Bill 5621

Would allow 14 year olds to vote in school board elections.
Sponsor: Senator White
No fiscal note

Senate Report

# SB 5749.
a. Let's look at the Senate Report.
1. What does GET do? Modifies the terms of the Washington advanced college tuition payment (GET) program for future purchasers.
2. Since 1998, how many GET accounts have been opened by families? 119,000 families.
3. If the bill passes, name one way the program will change:
The value of each tuition unit is the price of tuition and fees at the time of purchase multiplied by the average percentage increase in resident undergrad tuition and fees at all state institutions of higher education weighted by the number of full-time equivalent resident undergrad students.

# Find HB 1325.

1.Sponsor: Representatives Hunt, Dammeier, Darneille, Liias, Carlyle, Roberts, Jinkins, Orwall, Kenney, Hasegawa, McCoy, Fitzgibbon, Tharinger

2.Bill summary: Requires the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) to lead a district reorganization initiative to streamline and provide efficiencies in the operation of school districts and Educational Service Districts (ESDs).Establishes a Statewide School District Reorganization Commission (Commission) if the Superintendent of Public Instruction finds the WSSDA initiative has not resulted in sufficient cost savings or efficiencies by January 1, 2014.
Directs the Commission to prepare a reorganization plan to result in no more than
150 school districts and a revised number and boundaries of the ESDs.
Requires the reorganization plan to be submitted by December 1, 2016 in the form of
proposed legislation.Provides that the proposed legislation containing the list of districts and their boundaries may be amended only by a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature. Provides for districts to appeal their reorganization to the Commission or submit an alternative proposal that will achieve significant
3. If passed, the number of school districts would be reduced to what? No more than 150 school districts
4. Why does the sponsor believe the bill is necessary? Save money.
6. Look at the fiscal note. What are the total estimated expenditures for 2011 to 2013? $397,963

Politics

I would want to know who the unnamed source is and I would like to sit down and speak with them if possible. I would record what this unnamed person had to say, as well. I think that it is important to include a named source if accusations are made so that that person is then held responsible for their comments. I don't think that by including an unnamed source in this article gives the article validation.

Story 2: Speech

CBS freelance reporter Lucy Craft wants to know are you a nerd?
Craft, who is based out of Tokyo, spoke in front of an audience of 100 at WSU on Feb. 11 about Japan spending big money to study nerds.
“Japan is known for its pop culture,” said Craft during her speech titled, "Anime Cool and Manga Chic: How and Why Japan Became a Pop-Culture Oasis.”It’s a Mecca of cool."
The nerds Craft are referring to are those that read, “Manga,” a form of Japanese comics. Japan hopes by studying these nerds it will help improve their economy.
Within the Manga comics are, “Anime,” which are animated distinctive characters. Some well known examples of this are Pokémon and Astro Boy.
Hello Kitty is another version of Anime that Craft said became a “Japanese phenomenon.”
Osamu Tezuka, known as “The ‘god’ of Manga-Anime,” began sketching frames of a film after WWII. Craft said this was where it all began.
According to a press release issued to WSU from Craft, Manga was the fastest growing segment of books in the U.S. in 2005, according to Wikipedia.
Manga and Anime are so popular in Japan that government agencies are getting on-board.
"Every state government has its own character or mascot," Craft said. "Cartoons are used in politics and on public service posters."
Craft uses the term "cutification" in describing how the Japanese display Anime characters and females.
Japan created an all female group called, "AKB48," in hopes to catch the attention of men. Yet the portrayal of these girls is seen as "potential child pornography," Craft said.
"I'm more Americanized so I agree the group is semi pornographic," said Janelle Ohtani, an Asian student at WSU.
“I have a problem with extreme cutification,” Craft said. “In Japan, you see Anime shows, people dressed as Anime, and it’s just everywhere.”
WSU student Paja Xiong associated the word cute with something different than Craft.
"I think cute is more a label associated with Asians, not Japanese," Xiong said.
Craft also discussed Japan's new promotion strategy called, "Cool Japan." Japan is trying to strengthen its economy by using its cultural industries. Some of those industries include robotics and Anime.
“To live in Japan is to be immersed in both fantasy and robots,” Craft said.
The campaign strategy is about “recovery for the 21st century and to rebrand Japan," Craft said.
Japan's budget for the campaign is "$200 million" and Japan has already seen "a bump in tourism," Craft said.
Japan is following in the steps of South Korea and China who wanted to raise their national image. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, in 2008, South Korea spent $116.9 billion (79 percent of total government spending), China $477.5 billion (51 percent), and Japan $101.8 billion (12 percent) on cultural activities.
Craft believes Japan’s money should be invested in something more valuable.
"Japan needs to solve greenhouse gases," Craft said. "That would be really cool!"
David Pietz, director of the WSU Asia Program, thought Craft's presentation was outstanding but needing a little more background information.
“I would have liked to see perhaps a greater attempt to explain the cultural phenomena of Manga and Anime," Pietz said via e-mail.
Craft encourages all nerds and aspiring nerds to visit Japan.


Outline:
I. Lead
II. Manga-Anime
a. Pokémon, Hello Kitty
b. 'god' of Manga
c. background
III. Government
a. Anime mascots/characters
b. Cutification
c. AKB48
IV. Quotes
a. Janelle Ohtani quote
b. Lucy Craft quote
c. Paja Xiong quote
V. “Cool Japan”
a. Campaign
b. South Korea and China figures
c. Final comments

Three Questions for Lucy Craft:
1. You mentioned you wished Japan would use the $200 million budget for the “Cool Japan” campaign to resolve greenhouse gases. What other projects should Japan put that money towards?
2. As a journalist based in Tokyo, what differences do you see in Japanese reporting and news coverage compared to coverage in the U.S.?
3. How did Japan become a “Mecca of cool” in your opinion?

Paraphrase

Award-winning journalist Jonathan Fabulist admits his best stories are completely fabricated. He beieves truth stands in the way of a good story.

Peer edit

1. Washington state provided a subsidy of more than $2,000 for in-state students.

2. “The $13.5 million is the tip of a larger iceberg,” Jerry McCollum, coordinator of Arts and Culture Jerry said.

3. “We can’t live in a world with 14 percent tuition increases,” Floyd said.

4. The co-presidents announced a club to meet more people that are interested in hiking.

5. "There are still new things to say with art music," Williams said. “It’s hard to stop and listen, but when you do, it can be an extremely pleasant surprise.”

6. In September 2010, the wine-tasting endorsement will be available to stores, according to Jane Westman, culinary coordinator for Metropolitan Market.

7. He died from a heart attack in September 1996.

8. The club has its own audio engineer.

9. When it blasted off, the shock of the cannon added to the emotion of the game.


Shorten the following sentences.

1. Sleep becomes less of a priority for students.

2. A new workout routine is sweeping the country.

Speech ledes

1. WSU tuition rates are expected to increase by 14 percent next year due to the economy said District 9 Sen. Mark Schoesler.
2. Due to global warming, more amphibians are becoming extinct said WSU School of Biological Sciences associate professor Andrew Storfer.

Best ledes

#18 and #9.