Swine FLU

One thing that I have been hearing everywhere and everyday is the swine flu. I have been seeing it in nermous papers and all over the news. Its crazy to see on tv the people in Mexico who are having to wear face masks just walking on the streets. They have been saying that more and more cases are being reported in the united states, but I think they are getting a little to excited about it. I mean ya mexico is seeing it really bad and we could to but we have more cases of flu every year, and we take the necessary percautions already towards it. It can be very dangerous but so can any cold or flu. Right now we don't have to many cases and it's nothing to worry about, because think of how many people we have in the United states. I still take percautions towards it but I think a lot of people are taking it to far and worrying to much for something we see every year. I'm not saying we shouldn't look at for it because it is a bad sickness! With any symtoms of being sick I think people should go to the doctor, and by doing that you catch it early and you don't have to worry about it. It's the people that wait and wait until the last minute that are dieing from it!

Is Recycling a Waste?

I read an article from Mother jones. Earth day started about 40 years ago. April 22, 1970. Around 3,000 voluntary recylcing programs sprung up around the country. Americans now recycle a third of their trash and that's up 6 percent from 1970. Yet we are doing all these things and they say americans are still generating more waste then ever. In just 5 minutes we use another 1,060,000 aluminum cans, 2 million plastic bottles, and 15 million sheets of paper. Our country is still drowning in plastic. People are questioning whether recycling is a waste? If we didn't recycle at all, think about how much waster we would have then. I don't think it's a waste because even if animals are still dieing from our waste and we are still having lots of problems; we could be causing a lot more deaths and problems by not doing it. I'm sure are number of problems would double or even triple! Recycling should never be thought about as a waste.

With Son in Remission, A family looks for coverage

I read an article from the New york times about a family who was struggling to support themselves and their medical bills. This family has a 21-year old son that metastatic testicular cancer. He has now been in remission for a year, but they have worries of it coming back. He has had four operations and stem cell research done. The mother Danna Walker lost her job back in October and loses insurance benefits shortly. They have there own medications they need between her and her husband. Let alone her son that has a couple CT's that cost $3,000 and X-rays run $1,000! They are trying to find money to support there insurance by pushing back house payments and even utitlities. This story is like many other americans that have been laid off and looking for health care. We lose everything just to support a medical disease we can't help? I wish we could do more to save families like these.

Foolproofing Suicide with Euthanasia Test kits

I read an article from Time magazine about a test kit that makes sure the medicine you are taking to commit suicide isn't outdated or have things wrong with it. People are ending there lives with barbiturates, but in some cases it is oudated and it causes the person to live. The person may end up living instead of dieing and can result in coma or physical problems. You also can consider the confusion from the families about you trying to commit suicide and you will be stuck trying to tell them why you did what you did. This kit will show a color change and it will show you if it it lethal. I don't really get why they came out with this because it just shows another thing for suicidal people. It will help them to make sure they actually get the job done the first time. What are we doing? Don't we want the suicide to stop?

Deadly Earthquake hits Italy

This week I read an article from the New York Times. Their was an earthquake that hit Italy on Monday and it had a magnitude of 6.3! It seriously damaged buildings and killed 92 people. It left tens of thousands homeless. It damaged lots of historic buildings, and it cracked them right down the middle. By mid afternoon the death doll was 92 people and 1500 injured. They are 4,000 rescuers that are taking away the rubble and looking for more survivors. This earthquake struck at 3:30 a.m. and you could feel it as far away as Rome, 60 miles west, it rattled furniture and set off car alarms there. I can't even imagaine if we had a an earth quake where I was. I wouldn't ever want to be involved in a earthquake. There is no stopping it and you don't know when it will end. I feel so bad for all of those people in Italy, and all the family they lost. This wasn't just a little earthquake either because people could feel is for miles and miles. I hope they find all the people they are looking for.

Is America Ready for a Gay Idol!?

I read an article in Mother Jones about the Americal Idol star that has not publicy came out his gayness, but they are wondering wether or not it will effect his voting. Adam Lambert is a gifted performer that should have a chance at idol, but will this get in his way. Some people think it could cost him some votes and gain others. No matter what I think people should judge him for his talent. Not his sexuality. Everyone should get a chance no matter what their difference in this world. Some people can't help what they feel or who they are. I just hope in the end he is judged by his performance.

Plan B for the day after pill!

I read an article this week in the New York times about a day after pill for 17 year olds over the counter. A federal judge ordered the Food and Drug Administration to make a PLAN B morning-after pill for 17 year olds. The F.D.A has 30 days to comply to this request. This drug consists of two pills that will prevent conception if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. The age now is set at 18. To me I think that the age should stay at 18. Yes, it's only a one year difference but the fact is when you are 17 you are still a young adult and in high school usually. A 17 year old needs to consider a lot more than just being able to go get it fixed. If this age gets younger and younger; kids will think they can just fix it without even thinking about it. 18 is a young age too, but I just wouldn't want it to go any younger.

Your Water Botttle is One-Quarter Oil

I read an article from Mother Jones about Bottled Water. Researchers at the Pacific Institution in Oakland California ran the numbers and found that bottle production alone wastes 50 million barrels of oil a year (that's 2.5 days of US oil consumption). Then think about the energy needed to process the bottled water. Label the bottles, fill the bottles, seal the bottles, cool the bottles, and so on.....! Treehuggers consider people that drink water out of bottle are the new smokers. I couldn't believe the numbers of waste of oil each year because of bottled water. I didn't think it had anything to do with it. It's crazy to think about all this stuff, that I would never even think of. The little things matter so much these days!!

Dog Saves Lives

This week I read an article from the Denver Post about a dogs bark that saved a family from carbon-monoxide posioning. The dog started barking at 4am on Sunday morning and woke one of the adults living in the home. The people said that they truly believe if the dog wasn't there, they would of died. The family believes the carbon-monoxide came from the oven; that they had made pizza that night before they went ot bed. They all got up to try to comfort the dog, and after a little while they realized they weren't all feeling well. One of the people even passed out, and that's when they decided to get out of the home. Everyone ended up being ok from everything, but if the dog wouldn't of been there they might have all died. It's crazy to think that just a little dog can save so many lives. I don't think people credit animals as much as they should. Animals do so much for so many people, without people knowing it!

Health Care Crisis Hits Home

I read an article from Time magazine and it was about a 54 year old man trying to deal with the health crisis at hand. 54 year old, Pat, worked at a job that he only made $9 an hour and he had insurance that had a deductible of $2,500. Pat never went to the doctor or anything because he knew the bills would add up and he couldn't afford it. Pat already had a disorder called Asperger's snydrome. It is sometimes described as a high form of Autism. Pat went to a routine physical and had some unusal levels in his urine, and later his urine was brown and foamy. The doctor decided to send him to a specialist and they got a biopsy done. This confirmed that Pat's kidneys were shutting down. After all this shock, Pat finds out that his insurance will not cover all his medical bills. His brother tried to reason with them and figure it out but their was no budging. Pat has to deal with all of these problems and the start of a large debt. He is already $14,000 in debt. This is just one American that is suffereing with the hard times. You don't realize how bad the health care system is getting until it hits home. This family is one of the many discovering this health care crisis.

A Life, Interrupted

I read a story from the New york times about a 23 year old school teacher that went missing in august. This school teacher went missing a day before she starting classes last august. She went for a jog; leaving behind her ID, cellphone, and money!! The last thing she remembers is leaving for the jog and then someone finding her in the water with just a sports bra and shorts. For the three weeks no one knew where she was and neither did she. Their was a couple spottings of her in these three weeks in a starbucks and apple store. The question is if she had no money; then how did she pay for things she did or even stay alive for three weeks? They wondered if it was biplor disorder or just running away from stress of everyday life. The 23 year old girl was just able to start talking about what happened, but still doesn't recall anything that happened. I would just like to know what happened in those three weeks. Does she really know what happened or was she really that lost? It's really scary to think about!

America on $195 a Week!!!!

I read an article from Mother Jones this week about a 58 year old lady that works in the Wal-mart pharmacy in New York. This lady said she started at Wal-mart back in 2001 making $6.40 an hour and now by 2008 she was making $10.50. But after taxes and everything else it's still not that much. In 2008 she said she made roughly $297 and after taxes and deduction it was $195. Bob Pollin, codirector of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, calculates that a single person needs about $400 a week. They need this much in order to pay bills on time, eat three meals a day, and set aside money to save. This 58 year old lady barely makes half of what he is saying she needs to make. Think of how many more Americans this is effecting. I hope the economy turns around soon because I don't think much more people can take this. I feel so bad for everyone that's going through this! Everyone deserves to get a break from work sometime and to not have to worry about money, but sadly I don't know if this will happen!

Mother and Child at Risk, Care that includes Psychologist

A woman became pregnant and her grandmother told her she would buy her a car if she had an abortion. Other family members told her that the baby wouldn't see it's first birthday. The woman was 22, single, and already saw the doctor several time for suicide attempts. The woman had a little boy named Elijah. When he as only a week old she brought him to the doctor for a check up, and they told her to join a infant-parent psycholtherapy group. Instead she agreed on home vists; during these home visits she admitted she was sexually abused as a child. She needed a lot more help then they thought....they contiued with home visits and after three months she agreed to go to group two days a week and continue home visits. Today Elijah is 3, and a happy boy. Who knows what would of happened if she didn't get help. Her own family didn't have faith in it; they should of been the ones trying to help her through it. Instead, they turned their backs on not only her but the lilttle boy. When i think of how many other little babies are in danger like this it scares me. I just wish that their families would be there to support and help them out. I hope we find more ways to help out young mothers and babies!

Flight 1549 Pilot tells terror and intense focus

I read an article from the New york times about the recent plane crash in the Hudson River. The pilot told how he felt during the crash. He said he new instantly the plane was in trouble when he felt the birds hit the engines. The plane lost thrusts in both engines. He said he knew that he needed to touch down with the wings level and the note slightly up. With no crashes behing him he didn't think something like this would ever happen to him, but he handled the crash very well. I think for no experience landing this plane he did an amazing job. He had so much pressure during it and he did a amazing job underpressure. Many people I'm sure are thankful there lives. I know i would be so grateful to him. It would be so tramatic for the people on the plane and all the crew on the plane!! After an experience like that you would probably come in check with you life! I know I would!

~*~Peanut Product Recall Grows in Salmonella Scare~*~

This week I read about the Salmonella scare in the United States. Eight people have now died and another 500 people sickened by it. Half of those 500 were children. Who knows how many more cases are out there either. The plant that has caused all these problems had tests done in 2007 and 2008 that showed contamination. But they still decided to send out the products. This company supplied some of the largest food makers in the United states too. I can't believe people would send that stuff out and didn't think about harming anyone. I feel so bad for all the people affected by it. That's scary to think. They had an elderly lady on the news today that was one of the eight that died. It was so sad because the family said it just happened so fast. It's hard to see it in elderly people or children because it's so hard for them to overcome it. :-(

Staff Finds White House Technology in the Dark Ages!

I read an article form the Washinton Post titled, "Staff Finds White House Technology in the Dark Ages!" It talked about how all the technology in the white house was from a few years ago. Everything wasn't updated to the new times. Which i don't think is a big deal because not everyone has such fancy blackberrys and iphones!! They said most of the computer where in the old microsoft versions and weren't updated at all....that might cause some problems. They talked about how everyone looked like it was there first day of school. Everyone was all over the place and couldn't find there office. Phone lines were messed up and even e-mails. It took until the end of the day for everything to be updated and some stuff wasn't figured out yet. It takes time for adjustment but I think that people can deal with a little bit of the old times. It's the white house it should be amazing just to be there! I can see the frustration in all of it because they were all counting on working on all the news projects and people couldn't even get through to talk to people because everything was messed up. Everyone's first day is always a little off. It would be a miracle if everything turned out perfect. -Kelsey K