Here is his speech:

We all believe that education is the silver bullet to drive progress and eradicate poverty. But do we all see the public education system in the same way? Take the survey below about the 5 most common myths about the Public Education System.

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[image is from flickr user: Jurvetson]

After 25 years of marriage, Arnold Schwarzenneger is separating from his wife, Maria Shriver. Though it could have been a matter of their difference in political affiliations finally catching up with them (Shriver is a Dem, Arnold is from the GOP,) it was later on revealed that they split up because the former Governator had fathered a love child with their housekeeper. (It gets worse—the kid was born a few months after Maria gave birth to their son.) A whole media circus has ensued with the gossip rags rushing to show the face of the housekeeper first and trying to uncover more dirt about Arnold—how many more women does have he hiding in the closet? Especially with early stories about orgies and excessive drug use–this was way way way before he became the Governator, or so we hope.

[image is from Guillaume Paumier via Wikipedia]
Then there’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who probably is a stranger to most people who know and love Ah-nold. As Head of the International Monetary Fund (basically an international organization that takes care of the global financial system–an important thing now that so many countries are experiencing some form of financial crisis,) DSK had a lot of power in his hands. Unfortunately, it seems that all power has gone to his head—no, the other head. With allegations of sexual misconduct towards a hotel employee, he has now resigned from his position, was released on bail pending trial with an ankle bracelet. His wife has continually defended him and there were many conspiracy theories pushed forward about him being set up because of being in the middle of important talks regarding Greece’s financial future, but it looks like something is up.

So it looks whether or not you’ve got the power or the money, you can be a major douchebag. Especially towards women. What do you think?

Or here’s a weird question, should we even care about these things?

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So what’s been happening in tinsel town:

1. Alicia Silverstone has given birth to a son, and has named him Bear Blu. I guess Mariah’s son Moroccan Scott has some competition.

2. We have 4 idols left. Who do you think is going to be the next American Idol?

3. Even as the Governator is going back to showbiz, he is unfortunately separating from his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver.

4. Have you seen Thor? What do you think of Chris Hemsworth?

5. Jesse James has loose lips about his ex-wife. How do you feel about what he said?

6. Is the Bieb losing his touch? Someone thinks that he needs some eggs, while others are calling him a brat.

7. Paris Hilton is trying for a new persona, do you believe her? Especially after what she let slip about Lindsay Lohan?

So it’s still entertaining. Even without directors or a film crew. Click through to Qwanz and initiate some change. No matter how small or how large. As long as it matters to you, it matters.

But with Osama Bin Laden’s death, it may mark a sigh of relief for a nation forever plunged into a constant state of fear, but it also raises a lot of big questions. Like for example, do we continue with torture just because it works? Or can we truly justify the killing of a criminal who was unarmed? Or are we a nation hungry for gruesome photos of death? The questions continue, even ones we don’t really want to ask, like can our service men and women come home now? And more importantly, are we truly safe?

And maybe it is fine that things have settled down a bit, even as the Mississippi floods, we have time to truly look at ourselves and so whom we have become. Especially as we are right about to enter an election season, one that might prove to be as significant as 2008. And as we go on our everyday lives, maybe we will truly understand what it is to be an American, a nation of immigrants. E pluribus unum.

There are days when the news seems to be throwing stories together, as if making its own statement about what’s happening in the world. Here are a few things we noticed.

A. Activist/Artist Ai Weiwei was detained by the Chinese government allegedly for an online campaign calling for protests similar to those in the Middle East and Africa. But he is being charged for economic crimes—tax-related charges are usually what the Chinese government claims when detaining an artist, activist or any outspoken personality. Though China has continually denied that Ai Weiwei’s detention had anything to do with freedom of speech. Except it does make you wonder why a close friend of Ai and vocal opponent of the government has also been detained.

In Shanghai though, a dream is being built. Disneyland has just celebrated their groundbreaking with a big show, in the way that only Disney knows how. China may not like artists telling the truth, but there are 330 million people who will soon be a mere 3 hours away from Mickey Mouse.

B.
Charlie Sheen is currently on tour. I guess he hopes that losing his job will go the same way that Conan O’Brien’s did. Except that I don’t think Charlie Sheen has the same skill or writing staff that Conan did. He bombed in Detroit, but seemed to recover soon after. Though that people are actually buying tickets to see him does make you wonder.

There was so much focus on Charlie Sheen, on how his habits were reckless tenets of youth that he never let go of. An entertainment writer, emphasizing how so much focus is on the plight of Lindsay Lohan even Demi Lovato, but not on male child stars wonders how working so closely with someone who is obviously a train wreck doesn’t scar him for life.

C.

The Supreme Court of Arkansas may be giving people whiplash. A state law banning gay couples from adopting has been stricken even if it is still impossible to get married if you’re involved in a same-sex relationship. Interestingly enough, the Supreme Court of Arkansas felt that it was a matter of privacy that rendered this state law as unacceptable.

In Mississippi however, 46% of its Republicans believe that interracial marriages should be banned. In the same way, they want Gov. Haley Barbour to be President too. In the most conservative state in the country, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.

So what do you think? What does this all say about what’s happening in the world? Oh and breaking news, the parties just decided on a stopgap agreement.

After the announced defunding of Planned Parenthood, it is apparent the pro-lifers* are gearing up for a fight in the state level. Though the country truly is built on the independence of each individual state, it seems that Republican governors are making it difficult for the federal right to be practiced. By making anti-abortion counseling and sonograms mandatory, or limiting insurance coverage for abortions, and refusing abortion after the 20^th week or the 2^nd trimester, they have made it more difficult for women to get abortions.

Though knowledge of all the options for the mother would greatly improve her life, it doesn’t necessarily mean she will not go through with the abortion. And this definitely is not a decision to be taken lately whether or not you consider abortion as an option. But isn’t anti-abortion counseling based on religious dictum a violation of our freedom to choose to which religion to subscribe? And though limiting insurance coverage may save the taxpayers money or prevent people who do not believe in abortions from paying for it, don’t mandatory sonograms cost money? The last point though of banning abortions after the first trimester is a real debate, it sounds dangerously close to the question of when life begins. It also puts the pregnant woman’s life in jeopardy, complications do occur in the second and third trimesters.

And understandably, it is very difficult to be objective about your daughter, your sister, your wife, your girlfriend, or even your own body. But do we not all agree that women own their bodies in the same way that men do? Or have I asked the wrong question?

Bottom line is this, women who seek abortions have a serious, weighty decision in their hands. One that will infinitely be helped by people who are out to help her, even if it is also to remind her that her child has rights too. But it sure sounds like people pushing their own agenda, and just using this abortion debate to cloud judgements.

What do you think? Join the conversation here.

*Or perhaps more accurately, those who are anti-abortion. Those who are pro-choice are most definitely not pro-death.

So people are meaner than ever. And YouTube is a hotbed for vitriol, assumptions, racism and just downright brutality. Take the case of Rebecca Black and her song, Friday. Even if PerezHilton has championed her cause (strangely enough, as the entertainment blogger himself is a real player in the snark department,) the young girl has been subject to what is tantamount to cyberbullying. It doesn’t help that the backstory involves parents who paid ArkMusicFactory to set their kid on her way to stardom (I’d like to bully ArkMusicFactory actually.)

Though it isn’t to say that YouTube hasn’t produced real talent (Have you seen the duo, Pomplamoose or Darren Criss?) I just wish parents were more careful. But really, what were the parents thinking? Shouldn’t the adults have been more perceptive of the ills of the internet? Yes, it will expose the aspiring popstar to a wide range of people and without a doubt, raise their chances of getting discovered—but it also exposes them to the judgement of an angry mob. Why subject your kid to that, especially when there’s still high school to conquer?
What do you think?

Perhaps it is time for alternative energy to step up their game and probably knock nuclear power and coal power out, but the political and business implications (remember that energy is still an industry providing jobs and livelihood!) require more than just reactions to a natural catastrophe. Join Inka, a Qwanz contributor, as she ruminates on this issue.

And join the conversation at the poll.