My presentation topic is about racial segregation in the USA

As we know, America was known as the country that slavery occured for years.  After African American was deliberated from slavery, there was a bit change in the prejudice of Americans especially the ones in Southern states.  Colored people especially Blacks was suffering an extreme discrimination that led to the racial segregation in America.  Whites always thought that they are superior race and they didn't except the fact that Blacks really had the right to do the same thing with them.  Even some Southern states used to have state laws against African Americans.  I'm gathering information from some reliable links in the online library and hopefully I can find some more down in the campus library.  As this topic connected to my Sociology class that we have learned about Race and Ethnicity chapter, I hope to explain racial segregation from a sociology perspective not in the other ways.  One thing that I'm also considering and I think I'm gonna cover it in my presentation that is racial segregation really gone in the U.S nowaday? So hopefully, I can find the right answer for my question through doing researches.

Ghost stories haunt Pike Place Market

Seattle Times - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003761417_mymarketghost25m.html

A. Summary:
There were inexplicable things had happened in Pike Place Market such as the sound of footsteps without any people; scent of old-lady perfume filled the office of the market; a woman disappeared into the wall; the strands of beads hanging on a wall hook came crashing to the floor; ... Originally, there was a funeral home found by Edgar Butterworth very close the market.  There were many funerals took place.  Then the owner moved it to Capitol Hill.  The next business took place in the building was an Irish pub of Patrick.  There were also unexplained things happened then.  Avenue One, the restaurant of Arnie, Cafe Sophie were the next two business took place in the same building.  All the owners realized the haunting spirit around their business place.   Yaeger, a shaman, said the building sits on  an old Suquamish Indian burial ground.  There are 19 fully ghosts inside the old mortuary.  Patrick came up with an idea of making the restaurant a place for the ghosts to be heard by everyone by telling them the history and the ghostly things that really happened.
B. Personal response:
This article scares me.  It seems like the Pike Place Market is crowded but based on the article it's a really haunted place.  The part of the reason is that close to it there was a mortuary.  But I think the inexplicable things happened because there is something that the ghosts want to tell us.  It might be the injustices that they had experienced or something like that.  Anyway, I don't think it's a made up story. 
C. Vocabulary:
Mortuary (n): A building where corpse are kept before burial or cremation.
E.g: There are a lot of dead bodies kept in that mortuary.
Inexplicable (adj): incapable of being explained.
E.g: This ghostly story is inexplicable.
Shaman (n): one acting as a medium between the visible and spirit worlds.
E.g: The shaman was invited to the house to find out what is going inside it.

What I would write in my diary if I were David?

As I have mentioned in previous posts, David is a poor boy with a miserable life.  If I were David, my diary would be about a life story of a different David.  With that said, I mean I would create a new character who also called David for my diary.  Everyday, I would first write about what happens in real life and then I would tell a story of a new David.  This new David would have what I don't have in my reality.  In my daily world, I don't have enough food to eat and I have to do all the house chores without gaining back mother's love.  My "new David" would be able to have a lot of good food everyday.  He would be loved by a good mom and she will take good care of him.  I don't have any friend. My David would have a lot of friends and would be admired by everyone because of his certain talents.  Everything I would write in my diary is to contrast my real world with my imaginations and my wishes.  I do that because I think that in every situation we all do deserve to have our hope even in the worst situation.  I look at ours to strive to work hard to successfully overcome the hardships we are facing with.  David, too, deserves to have a happy life with love and everything else that all the kids in this world have.  By doing so, David would at least have something interesting to do at the end of the day to comfort his hurted soul. 

From Dangerous Home to Safe House

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24lives-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine

Summary:  Liz Welch is the manager of a shelter for many abused women and children.  She herself was abused by her agressive and violent husband and she left him to set up a new life.  She rescued a woman named Tara and her 4-month son which were abused by the husband.  She help Tara to strengthen herself and live independently without Tara's husband.  Tara finally earned a degree and got a good job to support for herself and her son.
Personal response:  It's really sad that in this real world today there are so many people abused by many cruel people such as Liz and Tara.  But the thing is we learn from the past and learn how to wake ourselves up.  We have to believe that everyone has the same chance and the same right.  Thus, this world will be better if we are all aware of that truth.
Vocabulary:  Restraining order(n): the order/sentence of the court justice.
The restraining order makes Tara's life become better.

Washington state minimum wage to increase to $8.67

Seattle Times -http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013174400_minimumwage16.html

A. Summary:
The state of Washington officially announced that the State's minimum wage will increase by 12 cents to $8.67 on January 1st.  The decision came after a 3-week debate between the state attorney general and the authors that ties the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index in 1998.  Because of the inflation, the state wage didn't go up last year, but it is growing now but at a slow rate.  When asked, Attorney General Rob McKenna said there is no way to increase the minimum wage if the the price index increases to less than the level the current wage is based upon.  Labor & Industries spokeswoman Kim Contris said that the state raises the rate "based on how we believe a court would interpret the law."  But it has to be careful because the court could overturn the decision. That will impact several lowest-paid workers.  The tie of the wage to inflation doesn't lower the wage.  That means the minimum wage stays flat if the price index falls.
B.  Personal response:
This article is really important to the citizens of Washington because it tells them the truth of how their wages are conducted and how and when does the Washington minimum wage increase.  It has an important impact on Washington citizens' lives.  Personally, I think that is a really good news for Washington people that their minimum wage is gonna increase.  They will be paid more and have a better life.  As an international student in Washington, somehow it will indirectly benefit to my education.
C.  Vocabulary:
Index (n): a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time.
E.g:  The minimum wage is tied to the Cosumer Price Index.
Harmonize (v): bring (several things) into consonance or relate harmoniously.
E.g:  I can harmonize my goal with my ability.
Implement (v):  pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue.
E.g:  They think they can implement the laws by doing so.

My favorite character

My favorite character in the book i'm reading is David which is the main character.  He is abused by his mom and mostly does the housework.  So at first, he is shy and quiet.  He doesn't have much social interaction from family and people around. But after the trial that sentences that he has the right to stay in a foster home, his life changes significantly as well as his characters.  He becomes more dynamic and outgoing.  But somehow, the obsession of being abused in the past still invisibly dominates his thoughts.  So far from what I have read, he hasn't done anything for me to really admire him.  But he's a brave young man with a lot of nerve.  I chose this character because his life and his characters are very interesting for me to figure out.  The more I read this book, the more I find out that there is something in this character that interests me so much.  I don't think his life story is similar to mine.  I would definately want to be his friend.  I feel sympathy for him and his past.  I agree with the decision of him to say in front of the trial that he wants to live in a foster home. That is a really good choice of him.  The story of David's life is really depressed so I wish there would have been some changes in his life. 

Week 3 News - What a difference a day makes: The City's Attorneys new guidelines aims to protect immigrants from unjust deportation

Asian Weekly - http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2010/10/what-a-difference-a-day-makes-the-city-attorney%e2%80%99s-new-guidelines-aims-to-protect-immigrants-from-unjust-deportation/

A. Summary: 
This past May, the City Attorney's office revealed the policy to protect noncitizen immigrants from getting deportation.  Basically, the policy requests the court to penalize noncitizen immigrants who make misdemeanor the maximum of 364 days in jail instead of 365 days.  The main goal of this policy is to avoid the situation when a noncitizen immigrant gets deportation because of staying in jail for more than 365 days.  In other words, this policy make an equality in treating between US citizens and noncitizen immigrants. Many of noncitizen immigrants don't know the severe consequences of getting the 365-day-in-jail penalty can bring to them more troubles than what they know.  There are some criticals about this new policy.  Critics say that this policy might shield noncitizen immigrants from the U.S immgration laws or this policy might indirectly help noncitizen immigrants to against the U.S immigration laws.
B. Personal response:
This article really makes me think about the U.S foundation which are freedom and equality.  Positively, this policy shows how the U.S equally treats people no matter they are U.S citizens or noncitizen immigrants.  But beside the positive side, this policy still somehow against the U.S immigration laws.  So I think the U.S have to carefully think and decide whether to apply this policy or deny it.  It could be good and bad at the same time.
C. Vocabulary:
Prosecuting attorney (n): a government official who conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the state.
E.g: The prosecuting attorneys should know both two sides of the policy before it is introduced.
Misdemeanor (n): a crime less serious than a felony.
E.g: She was convicted because of her misdemeanor.
Sentence (v): pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law.
E.g: The court sentenced a criminal 2 year penalty.