President Obama's Inauguration

            On Monday, January 21^st, President Barack Obama was sworn in for his second and final term as the President of the United States. Like any other presidential inauguration, President Obama gave an inaugural speech, discussing his plans for the future of America. Several highlights of Obama’s speech includes growing issues such as gun control, climate change, and immigration.

            President Obama’s plans for these issues involve making the process of becoming a legal immigrant easier,  and creating laws to control the use of assault rifles, ensuring that these powerful weapons do not fall into the hands of a criminal. He also stated that, despite different beliefs of the environmental change, humans are the cause behind the recent increase in natural disasters. With all of these critical, sudden changes that will take place in the future, President Obama said, "We have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.”

            Other issues touched upon Monday dealt with individual, African American, gay, and women’s’ rights. “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths -- that all of us are created equal -- is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall.” Obama stated. The American people can expect drastic changes to citizens’ rights and climate control within the final four years of Barack Obama’s presidency.

NFL Playoffs

     The NFL playoffs are set. The Baltimore Ravens will play the San Francisco 49ers in the big game. Sunday, the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons. The Flacons got off to a 17- point lead. The 49ers came back and won the game, 28-24. The Baltimore Ravens beat the heavily favored Patriots. The Patriots were favored by 9 points. The Ravens trailed at the half 13-7. The Ravens took over in the second half and dominated. They won the game 28-13. The Ravens held them scoreless, with a shutdown defense, led by Ray Lewis.


     The Super Bowl will be on Sunday, Feburary 3 at 6:30. the game will be aired on CBS. The halftime show will be Beyonce.

Justin Bieber is one of the top selling pop artists in the United States and Canada. At only 18 years old, he has produced 6 top-of-the-chart albums. He mainly targets millions of young teenage girls. He is truly an adolescent heartthrob.

Despite this, not all critics are saying that Justin Bieber is the cream-of-the-crop.

“The Biebs' gentle set of gentile carols on Under the Mistletoe isn't coal-lump bad; it's more like a dorky sweater from Nana with a 20 in the pocket. Two originals, ''Mistletoe'' and ''Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas,'' are sleigh-ride-smooth R&B ­jangles, but the classics bring no cheer — worst is the rap-wrapped ''Drummer Boy,'' on which Bieber spits some of the looniest white-boy rhymes off the shores of Lonely Island: 'I'm so tight I might go psycho/Christmas time, so here's a recital.'"

            ~Adam Markovitz from Family Entertainment, about Bieber’s Mistletoe Album

Some think very highly of Bieber, and think he has room to grow as a performer.

“Bieber is still just 18 years old and trying to find his musical lane while grappling with an unprecedented amount of attention. Because his growth in front of the camera has occurred so quickly and steadfastly, his music has been (unfairly) expected to do the same. "Believe" has multiple songs that hint at what Bieber could become someday.”

~ Jason Lipshutz, billboard.com

So, think what you may of Justin Bieber, but certainly don’t let these opinions of critics affect you before you listen to his songs! YouTube him and see what you think for yourself!