance is increasing in numbers, but would love to see more fans and students come to cheer our team on. She added, “It makes them want to do better when they can see the support of their fans.”
The Bruins next home game is Feb. 10, 2009 at 7 p.m. vs. Western Wyoming Community College.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The name's Blake, Spencer Blake. 2.1.09
Many professors who teach at Salt Lake Community College are fully capable of teaching at universities such as the U. Each professor has their own personal reasons for choosing to educate at a communitycollege, and Spencer Blake happens to be one of them.
Blake is a Sociology professor here at SLCC who, prior to his dedicated decade here, has taught at Brigham Young University. “Blake sees thesociological perspective of things. He loves it here and knows he’s a great contribution to his students’ education. For him it’s about what’s right- not what’s most “prestigious” or better paid,” says Denver Jensen, a current SLCC student currently enrolled in Blake’sIntro to Sociology class. Jensen believes that Blake could teach at anyschool of his choice and because of that, is extremely grateful Blake chose to teach at SLCC.
There are three main classes that Blake teaches each semester that include Introduction to Sociology, Family and Marriage, and TheIntermountain West. He teaches social problems as well, but hasn’t forthe last few years. Blake doesn’t consider any one class to be his favorite because he loves them all for different reasons.
Blake is passionate about the subject matter in Intro to Sociology.It’s that fact that inspired him to major in the subject. It is Blake’s goal with each new class to get his students to where they start to integrate his lessons to life outside of school. He enjoys his Marriage and Family classes because typically many students who enroll in it have had him before, thus enabling him to better get to know them and their personalities and converse on a deeper level. In his Intermountain West class, Blake simply loves talking about the region and sharing his passion of this land with anyone and everyone who will listen.
Blake’s favorite element of teaching is getting to know the students.“When you start to get to know the students and their personalities start coming out and they start showing critical thinking back in their questions is by far the most fun,” says Blake.
Many of Blake’s hobbies revolve around the outdoors. He claims just exploring and seeing nature is by far his favorite pastime. Southern Utah tends to lure Blake’s attention because of the “starkness,” he says, “of the red rocks and the desert- when you find a little bit of water and all the life around it.” Blake loves to visit ruins of past cultures such as the Aztecs and Anasazi Indians, and also loves too bserve the natural arches and bridges of Southern Utah.
Another passion of Blake’s would be college football. He claims hetravels all over the nation to watch college football games. The vigorous rivalry between the U and BYU is one of Blake’s reasons for loving Utah.
As far as his current goals go, Blake would love to obtain more education. He loves to gain knowledge of new things and constantly keep an open mind to do so. Blake enjoys writing and publishing, and has a couple more books he’d like to get out. His father, too, is a sociologist, who wrote the text book for Blake’s Intermountain Westcourse. Blake co-authored that edition, and is now working the second edition that his father is co-authoring.
There are no extravagant relocation plans for Blake’s retirement when it comes because he’s right where he wants to be. “I love the mountains, I love the winter, I love the fall, I love the spring- I want four seasons,” says Blake.
Blake is a loving husband and father of two. He has a twenty year old son and a seventeen year old daughter whom he considers to be his life’s greatest success.
One characteristic Jensen admires about Blake is how down-to-earth he is. Blake’s favorite food exhibits that attribute clearly. “A bacon cheese burger- so long as it’s got a good tomato on it,” says Blake.
“It’s teachers like Blake that make SLCC feel like I’m attending the U,” Says Jensen, who continues, “I’m only hoping they understand how grateful their students are of their dedication.”
Blake is a Sociology professor here at SLCC who, prior to his dedicated decade here, has taught at Brigham Young University. “Blake sees thesociological perspective of things. He loves it here and knows he’s a great contribution to his students’ education. For him it’s about what’s right- not what’s most “prestigious” or better paid,” says Denver Jensen, a current SLCC student currently enrolled in Blake’sIntro to Sociology class. Jensen believes that Blake could teach at anyschool of his choice and because of that, is extremely grateful Blake chose to teach at SLCC.
There are three main classes that Blake teaches each semester that include Introduction to Sociology, Family and Marriage, and TheIntermountain West. He teaches social problems as well, but hasn’t forthe last few years. Blake doesn’t consider any one class to be his favorite because he loves them all for different reasons.
Blake is passionate about the subject matter in Intro to Sociology.It’s that fact that inspired him to major in the subject. It is Blake’s goal with each new class to get his students to where they start to integrate his lessons to life outside of school. He enjoys his Marriage and Family classes because typically many students who enroll in it have had him before, thus enabling him to better get to know them and their personalities and converse on a deeper level. In his Intermountain West class, Blake simply loves talking about the region and sharing his passion of this land with anyone and everyone who will listen.
Blake’s favorite element of teaching is getting to know the students.“When you start to get to know the students and their personalities start coming out and they start showing critical thinking back in their questions is by far the most fun,” says Blake.
Many of Blake’s hobbies revolve around the outdoors. He claims just exploring and seeing nature is by far his favorite pastime. Southern Utah tends to lure Blake’s attention because of the “starkness,” he says, “of the red rocks and the desert- when you find a little bit of water and all the life around it.” Blake loves to visit ruins of past cultures such as the Aztecs and Anasazi Indians, and also loves too bserve the natural arches and bridges of Southern Utah.
Another passion of Blake’s would be college football. He claims hetravels all over the nation to watch college football games. The vigorous rivalry between the U and BYU is one of Blake’s reasons for loving Utah.
As far as his current goals go, Blake would love to obtain more education. He loves to gain knowledge of new things and constantly keep an open mind to do so. Blake enjoys writing and publishing, and has a couple more books he’d like to get out. His father, too, is a sociologist, who wrote the text book for Blake’s Intermountain Westcourse. Blake co-authored that edition, and is now working the second edition that his father is co-authoring.
There are no extravagant relocation plans for Blake’s retirement when it comes because he’s right where he wants to be. “I love the mountains, I love the winter, I love the fall, I love the spring- I want four seasons,” says Blake.
Blake is a loving husband and father of two. He has a twenty year old son and a seventeen year old daughter whom he considers to be his life’s greatest success.
One characteristic Jensen admires about Blake is how down-to-earth he is. Blake’s favorite food exhibits that attribute clearly. “A bacon cheese burger- so long as it’s got a good tomato on it,” says Blake.
“It’s teachers like Blake that make SLCC feel like I’m attending the U,” Says Jensen, who continues, “I’m only hoping they understand how grateful their students are of their dedication.”
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