The Most Powerful Judicial Body- The Supreme Court of the U.S.

Last class, we watch a video about the history of the Supreme Court and here's what I learned...

In 1801, the government moved to Washington D.C.

Petitions arrive day by day, all year long.

Every day, these justices work hard to review a variety of cases on their own and refer back to the 200-year-old Constitution to provide a final outcome. In history, there have been over 100 Supreme Court justices and most justices serve for an average of 16 years.

Joining the court can be humbling, but also "akin to being struck by lightning," said one Justice. Being a justice is very stressful and intimidating. "We are quiet, but its the quiet of a storm center. The power rests on the public face."

After the Civil War, the constitution was amended to abolish slavery, define citizenship, and grant voting rights. After the Constitution was made, the bill of rights was added, which included the amendments. Before our time, women were unable to vote, slavery was a major issue, Native Americans were treated unfairly, and more.

The 14th amendment told the states they can not deny due process of law or equal protection of the law to any citizen. The 19th amendment allowed women the right to vote.

The Supreme Court refers to the Constitution when needing to resolve national problems. It's an advantage to have and reference. It's also an open-ended business, which the majority think its all secrets.

With almost 200 years of history, when the Supreme Court speaks, people obey. "Unspoken contract is one of the hidden keys to our freedom," said the narrator.

"If the Court ever stopped defending the Constitution or the people ever stopped listening, then one of the treasures that keep this the freest nation in the world ceases to exist." The Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body not only in the government but in America.

Stirring the pot at U of M

(Pictured to the left is University of Michigan student Dylan Gilbert)

There have been lots of drama spreading across the University of Michigan's campus.

Last year, "University of Michigan student, Sydney Whack, remembers the frustration she and other African-American students felt a year ago when the name tag outside the dorm room of one of her friends was vandalized with the N-word," according to Detroit News.

UM's policy does not allow student housing staff to remove anything from a student's door. UM students are allowed to say what they want on their doors, living space, and inside their dorm buildings. University of Michigan officials are taking a closer look at this policy due to being under investigation after getting involved in a lawsuit challenging how they should handle language that may be offensive.

Sydney Whack believes hate speech should not be tolerated. "Freedom of speech does not include hate speech of any type," said Whack. She states that it is illogical and unfair to say you can be disrespectful and say hurtful things to others because you have freedom of speech.

Dylan Gilbert, another UM student, agrees. "There is a line between freedom of speech and hate speech," said Gilbert.

This is where the drama begins- Amir Baghdadchi, a UM spokesman for University housing, has officially stirred the pot. He defends UM's policy by saying, "There is no way to define 'hate speech.'"

"Eliminating such speech does nothing to change the culture in which offensive language occurs," said Baghdadchi. He mentions that the best way to go about this is to respond to that 'hate speech,' since we can't control what people say.

UM is the first university that's been sued by Speech First. Speech First's lawsuit challenged UM's policies, including prohibitions on harassment and bullying.

Someone is always watching...

Watch out...

Ever since social media became a big deal, privacy became an even bigger issue. In today's world, anything you post or say on the internet is NOT private, regardless if your account is set to private or public.

Last year, Mark Zuckerberg got himself into a huge uproar when people began to find out that Facebook can track your online activity even when you're not logged in. This can be very spooky for some! Even though Facebook can't listen in on your daily conversations and sells your data to advertisers, they can track your location, your every move on the Web, and what you buy when you're offline.

Facebook's ad business depends on what you like and dislike regarding the advertisements that pop up when your scrolling through your feed on Facebook or shopping online at Target. A feature called Facebook Pixel can snoop on your Web browsing activity even when you are not on Facebook, and it uses the data it gathers to paint a picture of who you are and what you like or dislike.

Facebook can also help advertisers track your "offline conversions," which is an in-store purchase. Although it's not as easy to track these kinds of purchases than those from a Web browser, nonetheless it still helps advertisers see whether or not they are targeting the right audience.

This being said, the internet is a great resource, but it has gotten lots of backlash over the years as a couple of websites have been caught for stalking what you do and say on the Internet. Moreover, it is very important that you are careful about what you post and say on social media or the internet because once you post it, its out there for everyone to see. The last thing you want to happen is Facebook analyzing your data and sending it out because of something you have liked or disliked on your feed.

Waze- "Outsmarting Traffic, Together"

Waze-
Have you ever been stuck in traffic for hours and never knew why? Have you ever gotten pulled over by a hidden cop for speeding? Have you ever almost gotten into an accident because you weren't warned about that tire in the road?

I know I have come close to all of these, but after finding an app called Waze, my life changed forever. I would 100% recommend Waze to others. Waze is a community-driven app designed to provide faster and smarter navigation routes while traveling from point A to point B. Users can report and track accidents, traffic jams, hidden police, objects in the road, and other things that could slow you down during your drive. Waze allows you to check your speed and lets you add your friends, so you can keep track of each other on a trip. Keeping up with the community theme, the app recommends you to nearby restaurants, the lowest gas prices, hotels, and attractions. I also like to connect my Spotify to the app, so you can listen to music without getting distracted by having to switch the song every three minutes!

Waze is an app for Millennials, a generation of people who are used to getting what they want, when they want. Despite the cons some may say about Waze, it is an irresistible time-saving app that makes it a must-have for all drivers.

Top 5 Favorite News Sites

Everyday, news is always revolving around us. With all the drama and controversy that occurs throughout all news platforms, we wouldn't know what is happening not only in the United States, but all around the world. People use a variety of sites to gather the information they are searching for.  Below I have created a list of my favorite platforms that I tend to go to for daily news.

ABC News:
Everyday, I get personalized notifications from the ABC News app. I use this app on a daily basis, as it is reliable for world-wide, top news and to follow topics that are updated throughout the day. ABC News allows you to find the exact stories, articles, and videos you are interested in and they can range from US News, to politics, to weather, to lifestyle news. I like having the app because it is hassle-free news, wherever and whenever you need it. It keeps me from missing stories they cover on TV for the topics I care about.

People:
Since I was a teenager, I've always loved buying the People magazines in the grocery stores, bookstores, and anywhere else I could find them. I love reading the main stories featured, as well as the little facts and side content that's included within. I enjoy reading about what's happening throughout the entertainment industry and researching all the new trends, whether it be new hairstyles or the next fashion style. You always find something fun and interesting to read about through People.

Today Show:
My go-to morning news is NBC, specifically the Today Show. As an aspiring student who wants to be employed by NBC and be an anchor for the Today Show, it is ideal that I tune into this show every morning. I value that they not only cover globally trending stories, but also report on lighter news. I also appreciate that they have a variety of sources for gathering their content to share on their show. I not only watch the show, but I follow them on all of my social media accounts, as well. Moreover, I can keep track of the stories they are covering, if I'm too busy to catch the morning news live.

Twitter:

A lot of people may say that Twitter doesn't count as a valid or reliable news source, but millions of users gather their information from a variety of social media platforms. Everyday, I scroll through Twitter's trends and I can always find something interesting that is occurring throughout the news. I read tweets on all topics focusing on news, sports, and entertainment. The thing I find fascinating about finding news off of Twitter is reading other's opinions and comments on the topic being shared, especially when the celebrity or individual gets involved.


MTV:
MTV is my favorite outlet to hear and read about all things celebrities, fashion, movies, and gossip. MTV may be bias for some, but you can for sure get the latest on that new movie that's coming out next summer or finding out who will be performing for the 2019 Grammys. I enjoy reading about artist's newest tracks and discovering the meaning behind their music videos. I usually read MTVs content on their personal page on Snapchat, but their website is easy to navigate, too.