More Bad News for the Vatican

Cardinal William J. Lavada submitted to 8 hours of questioning by lawyers according to the paper today. In that time he could not answer as to why he continued to allow confirmed sex offenders to practice within the Church.
Leaving this article I didn't really have much feeling besides being confused as to what was supposed to come of this questioning. Okay, he's admitting his part, but nothing is going to happen to him so what is even the point? Why are all of these guys protected? Clearly the reasoning that they are Holy men goes out the window, after all I am pretty sure there is not one religion in which a God says "my people, go and sexually molest young and innocent children".
His explanation for the Church's delayed response? It was a "learning process". Are you out of your flipping mind ? What is there to learn? If someone is being taken against their will into a room and touched inappropriately, forced to touch a grown man inappropriately there is no learning that needs to be done. It is wrong. Plain and simple.
The kicker for me, however, is that they cannot just admit they were wrong, they have to keep coming up with all these lame excuses and then they get mad that the media coverage has gone on so long. If they just admitted everything up front all of this perhaps would have already been settled.
Why is no one facing criminal charges? It seems that this process of questioning, etc. will take so long that all of these men involved will be dead or very much near death by the time it goes to trial. Will there be any final trial? I wish there was more to the article to fill in these gaps.

Shark Situation Resolved

According to the latest press release by Chief Martin Brody , the shark that has been terrorizing Amity island and is responsible for two malicious deaths this week has been caught and killed.
A group of local fishermen will receive the $3,000 reward put out by Mrs. Kintner for their efforts in keeping the island locals and summer guests safe. This latest development will lead to the immediate reopening of all beaches and lift the haze which Amity has been under since the first reported death.
Chief Brody, along with the Mayor, is urging everyone to go out and enjoy their lazy summer days as usual, assuring everyone no more threat exists for swimmers.
Despite the catching of the alleged killer shark there will be officials from the Coast Guard, Marine Patrol, the Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Navy, Homeland Security and the FBI as well as local jurisdiction patrolling the beaches.
Officials want to assure beach goers this is just a safety precaution in the hopes of putting people at ease.
In the off chance of a shark sighting Chief Brody has set up a toll-free line , 1-800-sharksee, that individuals can use.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Rabbi Moshe Hirsch is dead at 86, passing on Sunday after many years as a close confidant of Yasir Arafat and an outspoken leader of the anti-Zionism movement. In fact he was the son-in-law of the late Rabbi Aharon Kaatzenelbogen who was the leader of the movement and long time promoter of Palestinians taking "their land" back (Israel).
I know this is a horrible thing to say but GOOD RIDDANCE. This guy was a grade-A jackass, speaking on things he knew nothing about, turning against the Jewish people while claiming to be a proud Jew himself. It's like that group of Jews that call themselves "Jews for Jesus"-sometimes you just want to scream at people "Do you know you are a walking contradiction?!"
Of course someone will be right behind him to fill his shoes, after all what is a world without people hating the Jews and their want to live on their own land?
For any of you Hirsch followers, I am mocking you in case you haven't picked up on it yet. Do your research instead of using your own made up form of logic to back your hate movement and then we'll talk.

A Solution in Sight?

There was an excited bustling of store owners, Islander's and fishermen alike last night as Mayor Bob Farley held an emergency town meeting on the island.

On the way into the room where the meeting was held postings could be found written by Mrs. Kintner offering a $3,000 bounty for "man or men who catch and kill the shark" that allegedly killed her 10-year-old son Alex this week.

Along with publishing this add in the local Gazette, papers on the mainland have copies as well, forcing the island officials to take further action as information surrounding the two latest deaths are revealed.

Chief Martin Brody informed the crowd that extra summer deputies will be put on the beach as soon as possible as well as beach spotters but no exact date was given as to when this all would happen.

After anxious cries from store owners who depend on the summer traffic for their income, the Chief concluded that the beaches will in fact be closing.

An apparent nervous Mayor quickly followed this up by adding "they will only be closed for 24 hours."

According to Chief Brody, this was never agreed upon and it remains unclear what will be happening with the beaches at this point in time.

Local fisherman Ben Quint offered his services but said this was too big of a job for a mere $3,000, addressing the attendees in a story-like fashion as he told of the dangers of the sea.

"I don't want any mates,there are too many captains on this island," said Quint. "$10,000 for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing."

This offer has not yet been accepted by the Mayor and Selectmen and remains on the table as officials look for the quickest and best possible solution.

As of now it appears that a shark is in fact responsible for the two latest deaths but nothing has been confirmed by Mayor Bob Farley or Chief Brody.

Hope for Legal Immigrants

Governor Paterson of New York is looking at pardoning legal immigrants for old or minor criminal convictions based on their behavior since the incident, demonstrating their desire to live under the law.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this article because there is no description of what will be done after the pardon, how the government and state will be going about this process, etc.
Of course I think these legal immigrants who have started a healthy and happy life here should be allowed the same considerations as the rest of us. In fact I think the immigration system in this country is horrible, and something has to be done to accelerate the process so my only concern with this new development is how this will affect the process. In other words, will it slow things down more? I know hard working, law abiding, tax paying individuals who have been waiting years for their citizenship and my concern lies with them and their well being.

Bomb Scare in NYC

When I heard of the car bomb, and I hate to in any way be cliche, I had flashbacks of Israel. It is such a normal occurrence over in that part of the world and each time, although terrifying in its own right, is eventually numbed down for citizens as if it were simply a drill.

I know this is hard to imagine for many people but everyone has an incident like this in the back of their minds, knowing how to react and what to do afterwards as far as helping with the cleanup. In a way it is like earthquake drills in California, people grow up experiencing them and know very early on what to do when that happens.

My first thought was about my close friend Kim in Israel who lost her father in a car bombing incident. She had gotten out of the vehicle just 10 to 20 minutes beforehand and as he drove off she had no idea that was the last time she would ever see him.

People found his body parts days later and I remember thinking to myself, "What kind of mind is behind such a powerful force to use it for something so horrible?"

He left behind 8 children and a wife but this story is not out of the ordinary. It left people sympathizing with my friend's family but not overly shocked.

I think this story in NYC is a great example of how this country needs to stop thinking that we are invincible. As terrorists and hate groups have proved they will strike whenever and wherever it suits them and this means no place is truly ever safe. Also, terrorists are not just overseas , they are here among us as well.

Stabbing of Children in China

Today I was left in awe after reading of the stabbings of 4-year-old children in China. The kicker: this isn't the first incident, in fact it is the third in the past few months, with children all under the age of 11.
The people responsible had all been laid off or unemployed in addition to having severe mental illnesses.
However, in China treatment for mental illnesses are not widely used, if at all, and in a study published it was "estimated that 98 percent of the 173 million Chinese adults believed to suffer mental problems never received professional help". That is truly a staggering number and it is clear that this issue needs to be addressed for it seems the country is in total free fall to allow someone to get as bad as this.
One thing I hope is that China's solution isn't some ridiculous communist based plan in which people are mistreated or brought in the way of additional harm because they don't know how to handle these people otherwise.
We are still trying to figure out the many angles of every disease in this country, so for a country that does not look to others for help or an idea of how to do things in addition to not knowing much of anything concerning mental illness, this could be disastrous all around. However, something must be done and I'm willing to give them a chance to discover an effective solution.

Another Death on Amity Island

The mood on the beach this morning was relaxed, with no mention of Wendy Watson's death or the suspicious circumstances surrounding it.
Children were laughing, playing catch in the water, and sun bathers smiled as their skin began to bronze, leaving behind any trace of the winter blues.
Looking out amidst the splashing and playful screams came a not so playful gut-wrenching cry for help as what appeared to be a geyser of blood shot in the air and 10-year-old Alex Kintner's raft flipped over with Kintner no where in sight.
Panic erupted as parents rushed in to retrieve their children and leaving Marion Kintner empty handed as she called over and over again for her young son.
Soon after, the damaged raft washed ashore with evident bite marks, leaving investigators to put a possible shark attack on the list for an explanation to both the Kintner boy and Wendy Watson's death.
Watson's body is still being examined but due to the location of that incident and the condition her body was found it appears that it may be a likely explanation.
"Anything is possible, " said Chief Martin Brody, "and any time there are two deaths within close proximity of each other we do not rule out that they could be related incidents."
Despite the possible threat of a shark roaming the waters the Amity officials are urging both press and community members alike to not panic and remind people that nothing is official as of now.
Mayor Bob Farley is holding an emergency meeting tonight along with Chief Brody and the Board of Selectmen at 6 p.m. this evening in the Town Hall. The mayor and chief will announce their plan surrounding the closing of beaches as well as a reward of $3,000 put out by Marion Kintner for whoever catches the "perpetrators" involved in her son's death.

Alleged Shark Attack on Amity Island- Girl Found Dead

Police are investigating the tragic death of Wendy Watson, a 17-year-old who went swimming last night and was allegedly attacked by a shark.

She was attending a beach party when she was seen leaving with another teen,whose identity is not yet being released, and they decided to go for a swim. In a deserted part of South Beach, Wendy Watson went in the water while the other teen had passed out due to drinking earlier.

Both teenagers had been drinking heavily throughout the evening according to police records.

The other teen awoke to find Wendy Watson no where in sight and after searching the area called the police at 4 a.m. Upon a more thorough search of South Beach by the authorities Watson's disfigured body was found as if it had been washed ashore according to records released.

The Deputy was seen carrying signs and was overheard telling Mayor there had been a shark attack and that the beaches would have to be closed.

Police Chief Martin Brody neither confirmed nor denied the existence of such a claim and skirted the issue upon questioning.

" I didn't hear him say that" said Brody." We are very busy with this crisis and we don't have time to deal with rumors."

Currently Wendy Watson's body remains in the coroner's office and the cause of her death remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, no charges have been brought up and the beaches will remain open. Authorities are assuring residents that there is no cause for worry and they are completely safe, both on land in the water here at Amity Island.

Cutting School Budgets

Today's paper had an article about cutting school budgets in NJ (I was born there so it caught my eye) and how students went out into the streets and protested, crowds reaching 200 or more. I think it is really cool that they are doing this and are completely justified in their outrage surrounding this issue.
If budgets are cut then bus routes go away, art classes, music classes and sports teams- all a huge part of high school life, all things that should never be cut and yet they are , and not just in NJ, all over the country.
This can relate back to politicians lining their pockets. Is it fair that they can sit there and do that while this countries youth have to make sacrifices due to their poor budgeting and irresponsible behavior that leads to unnecessary spending? No, it's the farthest thing from fair if you ask me.
Go get 'em kids!

The "No Party" Strikes Again

The Republicans blocked a financial bill going to the floor for debate according to an article in the New York Times today. Surprised? Nope.
Let's think about his shall we? Almost all of these Congressmen and government officials have their pockets lined with Wall Street's "finest" so it's only logical for them to block any type of bill that would tighten the reins on the financial mucky-mucks of the world.
In the past decade the information that has come out about scandal throughout Wall Street is dumbfounding and outright disgusting. Despite the fact that our huge economy crisis can be linked back to each of these greedy individuals sipping $300 bottles of champagne on their yachts, they got bailouts on our dime, whatever dimes we could find that is.
Meanwhile there's this whole other side to the conspiracy with even greedier politicians ensuring their protection for a comfy sum and in other words doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing -protecting and serving the American people-after all it's their job description.
What is even more frustrating from a citizen's perspective is that it seems like they cannot be stopped as they continue to get away with whatever they want, whenever they want and there are no consequences. Michael Moore needs to do another movie on this, we need to band together and get a solid public outcry going, otherwise I'm not so sure we will be heard. If anyone knows of something that can be done, by all means let me know.

AIDs Effort in South Africa

The discussion on AIDS whether it be about treatment opportunities, how the disease works, what causes it, the debates surrounding it or the social stigmas such as only Gay individuals can contract AIDS and for this reason they brought it on themselves (really people?) has always been of interest.

I also have a very personal connection to these discussions as I have watched my uncle suffer for over 15 years and his life today I see as truly a miracle and perhaps has outlived all predictions because of the great amount of love in his life from both his husband (my uncle David) and family, but I suppose that is another topic all together.

It's so horrible to watch someone suffer and to lose their ability to do all the things they loved because their body is shutting down. It's truly debilitating on so many levels.

So when I saw this article about South Africa really stepping up and making strides to make sure every nurse and doctor is not only educated on the subject but can prescribe medications and various treatments, I smiled. It is such a brilliant move, a move that can save hundreds of thousands of people and maybe even give those people some of their lives back.

Why are people so afraid to talk about it? Is it because a lot of the disease remains largely unknown? I'm not really sure, and I am sure there are many reasons for all the anxiety and closed doors, as there are for anything that is not in the human comfort zone, the realm of absolute safety.

I think South Africa is saying no more, it's time to talk, it's time to cure and hopefully other countries will follow suit so people don't have to struggle like my uncle has.

Travel Conditions for Those Getting Out of Europe

In the paper today there was an article on the travel conditions for folks trying to get out of Europe and I thought it had a great angle of people coming together and getting back to what is important-that person to person connection.
People came together to help each other out, after all they were with each other for days, some offering seats on a bus they had while others giving food, water and shelter for very cheap or nothing at all.
It's funny, all you keep hearing from the airlines is this incessant bitching of how much money there were losing while all the people stuck where they were vacationing didn't complain but rather found some solutions. Interesting to look at that contrast I think, don't you corporate America?

Leopard Gone Missing, Will Eat Humans

Kids stay inside, this is not the day for hopscotch. A rare Romanian Spotted leopard has mysteriously disappeared from the Durham Zoo overnight and could be anywhere according to officials.
The leopard, known as "Fluffy" is black with white spots, is almost 150 pounds and can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Although raised here on a diet of three chickens a day the breed has nearly reached a point of extinction in its home country of Romania due to its vicious tendency to swallow young children whole.
The zoo's chief biologist, Kitty Smith, adamantly told the press that this is not the case with Fluffy, saying she is "wonderful", "warm" and that there has never been an incident with this ten-year-old leopard.
Police Chief William Blair, however, does not share the same confidence due to the breeds reputation and because of the neighborhood which has schools and many young kids walking about.
"If possible, Fluffy will be shot with a tranquilizer gun. But if necessary, we will shoot to kill."
Allegedly the animal was last seen locked up in her cage at 9 p.m. Tuesday evening, which comes equipped with a secure alarm system but no alarm ever went off. Upon the opening of the zoo this morning at 7:30 a.m. she was nowhere to be found and nothing had been tampered with.
The scene is frantic here in Durham as people make a mad dash for safety, some sporting disgruntled looks and attitudes such as one man who had planned to spend a nice day with his daughter.
"I want my money back, and then I am never coming back here again. This place is out of control."
Kitty Smith warned the crowd to proceed with caution and that if anyone comes into contact with the animal no sudden movements should be made.
"We urge anyone who encounters Fluffy to get slowly to the ground and lay still. Be especially careful to avoid eye contact."
James Petronkis of Newmarket was taken off the property by police who admitted to pulling the fire alarm in order to get the zoo staff's attention. Visiting the zoo every morning, he is very familiar with Fluffy's habits and allegedly noticed that the usual nest of straw was non existent and in fact no straw was in the cage whatsoever.
"I told the guard and he said 'mind your own business'. So I pulled the fire alarm and that got their attention."
Police officers immediately arrived at the scene with high-powered rifles and holstered pistols in their possession, ready to stop Fluffy in her tracks if necessary.
"People were screaming," said James Petronkis,"It sounded like a thousand cars squealing their tires."
In addition to the local police, the New Hampshire State Police, state wildlife department and the National Guard are helping with the search mission. Fluffy has yet to be found nor are there any reported sightings.

Corrupt Politics in Pakistan- A Look into Small Extremist Groups

In today's paper there was an article on a small extremist group that calls themselves Islami Jamiat Talaba who bludgeoned a professor to near death because he expelled some of the members for violent behavior-ironic?Yes. Sad? Incredibly.
Despite a three week protest by fellow professors the group remains on campus who's antics include beating other male students for sitting next to female students, stop music from being played and any western products from being sold or used. In addition they are extremely vocal on their support for the Taliban, their desire to "keep women in their place" and their disgust for the Western world.
So why do they remain in Pakistan's strongest university filled with scholars? Because they have political connections. Politicians find it very helpful to have such groups in their back pockets in order to get their way and be permanently protected.
This story is nothing new, and we even see lesser forms of such here in the US with administrations such as the Bush administration having power for so long.
Honestly though, someone has to be willing to step up and take a fall to their career or whatever it may be for the greater good, sacrifice unfortunately must be made at this point and by innocent, hard working individuals.

Israel Turns 62 but the Future Remains Unclear

Yesterday was Israel's 62nd birthday and as always Independence Day comes right after remembering the fallen soldiers for a whole day.
I remember being there for this time last year and along with the war sirens that go off in their memory people gather everywhere, whether it be in a group of five or a group of hundreds, bow their heads and pray together. It is truly an eery feeling, yet there is something beautiful that an entire country stops, hugs each other and gives thanks to all those that gave their life so they could do as such.
Today's International section had an article on this accomplishment of turning 62 but focused on the growing concern for the future and despite the differences of the left and right they each agree Obama's lack of sympathy for the Jewish state is a HUGE problem.
I'm not so sure it is a lack of sympathy, however, but rather a naivety concerning the situation and a lack of knowledge that goes along with that. The President does not seem to know much of anything of the reality of the situation and the gravity of what will happen if he were to allow the Palestinians to have Israeli land.
First, the Hezbollah will gain more control and more access to the heart of Israel. Secondly, Israel would have to be on constant alert, even more so than now because of this new control. And third, the amount of land the Palestinians have is ridiculous already while this country, this Jewish state the size of New Jersey is all Israeli's have and want.
Maybe Obama should go live on the Gaza strip for a while and still see if he thinks there are "good" people living on the other side worthy of getting more land and more access. It's a whole different story when you have rockets flying at your home simply because you're Jewish or you live in Israel.
Don't be so naive as to think that the Hezbollah wouldn't be all over that, they control that land despite the citizens within.

Hate Crimes

Today's paper had an article on the murder of Marcelo Lucero, an immigrant and whose death was part of a string of hate crimes committed by a 19-year-old boy named Jeffrey Conroy.
The article reviewed the case and told of the charges he was up against as he awaits his sentencing in the end of May. So far out of the 20 charges , the biggest and arguably the one carrying the most weight is first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime and gang violence. While he murdered this man, he attempted to kill many others as well so the sentencing could lead to him being behind bars until he is 44-years-old.
At first he was supposed to get second-degree manslaughter which would have automatically given him life behind bars and I am wondering why he got a lesser sentence? The jury said they saw the defendant as only attempting to injure the man and not kill him due to the one stab wound and not multiple and this accounted for the lesser sentence. However, he the defendant was out on the prowl to hurt Hispanic individuals with six other boys so I would he deserves the maximum.
This is horrible and only highlights the ignorance that plagues our generations as it trickles down to today's youth who feel it is their right to go out and hurt another human being because of their background, race or their personal life choices. Grow up people.

Russian suspension on American adoptions

This article blew me away- I can't believe a woman would send a child all by himself to a different country because she "couldn't handle him anymore". Are you kidding me lady?

I completely agree with Russia's immediate response to this action by temporarily suspending adoptions to the US while new regulations are made. The Russian government said there have been 14 cases of serious abuse and neglect by American "parents" looking to adopt. That's sick, and I know that is not a huge number but these poor children have already gone through enough and then they are displaced from their country and brought to one where they are in danger? No way.

I understand that many people are upset about the some 250 families that have almost completed the long adoption process being put back even further until the new restrictions are in place.However, before we allow any more children into a situation with a person such as this dreadful Tennessee woman we should re-evaluate the system and do it right the first time around.

Maternal Deaths Down

This article was so great to read about because I feel like in an age of such incredible technology and education something like this should not even be an issue.
It is so incredibly to hear of a woman dying because of such a beautiful process, whether her body could not withstand the pressure or people around her were simply inadequate and unable to address the situation at hand.
My favorite part about the article- the stress that it's still a HUGE issue and wow is it ever with almost 342,900 deaths during childbirth globally.
What can we be doing better to change this trend? AIDS is said to account for 60,000 of these deaths so is education the answer or maybe better training for those in the medical profession? Thoughts and comments welcome

An Unforgiving Day

A terrifying ordeal that began with shots being fired at Police Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle yesterday afternoon and turned into a high speed chase ended with the suspected assassin, Pierre Jeantot shot dead.

Pierre Jeantot took victims with him, including a 63-year-old grandmother, a 34-year-old cop that was on the train, a 30-year-old conductor and a 27-year-old trainman. Jeantot is suspected for working for a French drug lord who is currently under investigation by Detective Doyle and the New York City Narcotics Division.

"We would have preferred to see Jeantot prosecuted in the courts," said Police Commissioner Ruth L. Ess, "and we believe Doyle was close to a breakthrough on the case."

Ruth L. Ess sees this as a major smuggling operation and says the New York City
police "will continue a vigorous and thorough investigation". The details of said operation are still unclear, however, the leader is thought to be a Sal Boca who own a deli called Sal and Angie's in the city.

The death defying chase began at the 35th St. station and continued all the way to the 15th St. station during which time Pierre Jeantot had hijacked the train and Detective Doyle was left to pursue in a vehicle on the street beneath the train tracks. Detective Doyle sustained only minor injuries from a collision which occurred before the apprehension of the suspect.

It was a crisp Sunday afternoon as Detective Doyle walked home from work and as he entered his community bullets were fired from the stark rooftop of an apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Avenue. Five deafening shots in all were fired, including one fatal blow to Betty B. Badluck, a 63-year-old grandmother who had been getting some fresh air with her infant granddaughter.

Desperate cries of both the infant and passing pedestrians pierced the air as Doyle raced to the rooftop two steps at a time in hopes of catching the person responsible. Upon reaching the rood he found an automatic rifle and nine shell casings littering the ground but the suspect was already on foot.

Detective Doyle raced down the street and up the subway steps in heavy pursuit but Pierre Jeantot had slipped on the train. yelling to the conductor in hopes of both stopping the train and warning of danger at hand Doyle made a split second decision to obtain a car as he watched the train whisk off down the tracks.

After halting traffic and quickly assuring the driver that it was a "police emergency", Detective Doyle managed to cammandeer a vehicle and so began the chase as he followed the train overhead. Narrowly escaping multiple cars and people, he zigzagged his way to an eye-watering speed with the intent of catching the train at the next stop.

Pierre Jeantot, however, according to the police reports then hijacked the train brutally murdering a police officer (Roland Evan) and holding at gunpoint a trainman (Peter Howe) who died from a heart attack as a result of the shock. Upon being confronted he furthered his killing spree,shooting a conductor (Horatio C. Hornblower) point blank.

Because of the trainman collapsing no one sat at the controls and this caused an explosive crash with a train parked ahead, sending Pierre Jeantot and the other passengers flying. The extent of those injured is still unclear, however Jeantot was seen stumbling out of the train bloodied and in considerable pain.

Detective Doyle met Pierre Jeantot at the stairwell leading from the train platform to the street at which point Jeantot made a point to turn around but was caught off guard by a blazing bullet from Doyle's .38 caliber revolver, killing him instantly and sending him somersaulting backwards to finally lay to rest on the cold pavement.

"We will not sit still while drug dealers walk our streets" said the Police Commissioner."We commend Detective Boyle for his bravery and quick thinking under very trying circumstances."

Civilians Killed in Afghanistan

I'm not sure if this article caught my eye because I feel I know little of what is actually going on in the war or if I was curious to see how the Times would spin this story, providing their own interpretation as all journalists do.
The angle was clear: yes civilians were killed in the shooting, but in the split second the soldiers have to make a decision if a vehicle coming at them is in fact dangerous, the soldiers have a duty to protect themselves.
I'm not exactly sure what side I feel more comfortable with and that's mainly because I feel that such instances are not so cut and dry, that there are a lot of factors that play into every one's actions and decisions made.
What really concerns me, however, is that no system has been developed between the Afghan government and the American forces that would allow for adequate checks at these check-points and along highways as well as a different system of symbols as clearly the one in place is not working. Along with that, American forces perhaps can aim their fire at stopping the vehicle rather than the people inside. Afghan officials suggested the tires. All of these things combined could perhaps allow the citizens to feel safe traveling the roads and the soldiers safe to patrol.
Unfortunately, a reality of war is that civilians will be caught in the cross fire from time to time. However, I feel it is the American forces duty to make sure this is not a frequent occurrence, especially since these civilians have suffered enough at the hands of the Taliban.

Across the Universe and into our Homes?

Scientists at Johns Hopkins ran an experiment on the drug psilocybin which is a known hallucinogen found in various mushrooms in order to see if it could help with depression, anxiety and cancer among other things.

The article opens with one man's story who said it changed his life as he is battling both kidney cancer and depression and helped him connect and appreciate again. He only used it one time. That's all he needed.

Right off the bat you can anticipate people to protest using such a drug but my thought process immediately went to the FDA and all the protocol something like this would have to be under and I doubt it would end in unsafe way.

By unsafe I mean people running around screaming thing are king of the world, the walrus..things of that nature.

Like anything, this will have risks, and like any medication the putting of chemicals in your body can be a frightening idea. There's something to be said, however, for the many people involved in the study who have found success using the drug.

Still, in a society where we are already far too dependent on medication, the idea of adding one more (and not just any one, a hallucinogen) doesn't seem like the right direction. Our bodies have more healing powers than we give them credit for. Why numb that down with more toxins and chemicals?

Airlines

An article today about the struggling airlines caught my eye and I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief even as I read just the first few paragraphs.
As United Airlines begins talk with US Air to merge I am finding myself with no sympathy because while they had to tackle the rising fuel costs they did nothing to help themselves in dealing with the drop in travelers.
Part of that was due to people running seriously low on bread but the other part largely had to due with safety (Christmas time coming to mind?) and in addition we are being charged $25-$30/ bag and now that is even coming into play with carry-on luggage...expect your planes to be near empty for quite some time.
South West is where it's at folks. I recently traveled to Park City and after flying United to Denver I was supposed to connect with Delta for my final destination. Wrong- as I get off the plane I discover that my Delta flight has been canceled for "possible weather" (which never arrived) and not only that but they threw their arms up when I needed assistance. So I walked across the terminal to Southwest and managed to get a seat on their flight leaving only an hour after my original one. Not only were they understanding of my situation, they don't charge for bags!!
As I was waiting to board I began talking with this woman who told me she only flies with Southwest as they are never delayed, always friendly and often, if not always. her flights get in early. Imagine that...

Palestinians in the West Bank

Today's paper had an article about the Palestinians in the West Bank publicly burning Israeli made products and the prime minister has planted trees in areas that are off limits to him entirely.
Excuse me but this is just more evidence that the Palestinians living in the West Bank are the ones not willing to follow laws, rules, and furthering that, any peace agreements.
It is so ludicrous that nobody pays any attention to this activity, everyone is so willing to throw Israelis under the bus and for what? Because they are living their lives, minding their own business and under the laws of their country do not use violence on anyone unless attacked first (aka in defense)....hmm let's think about this.

The Plot Thickens

Today's paper had a piece about a priest who has been accused of molesting two young girls and misusing church funds in Minnesota.
The priest came in from India and is currently back in his home country and still serving as a priest while denying any incident. The representative from the church there says that he "doesn't know what else to do" but allow him to continue working since he has "no contact with children".
Really? Are people really this ignorant or are they just plain stupid? He did it once, twice and will even do it again if he has continued access within the church network.
I don't understand how a man that made a fourteen-year-old girl perform oral sex on him is still considered eligible to work within a group that is supposed to only work to better society and encourage people's faith.
Shame on the church, shame on this priest and shame on anyone that stands by this behavior.

April 5th posting

Today there was an article on how much fiction is out the Internet and it reminded of my health care class the other day. In it we discussed the cons of having so much information readily available to people on the Internet leading to many self-diagnosing and often incorrectly.
I feel as though this is a risk we take the more we learn and advance as a society. After all there is something to be said for human connection and the reliability of such a connection.
We don't know half the time who is posting things online and furthermore we don't really know if the source is credible. It is so easy to deceive now and it's really scary to think that people are basing important decisions about things such as their health on some random person's ramblings.

Follow up on extremist war

Today's paper had a follow up on the Chechen Rebel who was suspected to be involved in the latest suicide bombings in Moscow.
The rebel, Doku Umarov, has claimed leadership in the attack and I can only imagine what this now means for Putin.
He was quoted as saying "I promise you the war will come to your streets, and you will feel it in your own lives and on your own skin." He went even further as to declare his frustrations with the Russian people, saying he was sick of them watching clips on TV and listening to stories on the radio and then not doing anything about it.
This only plays further into Putin's blatant refusal to deal with the situation at hand back in 2004 to the present.
However, it is hard to say who should be bearing the blame in this situation as I imagine like any scandal and war there are a lot of people involved.
What happens now? Will Putin finally take action and push for something to be settled or done as far as dealings with the extremists?
Is there any room for other countries to get involved? Then again separatists movements have been causing horrible situations to occur for years now and no one has been able to alter those activities or help...only time will tell I suppose.

My Obit-Ha

A young woman making waves wherever she went, Chelsey Shuman left her mark in a variety of ways from her volunteering efforts to her notion that a good hug was a necessary part of everyone's day.
Nichole Souther, her life long best friend from high school, fondly remembers Chelsey's spirit and passion for life.
"In high school we used to have this joke that we always knew where Chels was because her laugh literally radiated through the halls. It was this loud obnoxious cackle that everyone grew to love."
As a sponsor counselor for eating disorders to fifty-three men and women Chelsey carried that spirit into her work hoping to give everyone she came into contact with a silver lining regardless of where they were coming from.
In her leather bound series of journals found she writes, "You know that feeling when you win a prize? That's exactly how I feel every time I can make someone smile. The best prize in the world!"
Andrea Waldman, cousin and closest friend, tightly grips a picture of the two of them bikini clad and laughing on the beach and fights back alligator sized tears.
"She was that girl that was there for everyone and anyone. Sometimes I think that allowed people to take advantage of her but she never seemed to care."
"'You can only control your own actions, the rest is up to fate'. That's what she used to tell me when I was down" says her younger sister Anna McCloskey, "A huge heart and an even bigger smile".
Chelsey graduated from the University of New Hampshire with her bachelors in English/Journalism and went on to get her Masters in English Teaching from Emerson.
Her passion for writing was evident from the beginning as soon as she could read and write according to her grandmother Rubylee Shuman.
"I remember I found her one day in her room surrounded by a sea of paper and not an inch was uncovered. When I asked her what she was doing she looked up and smiled saying she was writing the most beautiful story for me."
The passion for teaching came later but proved to be a turning point in her life, allowing her to bring the same joys she found in literature to students and only further spread her love of life.
"My daughter had so many gifts and all she ever wanted to do was share them. An amazing writer, teacher and person she will forever be missed and remembered" says her mother Karen McCloskey.

Suicide for Country

Today I was stopped short by the article on the rising suicide rate in India, some may even call it an epidemic.
People are taking their own life , over 200 so far, as protest in hopes of creating India's 29th state, Telangana, which is currently part of Andhra Pradesh (a very large state in the southern point of India).
It got me thinking about the suicide missions of the Islamic extremists and I guess you could call it an ethical debate on whether this form of suicide could be deemed acceptable by others.
My one huge difference that came to mind was the fact that the extremists take others lives along with their own and that is what makes it disgraceful in my book.
Outside of that, suicide really rattles me and while I understand they are doing it for a cause is this really the only way to be heard? The article said over 200 people have done this so far, and yet there is no response or change from the government so I have to think these people are dying for nothing.
What are the politics like in this region of India? Why has this fight been going on for decades? I think I'll have to revisit this after I do some research. I'll get back to you.

Service Recruitment

Today's business section had an article about the U.S. service recruitment with the Army having "about 8,298 recruiters, the Navy, 5,034, the Marine Corps about 3,000 and the Air Force, 1,308."
The numbers really surprised me as I had no idea the U.S. had such focus on recruitment but I guess those numbers went up due to the current wars going on so that makes sense. The article goes on to talk about how the recruiters get around the country and their methods used and it got me thinking about how many people simply brush of these men and women, not because of a lack of caring but simply because no one is truly educated about what goes in the service.
For example few people know about all the options there are once you enlist concerning specializations and doing something you really love. Most people, in fact, think you enlist, go to boot camp and then are shipped off to fight when in reality you can actually have a lot of control over what you do so you can both serve your country and better yourself and your own goals.
Our book says "The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing" (12). So while this article's purpose may not have been to focus on all aspects of recruitment I think readers could have definitely benefited from further exploration unless the government thinks it should all be glorified and not realized? In which case I say it's our mission as readers, aspiring journalists and journalists alike to dive right in.

Subway Suicide Mission

Today's paper had a piece on the horrible suicide missions of two female bombers in Moscow. They did so in two different subway stations killing 35 people as a part of their Islamic extremist movement.

I've never understood this movement and that may be due to the fact that I've only heard the Western and Israeli perspectives on all of this but still it is very hard to keep an open mind about a group that chooses to go to various countries and blow innocent people up because their "God told them so".

This whole idea of sacrifice feels so archaic and unrealistic because I cannot imagine any God having their followers hurt themselves and others in order to achieve salvation. It just doesn't add up.

I would LOVE to see the texts the extremist groups are basing their actions off of because to date I cannot think of one instance where they present evidence for their preaching tactics and beliefs.

Another question I have is why Moscow? This is the same area that was already hit by extremists- why round two? Is it still the separatist war or is there more to the story?

Feel free to fill me in, I'm all ears.

In our book The Elements of Journalism the authors looked at a story by Loretta Tofani where her work resulted in the exposure and the legal action that put the wrong do-ers behind bars because of multiple rapes they committed in a prison where officials were simply looking the other way. "Public disclosure of the information forced the government to change the system.."(154).

This came to mind as I read this breaking story about Moscow because with the coverage of this story people are looking at not only this attack but the attacks last year and in 2004 which all lead back to Vladimir Putin's actions regarding terrorism and his attempts to quietly and privately handle the problem. There are documents and people speaking up about Putin's mandates which controlled who could be in power and just how much power these individuals could have in an attempt to block any possible rebel groups with connections to the Islamic regime.

Journalists covering this angle of the story are bringing to light, therefore, the possible corruption and manipulative ways of the Russian government which could be at the core of this war in the first place. Therefore, if Putin had perhaps thoroughly acknowledged this terrorist group and done more people would not have died today, last year or even back in 2004 when he was re-elected for a second term as President. Now serving as Prime Minister he has a lot of questions to answer and hopefully he will begin to pay head to the public outcries and even fellow officials warnings.

Let's Cover Our Asses No Matter What it Costs Others

Front page today- covering the abuse cases concerning the some 200 deaf children- my heart is racing I have so much to say about this.
Because I could go on and on I am going to focus on two points today: the church's concern with their appearance and the sick bastard who considers himself a holy man while violating innocent deaf children.
1)Appearances...are you kidding me ? The church (I know this is usually capitalized but I don't think I will ever do so again because they don't deserve any recognition for their part in covering up centuries of sexual abuse) was more concerned in this situation with how it would all look to the public and how it would effect the reputation of the church itself rather than the victims. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't these guys supposed to uphold the highest moral and spiritual conscience, "God's workers"?
They seem to be doing just the opposite. Honestly who cares how it makes you look- what would make you come out looking good from this situation is defrocking the twisted individuals who got off touching little boys. That would be taking responsibility, that would be proving your legitimacy in your positions, that would be the right and morally sound thing to do. By covering up acts, by allowing individuals to stay within the church is despicable and only adds disgrace to an already despicable and unforgivable act (or should I say acts?).
2)I'm going to look at one quote in particular that made me want to strangle this man more so than I already did. The lowlife "Reverend" Lawrence C. Murphy begged for there to be no trial and nothing done about his acts saying "I simply want to live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood." Are you f***ing kidding me?!
The "dignity" that you speak of went out the window when you pulled down your pants and the pants of 200 (that we know of) young boys and then continued to take no responsibility. I hope you know you will be burning in hell you sick demented little man.

Should the Biddeford City Airport Close for 3 million or Stay Open for $60,000 Annualy?

To close or not to close, the Biddeford City Airport stands at the center of a heated debate between taxpayers, the Airport Authority and the airport staff.
For the taxpayers the airport stands as a burden both financially and property wise while the airport staff stands by their facility saying it brings in around $56,000 per year from gas, taxes and various land leases.
With 47 planes, the airport is small and only worth 1.6 million dollars yet costs around $60,000 to keep it running annually. According to the Airport Authority and the FAA ( http://faa.gov) it will cost a whopping 3 million to close, almost double the airport's total worth.
"While it is a small airport there is a lot of fuel and things of that nature that we have to transport and dispose of which ups the cost considerably" says a spokesperson for the Airport Authority.
The FAA is concerned about the proximity of the airport to the surrounding homes and businesses after hearing an account of a plane grazing trees close to a home and has been cutting down trees to make more room on the runway.
"Safety is our number one priority, not profit. While we understand people may feel more exposed now there have been incidences of children playing on the runway and just an overall breach of security. It's the right thing to do for everyone involved."
The National Association for Small Airports (NASA) agrees, saying that this airport while small is still bringing in a considerable amount of profit for the community and is at a convenient location for many corporations.
" It's a great thing to have for the community like Pease International Airport http://www.peasedev.org/pease/airport.asp . We are willing to listen to all sides in this situation so we can find a solution that works for everyone."
Phyllis Landry is a private pilot who keeps her plane at the Biddeford airport and stands firmly behind the facility and the FAA, saying that it is worth a lot more than people are making it out to be.
"The FAA is just doing its job. People need to understand that.Maybe it's expensive to run the airport. But it's a great resource. I know business people who fly in here all the time."
For the taxpayers, like Roland Pelletier who lives next to the airport, having to pay taxes on a property that is not used by the general public, however, in "times [that] are tough" is unreasonable.
"We can't afford to support operations that don't support themselves. These are tough times, and that's the time we need to be tough."
Paul Archambault is the chairman of an group called Shut Our Little Airport (SOLA) and has lived at the end of the runway for almost a quarter of a century. Of his group he says they are fighting for the taxpayers rights and out to make the community a better place.
"Look, we're not some bomb-throwing radicals; we're just concerned taxpayers looking out for the best interests of this great city and its wonderful citizens."

California Prisons

WHAT?! They are letting prisoners go because they don't have the money to build new prisons and it is based on how much of a risk they are to others? No thanks.
Listen California, I know you guys are in major debt right now but I really don't think your prisons are where you want to cut back. These guys are in there for a reason and now they aren't serving their full terms and not because of good behavior but simply out of luck that you couldn't manage your spending habits?
Not cool. Not cool at all Schwarzenegger.
I get that prisons having a budget of $8 billion is excessive, especially since that puts them ahead of higher education, but for having that much money they don't seem to be doing much. Is it really not enough? The overcrowding seems out of control and something needs to be done but what? Whatever they do, I don't think this current solution of letting people go is it!

Could New Developments with Brain Research Lead to Improvements in Other Areas?

The business section today was really great because in addition to the articles being really interesting I found myself excited over an area of research I have never given much thought to: the brain.
Now don't misconstrue what I'm saying, of course I have thought about the brain, how it works, how it develops, heck I've even studied it in those dreaded general ed courses we all have to take. However, I have never actually thought about where further research of the brain could lead us as a society.
To give you a frame of reference- the following page after the brain article I found an interview with a man who had injured his spinal cord in a diving accident and as a result is severely handicapped. Thinking back to the brain article I began to wonder as they continue to understand the nerve pathways within our brain and find the various ways the brain communicates with the rest of our bodies maybe we could find a way in which we could manipulate those nerve pathways in instances of severe injuries such as the man in the article.
If we could do that then there could be a new addition to the recovery process and physical therapy. I guess you could say this idea goes hand in hand with a person's mood and energy greatly affecting the recovery process as well.
All in all VERY cool how far we are coming and for a geeky English major even cooler that it got me excited.

Health Care Bill Got the Vote

For consumers it seems that the health care bill only will help a few select groups such as the poor, students and small businesses. While this seems disappointing in many regards what is even more unsettling to me is the Republican protest of the Democrats and Obama himself. There is such a protest with such cruel dialect going on and it makes me wonder if these are truly educated men leading this country or ignorant, power hungry, greedy balding middle-aged 'schlamuzels'.

March 18th paper post

Today's business section had an article on Amazon and all the new online restriction regarding sales that are coming into play.
It seems as though the days of free movies , music and books are over and we are stuck having to pay out of pocket at ridiculous rates for things that we really should be getting for free.
Why the sudden increase? Are the company execs really under that much pressure now? There was no explanation in the article and I was really disappointed with this...maybe someone can fill me in?

March 17th paper post

Today my focus landed on the article concerning Pennsylvania's decision to double the cost of state administered health insurance which is intended to serve the poor community members who do not qualify for medicare.
I understand that everything is going up in cost but I'm sorry, if they cannot afford regular health insurance every month then these people will not be able to support their families and themselves with this increase.
This perhaps is my least favorite part of society and the progress of society, for the more progress we make the more costs go up in every area and the less is available to the average citizen. It is truly a horrible cycle.

March 16th paper Post

There was an article talking about Obama's popularity in Israel in today's paper and I was wondering if the journalist has ever chosen to educate themselves on the situation there? And by education I mean actually traveling to the Middle East and talking to everyone there...yea I get the feeling the answer would be a no.
Honestly, it is so ridiculous this fight, good people (the Israelis) just want to live and cultivate and prosper on the land that they have built up, they have formed into a highly functioning society, no one else. Yet the world pays attention to misled and misinformed media which seems to side with the Arab terrorist groups who have no mission besides reigning terror and killing all Jews (both of which they proudly declare day in, day out).
Back to the article- the journalist writes of Obama's lack of support in Israel- my response : well duhhhh.. common, the man is clearly not siding with Israel in the slightest, and wants to give up some of their land!

March 15th posting

The sex scandal within the hierarchy of the Church has left people breathless from the start and not in a good way. Today's paper covered the recent news in Germany about the developments within the scandal and I wonder what this means for the Pope. No one seems to be clear, it is obvious that his position trumps all "inappropriate" instances and I think back to all the articles I have focused on thus far and it is clear that the hierarchy which people are so heavily criticizing, and rightly so, exists in our every day lives as well.
So taking this scandal from a different angle for a moment, in theory how can we break down an abusive and hierarchical environment that has existed for centuries when we live in one every day and do nothing about it
Food for thought?

Is it Absolutely Necessary?

On the front page today there was an article about the various technologies that are in police cruisers and other emergency vehicles.
They say it makes their job easier, but why must they access a dashboard full of technology while driving? I understand that have a computer on hand among other things allows for files to be brought up, driving records and criminal records alike.
However, there have been numerous crashes and not to mention it seems slightly hypocritical. How? Let's just think about how much police rely on the right to pull people over for driving while doing other things, whether that be reading, putting on makeup or talking on a cell phone. Granted- that kind of driving is ridiculous and a danger but if we can't do it why can they?
Is it really benefiting a high speed chase when they are going in and out of lanes? And how often is the average cop on a high speed chase?
Another piece that bothered me on the article was there was very little information on what specifically these computers and other things are being used for..just another abuse of power and position I suppose.

Don't Stop Israel's Plans

I lived in Israel last year and while there the latest war broke out and I saw first hand what was really going on, not what the media portrayed.
Israel is a country the size of New Jersey and yet is possibly one of the most fought over pieces of land in the world.
What blows me away is this: Israeli citizens built everything in that country, from schools to stores to park benches. They even planted the trees. So why in the hell is it Palestinians property? In all honesty, the culture on their side of the Gaza strip is beyond negative as they are run by terrorist groups such as the Hezbollah. They have no interest in peace, in prosperity..only violence. And I have watched this go down, I have worked in the relief shelters and I have seen their true nature and I am disgusted that anyone could even consider giving them power over a country that was built and remains a country of people wanting to live, prosper and love.
In today's paper the front page showed Vice President Biden with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they met to discuss both Israel's security and their plans to build more housing in East Jerusalem. Biden said that while America will protect Israel it will not support their plans to build.
With all do respect Mr. Vice President: that is their land to do with it as they please and if they want to build housing for law abiding citizens who do not support any terrorist group or cling to their seemingly mystifying power I say go for it.

This is the Only Country That Treats Aging Itself Like a Disease

On the first page of the business section today there was an article on long-term care facilities and a couple things got me thinking:
First, the journalist, Alex Berenson writes that "the federal program spends almost $5 billion annually on the hospitals, providing about 60 percent of their total revenue". This was no shock, because in the history of hospitals federal funding has always been a huge asset to the institutions. However, that amount of money suggests that we as a nation see the care for ailing individuals or elderly as our duty and this is simply not the case.
We are perhaps the only country that treats our elderly as well..elderly. No matter where I travel, older generations are not only treated with a great amount of respect, they are revered as wise and valuable members of the community.
This is even reflected in how the elderly or ailing individuals are treated within these facilities. Many people would just assume to let people die out , despite recent scientific evidence that shows such individuals still have a ton of brain function.
My parents and I are already joking of the plantation I will have to buy in order to house all four of them in their own cottages. In my family at least, care, no matter the condition is expected and to not do so to the best of my ability would be shameful.

Is Going Modern Really the Best Route?

Today's paper had an article about Africa, specifically looking at Kenya where some major advancements have been made in terms of resources being available and resources being used.
There is always criticism of work that is done overseas, there is always something that could be better. I hate to be considered as a writer who is beating a dead horse but I wonder if these advancements are truly advancements or they are taking away from a culture.
I don't mean to address the additional medical supplies, that of course is brilliant in my mind to have something like that. I truly believe so, as diseases in Africa tend to be violent and fast moving, taking more lives every day.
However, in the article there was talk about an increase in cell phone use in Kenya and various technologies like that get me nervous. For one thing I see what it has done to my life, I can't seem to do any work without either the TV on or Facebook open.
This may sound crazy but I think that there could be a very good reason why people lived for centuries without any technology outside of the fact they had no knowledge or perhaps the right tools: they just wanted to be, to live and no be affected by the outside world and there is definitely something to be said for that notion.

Excuse Me Doctor, My Robot Parts Are Breaking Down

"When New Hips Go Bad"- front page of the business section ..WHOA
First off this is just another excuse for me to get on top of my soap box and talk about how overpaid and over trusted doctors and nurses are. They are supposed to be the experts, the people that as they cut into our bodies or pump things into our system via IVs know exactly what they are doing.
Yet here we are with a story that seems to be highlighting a frequented occurrence: implants gone array. A man who went in for surgery to help with his hip problems came out with a "metal on metal" implant that is shedding debris in his body.
I don't know about you but I know countless people that have some type of metal in them from surgeries much like this one and in addition to being held up in security check points after setting off the high pitched metal detectors they have all had complications due to the metal or screws being in their bodies.
Is there an alternative? Is there research being done to find one? I hope so because it seems to be a ridiculous problem to have considering we are in an age of great medical and technological advancement.
Are we robots or humans?

Chug-a-Lug : The Scoop on College Drinking

The Exchange, a program run on NHPR News recently ran a story on college students and under aged drinking where two New Hampshire administrators gave two sides to what many call a growing issue in the collegiate world.
Anne Lawing, the Dean of Students at the University of New Hampshire Durham campus, says that alcohol is a huge problem on college campuses and is nothing new. "Students have been drinking as long we've had students."
The national numbers are staggering on this issue. As of 2009 1,700 student deaths occur every year due to alcohol related reasons. In addition there are over 600,000 college students that are hurt in some way every year in alcohol related assaults.
These numbers reflect the additional problems, according to Lawing, such as missing classes or dropping out of school all together. "In the past 20-25 years efforts have really stepped up as we've become more and more aware of issues such as kids missing classes, assaults (both physical and sexual) and dropping out."
Sheila Lambart, the Coordinator of Wellness at Southern New Hampshire University, looks at surveys coming out and thinks people are dwelling on a problem that is not really there, "The majority of students in NH in a 2009 survey taken reported drinking four or fewer drinks per week."
Lambart's work has been centered around educating college students on the facts of drinking and the risks that are out there. Rather than involving campuses in operations such as sting operations suggested by the police, Lambart has faith in the committees which are coming together to deal with any issues within the individual communities. "New Hampshire committees work in collaboration with each other to address issues on our campuses and in our state."

India's Corruption

Today's paper led me to one place : "Abuse Case Rouses India's Middle Class to Take On the Powerful"
In the article the story of Ruchick Girotra who was a promising tennis player of 14 and was molested by a senior police official who also held the position of president of the state lawn tennis club. She threatened to press charges but was harassed so much that she committed suicide and her family is still scrutinized.
This story of people taking advantage of their power happens every day in every country around the world and it so revolting that higher ups protect other higher ups because it seems once you reach a certain level you can do no wrong.
I don't understand how people can take advantage of innocent children, children that don't know if someone will believe them if they talk, that don't know if the threats of death from their abuser are real if they talk. It truly breaks my heart to read something like this.
I'm so glad attention is being brought to such corruption and I hope it starts a series of events that will put these despicable human beings behind bars for life.

A Sad Day for NY Residents

My attention today was immediately directed to the right column on the first page : "Patterson is Said to Direct Aides in Abuse Case"...
Should I be surprised that yet another politician is corrupt? Probably not. Should I be surprised that money and power can get you out of a horrible crime? Again, probably not. However, I am continuously surprised by the lack of conscience present in cases like these and the lengths people will go to in order to cover their tracks.
Governor David A. Paterson is caught in the act of pressuring the two women who brought up assault charges on the governor's aid. Excuse me? Are we still operating on the 1950's complex where the man is always right?
All I could think about while reading this was Governor Deval Patrick, being from Massachusetts. He has so much to do with so much Mass residents daily lives, behind the scenes in so many policies and bills and we all put our trust in him to do this job to the best of his ability. These people that we trust to make our lives better could so easily make them worse, as Paterson has so "generously" shown us. Sickening.

One More Way for Pro-Lifer's to Gain Control

Today's paper was filled with interesting and often even jaw dropping stories. The article "Under Utah Legislation, Seeking Illegal Abortion Would Become a Crime", however, was of most interest for me.
It discusses Utah legislation, specifically Bill 12, in which if passed Utah would have the power to criminalize any attempt of an illegal abortion. This is stemming from a case in Utah where a 17-year-old girl payed a man $150 to beat her in order to abort her 7-month-old fetus. While the baby survived, the man went to jail and the girl inspired legal action.

Let's start with the issue of abortion...I think that many women are in situations, such as they are either way too young or in an abusive relationship , and having a baby would not do themselves or their growing fetus any good, in fact it would only do more harm.
I can't say what I would do personally if I was with child but I do know that I believe such an option is a woman's right as it is their body and their life.

The issue with illegal abortion in my mind is an extremely sticky issue. My reason being that of course no one supports someone purposely harming themselves and their fetus rather than going about it legally with a certified doctor. However, this give people a huge loop hole as to what people can say qualifies as intent on the mother's part.

For example the NY Times brings up a story of a woman who fell down the stairs while pregnant and in passing to an EMT she said she didn't know if she really wanted the baby anymore, more out of fear than anything else. And while she didn't miscarry right after the incident she was taken to jail where she spent two days before being released and having charges dropped.

Women, if convicted, will get a lifetime sentence, which in instances like those above is ridiculous. If someone has an assumption about the woman, then a case is brought up, and in most instances a great amount of evidence won't be needed, in fact it could all be based on speculation.

I see both sides to this bill, but I see it doing more harm than good in the long run..I hope it doesn't pass.

Moldy Tomato? No Thanks.

Today's business section was a cover to cover read for me. In particular I would have to say would be the story titled "Hidden Ingredient: The Sweetener",

We all have some knowledge that there are bribes going on in the business world, it is all about who you know after all. But I had no idea that the people handling our food every day are actually not paying attention to what goes on the shelves if looking the other way means an extra thick lining for their pockets.

How do these people sleep at night? Knowing that people could be seriously harmed from the moldy and sometimes chemical-filled goods and not stopping production or packaging methods- it's disgusting.

I don't know who is more guilty- corporate buyers or the food corporations executives?

Man Saved by 17-year-old Refugee

At 6 a.m. this morning James Laboke, 17, found 80-year-old Francois Truffaut unconscious in his car on top of the Amtrak train tracks in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

The Amtrak train has a Downeaster route which goes from Portland, Maine to Boston. During the summer there is an Old Orchard Beach stop added. The stop times begin at 6:10 a.m.

Laboke, a Sudanes refugee who has lived in Old Orchard for the past three years, knew of the train schedule and ran 100 yards to the police station to report the incident. He then went to work at Eezy Breezy restaurant where his boss, Charles Champaigne, upon learning of the incident said “It doesn’t surprise me at all. That young man is one of my most responsible employees. He’s just a great kid.”

Captain Janet Paradiso of the local police department was first to arrive on the scene and made the split second decision to take her cruiser full speed into Truffaut’s vehicle, getting him safely across with thirty seconds before the train came through.

The conductor, Shirley Temple, was at a loss of what to do upon seeing Truffaut on the tracks. “It takes a good mile for the breaks to bring this train to a full stop. Plus if I were to hit the brakes hard I could have endangered the passengers on board.I'm just glad it all worked out.”

Truffaut was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center where he remains in stable condition. According to the police report he is a diabetic and may have received his insulin shot before the incident which could have resulted in him becoming unconscious.

Man Found Unconscious on Train Tracks

Francois Truffaut, an 80-year-old Canadian tourist, was found unconscious behind the wheel of his car that was stalled on the train tracks in Old Orchard Beach, Maine at 6 a.m.
An Amtrak train runs through Old Orchard Beach every morning at 6:10 a.m at an average speed of 40 miles per hour.
James Laboke, 17, found Truffaut and ran 100 yards to the police station to inform them of the incident.
Captain Janet Paradiso of the town police force was almost a mile away from the scene when she heard the news come over her police radio. Arriving with five minutes until the Amtrak was scheduled to come through town Captain Paradiso drove her police cruiser full speed into Truffaut's car, pushing it safely off the tracks. "I knew there was no time. I had to do something." Records show that thirty seconds after the car was off the tracks, the train came through town.
Francois Truffaut was taken to the Southern Maine Medical Center where he remains in stable condition. He revealed that he was a diabetic and does not remember anything leading up to or the incident itself.
According to the police, Truffaut could have had an insulin shot before reaching the train tracks which may have caused him to become unconscious.

Bad Teachers Finally Have Consequences for Their Actions

On the front page today there was an article about the Bloomberg administration's effort to get rid of the teachers who have proven themselves to be incompetent.
This article caught my eye because I've never heard of such a thing. Growing up and still now as I am in my final years of college, the teachers and professors have always seemed highly protected and it would take nothing short of an army to get them fired.
Last semester I had a horrible professor, he had no intention of teaching his subject, but rather teaching his way and if you did things differently or looked at something differently he decided to fail you.
I would say there are many teachers out there that shouldn't be, that have lost sight of what education should truly be about-sharing information and enlightening students, enabling them to go out into the world educated in many areas. They are more concerned with their tenure then the minds they are shaping.
So I support this move in NY and I think others should take notice. After all any type of change in this world has to start with education and if we have incompetent people at the core of our schools then we will go nowhere.

Banks Losing Power

Today's business section had an interesting article on the new laws concerning overdraft fees and the extent of the banks power in such situations.
The article states that last year alone the banks made a profit of almost $40 billion dollars from overdraft fees. More than half of which was from debit card purchases and A.T.M withdrawals. Because debit cards have become the majority's main method of payment this source of profit is huge for the banks.
However, new laws are limiting such power and profit and now banks must have their customers choose the overdraft option in order to keep the fee income high. Banks have since taken it upon themselves to send threatening letters to customers, making it appear that they will lose major privileges if they don't choose the overdraft payment option.
Honestly I think it is time the banks face the facts: they need to adapt with the times. They should be partnering up with their customers not taking away from their lives even more. These aggressive emails and letters only expose the disgusting, animal-like money and power hungry executive pigs for what they are.

Finally Someone With Power Using it For Good

On the front page today the article "Obama To Seek Federal Power Over Insurers" was about one of the best things to read and made my day. Obama wants to propose giving the federal government the power to stop insurance companies from increasing the rates.
Could this be an indication of the reforms to come concerning health care? Will the current main players have to step aside? Imagine health care that works for the people and not against them...

Feb. 18th paper: Do You Even Need to Leave Your Car?

Technology is such a fast developing industry I can barely keep up. After reading "Television That Streams, Even if Traffic Doesn't" I began to wonder if futuristic views such as the Jetsons are not that far off.
Qualcomm, the same company that is trying to push cell phones as the next tool for students, has a subscription service called Flo TV which they are trying to get into cars so families can watch broadcast TV anywhere and anytime.
I personally think this is ridiculous..we are in the car to drive, maybe listen to music and talk...not lay back and watch our favorite shows. While I am impressed with the advancements in the technology industry, I think a lot of the advancements are so unnecessary and take away from people communicating one on one rather than through text or email.

Feb. 17th paper: The Environment Discussion- Overdone or in a Serious Need to be Revisited?

The article titled "Overpopulation and Climate Change" I have to be honest was not my first pick or even my second. My reason being mainly that the discussion I feel like has been run into the ground and there are so few changes that have been made to counteract the many threats and dangers presented to the general public by environmentalists.
The article states that in 1970 the world population was almost 3.7 billion people and today it has grown to almost 6.9 billion and still growing. Obviously if are planet is in serious trouble, adding more people to pollute the air and use more resources is the last thing the world needs. But I was frustrated with this article because it doesn't offer any solution so maybe it was just written to bring attention to such an issue. However, if that is the case, as a reader that leaves me feeling more stranded than anything and as one person out of those 6.9 billion as if I cannot do much.
The writer talks of education as the key, pushing environment-friendly programs but gives no specifics...I guess I need more information to jump on this bandwagon.

Tuesday Feb. 16th Paper: Cell Phones Are the New Teacher?

The article that caught my eye the most today was on the idea being pushed in which cell phones will be the new teacher in class rooms.
Research was done by a company called Qualcomm ,who makes cell phone chips, to draw a connection between kids learning more with subjects like math and cell phones.
Many people are angry, saying this takes away from the basics of education which have been around since the beginning. However, I see this idea as a long time coming, a natural progression in a way. Think about it: we already use computers in schools and they have proven to be very beneficial in many areas such as research and creating widely used formats for papers.
Like the article says, kids are on their cell phones almost 24/7 and thus combining their like of the tool they will be using and valuable information, learning could even come off as fun..imagine that.
Something to think about.

How Do We Know?

Today I was reading the story in the times entitled "Secret Joint Rade Captures Taliban's Top Commander" and I thought to myself how do we know any of this is true?

The story looks at the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, allegedly the one of the top Taliban leaders. I say allegedly because this war that has been going on for eight years with very little or no evidence of what the Bush administration claimed and it seems convenient when someone is captured. I feel as though every time something like this is reported the person is a "top official" or "very dangerous" but who really knows if these people are the reason why our troops are over there.

Supposedly his capture could be the missing piece of the puzzle and give American forces enough to tackle the Taliban but what if this guy is nothing, what if he is actually low level in the Taliban, a distraction. Or what if the government made everything up to cover their tracks..things to think about.

The Taliban is no doubt a dangerous group because of their incessant need to kill or kill themselves, to spread hate and harm anyone who stands in their way. So for everyone's sake I truly hope this guy is all that American forces are saying he is and that an end is possibly in sight.

A.I.G. -is Their Greed Exceeding Their Business Savy?

The article in the Times today entitled "A.I.G. Will Use a Grading System for Bonuses" struck me first for the fact that "A.I.G" and "bonuses" were in the same line.
Just so I'm clear - is this not the same company who asked the Federal Reserve for a $40 billion loan? Yes, this request was not met...for that amount. Instead they got a $85 million loan...no chump change in my book.
So excuse me if I think that they are in no shape to be giving out bonuses of any kind or receive any credit for "changing their system" and how they give out bonuses. They have over 100,000 employees around the globe- those bonuses start to add up no matter the size.
In exchange for the loan they received the government took over 80% of the stock which means we the American people are more closely connected to the BMW's,Mercedes and mcmansions of some A.I.G executives and employees than we may have thought.
So yes the bonuses are now given out depending on how hard it thought the individual is working but they are still being given out when the company is in DEBT. That hurdle should be tackled before anything else

Near Fatal Car Accident: One Teen Airlifted, Another in Stable Condition

Late Monday evening a young teen aged driver flipped his car on Mile Hill Road in Belmont, Massachusetts.
The road, all dirt as well as no street lights, is known to be treacherous if a driver is not paying attention or is going at excessive speeds. Jamie Peterson, 17, had a lead foot at nine o'clock Monday evening according to a resident of Mile Hill Road who witnessed the crash. "I've never seen a car going so fast on this road. It's a dirt road, and it's really easy to lose control."
Another driver on the road, Tom Carroll Jr. also 17, told police that one minute he was driving behind Peterson's car and the next they were flipped on their roof. This happened after Peterson increased his speed around a sharp corner, sending himself and his two female passengers into an embankment before ultimately flipping the car. Carroll also revealed to police that upon looking beneath the vehicle he saw at least three empty beer cans but this remains speculation at this point.
The rescue operation took a total of forty-five minutes to get the two passengers out of the vehicle who were trapped inside. The driver, Jamie Peterson, managed to get out of the totaled Mustang on his own. The passengers were then taken to Memorial hospital in Belmont where one remains in stable condition. The other had to be airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in the city of Boston for further treatment. Her condition as well as her identity is still unknown.
Interestingly enough on December 24,1998 there was a horrible and fatal accident in the exact same spot where two individuals were killed. The combination of no lights, pavement and sharp corners provide treacherous conditions for any driver, never mind one that may or may not have been under the influence.

A Side of Radiation With that CT Scan?

How could all of this be happening in a nation that claims to be the cream of the crop, the place to be for cutting edge anything and the land of opportunity?
From a lack of proper care in hospitals to the point where people are dying to some of our CT machines "deliver[ing] the radiation equivalent of 400 chest X-rays" we seem to have a missing link.
These stories particularly caught my eye because of the ongoing health care debate and the governments continued insistence that we not only have the best facilities but they are available to all. If that was the case, why are people dying in hospitals due to negligence on the part of doctors and nurses? Why are machines which are intended to detect abnormalities and save lives actually harming patients more than anything else? And why are we the tax payers paying for it?!

Is Uncle Sam Going About Things the Right Way?

Today's paper seemed to fill the void I felt from yesterday's... the story which the New York Times has been following consistently, the Americans accused of kidnapping Haitian children, really stuck with me.
In it, the journalist Ian Urbina writes that the U.S. "was airlifting 15 injured children aboard private flights to the United States each day" but now because of the Americans who were captured it is very difficult to evacuate any children, and he writes that only three children are airlifted per day.
I have been on the edge about this story ever since it broke, because while I understand that these ten Americans had the intention of helping children out of a horrible tragedy, at the same time they went in not knowing if these children were actually orphans and could have caused additional feelings of misplacement for them. In addition, it is so classic for outsiders to come into a situation that they have no personal connection with and think they can fix everything, solve everything. It is my understanding from news reports both in publications and on the news itself that the Americans are from a church group and have no understanding of the culture in Haiti, the lives that these children were leading beforehand and thus it is hard for me to believe that they could have done more good than harm if they were not caught.
I think the culture barrier here makes this tragedy really difficult to effectively communicate and that in many cases the people of Haiti should be asked what they need rather than just throwing supplies at them or taking children off the street. In other words, more background work needs to be done so everyone gets the most out of the relief efforts and situations like with this American group do not keep happening.
The more mistakes made, the more relief efforts are hindered such as with the airlifting of the children who are in serious need of medical attention which the hospitals in Haiti are incapable of giving due to shortage of supplies and space.
If Americans are going in to help, let's do this right, respect the culture and traditions in place and listen to what is truly needed by each individual.