Experts: US ill-prepared for oil spill off Cuba

United States is not ready to deal with any oil spill. Of tense relations between the United States and Cuba makes cooperation in protecting the Straits of Florida a very difficult. US Worry about the flow of oil from the coast of Florida that could destroy the economy, which helps about 57 billion dollars from tourism. The reason for this worry is research on oil or if there any spill of oil. “Fellow South Floridian U.S. Rep. David Rivera wants to expand the 1990 Oil Pollution Act to fully cover companies operating in foreign waters, in the event oil reaches U.S. territory to ensure they repay the U.S. government for any cleanup costs for spills.”

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/experts-us-ill-prepared-for-oil-spill-off/a4dc20f3335d4e3ea33aa6f98bc03d9c

Glapion Jr is student. He likes flight. He wants become a pilot. He had first flight at 15^th birthday. He needs to take private license, but he is too young. Getting a private pilot’s license normally takes three to six month. Glapion has had to complete it over a two-year period.

Hao Li

New Orleans Museum of Art: The Times-Picayune covers 175 years of New Orleans history

The sugar industry magnate Isaac Delgado  donated $150,000 to build a Beaux Arts temple in City Park. In the beginning the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art could show just a few unimportant artworks , but a century later the museum is home to an decorative arts and Japanese art also many different important pieces of art. NOMA has hosted exhibits of work by Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh.The museum's most memorable was in 1977's showing "Treasures of Tutankhamun"

http://www.nola.com/175years/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_museum_of_art_the.html

Arts center construction stalled at Grace King High School in Metairie

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/01/arts_center_construction_stall.html

A 2.6 million dollar arts center at Grace King High School stopped construction because the builder died. The builder is J. Calderera. The Grace King arts center started in Jan 2011 and planned completion date of Nov 2011. The arts center is for teaching and performing areas, dance and music studios.

Question about Mardi Gras

Many residents or tourists always have the same questions, what is this year’s Mardi Gras going to be about? But as there is not an official organization there is not a specific theme, every parade chooses the theme they want to celebrate, this helps people to go anywhere with their imagination and the other common question is if it’s okay to bring your kids to Mardi Gras? And yes it is okay but the important thing is where you take them, Bourbon Street is not a place for kids because is a whole new world for them but, there are some places that are arrange to be child-friendly, like The Upper Garden District, so that kids can enjoy this beautiful tradition that New Orleans has. 

Bizarre Foods America By Andrew Zimmern

 New Orleans is a city known for its particular culture; this unique and interesting culture makes this city unique. This is what caught Andrew Zimmern eye, owner of his own show ‘Bizarre foods America’ was recently here in New Orleans to try some of its rare foods, he mentioned that Louisiana completed his expectations and everything he have ever heard about New Orleans was true. Two big things, rich in history and also unique food items. 

New Orleans student takes off on quest for pilot's license

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_student_takes_off.html

A sixteen years old boy, whose name is Glapion Jr, finished his paracticing his take off and landing in preparation for his private pilot license. He is a junior student in St. Augistine High School. He has already flight 32 times. For an adult, it usually takes three to six months to get a private pilot license. Becuae Glapion is a child, so he spent two years to get his private pilot license.

New Orleans International Beer Festival debuts in March

If you like a beer you should visit the New Orleans international beers festival which will hold in the Champions Square on March 24. The visitors can taste more than 150 sorts of beers during the festival. The ticket prices are $40 in advance and $70 for the VIP access. The VIP tickets will include the admission to a special area with food and exclusive beers.

Olena

Long-term effects of Gulf oil spill on shrimp, other species is still unknown

This is a very interesting article showing  many difficulties encountered by scientists who are evaluating the long-lasting effects of oil spill on marine life. One of the main concerns is the issues of lack of pre-spill data about shrimp and other fish species lives to contrast the after effects of  oil spill. Short term data showed high levels of contamination and skin changes in fish species as demonstrated by LSU and South Florida researchers. The long term effects of this disaster is still unknown and more scientific research is needed. 

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/01/long-term_effects_of_gulf_oil.html

We'll see in New Orleans that hopelessness can't father change: Jarvis

DeBerry

        Jarvis had spent more than an hour talking, a small group of

black men, from high-school age to middle-age. He talking to

similarly sized groups of black men. They were talking, too:

about our childhoods, about the relationships we did or (in far

too many cases) did not have with our fathers. About our

definitions of masculinity, about overcoming obstacles and

disproving stereotypes. When he asked some black boy to share his

fondest memory from childhood, announced that he'd never had a

childhood. These are hopeless people. A fund will help those

people.

Louisiana tourism trending upward despite setbacks

The news from the state's chief tourism booster that the number of tourists and the money they spend are trending in the right direction. Even lingering effects from hurricanes and the 2010 offshore oil spill are serious.

New Orleans will host some tournament in 2012. That means we have done a lot very well. If the 2012 projections hold, we will have the strongest tourism. It's slow, steady increases. It's sustainable.

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2012/01/louisiana_lt_governor_jay_dard.html

Expensive worker

Susan Fonte who was 57 year old bookkeeper in the Metairie real estate company, stole almost 300,000$ from this company and its owner. She was working there between 2005 and 2010 and this period of time she stole money by forging the owners signature, linking debit card to the owner's account and by maintaining business financial' records. Now for Ms. Fonte is waiting 20 years old holidays in the jail and fine of 250,00$

SUV vs. Train

In Kenner on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Two people died in the accident with the Amtrak train when they were trying to cross the train trucks on the private, unsecured, shell road. Police is trying to figure out what this SUV was doing there and identified the people who were in the car. People who were in the train, which was heading to New Orleans from Chicago, are safe, nobody was hurt.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/01/one_person_has_been_killed_in_1.html

Part of budget shortfall caused by one-time money

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana Jan. 23, 2012


   Should not be surprised shortfall of $ 895 million expected for next year's budget. One of the reasons for this shortfall Come rising costs of tuition fees for school . Also to increase spending on medical services, this cost $ 335 million. This deficit also includes $ 538 million aid medical care of the elderly and the poor and the disabled. Also, Senate Finance Chairman Jack Donahue said " next year's shortfall estimate could drop by up to $300 million or more"



http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/part-of-budget-shortfall-caused-by-one-time/6786439b7e9246a7abaf5a65e93b35b1

Coach Rick Carlisle leads the Mavericks to their first victory in New Orleans since 2006

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2012/01/coach_rick_carlisle_leads_the.html

 Dallas Mavericks won New Orleans on Saturday by the score was 83 to 81. Rick Carlisle, who is the coach of Mavericks said, this is a hard game for Mavericks. Also, Monty, the coach of New Orleans Hornets is good coach, he did very well on this week. Carl played very well during the game. Shawn is the best player in Mavericks and he is smart to play game, also full of responsibility.  

By James Zhang

St. Rose hotel clerk robbed; gunman is sought

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/01/st_rose_hotel_clerk_robbed.html

A man rubbed St. Rose hotel around six am on Sunday morning. The man hold a gun to demand the hotel clerk all the money. The hotel clerk complied and the rubber fled. The woman was unharmed. The rubber wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a black-and-gray skull mask.

By James Zhang 

Isidore Newman School students plant trees in Jean Lafitte National Historic Park-Barataria Unit Thursday, January 19, 2012. This project is acts as a buffer, lessening the effects of hurricanes. 120 students along with 35 parent volunteers planted 900 trees at Jean Lafitte.

Many teen moms were clueless about pregnancy chances, CDC says

In an astonishing report the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has found that about one third of adolescent mothers were not aware of the possibility of getting pregnant and that one half of adolescents did not use any form of contraception. The failure to use contraception was in part due to partner's refusal. Finally, this research study demonstrated that teenager pregnancy is on the rise in the U.S.

http://www.nola.com/health/index.ssf/2012/01/many_teen_moms_were_clueless_c.html

Louisiana touts 2011 projects to improve roads and bridges

The Secretary of state department of transportation and development says that in 2011 year the state put more than $ 605 million into transportation infrastructure projects, that helped improved Louisiana roadways and  bridges.  They plan to invest money in projects to improve Interstate -10, I- 12, I -20, I-55, I-49, its can make traveling through the Louisiana roads safer and smoother.

Olena

'Forgotten Soldiers' tells the story of the Philippines Scouts

This is a new movie made for Hollywood tells us about the Philippines scouts , their history is epic but a little know. They fought the firs battle after pearl harbor. They were trained to invade japan.Their history was overshadowed because other war events also “And the press, of course, in the United States wanted to emphasize the things that were working”

The events which overshadowed their epic service was the Battle of Midway, Doolittle’s raid.

http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2012/01/forgotten_soldiers_tells_the_s.html

'The Artist' pooch Uggie is the cat's meow, according to Golden Collar Awards

1. This is a different kind of news, Uggi is been nominated in the  Best Dog in a Feature Film category and guess what?... Uggi is a dog. He has been working in "the artist" has a lot competition for to get Golden Collar award but this is not going to be easy because he has to ''fight'' against to other 3 dogs which is presented by the website Dog News Daily.  Anyway this remind us that animals are important in our life.
2. http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2012/01/the_artist_pooch_uggie_is_the.html

Besh Foundation to offer two culinary scholarships this year!

The John Besh Foundation has two culinary scholarships to student this year. This is the second year for Chefs Move program. If who get this chance, They can study in the French Culinary Insitute in New York City! The best chef will as the teacher to mentor the culinary student! This is good opportunity to study! And I found the line to apply for this: click on http://www.chefsmove.org.   

http://www.nola.com/food/index.ssf/2012/01/besh_foundation_to_offer_two_c.html

Chinese and Vietnamese communities welcome auspicious Year of the Dragon

The parade in San Francisco's Chinatown took ages for that long dragon  to past by . A lot of people tried to get pregnant in the dragon's year, and this year is going to be on January 23, a especial thing is also the food.The Chinese people have a lot of food traditions  ,one of those is server oranges or tangerines, because the color represents happiness, the whole fish , represent the beginning and the end, but the main food symbol of Tet, the Vietnamese celebration, is "banh chung'', represent heaven and Earth and takes days to prepare.Happy New Year classmates!!

Name of Article

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Saints lost by 49ers

New Orleans Saints played against with San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. Saints lost by 32 to 36. The first quarter, 49ers had two touchdowns, one is by M. Crabtree, and another is by V. Davis. The second quarter, Saints had two touchdowns, one is by M. Colston, and another one is by J. Graham. 49ers had a field goal successful. The third quarter, 49ers had another field goal successful. The last quarter, Saints had two touchdowns and one field goal successful and a two-point conversion attempt succeeded. 49ers had two touchdowns and one field goals successful and a two-pont conversion attempt failed.

By any measure, a great season

Although LSU Tigers lost the game to Alabama, LSU still had a great season. All the players and coaches of LSU Tigers tried their best, they did everything that they could do. Lee Miles, who is LSU football coach, thought that he didn't make a wrong decision. He believes that he tried the right way, although they lost by 0 to 21. LSU had a great season games because of all the players' effort and coaches' effort.

Find 2012 the bestMardi Gras king cake

The King Cake King judging panel traveled to Sucre to taste and rate very special shiny king cake that created by chef Tariq Hanna. They wanted to find 2012 the Mardi Gras best king cake. The king cake tasting panel constituted by editor, new reporter and native citizen. They said Tariq's king cake was delicious and unusual.

http://video-embed.nola.com/services/player/bcpid619329503001?bctid=1398215568001

Welcome!

Hi everyone,

I've been out and about taking pictures since I saw you last! Since I'm not a student, I can't enter the photo contest. But here's one that I think would win!

Take photos while you are here!! Post the best one every couple of weeks to see if you win a SUPER SPECIAL PRIZE from me!

Can't wait to start this semester!

Christina