Mason+M

Current Events #5: MAKE-UP [] February 26, 2010 High Court to Define Reach of Gun-Control Laws Joan Biskupic Supreme Court

Otis McDonald, a 76-year-old retired maintenance engineer, has been on the prowl for a way to get handguns unbanned in Chicago, Ill. For they have been banned there for quite some time now. McDonald says that he needs them now more than ever since he's seen his part of town overrun by "gangbangers and drug-dealers." "I've got burglar alarms hooked into the police department." McDonald says he has a shotgun, but a handgun would be easier to use in a situation of house robbery or self defense. McDonald drover to Springfield, Ill. for a few days to go to a rifle rally for looser gun laws in Chicago. This rally turned into the case of //McDonald v City of Chicago//, and is said to be taken up by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. This case could change the face of gun laws everywhere.

I think that Mr. McDonald is doing **absolutely** the right thing. I'm no fan of guns, and I would personally never want to use one, but banning handguns altogether is just ridiculous! I mean, why let someone have a shotgun but not a handgun? I understand that if they make it legal, then it's just as easy for criminals to get them as well as people trying to protect themselves from criminals, but I still don't think banning them is a good idea. And this will be remembered (obviously) because it could change the face of gun-laws for a long time depending on who wins.

-

Current Event #4: MAKE-UP [] February 25, 2010 IRS Widow Sues Widow of Fatal Flyer All Headline News Texas

The wife of the IRS agent that was killed by angry taxpayer, Joe Stack. She is doing so because she claims that the wife, Sheryl Stack, should have known that her husband was unstable enough to do something like that. Valerie Hunter (the widow), says that Shirley knew that he was a detriment to himself and others and that she could have stopped the attack. According to the lawsuit, Shirley was so intimidated by her husband, she took her daughter out of their home and made her stay in a hotel room the night before the attack. At the moment, there is no indication that Shirley had any idea her husband was going to attack anything or anyone.

While I do agree that the guy who flew that plan is an INCREDIBLY large idiot, his wife shouldn't have to pay for her idiotic husband's actions. I think it's ridiculous that the wife of the victim is that radical. I understand her loss, and I understand her grieving, because that man shouldn't have died. Just, it is unruly that is that she is doing this to that poor woman. She isn't responsible for her husband's mistakes. As far as remembrance goes, this will definitely be remembered. It's too controversial to not be remembered.

[] February 2, 2010 Oscar Nominations 2010 List | Who are the Oscars 2010 Nominees showbizgossips.com (I know this is technically an "unreliable" source, but there is no false information in this article.) International (Technically, it is international because foreign films are nominated for things other than the "Best Foreign Film" category.)

The Academy Awards (commonly known as the Oscars) are here again. This awards show is held annually around the February-March time of the year, and is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They recognize people in all walks of the film-making industry (actors, directors, editors, writers, even cintematographers). The heavily anticipated nomination list was announced on February 2nd, satisying the impatience of millions. There are 10 "Best Picture" nominees this year, something that hasn't been done since the 1942 awards show. The nominees are Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, and Up in the Air. The 82nd annual Academy Awards will be held on the night of March 7, 2010 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The show will be hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.

I personally think they could have picked two **completely** different people to host the show. I am very disappointed as far as that goes. The rest of it is pretty much what I thought it would be. I guessed almost all of the nominees in each category, and have seen all the nominated movies for Best Picture. A lot of people say that Avatar or The Hurt Locker will win; personally, I think that Up in the Air should win. Also, I am incredibly mad that Where the Wild Things are got a total of **ZERO** nominations. Anyway, I feel that this will be a very important peice of history (the Oscars almost always are). I do not think that there was any bias in the article and I believe this awards show will be one of the most memorable yet. The movies at the Oscars get better and better every year.

[] January 20, 2010 Brown Scores Upset Victory Over Coakley in Massachusetts Senate Race FOXNews.com Politics

On Wednesday, Scott Brown, republican senate-elect for Massachusetts, won against his democrate opponent, Martha Coakley, for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Brown will be taking the place of former Senator Ted Kennedy since he died in August of 2009. This is a huge upset for the Senate because their unanimous 60-vote filibuster for the pass of the health care bill will most likely not be passed. Considering the now-senator bashed the bill in his victory speech, the chances are not likely. As soon as the rest of the Senate figured out about Mr. Brown's victory about a month ago, they were rushing to figure out a way to pass the bill before he was seated in Washington. However, as you can probably tell, they were not able to accomplish this. Brown will have to run for re-election in November of 2012.

I absolutely love the fact that Brown won the election, for I am totally against President Obama's health care bill. I believe that the author of this is clearly biased in favor of the newly-elected Senator. And this will be a pinnacle in the history of this nation, I believe.