NY Times: Protesters in Egypt Defy Ban as Government Cracks Down

I read the Article in the New York Times titled "Protesters in Egypt Defy Ban as Government Cracks Down" by Kareem Fahim, and it made me worry about the intense situation in Egypt. Human rights groups are saying that more than 2,000 Egyptians have been arrested for protesting an end to the government of president Hosni Mubarak. Skirmishes involving fire, chanting, marching, rock throwing, and gasoline bombs are occurring, and it is thought to be engineered by the illegal Brotherhood organization. Egypt has an extensive and widely feared police force, and it "deployed its might in an effort to crush the protests". Egypt's allies, including the United States, are starting to worry and its stock index fell more than 6 percent. I hope that the situation in Egypt will calm down and the protesting will come to an end peacefully. 

For more information, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/world/middleeast/27egypt.html?hpw

NY Times: Wal-Mart Plans to Make its House Brand Healthier

I found the NY Times article titled "Wal-Mart Plans to Make its House Brand Healthier"by Sheryl Gay Stolberg interesting and encouraging. Wal-Mart is going to implement a five-year plan to make thousands of its packaged foods lower in unhealthy salts, fats and sugars, and to drop prices on fruits and vegetables. Michelle Obama is helping to promote this change because of her care for reducing child obesity. Wal-Mart hopes that this change with encourage its suppliers and other retail stores to take similar action. This article is encouraging because it shows that Americans are starting to take measures to reduce obesity. The adherence to this movement by Wal-Mart, the biggest grocer in America, could help make a dent in this ever growing problem. 


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/business/20walmart.html?hp