By Nate
Tamera Jo Freeman is charged with beating her two children on a plane, and then harassing a flight attendant afterwards. Freeman was arrested on Monday at a Denver airport after a flight from San Francisco. Sources say she started beating her children even before boarding the plane, but became more abusive when she got on the plane. After getting very intoxicated, Freeman started beating her 2 and 4 year-old sons for arguing over a window shade. While she was beating them, the two children started crying loudly and backing away into a corner. While Freeman continued to abuse her children, a flight attendant tried to intervene but Freeman began threatening the flight attendant and threw an alcoholic drink on the floor. Freeman told some investigators later on that she never threw the drink down, but that she somehow “lost” her drink after setting it down before beating the children. After the plane landed and Freeman was arrested, the two sons were turned over to a relative. Tamera Freeman, who was sent to court on Wednesday, is facing 20 years in prison if she loses her case.
Both the articles that have been read are not very objective and are both very subjective, but one still doesn’t quite stick to the story. CNN.com talks much more about what will happen to Freeman in court, than what happened on the plane itself. Foxnews.com talked much more about what happened on the flight, and got into much more detail too. So I believe that foxnews.com was much more subjective.
Sources:
CNN.com
FOXnews.com
Thursday, July 19, 2007
U.S. To Help Combat Central American Gangs
By Kristin
U.S. assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, Thomas Shannon, arrived in Guatemala on Tuesday shortly after the body parts of a local gang member were found in plastic bags placed sporadically among a football field by a rival gang. Crimes such as these are becoming increasingly, and surprisingly, common within the last few years. Just last year nearly 6,000 people were killed in this country of only 12 million.
What seems like a flood of gangs is not only occurring in Guatemala, many other Central American countries have embarked in the dangerous trend. Honduras and El Salvador are among these countries overrun with gangs.
Shannon has signed an agreement with the Central American Integration System pledging 4 million dollars as funding for this issue. With this money Shannon hopes Central America will better their security and improve law enforcement in the area. Along with enforcement, Shannon hopes to see prevention of the further development of youth involvement in gangs. A portion of the funding will go towards the building of youth rehabilitation centers.
"We have to remember that this type of delinquency has profound social roots and our way of fighting it cannot only be through policing," Shannon explains.
Sources:
CNN
The State Department
U.S. assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, Thomas Shannon, arrived in Guatemala on Tuesday shortly after the body parts of a local gang member were found in plastic bags placed sporadically among a football field by a rival gang. Crimes such as these are becoming increasingly, and surprisingly, common within the last few years. Just last year nearly 6,000 people were killed in this country of only 12 million.
What seems like a flood of gangs is not only occurring in Guatemala, many other Central American countries have embarked in the dangerous trend. Honduras and El Salvador are among these countries overrun with gangs.
Shannon has signed an agreement with the Central American Integration System pledging 4 million dollars as funding for this issue. With this money Shannon hopes Central America will better their security and improve law enforcement in the area. Along with enforcement, Shannon hopes to see prevention of the further development of youth involvement in gangs. A portion of the funding will go towards the building of youth rehabilitation centers.
"We have to remember that this type of delinquency has profound social roots and our way of fighting it cannot only be through policing," Shannon explains.
Sources:
CNN
The State Department
Young Man’s Brand New Hummer Gets Vandalized in D.C...by Environmentalist Thugs
By Mairead
Gareth Groves recently bought a brand new, steel grey Hummer. Because of the car’s massive size, he had to park it on the street in front of the home that he shares with his mother in Northwest Washington. The Hummer sat on the street being loathed by neighbors
who drove their environment-friendly Prius. Unfortuanately, the car only lasted five days out on the street. Around 3 a.m. Monday morning, two masked men took bats to the car’s windows and body, slashed all four tires, and scratched the message “For The Environ” into the side panel.
Groves says that he never expected something like this to happen, even though he knew that his neighbors were less than pleased to see his new car. He also says that now, when neighbors drive by, he can see the smug “you-got-what-you-deserve” looks on their faces.
Many of the neighbors admit that they were all but pleased when they saw his new purchase, but they are then very quick to say that they do not condone violence and vandalism.
As for Groves, he is now trying to decide what to do with what remains of his $38,000 car. Sharing Groves shock are the local police, who say that while they do see some vandalism in the area, they haven’t seen anything like this in years.
Sources:
MSNBC.com
MyFoxDC
Gareth Groves recently bought a brand new, steel grey Hummer. Because of the car’s massive size, he had to park it on the street in front of the home that he shares with his mother in Northwest Washington. The Hummer sat on the street being loathed by neighbors
who drove their environment-friendly Prius. Unfortuanately, the car only lasted five days out on the street. Around 3 a.m. Monday morning, two masked men took bats to the car’s windows and body, slashed all four tires, and scratched the message “For The Environ” into the side panel.
Groves says that he never expected something like this to happen, even though he knew that his neighbors were less than pleased to see his new car. He also says that now, when neighbors drive by, he can see the smug “you-got-what-you-deserve” looks on their faces.
Many of the neighbors admit that they were all but pleased when they saw his new purchase, but they are then very quick to say that they do not condone violence and vandalism.
As for Groves, he is now trying to decide what to do with what remains of his $38,000 car. Sharing Groves shock are the local police, who say that while they do see some vandalism in the area, they haven’t seen anything like this in years.
Sources:
MSNBC.com
MyFoxDC
75% of Americans Estimated to be Overweight by 2015
By Jasmine
A new study done by a team at John Hopkins University on Wednesday shows that by the year 2015, almost three fourths of America will be overweight, and a little over two fifths will be obese. From the 1960s to 2004, the nation’s obesity rate jumped from 13 percent in the ‘60s to 32 percent in 2004, and it looks as if that rate will continue to increase rapidly. Dr. Youfa Wang, the leader of the study, calls obesity “A public health crisis.”
Currently, approximately 66 percent of Americans are overweight, and it is a growing problem for women aged 20 to 34, and black women aged 40 and above. A startling 80 percent of black women older than 40 are overweight, and almost half are obese. For children and adolescents, 16 percent are overweight, while 34 percent are at risk.
Sources:
MSNBC.com
FOXnews.com
A new study done by a team at John Hopkins University on Wednesday shows that by the year 2015, almost three fourths of America will be overweight, and a little over two fifths will be obese. From the 1960s to 2004, the nation’s obesity rate jumped from 13 percent in the ‘60s to 32 percent in 2004, and it looks as if that rate will continue to increase rapidly. Dr. Youfa Wang, the leader of the study, calls obesity “A public health crisis.”
Currently, approximately 66 percent of Americans are overweight, and it is a growing problem for women aged 20 to 34, and black women aged 40 and above. A startling 80 percent of black women older than 40 are overweight, and almost half are obese. For children and adolescents, 16 percent are overweight, while 34 percent are at risk.
Sources:
MSNBC.com
FOXnews.com
Vatican Approves of New Chinese Bishop
By Helen
China, a country with about one-fifth of the world’s population is also home to approximately 12 million Catholics. Recently, a new bishop of the Beijing diocese was elected with the customary approval of the Vatican. However, Father Joseph Li Shan was declared by a Vatican spokesperson to be “very good,” even though the Pope did not have any say in his appointment.
Chinese Catholics were forced to officially cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, after the communist takeover of the country. Now, Chinese Catholics are spilt into two churches; the state-approved Patriotic Church and underground churches that remain loyal to Rome. Recently, the Pope has encouraged the two churches to reconcile with each other, and has expressed his wish to have more control over decisions that are made in the Patriotic Church. The Vatican has reached workable agreements with other communist countries such as Vietnam, where the Vatican nominates several candidates for a position, and the government chooses one.
Sources:
NY Times
BBC
China, a country with about one-fifth of the world’s population is also home to approximately 12 million Catholics. Recently, a new bishop of the Beijing diocese was elected with the customary approval of the Vatican. However, Father Joseph Li Shan was declared by a Vatican spokesperson to be “very good,” even though the Pope did not have any say in his appointment.
Chinese Catholics were forced to officially cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, after the communist takeover of the country. Now, Chinese Catholics are spilt into two churches; the state-approved Patriotic Church and underground churches that remain loyal to Rome. Recently, the Pope has encouraged the two churches to reconcile with each other, and has expressed his wish to have more control over decisions that are made in the Patriotic Church. The Vatican has reached workable agreements with other communist countries such as Vietnam, where the Vatican nominates several candidates for a position, and the government chooses one.
Sources:
NY Times
BBC
Mother Pleads Not Guilty to Driving Son, Friends to Kill Teen Boy
By Faith
Eva Daley,30, is being charged with driving her 14-year-old son and six other juveniles, ages ranging from 14-17, to a Californian skate park so they could attack another teenager., The mother has pleaded not guilty to murder. Police said Daley knew her son and his friends planned to kill Jose Cano, age 13, when she drove them to the park on June 26. Cano died of multiple stab wounds. Police said he had been previously involved in a dispute with the minors. Daley has been put on $1.15 million bail.
Nearly a dozen friends and relatives of Jose Cano were present in court, including Cano's mother and 24-year old cousin. Samantha Maradiaga. Maradiaga said reports that her cousin was a gang member were fictitious, although she confirmed he was friends with some gang members. In his neighborhood, Maradiaga said, it is impossible to avoid gang members. The seven minors who had attacked Cano all are in custody. Authorities have rejected to release their names, for the fact that they are minors.
Sources:
CNN.com
Sunday Morning Herald
Eva Daley,30, is being charged with driving her 14-year-old son and six other juveniles, ages ranging from 14-17, to a Californian skate park so they could attack another teenager., The mother has pleaded not guilty to murder. Police said Daley knew her son and his friends planned to kill Jose Cano, age 13, when she drove them to the park on June 26. Cano died of multiple stab wounds. Police said he had been previously involved in a dispute with the minors. Daley has been put on $1.15 million bail.
Nearly a dozen friends and relatives of Jose Cano were present in court, including Cano's mother and 24-year old cousin. Samantha Maradiaga. Maradiaga said reports that her cousin was a gang member were fictitious, although she confirmed he was friends with some gang members. In his neighborhood, Maradiaga said, it is impossible to avoid gang members. The seven minors who had attacked Cano all are in custody. Authorities have rejected to release their names, for the fact that they are minors.
Sources:
CNN.com
Sunday Morning Herald
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Nearly a Dozen Popular Food & Drink Companies Limit Ads Geared Towards Kids
By Jasmine
Under self-imposed regulations, 11 popular U.S. companies have decided to limit their advertisements aimed towards children under age 12. The companies, which all market food and drink products, include Campbell Soup Co., PepsiCo Inc., and General Mills Inc. and make up approximately two-thirds of all food commercials geared towards children. The announcement was made earlier today ahead of a Federal Trade Commission hearing, in an effort to help reduce the nation’s increasing child obesity problem.
The new rules state that seven of the companies will only continue use of their popular licensed characters to advertise online or in print media if they are advertising the company’s healthier products. The four remaining companies promise not to advertise to children at all. New healthy products are said to hit supermarket shelves later this year, and most will use the popular characters, such as Shrek or Spongebob Squarepants, on their packaging.
These new rules are hoped to help parents make smarter, healthier food and drink choices for their children, and should be fully put into action by the end of next year.
Sources:
Fox news
Team 4 News
Under self-imposed regulations, 11 popular U.S. companies have decided to limit their advertisements aimed towards children under age 12. The companies, which all market food and drink products, include Campbell Soup Co., PepsiCo Inc., and General Mills Inc. and make up approximately two-thirds of all food commercials geared towards children. The announcement was made earlier today ahead of a Federal Trade Commission hearing, in an effort to help reduce the nation’s increasing child obesity problem.
The new rules state that seven of the companies will only continue use of their popular licensed characters to advertise online or in print media if they are advertising the company’s healthier products. The four remaining companies promise not to advertise to children at all. New healthy products are said to hit supermarket shelves later this year, and most will use the popular characters, such as Shrek or Spongebob Squarepants, on their packaging.
These new rules are hoped to help parents make smarter, healthier food and drink choices for their children, and should be fully put into action by the end of next year.
Sources:
Fox news
Team 4 News
Brazilian Airplane Crashes, 300 Suspected Dead
By Carolina
Workers are trying to recover the bodies of the people that died after one of the TAM Airlines Airbus A320 crashed on Tuesday at Brazil’s busiest airport. Rescuers had pulled dozens of bodies out, as the rate of more bodies to be found increases. There is to be said that more than 200 people died in the terrible accident.
The airplane was trying to land in a driving rainstorm, when it crashed into a airline building and gas station and exploded immediately after the struck killing everyone on board. There were 186 people in the plane but they do not know exactly how many people were in the actual building where the airplane crashed. Friends and relatives of the victims can not believe what has happened. Many people were present and witnessed when the plane slide on a major road
and hit the building. “We saw the plane go straight down the runway,” said witness Paulo Barros. “ It didn’t managed to stop and went into the avenue. It went by so fast that we thought it was taking off.”
There is no possible chance that anyone on board could survived, authorities said. Recovering the bodies was going to be hard work because the intense fire caused massive destruction that reached 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (1000 C), officials said. Investigators are trying to find out
why the airport reopened the resurfaced runaway that had been closed for several weeks for repairs.
All the possible causes of such a tremendous loss of life does not heal the tremendous pain of all the victim’s family and friends. Many believe that there is a reason for the crash and the airline or airport is responsible for the loss of so many lives in this horrible tragedy.
Sources:
CNN.com
CBSnews.com
Workers are trying to recover the bodies of the people that died after one of the TAM Airlines Airbus A320 crashed on Tuesday at Brazil’s busiest airport. Rescuers had pulled dozens of bodies out, as the rate of more bodies to be found increases. There is to be said that more than 200 people died in the terrible accident.
The airplane was trying to land in a driving rainstorm, when it crashed into a airline building and gas station and exploded immediately after the struck killing everyone on board. There were 186 people in the plane but they do not know exactly how many people were in the actual building where the airplane crashed. Friends and relatives of the victims can not believe what has happened. Many people were present and witnessed when the plane slide on a major road
and hit the building. “We saw the plane go straight down the runway,” said witness Paulo Barros. “ It didn’t managed to stop and went into the avenue. It went by so fast that we thought it was taking off.”
There is no possible chance that anyone on board could survived, authorities said. Recovering the bodies was going to be hard work because the intense fire caused massive destruction that reached 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (1000 C), officials said. Investigators are trying to find out
why the airport reopened the resurfaced runaway that had been closed for several weeks for repairs.
All the possible causes of such a tremendous loss of life does not heal the tremendous pain of all the victim’s family and friends. Many believe that there is a reason for the crash and the airline or airport is responsible for the loss of so many lives in this horrible tragedy.
Sources:
CNN.com
CBSnews.com
Online Security Breach Exposes 80,000
By Kristin
Sources:
MSNBC.com
A name, a social security number, a date of birth, and an address are all it takes to get a credit card, apply for a driver’s license and other forms of photo identification, make counterfeit checks, apply for a job, get and apartment, or even tamper with a bank account.
Aaron Titus, a law school student, was browsing none other than Google one day, and encountered a seemingly endless, and dangerous list. On this list, were over 80,000 student names, addresses, ZIP codes, birthdays, and Social Security numbers.
The website that got him there, an internal site run by the Louisiana Board of Regents, though completely unaware the information contained on the site was accessible through an advanced internet search, was able to correct the problem within several hours.
“I’d be shaking in my boots. I’d be really, really, freaked out. All of my information is available to anyone who wants it right now,” says Titus.
The Board of Regents is currently notifying all affected people though it may be too late. If it is, the Board is at risk of losing federal funding and facing enormous lawsuits.
"I think we should be less concerned about what happens to them as much as what happens to the people they ave let out -- that's where the real problem is here. I don't think they can ever answer civilly or morally for what they've done," says law professor Julian Murray on the situation.
And it’s true, concerns should really only be had for the potential victims of identity theft. After all, anyone who attended a Louisiana public high school between 2001 and 2003, attended a public Louisiana College or university in 2000 or 2001, or was a staff member of a Louisiana college or university during the same time is at risk.
Sources:
MSNBC.com
New York Says NO to the Use of Illegal Guns
By Juanita
1. NY Daily News
2. NY Sun
After last years numbers on murders and the posession of illegal guns, New York city decided to start with a much needed anti-gun campaign. This campaign was inspired by both the obvious desire to curb crime and diminishing the black gun market. The campaign deals with the fact that the carrying of an illegal piece of armament will result in a jail time of about 3-1/2 years. It was officially initiated the 17th of July and is expected to startle the city with black-white warnings advertising the consequences of carrying illegal weapons. Although some of these ads can be funny and are intended to reach a wide audience others are just done to give the message as clear as possible by saying “GUNS=PRISON”, creating a bigger impact and being straight forward in their message.
But as reported in data collected before, as a result of this campaign the prices of guns have had a huge rise in both the legal and black market, since in many ways they function the same. This data indicates a positive outcome for this ambitious plan.
Richard Aborn president of the Non-Profit Citizens Crimes Commission states that the main intention is to “blanket the town with this message”, and this is already beginning to happen.
Most of the units of the NYPD will back up this message and objective by investigating everyone who possesses a weapon and most importantly those suspects who posses illegal firearms. Although there have been many failed attempts in congress to limit cops and their access to guns in the department, New York city’s Mayor Bloomberg, is not giving up and trusts he will gain more support after wrapping up his campaign. “People in this country are tired of criminals on the streets with guns” says Bloomberg who is confident these ads will give an enormous change on the upsetting statistics on last years crimes.
1. NY Daily News
2. NY Sun
After last years numbers on murders and the posession of illegal guns, New York city decided to start with a much needed anti-gun campaign. This campaign was inspired by both the obvious desire to curb crime and diminishing the black gun market. The campaign deals with the fact that the carrying of an illegal piece of armament will result in a jail time of about 3-1/2 years. It was officially initiated the 17th of July and is expected to startle the city with black-white warnings advertising the consequences of carrying illegal weapons. Although some of these ads can be funny and are intended to reach a wide audience others are just done to give the message as clear as possible by saying “GUNS=PRISON”, creating a bigger impact and being straight forward in their message.
But as reported in data collected before, as a result of this campaign the prices of guns have had a huge rise in both the legal and black market, since in many ways they function the same. This data indicates a positive outcome for this ambitious plan.
Richard Aborn president of the Non-Profit Citizens Crimes Commission states that the main intention is to “blanket the town with this message”, and this is already beginning to happen.
Most of the units of the NYPD will back up this message and objective by investigating everyone who possesses a weapon and most importantly those suspects who posses illegal firearms. Although there have been many failed attempts in congress to limit cops and their access to guns in the department, New York city’s Mayor Bloomberg, is not giving up and trusts he will gain more support after wrapping up his campaign. “People in this country are tired of criminals on the streets with guns” says Bloomberg who is confident these ads will give an enormous change on the upsetting statistics on last years crimes.
Michael Vick: Indicted for Possible Involvement in Dogfight Ring
By Mairead
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted yesterday on charges related to an illegal dogfighting ring run out of his Smithfield, VA home, according the nydailynews.com. Investigators believe that Vick and three friends, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor were raising pit bulls and training them to fight to the death. Investigators also believe
that the dogs were being taken over state lines and other dogs were brought to Vick’s home to fight, reportedly from New Jersey, Maryland, New York, the Carolinas, Texas, and Alabama among others. The indictment also included charges of gambling because the owner of the winning dog would receive cash awards.
While the owners may have received star treatment for their dog, the pits themselves, “did not receive prize fighter treatment,” according to abcnews.com. “Prosecutors alleged that the losing dogs were sometimes executed—drowned, hanged, shot or electrocuted.” According to nydailynews.com, when federal authorities raided Vick’s home, also know as “Bad Newz Kennels,” they sized 66 dogs, 55 of which were pit bulls and other dogfighting equipment
including a forced breeding stand and a bloody fighting ring.
It is also alleged that Vick took place in “testing sessions” to determine which dogs would be good fighters. At one testing session that is believed to have taken place in April 2007, it’s said that eight dogs didn’t make the cut, and Vick, Phillips, and Peace then executed them.
If convicted, Vick and his friends could each receive up to six years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines.
The NFL is disappointed in Vick for what has happened, but they have made no moves towards suspension yet. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently began inforcing the league’s personal cunduct policy. Under this policy, Vick does not need to be convicted in order to be suspended, though no suspension has been spoken of yet.
As for the Falcons, while they are disappointed in Vick’s actions, realize that they need to prepare for the upcoming season. Their plan is to “do everything [they] can to support [their] players and coaches.”
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted yesterday on charges related to an illegal dogfighting ring run out of his Smithfield, VA home, according the nydailynews.com. Investigators believe that Vick and three friends, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor were raising pit bulls and training them to fight to the death. Investigators also believe
that the dogs were being taken over state lines and other dogs were brought to Vick’s home to fight, reportedly from New Jersey, Maryland, New York, the Carolinas, Texas, and Alabama among others. The indictment also included charges of gambling because the owner of the winning dog would receive cash awards.
While the owners may have received star treatment for their dog, the pits themselves, “did not receive prize fighter treatment,” according to abcnews.com. “Prosecutors alleged that the losing dogs were sometimes executed—drowned, hanged, shot or electrocuted.” According to nydailynews.com, when federal authorities raided Vick’s home, also know as “Bad Newz Kennels,” they sized 66 dogs, 55 of which were pit bulls and other dogfighting equipment
including a forced breeding stand and a bloody fighting ring.
It is also alleged that Vick took place in “testing sessions” to determine which dogs would be good fighters. At one testing session that is believed to have taken place in April 2007, it’s said that eight dogs didn’t make the cut, and Vick, Phillips, and Peace then executed them.
If convicted, Vick and his friends could each receive up to six years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines.
The NFL is disappointed in Vick for what has happened, but they have made no moves towards suspension yet. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently began inforcing the league’s personal cunduct policy. Under this policy, Vick does not need to be convicted in order to be suspended, though no suspension has been spoken of yet.
As for the Falcons, while they are disappointed in Vick’s actions, realize that they need to prepare for the upcoming season. Their plan is to “do everything [they] can to support [their] players and coaches.”
FIREFIGHTERS GO TO WRONG HOUSE
By Nate
This Tuesday, Braintree, Massachusetts’s firefighters were getting ready to test for their job and tools at a local vacated house set up for demoltion. They started the job off by cutting holes in walls and roof and broke windows to test their gear. However, they accidentally destroyed the wrong house 2 blocks down. The owners of the house were obviously upset. They get angry with town mayor and tell him to have the city pay for their house’s damages. The owners were planning for reconstruction, but not in this way. Later that Tuesday, the house that was supposed to be destroyed by the fire department was torn down as planned.
Between foxnews.com and thebostonchannel.com reporting the story, foxnews.com is definitely the subjective side. The site’s style of writing sort of intends a sense of humor and wit within the story, trying to make it more interesting. Thebostonchannel.com however sticks with the story with a more serious manner by just reporting the news, remaining objective.
Discovery of Underground Lake Brings New Hope to Darfur
By Helen
An underground lake approximately the size of Lake Erie has been discovered in the Darfur region of Sudan. Researchers at Boston University used radar data from space to discover this lake. In this region that has experienced severe ongoing violence, 200,000 people have died and two million have been displaced since 2003.
Sources:
NY Times
BBC
An underground lake approximately the size of Lake Erie has been discovered in the Darfur region of Sudan. Researchers at Boston University used radar data from space to discover this lake. In this region that has experienced severe ongoing violence, 200,000 people have died and two million have been displaced since 2003.
In this arid region, water shortage is one of the problems that led to the current conflict. Geologist Farouk El-Baz of Boston University said, “Much of the unrest in Darfur and the misery is due to water shortages.” These wells will benefit both the African tribes and the Arab nomads who have been warring with each other.
Sources:
NY Times
BBC
What happened to the Sweet Little Girl in the Parent Trap
By Faith
Whether or not you pay attention to mtv news, or keep up to date with your celebrities, most likely, you haven't been able to avoid all news of Lindsay Lohan’s outrageous party lust, or her struggle for sobriety. Lets face it, she’s in every other tabloid on the shelves, and media and magazines across the world are wrapped up in her most recent battles.
Lindsay, who checked into a Malibu Rehabilitation center on May 28th, checked out of rehab on Friday, July 13th. Lohan has confidently completed her 45 days of residential and extended care treatment at Promises. She has decided to become a part of an intensive outpatient program, which includes attendance at daily AA meetings, outpatient therapy, and daily testing. And Lindsay didn’t stop there. “On her own, she has also made the decision in support of her sobriety to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet. In part she is wearing the bracelet so there are no questions about her sobriety if she chooses to go dancing or dining in a place where alcohol is served," the statement said.
Right after the 21-year old star checked out of rehab, her and her friends went straight to Vegas, where Lindsay was reportedly spotted hanging out with her friends, and occasionally taking sips of her energy drink.
Sources:
Huge Quake Rocks Japan
By Nate
This Monday, a huge earthquake hit Japan. Not only did this earthquake attack houses and other buildings, but it also hit a nuclear power plant. This power plant was the largest plant in the world, holding four reactors full of nuclear activity. The earthquake caused massive malfunctions in the plant, leading to leaks and fires. It also caused over 1,000 injuries and the current death toll is 9. Fortunately, the plant’s reactors were shut down before the hit, so the damage wasn’t horrible. There were still some terrible aftershocks from the earthquake with around a 5.8 magnitude. Many radioactive materials were leaked into the sea and air. After the incident, the government ministers ran over to reassure the public safety and help all the hurt people by giving them food and shelter. Safety experts are worried that the after effects from the pollution could cause more natural disasters, such as tsunamis and hurricanes. It is believed that damage to the plant was so severe because the earthquake exceeded the design limit of the reactors. The builders of the site realized they needed to have made a more cautious and stronger design to withhold another earthquake.
While researching on cnn.com and socialismtoday.org, the more objective side was socialismtoday.org. The very first sentence states, “has been rated by the International Atomic Energy Agency as the worst since Chernobyl and the worst ever in Japan.” So it begins by describing the quake as the worst incident and that the writer believes this to be the worst incident ever. This is obviously an opinion and not really sticking to the story itself. Therefore, this shows that cnn.com was more objective in their piece.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Steroids Found in Benoit's Body and House
By Carolina
"In a community like this it's bizarre to have a murder-suicide, specially
involving the death of a 7-year-old," Ballard said. "I don't think we'll
ever be able to wrap our minds around this," Fayette County District Attorney
Scot Ballard said. The murder-suicide of Chris Benoit, his wife and son has
shocked many people that knew this famous pro wrestler and his family.
Benoit contained high levels of testosterone, drugs and steroids in his
body, according to many investigators and scientist that were investigating
the case.
His wife, a 43-year-old-women was probably killed on June 22nd; she was
found in an upstairs family room with bound wrists and feet and blood under
her head, indicating a possible struggle. Their son named Daniel, was
probably killed late Saturday or early Sunday according to the
investigations. Apparently Benoit hanged himself hours later in a downstairs
weight room hanging from the pulley of an exercise equipment.
They do not know for sure if the steroids and drugs found in Benoit‚s
system was the cause of the terrible murder-suicide performed last month at
Benoit‚s Atlanta home. Authorities said Benoit placed a Bible next to each
of their bodies, before killing himself.
With all the investigations and tests they made, authorities found that
Benoit‚s wife, tested positive for Xanax, hydrocodone and the painkiller
hydromorphone, and their 7-year-old had Xanax in his body as well.
"In a community like this it's bizarre to have a murder-suicide, specially
involving the death of a 7-year-old," Ballard said. "I don't think we'll
ever be able to wrap our minds around this," Fayette County District Attorney
Scot Ballard said. The murder-suicide of Chris Benoit, his wife and son has
shocked many people that knew this famous pro wrestler and his family.
Benoit contained high levels of testosterone, drugs and steroids in his
body, according to many investigators and scientist that were investigating
the case.
His wife, a 43-year-old-women was probably killed on June 22nd; she was
found in an upstairs family room with bound wrists and feet and blood under
her head, indicating a possible struggle. Their son named Daniel, was
probably killed late Saturday or early Sunday according to the
investigations. Apparently Benoit hanged himself hours later in a downstairs
weight room hanging from the pulley of an exercise equipment.
They do not know for sure if the steroids and drugs found in Benoit‚s
system was the cause of the terrible murder-suicide performed last month at
Benoit‚s Atlanta home. Authorities said Benoit placed a Bible next to each
of their bodies, before killing himself.
With all the investigations and tests they made, authorities found that
Benoit‚s wife, tested positive for Xanax, hydrocodone and the painkiller
hydromorphone, and their 7-year-old had Xanax in his body as well.
Indiana Pizza Waitress Receives Large Tip
By Jasmine
A waitress at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Angola, Indiana received a $10,000 tip to put towards college, from a family who frequented the chain.
The family, a mother and two sons, ate at the restaurant regularly, almost once a week or more. They often requested waitress Jessica Osborne, 20, and she would usually sit and chat, even mentioning to them earlier last week her dreams of returning to college after dropping out twice due to not being able to afford it. However, last Sunday’s visit ended rather differently. Osborne, who had the family’s usual order memorized- two Mountain Dews, a cup of hot water for tea, and a large Meat Lover’s Stuffed Crust pizza, cried so hard she almost couldn’t breathe when they handed her the check folded in half.
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, used money from an education fund they created after a death in the family for Osborne’s check. They had been asked by Osborne to stop by the Pizza Hut restaurant to say goodbye before their planned move to a small town outside of Fort Wayne, but she had no idea what an act of kindness she was in for.
A waitress at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Angola, Indiana received a $10,000 tip to put towards college, from a family who frequented the chain.
The family, a mother and two sons, ate at the restaurant regularly, almost once a week or more. They often requested waitress Jessica Osborne, 20, and she would usually sit and chat, even mentioning to them earlier last week her dreams of returning to college after dropping out twice due to not being able to afford it. However, last Sunday’s visit ended rather differently. Osborne, who had the family’s usual order memorized- two Mountain Dews, a cup of hot water for tea, and a large Meat Lover’s Stuffed Crust pizza, cried so hard she almost couldn’t breathe when they handed her the check folded in half.
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, used money from an education fund they created after a death in the family for Osborne’s check. They had been asked by Osborne to stop by the Pizza Hut restaurant to say goodbye before their planned move to a small town outside of Fort Wayne, but she had no idea what an act of kindness she was in for.
“Suspicious Package” in Found in Washington: (Another) False Alarm
By Kristin
“It’s better to be safe than stupid,” says Larry Bravman, a Washington DC restaurant employee, “it’s when they stop checking these things out that something’s going to happen.”
But nothing did happen Monday July 16, 2007, a day police and bomb technicians swarmed Washington DC streets. Their target: a formerly inconspicuous green suitcase. And after being completely dismantled bomb technician Paul Friedlander, it was regarded as nothing more than a false alarm. Soon after, streets that were blocked off, people and traffic held up by the commotion, and anything displaced by the suspicious package returned to their normal activity as if nothing had ever happened.
Though once noted as an inconvenience, routine checks such as these have become exactly that. In fact, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 “threats” such as the green suitcase are reported nearly twice as often. Objects such as a dirty diaper, a bobble head doll, and a child’s backpack are among this list of threats.
Washington DC is not the only city caught in this paradox. In New York City, what was once a mere 814 reports per year (in 2002), now stands at 37,614. In Boston, these reports have tripled since 2001.
With inconveniences such as these occurring more and more often with each passing year, a question is left in the minds of residents of major cities everywhere: Is it really better to be safe than stupid?
New York police department spokesman Paul Browne says it is.
“Someday vigilance may save lives,” he confirms.
The progressive safety measures being taken may in fact be the closest thing to absolute safety. It does seem as if these extreme safety measures are here to stay. The public is highly encouraged by police departments everywhere to continue being cautious, and one day it may be responsible for the saving of lives.
Boston Herald
CNN.com
“It’s better to be safe than stupid,” says Larry Bravman, a Washington DC restaurant employee, “it’s when they stop checking these things out that something’s going to happen.”
But nothing did happen Monday July 16, 2007, a day police and bomb technicians swarmed Washington DC streets. Their target: a formerly inconspicuous green suitcase. And after being completely dismantled bomb technician Paul Friedlander, it was regarded as nothing more than a false alarm. Soon after, streets that were blocked off, people and traffic held up by the commotion, and anything displaced by the suspicious package returned to their normal activity as if nothing had ever happened.
Though once noted as an inconvenience, routine checks such as these have become exactly that. In fact, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 “threats” such as the green suitcase are reported nearly twice as often. Objects such as a dirty diaper, a bobble head doll, and a child’s backpack are among this list of threats.
Washington DC is not the only city caught in this paradox. In New York City, what was once a mere 814 reports per year (in 2002), now stands at 37,614. In Boston, these reports have tripled since 2001.
With inconveniences such as these occurring more and more often with each passing year, a question is left in the minds of residents of major cities everywhere: Is it really better to be safe than stupid?
New York police department spokesman Paul Browne says it is.
“Someday vigilance may save lives,” he confirms.
The progressive safety measures being taken may in fact be the closest thing to absolute safety. It does seem as if these extreme safety measures are here to stay. The public is highly encouraged by police departments everywhere to continue being cautious, and one day it may be responsible for the saving of lives.
Boston Herald
CNN.com
Senate Considers Future of Iraq
By Helen
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled an all-night session to attempt to pass a Democratic plan for troop withdrawal from Iraq. This plan, co-sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Rep. Jack Reed (D-RI) would begin the withdrawal in 120 days, and would require complete withdrawal from Iraq by April 2008. Last week, the House passed a similar bill. President Bush has threatened to veto the Levin-Reed amendment if it is passed.
Mr. Reid has scheduled this session on Tuesday night in hope that more moderate Republicans will agree to vote for this amendment. Normally, a simple majority of 51 senators would be required to pass this amendment, but the Republicans have used the tactic of a filibuster to make it so that 60 senator’s votes are needed to pass the amendment. Three Republicans have already given their support to the Levin-Reed plan, and a fourth has said that she is considering doing the same.
If the Levin-Reed plan fails to get the support necessary, there are two more plans scheduled to be voted on this week. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Sen. John Warner (R-VA) have co-sponsored a plan to begin troop withdrawal by the end of this year. Neither the White House nor the Democrats are happy with this plan. President Bush wants to wait for a progress report on Iraq that will be released on September 15th, and Democrats criticize the plan because it offers no concrete date for complete troop withdrawal.
The third plan scheduled to be voted on this week would implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. This plan would reassign many US troops to train Iraqi soldiers, and would encourage more diplomacy with the countries that border Iraq.
Sources:
BBC.com
CNN.com
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled an all-night session to attempt to pass a Democratic plan for troop withdrawal from Iraq. This plan, co-sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Rep. Jack Reed (D-RI) would begin the withdrawal in 120 days, and would require complete withdrawal from Iraq by April 2008. Last week, the House passed a similar bill. President Bush has threatened to veto the Levin-Reed amendment if it is passed.
Mr. Reid has scheduled this session on Tuesday night in hope that more moderate Republicans will agree to vote for this amendment. Normally, a simple majority of 51 senators would be required to pass this amendment, but the Republicans have used the tactic of a filibuster to make it so that 60 senator’s votes are needed to pass the amendment. Three Republicans have already given their support to the Levin-Reed plan, and a fourth has said that she is considering doing the same.
If the Levin-Reed plan fails to get the support necessary, there are two more plans scheduled to be voted on this week. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Sen. John Warner (R-VA) have co-sponsored a plan to begin troop withdrawal by the end of this year. Neither the White House nor the Democrats are happy with this plan. President Bush wants to wait for a progress report on Iraq that will be released on September 15th, and Democrats criticize the plan because it offers no concrete date for complete troop withdrawal.
The third plan scheduled to be voted on this week would implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. This plan would reassign many US troops to train Iraqi soldiers, and would encourage more diplomacy with the countries that border Iraq.
Sources:
BBC.com
CNN.com
Harry Potter’s Seventh Book Spoilers
By Juanita
Both these articles refer to the incidents that have been going on the past weeks before the much awaited release of the seventh and final copy of the Harry Potter book series. Although the contents in them can be quite different they are referring to the same topic: the spoilers of the last edition of Harry Potter. Link number one informs us about a supposed release of the seventh book online, while link number two deals mostly with the fact that the reason why some people are already suspecting how the series ends is because many of the involved in the publishing and printing areas have been leaking out certain information about it.
We may appreciate how in link number one the information is displayed in a such a way that the facts are not exactly shown but instead they are told, whereas in the second article it presents the news using both facts and quotations from very reliable sources. Even though both articles come from sources that can always be trusted, it may be suggested that cbs news
handles a more precise information. However we can also say that netither of the articles seem bias but instead are just portraying the information exactly as it is obtained and they are just reports on the events, the causes and the consequences of them therefore there seems to be no
objectivity and neither of the journalists of them give an exact opinion on the subject but just limit themselves to narrate what is happening.
J.K Rowling fails to keep her secret
After concluding with her final edition of the Harry Potter series, and just a few weeks before its release there have been reports of the cop being available online. Sources have said that there is a web page in where the book is shown through pictures if each of its pages. Although most of it is very illegible the ending is one page that can be definitely read easily. Before finishing writing the book J.K Rowling said in an interview that the ending of her piece was “scar” , however she then regretted this commentary stating that she will not give a final word on it. Despite this fact and the immense amount of security and secrecy there has been applied to such a book people involved with the publishing and editing of it have had the courage of violating many of the rules and laws towards this release and as it has been reported a whole copy of several pages and the summary was emailed to one of the web masters of a fan site. And its incidents like these that have turned the release of the book an even more awaiting and unpredictable event, however it has also affected it seriously since now that its on the web the finale has been completely ruined, especially for those who have been following the texts through out these past years. The secrecy of a such important item of literary history was completely lost and with it a lot of it’s magic which has always been an important characteristic of the Harry Potter novels. There are still no reports on J.K Rowling’s response to such an insult, but it is most likely that this issue turns into a huge judicial scandal. On the upside there are still millions of fans waiting for the clock to strike midnight this Friday, date of the official release.
Both these articles refer to the incidents that have been going on the past weeks before the much awaited release of the seventh and final copy of the Harry Potter book series. Although the contents in them can be quite different they are referring to the same topic: the spoilers of the last edition of Harry Potter. Link number one informs us about a supposed release of the seventh book online, while link number two deals mostly with the fact that the reason why some people are already suspecting how the series ends is because many of the involved in the publishing and printing areas have been leaking out certain information about it.
We may appreciate how in link number one the information is displayed in a such a way that the facts are not exactly shown but instead they are told, whereas in the second article it presents the news using both facts and quotations from very reliable sources. Even though both articles come from sources that can always be trusted, it may be suggested that cbs news
handles a more precise information. However we can also say that netither of the articles seem bias but instead are just portraying the information exactly as it is obtained and they are just reports on the events, the causes and the consequences of them therefore there seems to be no
objectivity and neither of the journalists of them give an exact opinion on the subject but just limit themselves to narrate what is happening.
J.K Rowling fails to keep her secret
After concluding with her final edition of the Harry Potter series, and just a few weeks before its release there have been reports of the cop being available online. Sources have said that there is a web page in where the book is shown through pictures if each of its pages. Although most of it is very illegible the ending is one page that can be definitely read easily. Before finishing writing the book J.K Rowling said in an interview that the ending of her piece was “scar” , however she then regretted this commentary stating that she will not give a final word on it. Despite this fact and the immense amount of security and secrecy there has been applied to such a book people involved with the publishing and editing of it have had the courage of violating many of the rules and laws towards this release and as it has been reported a whole copy of several pages and the summary was emailed to one of the web masters of a fan site. And its incidents like these that have turned the release of the book an even more awaiting and unpredictable event, however it has also affected it seriously since now that its on the web the finale has been completely ruined, especially for those who have been following the texts through out these past years. The secrecy of a such important item of literary history was completely lost and with it a lot of it’s magic which has always been an important characteristic of the Harry Potter novels. There are still no reports on J.K Rowling’s response to such an insult, but it is most likely that this issue turns into a huge judicial scandal. On the upside there are still millions of fans waiting for the clock to strike midnight this Friday, date of the official release.
Evolution or God?
By Faith
Obviously one of the characteristics of being a human being is Bipedalism—walking on two feet. Many scientists, infatuated with this hot topic, have made attempts to try to answer the question that people have been debating for years: Is it evolution or God?
In the most recent attempt to find an explanation, researchers trained five chimps to walk on a treadmill while wearing masks that measured their oxygen intake. The chimps were tested on both walking upright and while moving on their legs and knuckles.
The measurement of energy needed was compared with similar tests on humans. And as it turns out, humans walking on two legs use only one-quarter of the energy the chimpanzees use while walking on all fours. On average, chimps use just as much energy using just their two legs, as they did while walking on all fours. David Raichlen, assistant professor of anthropology at university of Arizona, states that one of the chimps used less energy on two legs, one used about the same and the others used more.
“What we were surprised at was the variation. That was pretty exciting, because when you talk about how evolution works, variation is the bottom line, without variation there is no evolution…Walking on two legs freed out arms, opening the door to manipulating the world. We think about the evolution of bipedalism as one of the first events that led hominids down the path to being human.” Though Professor Raichlen has a point, many people believe that they can answer the question many scientists have been asking for years. Their answer? God. Many believe that the reason human beings walk upright is that God made us this way, and the tests performed on chimpanzees mean nothing. In contrast, most evolutionists believe that God plays no part in it, and the reason monkeys walk the way they do, is an effect of adaptation and survival of the fittest, but overall, evolution. So the question still remains if in fact, evolution is the reason human beings walk upright, and as a result use less energy than the chimps who walk on all-fours, or if we have been walking upright since our creation by God.
Obviously one of the characteristics of being a human being is Bipedalism—walking on two feet. Many scientists, infatuated with this hot topic, have made attempts to try to answer the question that people have been debating for years: Is it evolution or God?
In the most recent attempt to find an explanation, researchers trained five chimps to walk on a treadmill while wearing masks that measured their oxygen intake. The chimps were tested on both walking upright and while moving on their legs and knuckles.
The measurement of energy needed was compared with similar tests on humans. And as it turns out, humans walking on two legs use only one-quarter of the energy the chimpanzees use while walking on all fours. On average, chimps use just as much energy using just their two legs, as they did while walking on all fours. David Raichlen, assistant professor of anthropology at university of Arizona, states that one of the chimps used less energy on two legs, one used about the same and the others used more.
“What we were surprised at was the variation. That was pretty exciting, because when you talk about how evolution works, variation is the bottom line, without variation there is no evolution…Walking on two legs freed out arms, opening the door to manipulating the world. We think about the evolution of bipedalism as one of the first events that led hominids down the path to being human.” Though Professor Raichlen has a point, many people believe that they can answer the question many scientists have been asking for years. Their answer? God. Many believe that the reason human beings walk upright is that God made us this way, and the tests performed on chimpanzees mean nothing. In contrast, most evolutionists believe that God plays no part in it, and the reason monkeys walk the way they do, is an effect of adaptation and survival of the fittest, but overall, evolution. So the question still remains if in fact, evolution is the reason human beings walk upright, and as a result use less energy than the chimps who walk on all-fours, or if we have been walking upright since our creation by God.
40 year-old Mother of Four Shot and Killed, Estranged Husband is Primary Suspect
By Mairead
Early Saturday morning, while singing a version of Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar,” 40-year-old Robin Munis was shot and killed. The police suspect the killer to be her estranged husband, David Munis, 36. Late Monday evening, a woman spotted a black Dodge with National Guard plates in a canyon near her home. She notified the police, who believe David is now on foot and armed with at least one handgun and two canteens. The police found the empty handgun case in the truck, and after searching his home they believe that he may also have at least one high-powered rifle, according to MSNBC.com.
Munis was in the Army and a graduate of the Army Sniper School in 2001. He also has been a member of the Wyoming National Guard since 2003. According to foxnews.com, the police secured an arrest warrant Monday for the arrest of David Munis charging him with homicide. They also note that Munis has not accessed his bank account or touched his cell phone. However, a recent Fox News broadcast contradicts the information on Fox's website and mentions a ping from his cell phone.
Both MSNBC.com and foxnews.com quoted police Lt. Jeff Schulz saying, “Apprehending a man with that kind of sniper skill and the weaponry he has available to him is an extremely dangerous type of proposition.” MSNBC.com went on to John Plaster who is a sniperEarly Saturday morning, while singing a version of Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar,” 40-year-old Robin Munis was shot and killed. The police suspect the killer to be her estranged husband, David Munis, 36. Late Monday evening, a woman spotted a black Dodge with National Guard plates in a canyon near her home. She notified the police, who believe David is now on foot and armed with at least one handgun and two canteens. The police found the empty handgun case in the truck, and after searching his home they believe that he may also have at least one high-powered rifle, according to MSNBC.com.
Munis was in the Army and a graduate of the Army Sniper School in 2001. He also has been a member of the Wyoming National Guard since 2003. According to foxnews.com, the police secured an arrest warrant Monday for the arrest of David Munis charging him with homicide. They also note that Munis has not accessed his bank account or touched his cell phone. However, a recent Fox News broadcast contradicts the information on Fox's website and mentions a ping from his cell phone.
instructor for the military and law enforcement agencies. He said that a man like Munis saw his wife as the enemy and would not be likely to shoot at the police. However, should he be cornered, he is a very dangerous person. Military sharpshooters are trained to think of what they do as saving the lines of their troops. Because of this mindset, Plaster believes that Munis would be more likely to turn the weapon upon himself than turn it on law enforcement. Robin Munis left behind four children ages 19, 17, 13, 5.
For more info on this story go to:
foxnews.com
msnbc.com
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