Virtual reality video simulates drink driving car crash.

Summary
Alcohol maker Diageo has released a short virtual reality video to illustrate the realities of drunk driving. Featuring 3 main character groups, the VR video allows viewers to see the collision from a third-person point of view. Although the video looks promising for the campaign against drunk driving, some, like Carole Whittingham of CaDD believe that the imagery wasn’t enough. Using the “scare tactic” is becoming more effective as VR offers a realistic insight. The VR would hopefully emphasize the dangers of driving under the influence.
Opinion
I have very little tolerance to alcohol, so I know that just one beer is enough to keep me from driving. When I got my license, the prevention of driving under the influence was emphasized many times. I think people who drink and drive have that feeling of “I’m ok, I can take this” when really, they are not. I’ve never experienced virtual reality before, but seeing a realistic footage of a drunk driving accident would further deter those incidents. In the prevention of drunk driving, I think it’s important to hand out heavier punishment for it. I believe that driving while knowing you are drunk is attempted manslaughter. There should be more consequences even if you don’t hit anybody.

Voice shaking, Michelle Obama Calls Trump Comments on Women ‘Intolerable’

Summary

The current First Lady, Michelle Obama, issued a personal attack against presidential candidate Trump for his rude and vulgar stance in his campaign. She stated in her 25-minute address that the actions and bragging by Trump is intolerable, that no woman deserves to be treated this way. Up until recently, Mrs. Obama has avoided political attention, but this time, she is fighting as the center a new campaign. Trump was heard bragging about sexually harassing women in a recording last week, and that seems to have been the final straw.

Opinion

The matters of what’s best for he United States isn’t for me to decide, since I don’t have much knowledge about the people and cultures. However, the president of the United States is possibly the most powerful person in the world. For that person to be someone who flaunts assaulting women during his presidential campaign would be madness. I personally don’t know any adults who brag about their discriminatory stance on women, especially not in public. Even if Trump’s political campaigns are flawless, which they aren’t, a person with this kind of attitude is unfit for any political position.

Two U.S. transgender women running for Congress could make history.

Summary
In November, two transgender women were elected to run for the US Congress representing Utah and Colorado. These two women are Democrats Misty Snow and Misty Plowright, each running for the Senate and the House of Representatives, in respective order. If elected, these two would make history. Although the two won primary, they are still facing fierce competition against the Republican incumbents who are ahead in the polls. Snow is the first transgender to run for the Senate, but Plowright was proceeded by Karen Kerin, who lost against Bernie Sanders in 2000.

Opinion
I think it’s wonderful that LGBT people are receiving support for entering into politics. This is one of the signs of LGBT people really being accepted into society. People are showing their acceptation by trusting the candidates. They are seeing the trans candidates as people worthy of trust and support. Although the two candidates in the article still have many obstacles to overcome, I hope they can get to a place where they can have an effect on society.

What I believe

I believe in the saying “Endurance is strength. ” It means that to keep on doing something requires great effort and the things that are built up will become strengths. Someone once said to me that to keep on doing something looks easy but is actually very hard. It is also a fact that not a single portion of your effort goes waste. This doesn’t stop at studying, but extends to everything that will happen in our lives. These words stuck inside my mind and I think they are the encouragement I need to have a lot of great experiences and succeed in my life.

To start with, I felt the first example of endurance being needed when I was participating in club activities. I was a part of the soccer club when I was in middle school, and since I didn’t have experience playing soccer before, I was far from being a regular. However, I made rules of my own which I stuck with for the three years I was in the club. They were, always participate in practice and to never walk during timed runs and get 1st place if I could (long-distance marathons with a time limit). When I continued with that, on my 3rd year, I was able to play as a regular player and won the city match, moving on to place 3rd in the regional tournament. My running also bore fruit, and I was able to win the city marathon, win the section award, and receive 6th place in the regional tournament. I also got first place on my 3rd year in the school marathon. I really felt that all the running I did became a part of me and that nothing went to waste.

For the first two years of my high school life, I cared very little about my studies and ignored much of the things I had to study. However, on my third year I started thinking about my future courses. The environment around me changing also had a pretty big impact on me. I made rules for myself on my third year. They were, don’t fall asleep during class, and don’t play games during class. I know what you’re thinking. That’s normal, and not even very high a standard. You’ve obviously never been to the classes of the Keio high schools. But enough with that. All I had to do was keep this up for the school year, and with only that, I had one of the highest grades in my grade and got into the faculty I wanted to. This might not be the only reason why my grades skyrocketed, but it definitely had a positive impact.

Lastly, a famous rugby coach once said that “those who win are those who don’t make a habit of running (away)”. A habit of running away points to the times when you think, I don’t have to do this today since I’m always doing it, or maybe I can do it later. Human kind is made to go the easy way. When you run once, there’s always going to be that possibility in your head. This is the hardest part about endurance, but only by enduring can we really become the winners.

For the above reasons, I think endurance really becomes your strength and could be the step you need to move forward to your dreams. I listed clubs and learning, but your endurance doesn’t have to be about that. But whenever you’re doing something, anything, and you feel like giving up, remember these words, grit your teeth, continue.

US journalist and translator killed in Afghan ambush

Summary

A decorated photojournalist of National Public Radio, David Gilkey along with his translator Zabihulia Tamanna was killed by unfriendly shellfire while they were traveling with the Afghan army near the town of Marjah. He is the first US journalist to be killed in Afghan conflict, excluding those in the army. David has received numerous awards for his photography and journalism. He died pursuing his goal of allowing the public to see the reality of wars and disasters.

 

Opinion

It breaks my heart to see news like these which can only be described as “unlucky”. In cases like the war in Afghan, there hardly ever is a clear “evil” and “good”, which means that those who attacked the Afghan forces and consequently caused Mr. Gilkey’s death may be feeling just as guilty as the army who failed to protect him. Journalists like him are essential for bringing out the horrors of war into the public light, and his loss is huge. Counties around the world will have to come up with ways to protect non-combatants in the war area.

 

Kenya building collapse

Summary

A collapse of buildings killing 42 people in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, prompted officials to finally take action against the substandard buildings in this area. Currently, 8 buildings deemed unfit for human population were torn down with more than 200 to follow. Building quality in this area has been precarious for a long time with many exceeding national limits. Much of the population of Nairobi live in low-income areas and because of the high demand for housing, become victims of dishonest developers. There are still people under the collapsed building. Rescuers are using all resources available to save the survivors.

Opinion

The first feeling I felt when I read this article was helplessness. Why did the 42 plus people have to die? It’s obvious that the collapsed building was built on the wrong ground, and nobody paid attention until it was too late. It’s clear that on the national level, the problem was at least recognized, with the failure of the local government being to blame. However, were they the only ones responsible for this disaster? I think not. These people had to live in poor living conditions because there was no where else to live. In order to make sure that something like this doesn’t happen again, the whole of the economy must be fixed. Unless this is achieved, the substandard building that are right now being torn down will appear again in just a few years.