Another informative story from CNN features Ricky Blackman, a now 20 year old ex-registered sex offender. When Ricky was 16, he engaged in a sexual encounter with a girl he met at a teen club in Iowa. He was under the impression she was 15. When the girl ran away from home, the police traced her to Blackman. He admitted to having a sexual relationship with her and was informed that she was only 13. He was arrested and had to register as a sex offender or the registry. After undergoing court ordered treatment, he was released from the list in Iowa, but was placed on it when he moved to Oklahoma. Blackman described the treatment he has received after being labeled a sex offender and the way it affected his family as well.
This story has many levels and it seems that each brings a different emotion. I can understand the shame he must have felt after being arrested for something that he didn't even know he had done wrong. I have seen girls who look like they are much older to find out later that they were only twelve or thirteen. Based on looks, it would be hard to guess how old someone is. When he moved to Oklahoma and was harassed by people who didn't know him or his situation, it was an unfortunate side affect of his previous actions. If you look on the sex offender website, you can see who lives in your area, and it wasn't meant to protect the offenders, but it is terrible that he wasn't even allowed to graduate from high school because he was a supposed "threat" to the other students.
At the end of the article, I was empathetic to his situation and I feel as though he had made a mistake that truly changed the person he could have been to the person he is now. It is strange how one mistake can suddenly put you in the same league as child molesters and pedophiles. The harassment he has endured is not justified by the fact that he was on a list.
It is disappointing that someone can be judged so unfairly after already having to go through so much. If he could change his actions I believe he would without a doubt, but this is another example of hindsight being 20/20.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Olympic Cheese Remedy
CNN provides a variety of news stories, and they did not disappoint with the latest Olympic news: Skier spreads cheese on leg to heal injury. Lindsay Vonn, an Olympic hopeful from the United States, injured her shin while training in Austria. As others before her have done, Lindsay has chosen an unorthodox method to help maximize her healing. She is spreading her shin with cheese. Not just any old cheese, it is a special Austrian cheese called topfen, that is hopefully going to reduce inflammation. Other Olympic hopefuls have tried other methods to ease injuries including castor oil and lard in plastic wrap.
I was impressed with their tactics, it takes someone really creative to think of cheese as an anti-inflammatory agent. Old wives tales have been around probably as long as regular wives have, so there is probably a laundry list of remedies she could try to relieve pressure and swelling. One of the main points the article makes is that it may be the placebo effect that can help Lindsay heal faster, by using her positive thoughts to basically override the brain into thinking the injury is healed when in fact it is not. If it works, we could have another few medals for the Americans this Olympic season.
A great thing I think this story contributes is the possible popularity of the topfen after it's use as a possible healing agent has been publicised. According to Norbert Wabnig, a native Austrian and founder of The Cheese Store, of Beverly Hills, the cheese is not popular with customers. If people want to try this cheese and it helps bring some business to his store, or to Austrians in general then that is pretty cool.
All in all it was a pretty cheesy article, but I think that was the aim and they definitely found their mark.
I was impressed with their tactics, it takes someone really creative to think of cheese as an anti-inflammatory agent. Old wives tales have been around probably as long as regular wives have, so there is probably a laundry list of remedies she could try to relieve pressure and swelling. One of the main points the article makes is that it may be the placebo effect that can help Lindsay heal faster, by using her positive thoughts to basically override the brain into thinking the injury is healed when in fact it is not. If it works, we could have another few medals for the Americans this Olympic season.
A great thing I think this story contributes is the possible popularity of the topfen after it's use as a possible healing agent has been publicised. According to Norbert Wabnig, a native Austrian and founder of The Cheese Store, of Beverly Hills, the cheese is not popular with customers. If people want to try this cheese and it helps bring some business to his store, or to Austrians in general then that is pretty cool.
All in all it was a pretty cheesy article, but I think that was the aim and they definitely found their mark.
US Army vs. Single Mother
In a story brought to us by CNN, the US Army has discharged a single mother for failing to deploy to Afghanistan with her unit. The soldier, Alexis Hutchinson had a ten month old at the time of the incident. The reason she gave was because she did not have anyone to stay with her son while she was away. The Government requires all soldiers to sign Form D-A 53-05 which states that they have a family care plan and that they acknowledge they could face disciplinary action if their plan isn't maintained. Rather than being court martialed, Alexis was reduced to the lowest enlisted rank and possible loss of Army benefits.
When I read the first part of this article, I was amazed that the Government would treat one of their own this way. Reading the facts listed, it seemed as though they were discriminating against a woman for not having anyone reliable enough to watch her son while she was away for up to a year. I didn't think this was fair at all.
The end of the article changed my mind about my initial reaction somewhat. a statement issued from the US Army said "The investigation revealed evidence, from both other soldiers and from Private Hutchinson herself, that she didn't intend to deploy to Afghanistan with her unit and deliberately sought ways out of the deployment ." If this is true then I have a lot less respect for Private Hutchinson. It must be very scary facing time in a war zone, but it was her choice to sign up for the Army and she was aware of the fact that she could be deployed when she signed up, so the sympathy can only go so far. I personally am not brave enough to face that kind of danger and I respect the hell out of someone who is.
I can't really say whether or not Private Hutchinson deserves to be punished for her actions, but I do hope she doesn't set an unfair precedent for other soldiers. If she ends up losing her benefits, it will not only hurt her, it will affect her son also. He is the innocent one in this ordeal.
When I read the first part of this article, I was amazed that the Government would treat one of their own this way. Reading the facts listed, it seemed as though they were discriminating against a woman for not having anyone reliable enough to watch her son while she was away for up to a year. I didn't think this was fair at all.
The end of the article changed my mind about my initial reaction somewhat. a statement issued from the US Army said "The investigation revealed evidence, from both other soldiers and from Private Hutchinson herself, that she didn't intend to deploy to Afghanistan with her unit and deliberately sought ways out of the deployment ." If this is true then I have a lot less respect for Private Hutchinson. It must be very scary facing time in a war zone, but it was her choice to sign up for the Army and she was aware of the fact that she could be deployed when she signed up, so the sympathy can only go so far. I personally am not brave enough to face that kind of danger and I respect the hell out of someone who is.
I can't really say whether or not Private Hutchinson deserves to be punished for her actions, but I do hope she doesn't set an unfair precedent for other soldiers. If she ends up losing her benefits, it will not only hurt her, it will affect her son also. He is the innocent one in this ordeal.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Pilot error claims 50 lives
In an article posted today on CNN.com, the cause of the 2009 crash near Buffalo, NY has been released. Pilot error was cited as the cause of the wreck, which claimed 50 souls, including one person on the ground. The article listed several reasons that may have lead to the pilot's inability to handle the aerodynamic stall that lead to the crash. Pilot fatigue, unnecessary conversation between pilots during takeoff and landing, adequate training to handle stalls, and record keeping systems that allowed failed tests to be concealed were the major safety problems listed. The safety board ruled that neither Captain Marvin Renslow or first officer Rebecca Shaw noticed the signs that the plane was stalling, and when they did notice it, Capt Renslow reversed the direction he should have pulled on the plane's control column. It was later found that Capt Renslow had failed three pilot tests, but had only disclosed one and later failed two more once employed with the owner of the aircraft, Colgan Air, Inc. Had the total number of failed tests been disclosed, Capt Renslow wouldn't have been employed to pilot the plane.
I am saddened to hear that so many people lost their loved ones over such an irresponsible mistake. It wasn't a terrorist that caused these people to lose their lives, it was on of our own Americans who was just to full of pride to admit that he needed more training or was possibly too fatigued to pilot the plane. If he had been more prepared, or less chatty and more serious about his job this tragedy could have been avoided and those people would still be here.
Jennifer West, whose husband Ernie perished in the crash, stated that "knowing the cause of the crash is more difficult than not knowing" I agree that knowing it was the pilots error and not a mechanical malfunction would be a very hard thing to comprehend. Losing a loved one would be hard enough without knowing it could actually be tied directly to two people who could have prevented it. If the trained pilots really felt as though they were too fatigued to fly, it was up to them to say they couldn't handle flying that day. John Kausner, whose daughter Elly perished in the crash, said this about the guilt he was feeling "We were trying to buy a ticket that was most affordable, and unfortunately, we bought her demise" That has got to be the hardest burden a parent has ever had to carry.
Flying has been proven to be safer than driving for travel, but reading article's such as this add to the fear of flying in my mind. It is difficult for passengers because we don't know who our pilots are and we have to trust the airlines to make sure proper training is met and only the highest quality of pilots are flying us and our loved ones in the so-called friendly skies.
I am saddened to hear that so many people lost their loved ones over such an irresponsible mistake. It wasn't a terrorist that caused these people to lose their lives, it was on of our own Americans who was just to full of pride to admit that he needed more training or was possibly too fatigued to pilot the plane. If he had been more prepared, or less chatty and more serious about his job this tragedy could have been avoided and those people would still be here.
Jennifer West, whose husband Ernie perished in the crash, stated that "knowing the cause of the crash is more difficult than not knowing" I agree that knowing it was the pilots error and not a mechanical malfunction would be a very hard thing to comprehend. Losing a loved one would be hard enough without knowing it could actually be tied directly to two people who could have prevented it. If the trained pilots really felt as though they were too fatigued to fly, it was up to them to say they couldn't handle flying that day. John Kausner, whose daughter Elly perished in the crash, said this about the guilt he was feeling "We were trying to buy a ticket that was most affordable, and unfortunately, we bought her demise" That has got to be the hardest burden a parent has ever had to carry.
Flying has been proven to be safer than driving for travel, but reading article's such as this add to the fear of flying in my mind. It is difficult for passengers because we don't know who our pilots are and we have to trust the airlines to make sure proper training is met and only the highest quality of pilots are flying us and our loved ones in the so-called friendly skies.
11 year old Mother
The New York Dailey News (nydaileynews.com) has printed a story that will inspire nightmares in parents across the nation. An 11-year-old gives birth to baby girl... after going into labor at her wedding This article tells the story of how a young girl, just days past the 11-year-old mark met a man that would impregnate her within a week of meeting. Apparently the young girl, Kordeza Zhelyazkova, lied to her future husband, Jeliazko, about her real age and represented herself as 15. They are from Bulgaria where the age of consent is 14 years old, so he mistakenly assumed the relationship was legal and is now facing 6 years in prison. Kordeza's family planned a 3 day wedding at which she went into labor and had their daughter after 20 minutes of labor.
I am absolutely floored after reading this article. Not only should Kordeza's family have taught her some version of the birds and the bees, but for them to condone it by throwing a celebration like that is beyond me. I would be ashamed and horrified to find that my daughter, who is my responsibility, allowed herself to be put into that sort of situation.
I know there is under age sex going on in countries besides the US, but with all the STD's out there, it is strange to me that a young girl would throw caution to the wind and engage in a sexual act without protection. The article did not specifically mention lack of birth control, but as the article states "within a week, Kordeza was pregnant", so it leads me to believe they either didn't know about birth control or didn't use any if they did. I was shocked that the family did not seem to react with disdain that their barely 11 year old daughter was on her way to becoming a mother herself. It's normal for our girls to have babies young," said Kordeza's grandmother Dida, 55. "It's our tradition"
I hope Mothers out there read this and have a talk with their child before it's too late. Even if it's just a talk about basic facts like safe sex and the value of being responsible, it can make a world of difference. There are a lot of people that will one day make wonderful parents, but not until they are no longer children themselves.
I am absolutely floored after reading this article. Not only should Kordeza's family have taught her some version of the birds and the bees, but for them to condone it by throwing a celebration like that is beyond me. I would be ashamed and horrified to find that my daughter, who is my responsibility, allowed herself to be put into that sort of situation.
I know there is under age sex going on in countries besides the US, but with all the STD's out there, it is strange to me that a young girl would throw caution to the wind and engage in a sexual act without protection. The article did not specifically mention lack of birth control, but as the article states "within a week, Kordeza was pregnant", so it leads me to believe they either didn't know about birth control or didn't use any if they did. I was shocked that the family did not seem to react with disdain that their barely 11 year old daughter was on her way to becoming a mother herself. It's normal for our girls to have babies young," said Kordeza's grandmother Dida, 55. "It's our tradition"
I hope Mothers out there read this and have a talk with their child before it's too late. Even if it's just a talk about basic facts like safe sex and the value of being responsible, it can make a world of difference. There are a lot of people that will one day make wonderful parents, but not until they are no longer children themselves.
USC committed to 13-year-old QB
In a recent story brought to us by USA TODAY, The University of Southern California "USC" has received a verbal commitment from future QB David Sills.
This 13 year old dynamo is apparently almost six feet tall and boasts impressive skills at such a tender age. Lane Kiffin, USC's football coach pressed for a committment before David could even complete puberty.
My first reaction is shock that College's are recruiting pre-High School children and placing so much pressure on them so early. I still felt this way after I finished reading the story and look forward to seeing how it develops in the future.
I think this example is setting a bad standard for College football recruiters. What if David changes his mind and wants to be a musician or would rather play soccer than football next year? The pressure he will feel to not let anyone down will probably be enough for such a young man to put aside his wants to fulfill those of his "future coach" or parents. I feel like this is the beginning of a made for TV movie in which a troubled 20-something reflects on how his life was mapped out for him and choices taken away before he even knew what he wanted to do with his life. But on the other hand, this is probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him and the 15 minutes of fame he is enjoying could lead to an energized passion for football that leads to his first NFL contract. "USC football coach Lane Kiffin wanted to get a commitment from David Sills before the quarterback's voice changed" That's the problem with planning his future so early, David has just recently joined the teen force and teenagers are notoriously fickle.
No one will be able to say whether this is a good decision for David, except for him. I just hope his parents are supportive enough to help him ride out the storm if he does change his mind about football or is injured and can no longer fulfill the verbal commitment he made.
This 13 year old dynamo is apparently almost six feet tall and boasts impressive skills at such a tender age. Lane Kiffin, USC's football coach pressed for a committment before David could even complete puberty.
My first reaction is shock that College's are recruiting pre-High School children and placing so much pressure on them so early. I still felt this way after I finished reading the story and look forward to seeing how it develops in the future.
I think this example is setting a bad standard for College football recruiters. What if David changes his mind and wants to be a musician or would rather play soccer than football next year? The pressure he will feel to not let anyone down will probably be enough for such a young man to put aside his wants to fulfill those of his "future coach" or parents. I feel like this is the beginning of a made for TV movie in which a troubled 20-something reflects on how his life was mapped out for him and choices taken away before he even knew what he wanted to do with his life. But on the other hand, this is probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him and the 15 minutes of fame he is enjoying could lead to an energized passion for football that leads to his first NFL contract. "USC football coach Lane Kiffin wanted to get a commitment from David Sills before the quarterback's voice changed" That's the problem with planning his future so early, David has just recently joined the teen force and teenagers are notoriously fickle.
No one will be able to say whether this is a good decision for David, except for him. I just hope his parents are supportive enough to help him ride out the storm if he does change his mind about football or is injured and can no longer fulfill the verbal commitment he made.
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