Samantha Estrella

Currently on Capitol Hill anti-piracy legislation is in the midst of being passed. Such legislation makes it easier to close down rogue websites that distribute pirated movies and TV shows. Michael O’Leary, senior executive vice president for the Motion Picture Association of America, is pushing for the passing of such legislation.

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-12-01 02:20

There has been recent talk in the California state government to raise gas taxes in order to pay for infrastructure improvement (Los Angeles Times). The last time gas tax was raised was in 1990 and it was done for the same reason of improving California’s infrastructure. Then Governor George Deukjemian led the campaign to increase the taxes in order to pay for a highway construction plan. This plan was derailed, however, when the Loma Prieta earthquake required much of the revenue from the newly imposed tax. In 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger got a $43 billion public works program approved to conduct work on housing, education, flood control, et cetera.

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-11-03 03:21

Starting 2012, Bank of America, amongst other banks, will charge their customers a $5 monthly usage fee whenever a debit card is used. The $5 usage fee will be imposed only if the debit card is used within the given month period. So if a customer was to use their card one, two, or five times within a given month, the customer would be charged this $5 usage fee.

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-10-27 02:43

The media has always received negative attention for portraying women in one light. The woman frequently portrayed is skinny and has no physical imperfections.
The media has been frowned upon for having instilled in young girls and women the idea that skinny is the only beautiful and everything else is ugly and unattractive.
However, an article in USA Today states that media’s concept of beauty is changing and is “reflecting reality more.” Now, more plus-sized actresses are being used in films and television. America is loving the fact that T.V. and movies are now reflecting reality more evenly.

“Three or four years ago, it was all about skinny, skinny, skinny. And now we are going back to real women and that’s seen as just as beautiful,” USA Today.

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-10-13 03:00

Starbucks Corporation is attempting to help job growth through its “Jobs for USA Program.” Starbucks is collaborating with the Opportunity Finance Network and is asking its patrons to donate $5 or more to the program.

The Opportunity Finance Network works with development financial institutions to provide loans to small businesses and community groups. The donated money will be used as loans for firms and organizations that can in turn provide people with job opportunities. In exchange for a donation of at least $5, Starbucks will give the donor a red, white and blue wristband that reads ‘Indivisible.’

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-10-06 03:34

As technology continues to be at the forefront of almost all of our daily activities, some have become concerned with the consequences that shall result. Every day most people are engaged with, interactive with or dependent upon to some extent the Internet or another form of social media. The Internet, Facebook, e-mailing and other social medias are accessible and entertaining, but the concern voiced in the article “Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?” from the NY Times is that people, more specifically children, are overlooking the importance of books and reading an actual hard copy text.

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-09-29 02:28

The Dream Act is currently in the process of being approved and if it is, it would allow for illegal/undocumented immigrants to receive money from the government to attend school. The money would not be in the form of loans, but rather in the form of scholarships, Cal Grants and money intended to satisfy tuition fees.

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-09-15 01:29

Lately in the news, violence in schools has been increasing and in turn has made safety an even greater concern. Just this past January a boy was arrested for having a loaded gun at a high school in Compton, while at Gardena High School, two students were injured after another student’s gun went off from his backpack. Many parents are outraged that schools are not more efficient in enforcing safety amongst their student body, but in reality, whose responsibility is it to ensure that the student body is safe?

Samantha Estrella - Thu, 2011-01-27 04:03