Facebook and a Child Drowning

A thirteen month old boy died on September 20, 2010 from "anoxic brain injury, cardiac arrest and drowning." How did this child drown you may ask, well, he was in the bathtub. Where were his parents you ask? His mom was in the living room...on facebook. Colorado woman, Shannon Johnson (age 34) was arrested last week on count of child abuse. If she is convicted, she will face 16-48 years in jail. Johnson put her son into the tub, noting that the water was slightly higher than she normally puts it, then she went into the living room to check out facebook. She had started leaving her son by himself in the tub about two weeks before the incident happened, saying that "he really wanted to be left alone; he was a very independent baby." Her mother had had a conversation with her about leaving her son in the tub by himself, but Johnson didn't recall the conversation. About a month before the incident took place, the child had been treated for a seizure. Johnson did check on her son and found him playing happily with his toys, then left him once again. About three minutes later, she didn't hear him playing anymore, went in to check on him, and found him sideways in the water. The baby was airlifted to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

I know lots of people complain about social networking sites such as facebook, saying that we rely on them too much and waste so much of our time on those sites when we could be doing something useful. To a point, I agree with those people, and this article will be more fuel for their conversations. First, this lady must have been screwed up at least a little, or at least not have her priorities straight. Who leaves their 13 month old baby in the bathtub by his/herself? Not only does she leave the child on his own, but she goes on facebook, plays games, reads her friends' statuses, while her son is in the next room drowning.. yeah, I guess she thought reading what her friend did last night was more important than the life of her child. Then, her excuse for leaving her 13 month alone was that he really wanted to be alone and that he was a very independent baby. Are you kidding me? At 13 months a baby is just getting walking down pat and is barely talking. How do you know a child really wants to be left alone if they can barely talk? Yes, you can tell if a child is independent at a young age, but it still doesn't matter, as a parent you should know better than to leave your young child alone when they are in the bathtub. There is plenty of other time during the day that she could let her son be independent. In this case, Johnson should have been even more wary about leaving her son alone because just a month ago, he had been treated for a seizure. Maybe he had a seizure before he drowned, and if she would have been in there, she could have helped him. She did so many things wrong in such a short amount of time. I really think she should spend some time in jail, because of her actions and lack of common sense and poor decisions, she killed her son. Nothing can take that back.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/18/colorado.mother.charged/index.html?hpt=Sbin

2010- A Year of Piracy

2010 may have set records in many different areas, one that people may not know about is piracy. The International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau released the numbers yesterday, saying that "pirates captured 1,181 sailors aboard 53 ships in 2010."- eight of the captured were killed. There were a total of 445 attacks by pirates in 2010 which is up 10% from 2009. These numbers are the highest recorded and, if they continue, could result in extreme threats and danger. The coast of Somalia is where most of the attacks occurred- 92% of captured ships occurred here. Some other dangerous areas include; the ports of Lagos, Nigeria and Chittagong, Bangladesh, also, waters of Indonesia and the South China Sea. "Piracy costs businesses and governments $7 billion to $12 billion a year," due to ransoms, rerouting, security measures and organizations. As of less than one month ago, 28 ships and 638 hostages still remain in the hands of pirates. 
While we see pirates in movies, and maybe a few on Halloween, I don't usually expect to hear about them in the news. I know it's kinda bad, but I find this story rather humorous- just because of the fact that there are real live pirates in our world. You wouldn't think that pirates are something we have to worry about in the world we have today, but I guess in some areas, it is a big worry. While this story did say how many ships and sailors were taken by pirates, it did not mention how many pirates (if any) were captured which would be very interesting to know. It's difficult for me to imagine a ship with pirates sailing around out there capturing people, demanding thousands to millions of dollars in ransom and holding people hostage without the governments taking serious action to solve this problem. I have a feeling if U.S. ships were the ones to be attacked, more steps would be taken. My guess why more governments aren't doing more is because they don't have the money to fund trying to find and take down these pirates. I was rather surprised at the high numbers of attacks, hostages, etc. I guess I didn't know pirates were such a big deal. The good news out of this would be that there were only eight hostages killed... out of the 1,181 captured, eight is a VERY low number! Also, since 2010 was the "worst on record for piracy at sea," it makes me wonder why. Are there more pirates this year than previous years? Are people more desperate, therefore resorting to lower levels to get money? Are the governments relaxing on their ways to avoid and take care of the pirates? All unanswered questions...
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/18/report-2010-was-worst-year-yet-for-piracy-on-high-seas/?hpt=Sbin

The Miraculous Giffords

U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was one of the unfortunate people who was involved in the shooting in Tucson, Arizona. In the shooting, six people were killed and thirteen were wounded from gunshots. Giffords suffered a gunshot through the left hemisphere of her brain, but has been meeting or exceeding all of the expectations set for her so far. She has recently been able to open her eyes on her own for extended amounts of time. Doctors and visitors say that you can tell by her eyes she is starting to be able to understand her surroundings and what is going on. One time, when asked to give a thumbs up if she could see a person, she gave a thumbs up as well as raising her entire hand. Another time, when asked to touch her husband's wedding ring, she did, grabbed his arm, then tried to hug him. She does have a breathing tube to help her, but the doctors say she has shown that she can breathe slightly on her own which means that soon, they may try removing the breathing tube. While Giffords still remains in critical condition, doctors as well as thousands of other U.S. citizens, have high expectations for her and believe she has the strength to pull through.
To hear a positive story in the news is so uplifting, and this story is one to bring inspiration and hope to almost any situation. Everyone knows that injuries to the brain are dangerous. I was told only 10% of people who suffer a gunshot wound to the brain survive. In Psychology, we talked about this story a little bit, our teacher explaining how amazing Gifford's progress really is. The bullet went through her left hemisphere, with normal hemisphere wounds, she would not be able to move the left side of her body, however she can move for sure her left leg (I'm not sure about her arm or facial muscles). This is great, also considering that she can breathe at least a little on her own means that her medulla was not injured- which is wonderful news because without your medulla (which controls breathing, heart rate, etc.) you would not be able to live without being hooked up to numerous machines. More great news is that her occipital lobe was not injured meaning that her eyes are fully functional. This has been seen by her visitors who say that she seems to be understanding her surroundings through her vision. The bad news of her injury is that they are worried she may not be able to speak because that ability is held in the left hemisphere of her brain. No matter what she can or can't do in the end, it is just a miracle that she has survived and progressed so far already. She is a strong fighter- someone we can all look to for inspiration.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/14/arizona.shooting/index.html?hpt=Sbin

One Year Later, Haiti still Unchanged

When the deadly earth quake errupted in Haiti and left thousands of people homeless, people were forced to change their lives. Tent cities started sprouting up as a "temoprary" fix. However, today, a year after the quake, the tent cities are still thriving with life as people spend their time "liv[ing] like hyenas," using portable toilets and getting water from a foreign aid agency. More than one million people are still living in these tents, and not enjoying it. Men and women are forced to bathe in public and try not to recount the tales of sorrow. Families try to send their children off to live with family, but not everyone has a place to go. It is said "Women and girls are raped and abused in the darkness of night." A 14 year old girl who was kicked out of her family's tent "meets men," she stated some beat her and some pay her, and usually she asks them to use a condom. A man adds, misery makes people fight, another man once tried to kill him for his phone. Many of these people do not forsee change anytime soon, they remark that "the government doesn't care about them; that the government likes it when they live this way." Not only do they have to worry about violence and weather, they also have to worry about diseases; one of the biggest stresses right now is cholera.

One can do so much in a year's time. It's displeasing to see that people have been living so cruedly for an entire year. We all understood after hearing of the tragic earth quake that bringing the country back to working and "normal" condition would take time. However, to hear that over a million people are still living in tents a year after the quake is slightly shocking. I would have guessed that the government would have stepped up more and have the people living in apartments or hotels or something better then tents on the street by now. This article also commented on how numerous symbolic sites are still in dis-aray. It seems that the government has done little to no work since the quake, which is extremely disheartening considering that mulitiple countries offered help; supplies, money, etc. Obviously, something needs to change and somehow these people need to get back to homes and normal lives. No one deserves to live the way they are, especially when they did nothing to get into that situation and they can do basically nothing to get out.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/01/06/haiti.earthquake.anniversary/index.html?hpt=C1

"Senate Votes to end Military ban on Gays"

Obama's campaign promise to repeal the "don't ask don't tell" policy of 17 years will shortly come into effect. Last Wednesday, the House passed the bill 250-175, and Saturday the Senate passed the same bill 65-31. Obama is expected to sign the bill sometime this week. The change will not be instantaneous though, Obama and the top military advisers must prove that the troops' fighting ability will not be harmed by lifting the ban, then there will be a 60-day waiting period. This is a very significant step for our country. Passing this bill will mean that "for the first time in American history, gays will be openly accepted by the military and could acknowledge their sexual orientation without fear of being kicked out."  
Personally, I think this is great. I never really understood why troops were/are not allowed to say if they are gay or not, I don't see how it really changes anything. They are still there for the same reason; they want to fight for our country. It should make no difference whether they are gay or not. I guess now the only problem I can see arising is that some will make fun of those who are gay, which is really childish, but even as adults, I know it still happens. Even if they get made fun of though, it's nice to know that even if a person is gay, they don't have to lie about it in fear that they will get kicked out which is great, they have the exact same rights to be there as any other person does. I think it is kinda stupid that Obama and his top military officials have to "certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' fighting ability." It goes back to one of my beginning sentences; I don't understand how saying that you are gay is going to change anything. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about gays myself, but I do think that they have the right to live their life the way that they want to, just like the rest of us. I guess I would say that I'm on the same page as many Americans are; I'm coming to terms with accepting them. All in all, I'm glad to see that the "don't ask don't tell" policy will shortly just be a part of our past.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40715888/ns/politics-capitol_hill/ 

"Jurors Convict Juvenile in Chicago Teen's Beating Death"

On Semptember 24, 2009, 16 year old Albert was killed when he got caught in the middle of a fight between two factions of students from Christian Fenger Academy High School. The two factions were said to have been fighting about an earlier gang-related shooting. "Albert was approached by two members of one faction and struck in the head with a long portion of a wooden railroad tie, then punched in the face." A 15 year old student was convicted in the beating death of Albert. A video of the fight showed the 15 year old was the one who punched Albert. This punch caused some of Albert's brain trauma of which he died, but the 15 year old's punch was not the blow that killed Albert. The 15 year old was the first of five defendants charged for Albert's death, and was the only one tried as a minor. Because of Albert's death, President Obama sent the Education Secretary and Attorney General to Chicago to speak with schools, and the community about school violence.
It's very sad to hear of these situations, but I guess we could think of it in a different way; because Albert was killed, President Obama stepped up to the plate and increased speakers on school violence. Then, because of the speeches, it is possible that other students' lives could be saved. So while a death did occur, it may have inspired actions to prevent more in the future. This situation (of gangs and fighting and shooting) has always scared me. Living in a gang free town (as far as I'm aware anyway) I don't really have to experience this type of situation (thankfully), but hearing stories on the news and watching movies, etc. I get the picture. It was from those stories and movies that my fears developed. Most people don't like that they have fears, however I'm glad for this one, I would rather be scared than be oblivious. My prayers go out to Albert's family and all those who are living in threatening and/or gang related environments.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/09/illinois.teen.beating/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Accused Teen Hit Man

Last Thursday, a 14 year old child was arrested in Mexico City, on suspicion of working as a drug-cartel hit man.The police were able to catch him from an anonymous caller who said he was at the airport. The teen was an orphan, and joined the Pacifico Sur drug cartel at age 12. One of the group's leaders, Julio "El Negro" Padilla, threatened the teen saying that either he works, or gets killed. The teen allegedly killed four people, saying that he slit their throats. When asked if he was aware of his actions when killing, he said he was under the influence of drugs and was unaware of his actions. The teen has a birth certificate from San Diego, California, but his identity and citizenship are under investigation. The teen was paid weekly. Experts say, this is not the first time we will hear of stories involving younger kids killing people and being involved with the drug cartel, because they get paid, or because they think it is cool.

Eighth graders are 14 years old. Sixth graders are 12 years old. I have a really hard time imagining or thinking of a sixth grader going and joining a drug cartel. I have an even harder time thinking of an eighth grader going out and killing people. I understand that the kid was an orphan and, since he wasn't adopted, that he may want/ need some extra cash, but you think he could make the same amount or more money by babysitting or mowing people's yards or something. They didn't say how much he was getting paid, but still doing these jobs must be comparable, not to mention they would be much safer! He is threatened that he has to go kill people, otherwise he will be killed. I just can't see how some people can completely take advantage of kids this way and corrupt their lives. The kid said that he was under the influence of drugs, that means an eighth grader is doing drugs... how sad is that. I don't know much about the drug wars going on in Mexico, and I don't think I want to know some of the details, but I hope police can get at least enough control over it to stop this from happening - stop kids from getting pulled in. I can't picture many kids, if any, thinking that being high on drugs, then going out and killing people is 'cool.' However, I can see them (especially in poverty ridden places around the world) thinking that joining a drug cartel would be an easy way to get some extra money, but not knowing what they are getting themselves into. This needs to stop. This kid may have ruined his life, and he may not even understand why or how. It's the guys behind this kid who persuaded him, and the ones who need to be caught.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/12/05/mexico.teen.hit.man/index.html?hpt=T2