1. What do the fact checkers at the New Republic do when they cannot find the information to verify?
-They call the other newspapers editor about the information that can’t be found, and want the numbers to call all of the people that helped contribute to the article written including the people who were interviewed. (Jukt Micronics, etc.)

2. How does Charles Lane feel about Glass once he discovers he is lying?
-Right when he found out he was lying he started drilling Glass about all of the details and made him take Chuck to all of the places where the Hacker convention took place, and where they went after, and none of it matched up. He seemed to be really upset at first, because of all the press that was going to be coming after the article that Glass wrote. Glass finally came clean about making the story up and feels horrible about the mess up.

3. How does Glass gain the sympathy of his fellow journalists at the New Republic?
-He feels horrible about the whole situation and talks about how much of a work load he has had with going to school and also with writing the articles for the newspaper. He is completely depressed and feels so terrible about the situation that happened but he panicked.

4. How does Glass dodge the truth again once he realizes he has been caught by Forbes!
-He doesn’t say that he made the story up. He tells people that he had sources that he trusted, and real people that he talked to, but he doesn’t.

5. What excuse does Glass give Lane for lying?
-He tells Chuck that it was his brother was the one on the phone talking for Sims, but the reason he did that was because he was under so much pressure from everyone to get the numbers. That Sims just stopped talking to him because of his anger of the article, and he was very sorry for doing that.

6. What is the argument for not firing Glass from the New Republic?
- They didn’t want to fire him at first because they thought him leaving would make all of the writers leave too.

Peer Edit

I didn't have a group because I was gone, so I chose two people to do a peer edit for. Idid it for Jessica Kissner and Brady Fish.

Gay Marriage

Gay marriage has been a discussed topic for a long time, and people have many different opinions about it. I think it is an issue, but one that maybe isn’t given the attention and discussion that is needed, mainly because people who don’t agree with being gay think it shouldn’t get legalized or shouldn’t draw attention to it. I believe that it is not a choice whether or not you are gay, you can’t help what kind of person you are attracted to and some people don’t understand that.

My opinion about the whole situation of being gay and gay marriage is that it shouldn’t even be an issue. If someone is attracted to the same sex, and that is what makes them happy, than they should be able to spend the rest of their life happily married to that person just like anyone else would. When telling a gay couple they are unable to get married, you are basically telling them that it is not okay for them to love each other, or be together, or be happy for that matter.

I do understand the other sides of this argument as to some people don’t want to see any gay people walking down the street holding hands, or kissing, or showing any affection to each other. But that is the same with any straight couple, some people don’t like to see that, but why does it have to be so discriminative against gays? They are normal people who just happen to be attracted to the same sex, and they shouldn’t be punished for who they do and don’t like. When people say that you choose if you are gay or not, why would people want to receive all of that negative attention, and not be able to just be happy with their significant other because they are always getting discriminated against.

Everyone should be allowed to be happy, and if making someone happy means that they are married and spend the rest of their life with their partner who happens to be the same sex as them, so be it, that shouldn’t make a difference. Marriage means to spend the rest of your life with that person, till death do us part, whether that is two men, two women, or a man and a women, it just signifies to love that person forever. If a gay couple wants to do that, why should it be a problem?

I know that gay marriage is legal in some countries, but why not in all? This issue should be more important and discussed more than it is right now. It only takes one person to help spread the word about legalizing gay marriage in more states and countries than we have now. So get out there and let people know about gay marriage, about how there is no choice to be gay, let those people be happy and married to the one they love.

Gay Marriage Pre-writing

1. Gay Marriage

2. I think that if someone is gay and wants to be married to the same sex because they are in love there shouldnt be any problem with that.

3. Try to persuade people to understand that people dont choose to be gay, and if your in love it shouldnt matter whether its with a man or a women.

4. -You cant choose to be gay
-If you want to be with someone it shouldnt matter if they are a man or women
-You cant help who you become attracted to and who makes you happy
-Everyone should be allowed to be happy, and if making someone happy means that they are married and spend the rest of their life with their partner who happens to be the same gender so be it, that shouldnt make a difference.

5. All it takes is one person at a time, if one person can realize that gay marriage shouldnt be an issue, than they will spread the word and it will get out and hopefully change some opinions people have about gay marriage.

6. Hopefully help us on our way to legalize gay marriage in many more states.

Peer Edit

I peer edited Sam Sokoll and Jessica Kissner.

Jonas Brothers

Have you ever had a celebrity crush? Well what happens when that celebrity crush turns into a life long obsession. Imagine even having a “disease” because you are so obsessed. Devoting all of your love, money, and time into this celebrity! Think this sounds funny? It does, but its happening to many teens. The teen sensation the Jonas Brothers have fans all over them, including me.I am a 17, almost 18, year old Senior in high school who pretty much lives and breathes anything and everything that has to do with the Jonas Brothers. And that disease I was talking about, I can definitely say that along with half of America, I have OJD. This stands for Obsessive Jonas Disorder based off of the disease OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder.

Many people may wonder what the Jonas Brothers have that make them so special. I asked my good friend Emily Heinbockel. I met Emily at my very first Jonas Brothers concert, and ever since then we have been able to go to many more together! “I like their music and their personalities. I love the good message that they send. I love that they are strong Christians and very humble and down to earth. They are better than every band because they have good faith and strong morals. They do everything for their fans.” Emily replied.Jonas Brothers Fans are some of the most devoted fans ever. For example, my friend Emily and I drove from Apple Valley, Minnesota to Detroit Michigan in a snow storm, spotting many flipped over cars in the ditch. The snow storm definitely slowed us down making our 12 hour car drive into a 17 hour drive. We also spent a lot of our money by staying in the same hotel the Jonas Brothers were while they were in Detroit, which happened to be the Ritz Carlton. We stayed for three nights and ended up spending a few hundred dollars a night to stay on one of the top floors to get access to the very top floor in which we knew the Jonas Brothers were staying in. We spent many hours just waiting, eight hours in the lobby, six hours in the car in the back of the hotel, three hours outside, and another couple hours in the lobby of their floor. We were fortunate enough to meet the boys, but some times that doesn’t always happen and all that waiting turns out to be for nothing. This is just one example of the many crazy things that Jonas Brothers fans will do just to catch a glance at their favorite boys.

Being an older fan of the Jonas Brothers, you hear a lot of things. Whether people are mean about it or not, I am constantly recognized as the person who is obsessed with the Jonas Brothers. I was curious to see if it affects my family or not, so I asked my little sister how me being obsessed with the Jonas Brothers affected her, or if it did. Her response was “It doesn’t really affect me, but I feel that its taking over your life, and to me I feel that there are better things you could be spending your money and time on.” My sister did like the Jonas Brothers at one point, but living in the room next to me and constantly hearing all of my Jonas Brothers music, and me talking about them all the time has kind of made her annoyed, along with my dad. When asked the same question as my little sister, my dad said “The only way it affects my life is you talk about it constantly, and you’re emptying my wallet because of it.”

Another thing about being a fan of the Jonas Brothers is you make a ton of friends from the fan sites and going to concerts and such. Most fans will get along, because most of the fan’s lives revolve around the Jonas Brothers. However I do have a friend who is not a fan of the Jonas Brothers. Her name is Ariel and she gets really sick of me always talking about them. I asked her what she thought about my Jonas Brothers obsession, and she answered, “Well I think it can be normal to be obsessed with a celebrity, you are just more motivated to be with them where most people would just stare at that person on TV, or maybe have a poster of them, or go to a COUPLE concerts. You are just more obsessed than the normal person, but that’s why people love you.”

Being a fan of the Jonas Brothers really is like having a disease. They are such down to earth people who can write the most amazing songs that come straight from their heart. They are amazing people and an amazing band. It’s so hard not to be in love with them, and these kinds of obsessions are very hard to get over, and in my case, pretty much take over my whole entire life.

Jonas Brothers Pre-writing

1. Theme Statement: What its like to be completely obsessed with the Jonas Brothers.

Sources:
1. Jonas Fan: Emily
2. Mom: Brenda Hanegraaf
3. Dad: Pete Hanegraaf
4. Friend (not into the jonas brothers): Ariel Olson
5. Sister: Paige Hanegraaf
6. Myself

Questions:
1. How does me being a fan of the Jonas Brothers affect your life?
2. How do you feel about the extent of my obsession with the Jonas Brothers?
3. (Emily) Would you _________ to meet the Jonas Brothers?
4. (Emily and Myself) What do you like about the Jonas Brothers? What sets them a part from everyone else?
5. Did you/do you have a celebrity crush?

Peer Edits

I did my peer edit on Brady Fish's article and Jessica Kissner