Canada, U.S. should leave Afghanistan: expert

A retired American colonel and prominent academic is calling for U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to reconsider his plans to expand his country's military mission in Afghanistan. Andrew Bacevich , a foreign affairs specialist at Boston University, said the U.S. and allies like Canada should start to withdraw from the war-torn country because it "simply does not make sense" to stay. While on CTV's Question Period Sunday he said that the original objective of the mission was to make sure that the country doesn't become a breeding ground for Al Qaeda terrorists. He said that now that the Taliban has been forced out of power there is no reason for western countries to stay and try and turn it into a modern democracy.

I agree that the U.S. should start pulling their troop rather than expanding their missions, because they have already completed what they were originally sent to do. It makes no sense to further complicate thing and risk the loss of more lives.

Barack Obama to visit Canada after inauguration

Newly elected U.S. president Barack Obama will visit Canada for his first foreign visit after his inauguration later this month. "We're honoured and thrilled he has chosen Canada," Peter Kent, Canada's minister of state for foreign affairs of the Americas, said. This trip will continue a longstanding tradition of new American presidents going to Canada for their first official state visit. The tradition was broken by President George Bush after his election when he went to Mexico instead.

I think that it is great that Barack Obama has decided to continue this tradition of newly elected U.S. presidents visiting Canada first. I think it shows how important Canada is to the U.S. as a trading partner.

SNC Lavelin to lead $50M Afghan dam repair project

The Canadian Government has selected SNC Lavlin to lead a $50 million project to fix a dam in Afghanistan. When these repaires are done this dam should create thousands of jobs for locals and provide irrigation for about 10,000 hectares of land. The dam under repair is located in Kandahar city and is Afghanistan's second largest dam. It had fallen to a state of disrepair after decades of war. Along with the dam there will be repairs to a series of irrigation canals. "There's going to be 10,000 hectares of agricultural land brought back to its full potential and 10,000 seasonal employees and work for the local Afghan people, so this is major project and we're very, very pleased," Bev Oda told reporters.

I think that as a peace keeping country it is important that Canada helps to fix war damages in other countries. Especially the one's still at war. The fact that there will be so many jobs created and so much land brought back to use full farm land is Hugh. I think it will help develop Kandahar.

Go ahead, sleep on the job

This article explains how taking small naps through out the day can help your overall work performance and improve you memory. people who take day time naps out perform those who don't. A mere six minuets of shut-eye is enough to refresh you brain. The mere act of sleeping activates a brain boosting process.

I think that the nap time kids had in kindergarten should follow though all of high school. Student would improve will small nap times through out the day, lasting maby ten minuets. These naps would help all students and could improve markes.

YouTube starts its own cyber symphony

Like "American Idol," YouTube announced plans on Monday for a YouTube Symphony Orchestra, staring a collection of wannabe musicians with Carnegie Hall, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, composer Tan Dun and others.
Through Jan. 28, musicians can submit entries as they perform two videos: one that shows their musical talents and an interpretation of an original work by Tan, who won an original-score Academy Award for 2000's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
A team of experts from some of the world's leading orchestras will narrow down the competition. YouTube users will then vote for the winners, who will be announced March 2.

I think this is cool and will be funny to watch. I also think that it is a great idea. This will be seen by millions of people with computers and Internet access and I plane to be one among those millions.

Jupiter, Venus, moon getting together for groupe shot

This weekend Venus, Jupiter, and the moon will gather together to make an awesome photo.On Thursday Jupiter and Venus will start to move closer together. By Sunday and Monday, they will look to be two degrees apart. Then on monday night the moon will in crescent form will appear Right next to them creating a perfect shot for a good camera.

I think this is cool. If i remember i will definitely use my dads crazy large camera to try and get a good picture of it. I know Mr.Joiner will be setting up his telescope in his back yard this weekend:)

Victim of 'kick a ginger day' head back to school

This article is about a young boy who on "kick an ginger day" was kicked by dozens of people all through the day. He was so rattled that he skipped the nexed day of school. Aaron Mishki was the boy being kicked says, "There were quite a few people kicking (me)," he said, noting he couldn't believe some of his classmates actually thought the violence was funny.
"I tried to explain to them that this wasn't right thing to do, that it couldn't be a joke because it involved violence. But they didn't listen to me," he said. "My opinion of the people (who participated in the kicking) changed. I didn't think they were capable of that before, but after Thursday I just viewed them in a different light. I didn't want to go back and see them again that day," he said. "Because really, it's like a hate crime directed against a group of people," he said.
"I like my red hair. I never thought it would be a cause for violence."

I agree that it is like a hate crime directed against a group of people, and i think that red hair the like the last thing that should cause violence. If I were him i wouldn't go back to school for like two weeks. Also what does this act of violence accomplish, maybe a few laughs from the bullies at school. People were hurt on this day and they had no reason for it.