Capital punishment is making national headlines again with two high-profile murder cases. The case of Troy Davis in Georgia and Steven Woods in Texas bring the topic back to the forefront. This has long been a heated debate crossing gender and class lines. As a question of faith, I believe that killing is wrong for any reason. However I do believe that protecting yourself does not fall under the definition of murder, and is inherently for the greater good of the whole.
The articles are chocked full of moral implications by the group Amnesty International (AI). The group, whose numbers went from the tens of thousands in the 1960s to hundreds of thousands in the 1970s and 80s, believes it is wrong for a government to decide when to take a life. As I said before, I believe the execution of a person who is a danger to the well being of his/her society is justified. The group maintains hugely successful influence on several continents. Europe and the USA are two major areas where AI has successfully lobbied for stays of execution for prisoners numbering in the thousands.
This is where the debate gets tricky. You have obvious safety concerns letting these prisoners continue living. Some prisoners have the opportunity for parole; er go the opportunity to rejoin society as free men. Beyond that you have moral concerns regarding how just it is to take a life. I am far from a judge, but I believe that when a person breaks the law and takes a life, that man has forfeited his own life to God. Friends of mine directed me to this article, but what do you think? Is it right for one man to judge another? If not, what is the point of having laws in the first place? What do you decide?
http://tcadp.org/2011/09/14/state-of-texas-executes-steven-woods/#comment-50208
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/davis_reconsideration_rejected.html
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Charlie Sheen Crazy???
Charlie Sheen is not crazy. Well he is, but also a financial genius at the same time. You want proof? Here it is.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/charlie-sheen-win-125-million-settlement-warner-brothers/story?id=14565688
The man who coined himself the “rock star from Mars” and “the warlock of Eden” has landed himself right smack down in the middle of cash town. And you all thought he was insane…shame on you. Okay, even I thought Sheen had fallen off the reality wagon as well. But as it turns out, getting fired from a hit television show and making himself the ass of the public eye might have been the smartest thing he’s done. Ever.
This Op-Ed piece from Sheila Marikar lays out what could be Sheen’s biggest payday since his initial contract signing for ‘Two and a Half Men’. $25 million dollars up front for episodes he already shot, with an additional estimated $100 million in syndication rights. When was the last time you heard of someone landing $125 million for doing a bad job and ruining their lives for the fame and adoration of massive audiences? Ancient Rome, perhaps? Let’s call this what it is…Sheen is a gladiator and we are the mob of Roman citizens. His every fault and glimmering moments of excellence are jeered and cheered ever louder each day. With that in mind, I’m completely supportive of this ghoulish imp raking in piles and piles of cash for his dedication to screwing up. Everyone is entitled to make a living.
In recent weeks, Sheen has been cleaning up his act. Going as far to offer his sincere well-wishes to his former cast and laying off the ya-yo, thank the Lord. Anybody else think he’s living out a movie scene in his mind? If I had to guess it is probably “Wall Street” where Sheen’s character utters the phrase “money isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. He is one of my favorite actors, and to be honest, a personal favorite on TMZ. Now Sheen can add another self endowed title to his list of mantras: “richest failure ever”.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/charlie-sheen-win-125-million-settlement-warner-brothers/story?id=14565688
The man who coined himself the “rock star from Mars” and “the warlock of Eden” has landed himself right smack down in the middle of cash town. And you all thought he was insane…shame on you. Okay, even I thought Sheen had fallen off the reality wagon as well. But as it turns out, getting fired from a hit television show and making himself the ass of the public eye might have been the smartest thing he’s done. Ever.
This Op-Ed piece from Sheila Marikar lays out what could be Sheen’s biggest payday since his initial contract signing for ‘Two and a Half Men’. $25 million dollars up front for episodes he already shot, with an additional estimated $100 million in syndication rights. When was the last time you heard of someone landing $125 million for doing a bad job and ruining their lives for the fame and adoration of massive audiences? Ancient Rome, perhaps? Let’s call this what it is…Sheen is a gladiator and we are the mob of Roman citizens. His every fault and glimmering moments of excellence are jeered and cheered ever louder each day. With that in mind, I’m completely supportive of this ghoulish imp raking in piles and piles of cash for his dedication to screwing up. Everyone is entitled to make a living.
In recent weeks, Sheen has been cleaning up his act. Going as far to offer his sincere well-wishes to his former cast and laying off the ya-yo, thank the Lord. Anybody else think he’s living out a movie scene in his mind? If I had to guess it is probably “Wall Street” where Sheen’s character utters the phrase “money isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. He is one of my favorite actors, and to be honest, a personal favorite on TMZ. Now Sheen can add another self endowed title to his list of mantras: “richest failure ever”.
DRAFT????
Did anybody happen to catch this recent piece from yahoo news?
http://news.yahoo.com/armed-services-chairman-cuts-could-mean-draft-152633923.html;_ylt=Alfc_UzcP8XDySWKuJmSZiCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNtZG84OWZxBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDNzNlNGI1MTAtN2JlMC0zOGU4LWEwOGMtODdiZGFkN2Q1OTE3BHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgNjZDVlZmY2MC1lNDcwLTExZTAtYjY3Zi01MzQ3MjU2YTU3MDk-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3
Don’t let the lengthy URL fool you, the story is quite short. It almost falls into the humor column how the Associated Press (AP) buried this story into an online archive almost instantly. We are talking about the draft here. Yes, THAT draft. Although unlikely, look at some of the key components within the article and you will find the unwanted truth is that there is a possibility the draft could return.
Rep. Howard McKeon lays it out in the second paragraph. If Congress can’t find a way to quickly make $1.5 trillion in cuts from other programs, $1.2 trillion in cuts get made automatically with half coming from National Defense. Two wars are currently being waged overseas with new enemies coming out of the woodwork daily. Cutting $600,000,000 from Defense spending is not only unwise, it’s downright stupidity. Losing 200,000 soldiers in one fell swoop would mean being caught with our pants down at minimum.
At least some members involved managed to keep a sense of levity through the proceedings. Rep. Joe Wilson made me laugh with his quotable quote to the AP. "We don't need as large a military due to the technology we have, the equipment we have outfitting our personnel. They really are storm troopers." Always count on Congress to equate war to Star Wars. At least that is something a younger generation can relate to. The best way to summarize this is by looking at the impacts. Who loses here? Is it Congress? Is it the tax payers? I think the biggest losers here are America’s next generation. The people we entrust to protect America and her freedoms should never be forced to do so. I hope this is a piece of scare tactic literature than never becomes a reality.
http://news.yahoo.com/armed-services-chairman-cuts-could-mean-draft-152633923.html;_ylt=Alfc_UzcP8XDySWKuJmSZiCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNtZG84OWZxBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDNzNlNGI1MTAtN2JlMC0zOGU4LWEwOGMtODdiZGFkN2Q1OTE3BHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgNjZDVlZmY2MC1lNDcwLTExZTAtYjY3Zi01MzQ3MjU2YTU3MDk-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3
Don’t let the lengthy URL fool you, the story is quite short. It almost falls into the humor column how the Associated Press (AP) buried this story into an online archive almost instantly. We are talking about the draft here. Yes, THAT draft. Although unlikely, look at some of the key components within the article and you will find the unwanted truth is that there is a possibility the draft could return.
Rep. Howard McKeon lays it out in the second paragraph. If Congress can’t find a way to quickly make $1.5 trillion in cuts from other programs, $1.2 trillion in cuts get made automatically with half coming from National Defense. Two wars are currently being waged overseas with new enemies coming out of the woodwork daily. Cutting $600,000,000 from Defense spending is not only unwise, it’s downright stupidity. Losing 200,000 soldiers in one fell swoop would mean being caught with our pants down at minimum.
At least some members involved managed to keep a sense of levity through the proceedings. Rep. Joe Wilson made me laugh with his quotable quote to the AP. "We don't need as large a military due to the technology we have, the equipment we have outfitting our personnel. They really are storm troopers." Always count on Congress to equate war to Star Wars. At least that is something a younger generation can relate to. The best way to summarize this is by looking at the impacts. Who loses here? Is it Congress? Is it the tax payers? I think the biggest losers here are America’s next generation. The people we entrust to protect America and her freedoms should never be forced to do so. I hope this is a piece of scare tactic literature than never becomes a reality.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag
A group in Massachusetts is trying to have the Pledge of Allegiance banned from on towns school.
Plastic Hollywood
Hollywood is the tinsel town, were dreams come true. But has also become a town of women and men paying to get enhancements to their bodies that some see as unnecessary. So many young stars are going under the knife. Hedi Montage has had many surgeries having 10 in one day. And she is only 24. To think that young stars are going under the knife show how crazy life is for the big stars. Trying to be better than the girl next door. Bigger, Better, Beautiful.
I read this article at http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/09/08/young-stars-getting-prematurely-plumped-up-experts-say/. I had to think about this one, hard. Is Are we really so vain that we have to be better, prettier, tanner than our friends and family? Is this what we want are kids to be about? I am not saying I am against plastic surgery or botox. I notice the gray hair the wrinkles the older body. But do I really want to look 20 for the rest of my life? Is it sad that we are the start of this trend? I have tough about some surgery but I see the obsession with being skinny with beautiful.
Are that person that wants to be better than your friends and think surgery is the answer? I think the biggest deal is that it is dangerous. It is scary that my daughter is being brought up in this body obsessed world.
I read this article at http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/09/08/young-stars-getting-prematurely-plumped-up-experts-say/. I had to think about this one, hard. Is Are we really so vain that we have to be better, prettier, tanner than our friends and family? Is this what we want are kids to be about? I am not saying I am against plastic surgery or botox. I notice the gray hair the wrinkles the older body. But do I really want to look 20 for the rest of my life? Is it sad that we are the start of this trend? I have tough about some surgery but I see the obsession with being skinny with beautiful.
Are that person that wants to be better than your friends and think surgery is the answer? I think the biggest deal is that it is dangerous. It is scary that my daughter is being brought up in this body obsessed world.
School bullying is an Epidemic
More than 160,000 student stay home from school because of bullying. I found this article at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/TheLaw/school-bullying-epidemic-turning-deadly/story?id=11880841. In 2010 at least 14 student committed suicide because of bullies. This story tears at my heart. I was bullied in school, but i never thought of suicide. Never thought of going to my school with a gun and going after the bullies.
This article talks about a young boy who was bullied throughout his school years. In his junior year of school he took his life. His parents had been to the school and talked with the administration about the bullies. Told that thee was nothing that could be done over and over. Think how you would feel to know that you couldn't help your child, that no one would try. I try to teach my own children that we never make fin of people because of anything. Do you ever catch yourself saying "did you see what she is wearing", or "wow he has got fat"? Now think how you would feel. After reading this article i realize how awful some kids have it now.
I think this article is very important, and glad i could find and read more about this awful epidemic. Hoping that we can do something about this. Bulling is one of the biggest thing in a child's life. I think that this reflects on a child for their entire life. this is something that we can help with. Children are cruel, i have seen lots of it while working with them. But why is that, is the parents or peers??? We as parents and fellow peers need to set better examples..
This article talks about a young boy who was bullied throughout his school years. In his junior year of school he took his life. His parents had been to the school and talked with the administration about the bullies. Told that thee was nothing that could be done over and over. Think how you would feel to know that you couldn't help your child, that no one would try. I try to teach my own children that we never make fin of people because of anything. Do you ever catch yourself saying "did you see what she is wearing", or "wow he has got fat"? Now think how you would feel. After reading this article i realize how awful some kids have it now.
I think this article is very important, and glad i could find and read more about this awful epidemic. Hoping that we can do something about this. Bulling is one of the biggest thing in a child's life. I think that this reflects on a child for their entire life. this is something that we can help with. Children are cruel, i have seen lots of it while working with them. But why is that, is the parents or peers??? We as parents and fellow peers need to set better examples..
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Autism rising in younger siblings
After working in the autism filed for the last 3 years I have worked with a larger number of children with this disorder. I found this article at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110815095019.htm. It is a study that that 1 in 110 children have autism and out of that number studies show that mor than 19% of younger sibling also have been diagnosed with the disorder.
I have seen children with siblings that have no effects at all and I have seen some with every sibling have some form of autism. It is almost as if autism is being studied more as an incurable disorder, Though i have no degree in medical science and have never seen a child be cured. I cannot say it can't happen. I have seen children that hit every milestone on target and then at the age of 3 lose all communication skills, and begin from the beginning again. I have seen children hat are in 4th grade in just a few months raise there academics from a 2nd grade level to grade level expectations. In the children i worked with I had 2 or 3 that had siblings that had some form of autism. One case was 5 kids all having some form of autism but the youngest. That next to youngest was the worst case being non verbal and violent.
In my opinion I believe that more studies need to be done. I have seen case on both sides. I know many believe that autism is caused by vaccinations and though many studies have shown that vaccinations are not the case. I have seen children who were developing fine then got vaccines and suddenly had autism.I straddle the fence on the whole subject. I see in at many angles. But all in all autism is the new disease just as ADD was 15 years ago.
I have seen children with siblings that have no effects at all and I have seen some with every sibling have some form of autism. It is almost as if autism is being studied more as an incurable disorder, Though i have no degree in medical science and have never seen a child be cured. I cannot say it can't happen. I have seen children that hit every milestone on target and then at the age of 3 lose all communication skills, and begin from the beginning again. I have seen children hat are in 4th grade in just a few months raise there academics from a 2nd grade level to grade level expectations. In the children i worked with I had 2 or 3 that had siblings that had some form of autism. One case was 5 kids all having some form of autism but the youngest. That next to youngest was the worst case being non verbal and violent.
In my opinion I believe that more studies need to be done. I have seen case on both sides. I know many believe that autism is caused by vaccinations and though many studies have shown that vaccinations are not the case. I have seen children who were developing fine then got vaccines and suddenly had autism.I straddle the fence on the whole subject. I see in at many angles. But all in all autism is the new disease just as ADD was 15 years ago.
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