Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire-Not so happy ever after
This was in the Lincoln Journal Star.
Rubina Ali's house is flooded with water. She uses a bucket to throw it out, but it's no use. The water, and the rats, keep coming back.
To keep herself and the neighborhood children entertained, they start a mud fight. She rubs the mud onto her friend's face. The girl, in turn flings mud back. They laugh with delight, and Rubina is washed off with gray water.
At least there is some happiness since the child stared in the hit movie only three months ago. But everything else isn't going the way it should be. Even after a trust, named Jai Ho, was set up for her hasn't brought much. They want to provide her and her family a house thousands of miles away from her hometown in India. They won't hear of it. Her estranged mother suddenly appeared. Pictures of her mother and step-mother pulling each others hair out filled tabloids. Her father tried to sell her, he needed drinking money.
It's so disgusting to think that a child that was in such a popular movie that earned $326 million at the box office would still be in such poor conditions. More than $700,000 was donated to a local charity, but things seem to be worse. Won't anyone help them? I think that it's right for Rubina wanting to stay in her homecountry and hometown, but I think that the producers of the movie need to try harder to ensure that she and her family have a safe place to live in, not the slum that she is all-too-familiar with.
Rubina Ali's house is flooded with water. She uses a bucket to throw it out, but it's no use. The water, and the rats, keep coming back.
To keep herself and the neighborhood children entertained, they start a mud fight. She rubs the mud onto her friend's face. The girl, in turn flings mud back. They laugh with delight, and Rubina is washed off with gray water.
At least there is some happiness since the child stared in the hit movie only three months ago. But everything else isn't going the way it should be. Even after a trust, named Jai Ho, was set up for her hasn't brought much. They want to provide her and her family a house thousands of miles away from her hometown in India. They won't hear of it. Her estranged mother suddenly appeared. Pictures of her mother and step-mother pulling each others hair out filled tabloids. Her father tried to sell her, he needed drinking money.
It's so disgusting to think that a child that was in such a popular movie that earned $326 million at the box office would still be in such poor conditions. More than $700,000 was donated to a local charity, but things seem to be worse. Won't anyone help them? I think that it's right for Rubina wanting to stay in her homecountry and hometown, but I think that the producers of the movie need to try harder to ensure that she and her family have a safe place to live in, not the slum that she is all-too-familiar with.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Charity George: A Living Miracle
Hello, my name is Charity George. I'm 29 years old and I am a miracle.
Charity is beautiful, with short brown hair and blue eyes. She is the wife to a wonderful husband named Jeremy, a pastor at Christian Homes in Holdrege. She is the mother of two beautiful girls, ages two and four, and is expecting another in early September. She is a daughter and a friend. She is an avid blogger. And She survived a brain tumor that affected her body to the point that only her eyes could move in her frozen body.
On April 19, 2007, Charity greeted the morning with numbness on her left side. April 23 revealed to Charity and the doctors that a massive brain tumor was attached to her brain stem. Twenty-six days later, Charity was trapped in her own body. The doctors at the Mayo clinic hung their heads and predicted dark and limited days ahead. But Jeremy prayed to God and promised to take her on a cruise once she was better. Charity blinked in agreement. Once for yes, two for no.
Four days later, Charity's thumb twitched. The steroid treatments were working. As Charity describes, the next six months floated by like a dream. On November 12, Charity looked at her mother and said, "I'm awake."
March 13, 2008, found Charity with another MRI, this time with good news. The tumor had shrunk from three centimeters to two point two. Her vertebrae was healing. On March 25, Charity was able to move to Omaha to Quality Living, a home for those in rehabilitation, after nine months at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.
Nearly a year after her first symptoms, Charity was able to eat and swallow, speak small sentences, type with a regular keyboard, use a manual wheelchair, operate a powered wheelchair, sit in a chair and remain standing with most of her own strength. She began to take over her father's blog that he wrote on to keep family and friends updated on her progress. "I used to spend all day talking, now saying a sentence can be taxing," wrote Charity.
In December 2008, Charity moved to Christan Nursing Homes in Holdrege, Nebraska where her husband and children lived. Charity was almost home. She blogged daily to vent her frustrations and praise those around her. Her biggest pet peeves included handling early morning showers and her speech.
On January 31 she wrote, "It drives me nuts when people just give up understanding me or get super frustrated and walk away saying, "well,I can't understand her," as if I'm some third-party or when they pretend to understand me. Uh, this new life of mine has given me radar for this and I KNOW WHEN YOU ARE FAKING. It's not their fault if they can't understand me, I am well aware I have a speech problem. People don't have to feel bad saying 'what, I didn't get that.' Not in a million years would I be offended, ask away, I would so much rather be understood, than misunderstood."
Charity kept blogging daily until April 18, 2009. She greeted the morning with anticipation and a smile on her face. Her husband and children welcomed her in the main lobby. Jeremy helped her into the new handicap-accessible van and drove her to the new handicap-accessible home. After two years away, Charity came home. As a wife. As a mother. As a friend. As an equal. And her speech isn't all that bad, either.
And as for that cruise, it's scheduled for 2010, Charity and Jeremy's 10th anniversary.
Hello Charity George, you are a miracle.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
How much does a painting by Hitler go for?
This just stunned me-I didn't even know that he painted. According to an article , a pair of paintings of a farm on a riverside signed by Adolf Hitler were auctioned off for about $42,000.
When Hitler was young, he tried to sell his paintings as a living. One source said he made many paintings.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Most Polluted Places in America
In honor of Earth day on Wednesday, April 22, I bring you the most polluted places in America.
Air: Los Angeles
"Each year the American Lung Association releases a list of the 10 most air polluted U.S. cities, and each year Los Angeles makes it into the top three on these lists in all categories: Short-term particle pollution, year-round particle pollution and ozone pollution."
Part of this is due to the land. The backdrop of L.A. is mountains and the only outlet is a narrow mountain pass that goes through Palm Springs. Don't forget the 18 million people and two of the largest ports in the country.
"PM 2.5 is a fine particulate that can get deeply imbedded into your lungs," says Kerry Drake, Associate Director in the Region 9 Air Division of the EPA. "There are health impacts that can range from asthma to premature death."
Air: Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, Calif., north of Los Angeles in the southernmost tip of the San Joaquin Valley, has also made the American Lung Association’s list of top 10 cities with the worst air quality.
Bakersfield is also a victim of its location. "The San Joaquin Valley is surrounded on three sides by mountains that trap air pollution," says Drake. "The only inlet is San Francisco Bay. Adding to the area’s troubles are two major freeways going through the valley: I-5 and 99. There are 3.5 million people in the valley. So in many ways they have a very difficult chore when it comes to improving air quality."
Air: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh was number one in the country for short-term particle pollution and number two for year-round particle pollution. "The big factors affecting the air pollution rating in Pittsburgh are its unique geography, meteorology and industry," says Bonnie Smith, a spokesperson for the EPA's mid-Atlantic region. "In Pittsburgh there are high mountains and then deep valleys where the air gets trapped."
Is this sounding familiar yet? I'm starting to see a pattern.
Water: Streams and Headwaters in Appalachia
Mountaintop removal mining, in which coal companies blast off the tops of entire mountain ranges to get to thin seams of coal buried deep below, is the cause for the West Virginia area.
Rubble and waste rock from the mountains are pushed into adjacent valleys, creating what is called "valley fill," where an entire valley is literally filled in with the soil from the mountain top, burying existing streams.
According to the EPA, who did a study last summer, it showed that in coal mining areas, more than 90 percent of the downstream waters have been significantly impaired. "Over 2,000 miles of streams have been buried over the last 15 years by mountaintop removal."
Water: Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is considered a hypoxic zone in which no plant or fish life can grow. As the Mississippi flows into the Gulf, it carries with it a lot of pollution, including excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that feed the growth of plants.
"It's estimated that there’s now a dead area the size of Connecticut in a water system that was previously abundant with life, including fish and shellfish that had been the mainstay of the economies in this area," says Mulhern.
Water: Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the nation's most important estuaries. Its fish and shellfish have been an economic mainstay for fishing communities that have lived on the bay for years. "The number one problem is the runoff from urban and agricultural resources," she says. "There's runoff from large factory farms, including large poultry farms, and raw sewage from Washington D.C. that overflows into the bay when it rains. Three billion gallons of raw sewage flows from our nation's capital into the Chesapeake Bay each year."
Land: The Nelson Tunnel, Creede, Colorado
The Nelson Tunnel sits on five acres in the Historic Creede Mining District, about one mile North of Creede, Colo. The main concern is the tunnel and a large waste rock pile that sits next to it. Both contain high levels of heavy metals -- including arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc -- that spill into nearby West Willow Creek. "Tests showed that Willow Creek contained heavy zinc concentrations, and that the water draining from the Nelson Tunnel was one of the largest contributors of that zinc," says Peggy Linn, Community Involvement Coordinator with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Land: Iron King Mine Humboldt Smelter, Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona
The town of Humboldt, Arizona is situated near the mine, and "if dust contaminated with metals like arsenic or lead is disturbed, it can be inhaled or ingested," says Dawn Richmond, Section Chief for the Arizona and Navajo Sites Remedial Section. There is also a possibility of groundwater pollution.
Land: Escambia Wood, Pensacola, Florida
The former Escambia Wood Treating Company in Pensacola, Fla., was on a 26-acre property surrounded by commercial and residential communities. The company manufactured wood products treated with creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) between 1942 and 1982, when it was abandoned by the owner. "The spent chemicals on the wood were stored in unlined ponds, and would seep into the ground and penetrate the soil." Pollution from the site has impacted 96 acres of land and has created a groundwater plume of contamination that extends about 1.3 miles from the site. Pollution at the site has been deemed toxic enough to relocate the people in several of the surrounding communities.
Now, doesn't this make you feel better about living in Nebraska? No mountains to hold polluted air, no major bodies of water that are used for industrial purposes, and nowhere to mine since it's all used for growing crops.
Inhale deeply, fellow Nebraskans, we've got it pretty good out here in the boondocks.
Air: Los Angeles
"Each year the American Lung Association releases a list of the 10 most air polluted U.S. cities, and each year Los Angeles makes it into the top three on these lists in all categories: Short-term particle pollution, year-round particle pollution and ozone pollution."
Part of this is due to the land. The backdrop of L.A. is mountains and the only outlet is a narrow mountain pass that goes through Palm Springs. Don't forget the 18 million people and two of the largest ports in the country.
"PM 2.5 is a fine particulate that can get deeply imbedded into your lungs," says Kerry Drake, Associate Director in the Region 9 Air Division of the EPA. "There are health impacts that can range from asthma to premature death."
Air: Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, Calif., north of Los Angeles in the southernmost tip of the San Joaquin Valley, has also made the American Lung Association’s list of top 10 cities with the worst air quality.
Bakersfield is also a victim of its location. "The San Joaquin Valley is surrounded on three sides by mountains that trap air pollution," says Drake. "The only inlet is San Francisco Bay. Adding to the area’s troubles are two major freeways going through the valley: I-5 and 99. There are 3.5 million people in the valley. So in many ways they have a very difficult chore when it comes to improving air quality."
Air: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh was number one in the country for short-term particle pollution and number two for year-round particle pollution. "The big factors affecting the air pollution rating in Pittsburgh are its unique geography, meteorology and industry," says Bonnie Smith, a spokesperson for the EPA's mid-Atlantic region. "In Pittsburgh there are high mountains and then deep valleys where the air gets trapped."
Is this sounding familiar yet? I'm starting to see a pattern.
Water: Streams and Headwaters in Appalachia
Mountaintop removal mining, in which coal companies blast off the tops of entire mountain ranges to get to thin seams of coal buried deep below, is the cause for the West Virginia area.
Rubble and waste rock from the mountains are pushed into adjacent valleys, creating what is called "valley fill," where an entire valley is literally filled in with the soil from the mountain top, burying existing streams.
According to the EPA, who did a study last summer, it showed that in coal mining areas, more than 90 percent of the downstream waters have been significantly impaired. "Over 2,000 miles of streams have been buried over the last 15 years by mountaintop removal."
Water: Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is considered a hypoxic zone in which no plant or fish life can grow. As the Mississippi flows into the Gulf, it carries with it a lot of pollution, including excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that feed the growth of plants.
"It's estimated that there’s now a dead area the size of Connecticut in a water system that was previously abundant with life, including fish and shellfish that had been the mainstay of the economies in this area," says Mulhern.
Water: Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the nation's most important estuaries. Its fish and shellfish have been an economic mainstay for fishing communities that have lived on the bay for years. "The number one problem is the runoff from urban and agricultural resources," she says. "There's runoff from large factory farms, including large poultry farms, and raw sewage from Washington D.C. that overflows into the bay when it rains. Three billion gallons of raw sewage flows from our nation's capital into the Chesapeake Bay each year."
Land: The Nelson Tunnel, Creede, Colorado
The Nelson Tunnel sits on five acres in the Historic Creede Mining District, about one mile North of Creede, Colo. The main concern is the tunnel and a large waste rock pile that sits next to it. Both contain high levels of heavy metals -- including arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc -- that spill into nearby West Willow Creek. "Tests showed that Willow Creek contained heavy zinc concentrations, and that the water draining from the Nelson Tunnel was one of the largest contributors of that zinc," says Peggy Linn, Community Involvement Coordinator with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Land: Iron King Mine Humboldt Smelter, Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona
The town of Humboldt, Arizona is situated near the mine, and "if dust contaminated with metals like arsenic or lead is disturbed, it can be inhaled or ingested," says Dawn Richmond, Section Chief for the Arizona and Navajo Sites Remedial Section. There is also a possibility of groundwater pollution.
Land: Escambia Wood, Pensacola, Florida
The former Escambia Wood Treating Company in Pensacola, Fla., was on a 26-acre property surrounded by commercial and residential communities. The company manufactured wood products treated with creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) between 1942 and 1982, when it was abandoned by the owner. "The spent chemicals on the wood were stored in unlined ponds, and would seep into the ground and penetrate the soil." Pollution from the site has impacted 96 acres of land and has created a groundwater plume of contamination that extends about 1.3 miles from the site. Pollution at the site has been deemed toxic enough to relocate the people in several of the surrounding communities.
Now, doesn't this make you feel better about living in Nebraska? No mountains to hold polluted air, no major bodies of water that are used for industrial purposes, and nowhere to mine since it's all used for growing crops.
Inhale deeply, fellow Nebraskans, we've got it pretty good out here in the boondocks.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
KFC goes grilled
Recenlty, KFC released their new food line, Kentucky Grilled Chicken, in an attempt to draw in more health-conscious customers. The food is promising-
"KFC says each piece of its grilled chicken has 70 to 180 calories and four to nine grams of fat. By contrast, the Original Recipe items have between 110 and 370 calories and 7 to 21 grams of fat, depending on the piece. The grilled chicken contains from 160 to 440 milligrams of sodium per piece, as opposed to 290 to 1,050 milligrams of sodium per piece of Original Recipe chicken."
The down side is the amount of sodium, "the 440 milligrams listed by KFC in a grilled chicken breast still amounts to more than one-fourth the amount that someone middle aged or older should consume daily."
Bascially, this is something that is heading in the right direction, but it still isn't all that great for you. I doubt we will ever see any fast food that can really be that good for you, some of the sandwhiches in Subway are even a bit doubtful. But, it is a good idea, and I applaud KFC for joining the health-conscious wagon.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Charity George-a miracle
My sister is friends with a woman who is paralyzed from the waist down. She originally had a form of a brain tumor and has spent years in rehabilitation. She has two young daughters and her husband is the minister at the chapel in a nursing home where my sister works in Holdrege. This blog is amazing because she is now writing her own journal entries using a pencil to push on each key. She is an amazing person and her stories touch your heart.
Read here:
chairitygeorge.com
Read here:
chairitygeorge.com
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Why a Big Meal Makes You Hungry
This article on the Wall Street Journal caught my eye. According to the article, refined carbohydrates and foods with high sugar and fat content promote "fullness resistance." "They interfere with the complex hormonal messages the body usually sends to the brain to signal that it's time to stop eating. People feel hungrier instead."
This is interesting because I can releate to this from my experience last night. A friend of mine was celebrating her 21st birthday, and she did it with a bang. We started with supper at a local sports bar and she had a salad, a turkey club wrap, french fries, onion rings (shared with others) and a Coke. Then she had some shots, some hot wings, some more shots, a slice of pizza and a cookie, then more shots. When we finally drug her drunken self back home, she claimed she was starving. Now, I know alcohol is a factor, but it was amazing how much she was putting into her body within 6 hours. She typically doesn't eat that much. This article was just interesting, so for all of us out there that wonder why our waistbands expand as our tolerance level goes up (no matter how much we diet for bikini season) this may explain it more clearly.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Hannah Montana: The Movie
This weekend, Hannah Montana: The Movie opened as the top movie raking in $34 million. The Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour opened with $31.1 million a year ago. It beat out the 4th addition to Fast and Furious, who came in with $28.8 million.
This is so ironic, because my little sister and I went to the Hannah Montana movie, and my mother and older sister went to the Fast and Furious movie. The Hannah Montana was pretty good, to my surprise. But the most entertaining thing about it was the audience. The theater was filled with mothers and their tween daughters and friends who were dressed in Hannah Montan gear from top to bottom. And after every song Hannah/Miley sung, the audience cheered and clapped along with the audience on the screen. It was pretty funny, and my sister and I got a big laugh out of it.
I was disappointed in some parts of the movie, though. I'll admit I've watched the show on TV, so I have a good idea of what is going on. In the movie, it's more about Miley and her cowboy boyfriend and how she must choose between her Hannah Montana identity and life as an average kid. I was surprised how little Lily, her best friend, was involved. Yet again, Billy Ray stole the show by always being at Miley's side while having a love life of his own on the side. Even Miley's brother, Jackson, is mostly ignored in this movie. It disappointed me how much they were downplayed compared to the TV show, but I guess that's why they call it Hannah Montana: The Movie, not Hannah Montana and Friends.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
5 reasons to see "West Bank Story"
Like the movie, I've decided to make my review short and sweet.
5 Reasons to See "West Bank Story":
5. The mock musical is less than 25 minutes long, so anyone who claims to be anti-musical will get a healthy dose without the fear of keeling over.
4. Corny musical romance songs get a boost with edgy lyrics such as, "make her my boo."
3. Stereotypes are thrown out left and right. Nobody is safe from the terrorist and Jews-in-construction jokes.
2. Flafel? Yes, it is a real word.
1. The best argument techniques consisting of the word, "yeah," are well demonstrated...until you throw in the word "yep."
Whether your hunger for a witty, entertaining and short film that must be served or must be fed, West Bank Story is sure to please everyone; no matter what side of the poorly built concrete wall they stand on.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
When it comes to BBQ, keep it simple
The heat of the summer sun, the smell of the grill cooking a slab of ribs, the plaid-covered picnic table with side dishes ranging from potato salad to Jello, and the sound of laughter of family and good friends are just a few reasons why I love barbecue. And with summer around the corner, it's time to start thinking about it. Yet Nebraska weather is not always predictable, so a restaurant becomes more appealing than being soaked to the bones while huddled over the grill. I'm not talking about those chain restaurants who claim to have the best cuts around; I'm talking about real, corn-fed beef smoked in hickory chips with homemade BBQ sauce and ribs where the meat falls right off the bones. Something like dad used to make on the Fourth of July, something simple.
Where can you find such a place? Lucky Chuck's Pool Hall in Eustis, Nebraska. Although the restaurant has only been re-opened with its new owners since Super Bowl weekend, business is booming for the small agriculture-centered town of 464 people. Located in south central Nebraska, this little joint is getting big attention.
People come from hours away just to get a taste of the BBQ and the homemade nachos. I had the opportunity to eat there a few weeks ago, and I now understand why it's worth the trip. When we first entered the restaurant at 7:30 p.m., it was packed with people. A waiting list was delayed for 30 minutes. While we waited, I got a good look at the restaurant.
The pool table had been removed from the floor to allow more seating, but the pool sticks still hung on the wall. A giant moose head stared across from the oak wood bar. The gleaming wooden floors matched the bar perfectly. The high ceiling still had its molding from the 1930s and was painted black. The east wall was painted a dark maroon color, while the west wall was the original brick. On the east side, several planks of wood burned with the brands from local farmers hung on the wall. Nebraska Cornhuskers gear and black and white pictures of Eustis in the early 1900s hung on the walls. The south wall, opposite of the glass front entrance, had a big screen TV with the boys state basketball game on. The lights were low, the chatter was high, and it was cozy. Simple.
After being seated, I ordered the freshly made pink lemonade. It came in a mason jar and tasted better than any store mix. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich with a side of baked beans as my entree and the Pool Hall Nachos as an appetizer. The nachos were so simple, but they tasted anything beyond that. The strips of fried flour tortilla shells were soft, yet crunchy, and it had a slightly sweet taste. It was similar to a chalupa shell. The chips were covered in bright yellow nacho cheese and dark green jalapeno peppers. This simple combination on any other chip would have been alright, but there was something about these chips and how they were softer to the touch yet strong enough to hold up to thick nacho cheese sauce that stuck to your fingers like glue.
The beef brisket sandwich came in a red plastic basket and was lined with a plaid printed wax paper. The sandwich, a pickle spear, a small cup of baked beans, and a wet napkin packet laid inside. Plain pickels are no friend of mine, so the boyfriend got an extra treat. The beef brisket sandwich was like the nachos, simple, yet there was something about it that kept you wanting more. The meat was tender, slightly tangy and had an orange tint to it from the homemade sauce. It was piled high and held between a soft, buttered split-top bun made from a baker in McCook. After just one bite I could feel the goo of the sauce running over my fingertips and spilling onto the table below. And the baked beans, they were nothing that I had tasted before. The beans were covered in a thick, dark, tangy and spicy BBQ sauce. They were served hot, and the spice and heat radiated in my mouth. It had just enough kick to feel the heat of the spice, but it wasn't so spicy that you couldn't taste the other BBQ flavorings.
For two BBQ sandwiches and an appetizer of nachos, our bill rang up to about $20. Not bad. The service was good, considering 10 people were cooking and serving for around 70 customers. The atmosphere was busy with people, yet laid back. This restaurant not only feeds its local residents, but the town's economy as well. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is craving BBQ with all the sides on a rainy spring day with the homemade taste of something dad would make of the Fourth of July. It is definitely worth the trip. When it comes to BBQ, keep it simple, and Lucky Chuck's Pool Hall does just that.
Where can you find such a place? Lucky Chuck's Pool Hall in Eustis, Nebraska. Although the restaurant has only been re-opened with its new owners since Super Bowl weekend, business is booming for the small agriculture-centered town of 464 people. Located in south central Nebraska, this little joint is getting big attention.
People come from hours away just to get a taste of the BBQ and the homemade nachos. I had the opportunity to eat there a few weeks ago, and I now understand why it's worth the trip. When we first entered the restaurant at 7:30 p.m., it was packed with people. A waiting list was delayed for 30 minutes. While we waited, I got a good look at the restaurant.
The pool table had been removed from the floor to allow more seating, but the pool sticks still hung on the wall. A giant moose head stared across from the oak wood bar. The gleaming wooden floors matched the bar perfectly. The high ceiling still had its molding from the 1930s and was painted black. The east wall was painted a dark maroon color, while the west wall was the original brick. On the east side, several planks of wood burned with the brands from local farmers hung on the wall. Nebraska Cornhuskers gear and black and white pictures of Eustis in the early 1900s hung on the walls. The south wall, opposite of the glass front entrance, had a big screen TV with the boys state basketball game on. The lights were low, the chatter was high, and it was cozy. Simple.
After being seated, I ordered the freshly made pink lemonade. It came in a mason jar and tasted better than any store mix. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich with a side of baked beans as my entree and the Pool Hall Nachos as an appetizer. The nachos were so simple, but they tasted anything beyond that. The strips of fried flour tortilla shells were soft, yet crunchy, and it had a slightly sweet taste. It was similar to a chalupa shell. The chips were covered in bright yellow nacho cheese and dark green jalapeno peppers. This simple combination on any other chip would have been alright, but there was something about these chips and how they were softer to the touch yet strong enough to hold up to thick nacho cheese sauce that stuck to your fingers like glue.
The beef brisket sandwich came in a red plastic basket and was lined with a plaid printed wax paper. The sandwich, a pickle spear, a small cup of baked beans, and a wet napkin packet laid inside. Plain pickels are no friend of mine, so the boyfriend got an extra treat. The beef brisket sandwich was like the nachos, simple, yet there was something about it that kept you wanting more. The meat was tender, slightly tangy and had an orange tint to it from the homemade sauce. It was piled high and held between a soft, buttered split-top bun made from a baker in McCook. After just one bite I could feel the goo of the sauce running over my fingertips and spilling onto the table below. And the baked beans, they were nothing that I had tasted before. The beans were covered in a thick, dark, tangy and spicy BBQ sauce. They were served hot, and the spice and heat radiated in my mouth. It had just enough kick to feel the heat of the spice, but it wasn't so spicy that you couldn't taste the other BBQ flavorings.
For two BBQ sandwiches and an appetizer of nachos, our bill rang up to about $20. Not bad. The service was good, considering 10 people were cooking and serving for around 70 customers. The atmosphere was busy with people, yet laid back. This restaurant not only feeds its local residents, but the town's economy as well. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is craving BBQ with all the sides on a rainy spring day with the homemade taste of something dad would make of the Fourth of July. It is definitely worth the trip. When it comes to BBQ, keep it simple, and Lucky Chuck's Pool Hall does just that.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Binghamton Shooting Victims
I was surprised to hear about a shooting story developing early Friday morning. Apparently, a 41 year old Chinese man went into an immigrant resource center and shot 13 people, including himself. People say that he was upset that people made fun of his poor English skills, and that he had recently lost his job. I can understand that he would be angry, but what could possibly drive him to shoot others who are in the same position as him? The story from the Wall Street Journal went on to talk a bit about school shootings, which, in my opinion, has nothing to do with this case. He is a grown man, this isn't high school.
But the part of the story that caught most of my attention was one of the two receptionists who were first shot. One was shot and killed, but 61 year old Shirley DeLucia played dead and then called 911. She stayed on the phone for 90 minutes describing the scene and trying to relay as much information to the police as possible all while suffering a severe abdominal wound. That is amazing! How brave was she to play dead when this killer was wandering around the building and to still have the courage to call the police and get help.
But the part of the story that caught most of my attention was one of the two receptionists who were first shot. One was shot and killed, but 61 year old Shirley DeLucia played dead and then called 911. She stayed on the phone for 90 minutes describing the scene and trying to relay as much information to the police as possible all while suffering a severe abdominal wound. That is amazing! How brave was she to play dead when this killer was wandering around the building and to still have the courage to call the police and get help.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
I Love You, Man!
I found a review article on the movie "I Love You, Man" from rotten tomatoes. There were many reviews to pick from, but I chose a review written by Ann Hornaday from the Washington Post.
This review was well written and got the message across. I liked how she started it off that the reader will like this movie as long as they like the star of movie, Paul Rudd. If you liked the movie "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up," the reader is assured that they'll like this movie. Even if they didn't like those two movies, they should like Paul Rudd in "I Love You, Man."
She does a good job quoting some of the most random quotes, such as "joben" and "totes magotes." These words mean absolutely nothing, but Rudd's character, Peter Kalven, mutters them when trying to connect to people on his, "man dates."
I also liked how Ann Hornaday points out the fact that the wife, Zooey (played by Rashida Jones), brings in a sense of humor, is smart and successful. She encourages her husband to go out a meet friends instead of punishing him for finding himself with his less-than-reputable friend Sydney (Jason Segel) who purposfuly leaves his dog's business on the board walk.
Hornaday wrote a clear review that was right to the point, picked out and integrated quotes and scenes from the movie, and was a good review that effectively persuades the audience to go out a see the movie, so long as they're into that sense of humor.
This review was well written and got the message across. I liked how she started it off that the reader will like this movie as long as they like the star of movie, Paul Rudd. If you liked the movie "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up," the reader is assured that they'll like this movie. Even if they didn't like those two movies, they should like Paul Rudd in "I Love You, Man."
She does a good job quoting some of the most random quotes, such as "joben" and "totes magotes." These words mean absolutely nothing, but Rudd's character, Peter Kalven, mutters them when trying to connect to people on his, "man dates."
I also liked how Ann Hornaday points out the fact that the wife, Zooey (played by Rashida Jones), brings in a sense of humor, is smart and successful. She encourages her husband to go out a meet friends instead of punishing him for finding himself with his less-than-reputable friend Sydney (Jason Segel) who purposfuly leaves his dog's business on the board walk.
Hornaday wrote a clear review that was right to the point, picked out and integrated quotes and scenes from the movie, and was a good review that effectively persuades the audience to go out a see the movie, so long as they're into that sense of humor.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Greek stereotypes, they're true...and my worst nightmare.
A few weeks ago, I was a sober sister for a Greek dance downtown. My job was simple. I checked people in at the door, drew a star on their hands with a black sharpie, and sent them on their way to the bus waiting outside. A seemingly laid-back night turned into one of high energy and emotion that led me to believe that, perhaps, those Greek stereotypes have more to them than people give them credit for. The behavior of some of the people was so disgraceful; it shed an awful, dark light on the Greek community as a whole.
Let me explain. The night started around 9 p.m. One house did not have their date sheet, so some of the guests we couldn't properly check in. After several phone calls later, that was taken care of. Alright, so there was a small bump, no big deal.
But then it got interesting. Bare-chested men and women barely draped in satin togas filed in from the cool spring air to receive their stars. The smell of alcohol was so strong, people standing at a four foot distance from me smelled as if they had showered with the keg.
One woman came in and looked over the list and pointed to a name. "Yeah I'm here, my name is Emily." The sober sister, a native to Kearney, sat next to me scrutinizing the woman. "Really, your name is *Emily? Because I'm pretty sure that it's *Ashley, because we went to high school together," she said. (*=names changed) The woman already had the star on her hand from the guy who was working the table with us who had the attention span of a goldfish, so she walked out and onto the bus.
Later on, we discovered that she was so intoxicated that she had thrown up on the bus and was taken back to the check out point.
Did I mention that the bus was a charter bus, complete with TVs?
Another guy had passed out on the bus and hit his head. To top it off, our bus driver was an elderly man who was just astonished as us by his passenger's behavior.
The dance wasn't much better. Around 10:30 we had packed up and decided to stop allowing people in, since people were sneaking in and were so intoxicated that they were being sent back.
Little to our knowledge, the goldfish guy helping us out at the table left a note: "If you want to go to the dance, draw a star on your hand."
He left a black sharpie next to the note.
Great.
At the dance, people were tripping over chairs, tables, other people and their own two feet. The dancing wasn't much better. As one woman had said to me, "it looks more like soft porn than grinding." After sitting at the dance watching this for an hour, I left and went to bed.
As a Greek member, I believe that this is saying something if you are bashing your own group. I was very embarrassed for those who were acting like complete dim-wits that night, and I hope to never see anything that ridiculous at a Greek function ever again. It was just like a movie. Greeks dressed in togas, drunk beyond stupidity.
I'll add this note, there were non-Greeks there who were behaving just as badly.
As Greeks, we know the stereotypes set against us by TV shows, movies and the media. You'd figure those Greeks with non-Greek dates would set an example for their guest's behavior. The Greek community strives to keep a good reputation with higher grade point averages than the general student body and our numerous philanthropic and community service activities. Why throw all of our hard-earned reputation away in one night?
I'm not against going out, drinking and having fun. Do that all you want. But, at a Greek function, let's have something more positive to say about ourselves besides how hot that chick looked in her tiny toga or how much booze he could chug in a minute.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Some beach, somewhere...
Spring Break didn't find me lying on the beach. It didn't find me traveling outside of the Midwest, either. Instead, it found me in Nebraska. First, it was West in Eustis. Then back East on to Kearney and Lincoln, North to Omaha and finally South to Beatrice. "I've been everywhere," by Johnny Cash doesn't quite summarize my travels, but it sure felt like it.
I began traveling on Friday with my boyfriend back to his hometown, Eustis, for the weekend. We did all the things you'd expect kids to do out in the middle of nowhere. Go drinking, fishing and shoot stuff. You know, the usual. Although, I preferred to shoot cans while he shot critters who swam, ran or flew.
Then Monday was quite the trip. The day started with an interview at 9:30 a.m. on NTV to promote my sorority's philanthropy event. The thing is, the station was an hour drive away, and the alarm was set wrong, so I didn't wake up until 8 a.m. So now, I have 20 minutes to shower, dress, apply makeup and do my hair. Great.
After throwing on clothes and attepmpting to look decent, I hit the road towards Axtell with a package of brown sugar pop-tarts, a bottle of water and a kiss goodbye in tote.
To my relief, I arrived on time. The interview was, well, interesting. The hosts were very energetic women that smiled a little too wide for the cameras. The interview began with a description the event and why we hold it. Simple enough.
But, the host asked the most random question: What is recruitment, or rush, like? And it was directed to me. I'm not sure how that tied into holding a dodgeball tournament, but the rule is you should be ready for anything on live television. For most of the interview my head was in a fog, probably from the adrenaline-filled race I'd been running since I woke up late, but I was able to answer the question vaguely and simply enough to fully answer the question, prevent boring the viewers and keep the Greek system in a positive light. You know what they say, it takes one person to ruin it for everyone.
After the sit-down interview, it was time to play dodgeball. I'm not kidding. We lined up the three balls we brought along and a cameraman whistled to signal start. The first time we played the woman from California, who had never heard of dodgeball, leaped onto all of the balls and refused to give them up. We continued trying to play and explain the rules, but it ended up being a contest between the hosts while my sorority sister and I stood there awkwardly.
From the interview, I continued East to Lincoln to meet with my family at the Nebraska Heart Institute Hospital where my grandpa had heart surgery. I'm happy to say he is doing well, although he isn't very happy about the new diet.
After supper, I stayed the night in Lincoln with my sister and left for Omaha in the morning for an internship interview. The interviewing process wasn't so bad. What got me was the press release I had 20 minutes to write. It wouldn't have been such a big deal, except that the brochure didn't have much information to go off of.
Once finished writing, I thanked them and finally headed home to Beatrice. For the rest of my break, I suffered a sinus infection and wrote a 12 page paper. After all that traveling in such a brief time, I was relieved to have an excuse to stay in and sleep. Spring Break may not have found me lying on the beach, but I was sure dreaming about it in my cozy Nebraska bed.
I began traveling on Friday with my boyfriend back to his hometown, Eustis, for the weekend. We did all the things you'd expect kids to do out in the middle of nowhere. Go drinking, fishing and shoot stuff. You know, the usual. Although, I preferred to shoot cans while he shot critters who swam, ran or flew.
Then Monday was quite the trip. The day started with an interview at 9:30 a.m. on NTV to promote my sorority's philanthropy event. The thing is, the station was an hour drive away, and the alarm was set wrong, so I didn't wake up until 8 a.m. So now, I have 20 minutes to shower, dress, apply makeup and do my hair. Great.
After throwing on clothes and attepmpting to look decent, I hit the road towards Axtell with a package of brown sugar pop-tarts, a bottle of water and a kiss goodbye in tote.
To my relief, I arrived on time. The interview was, well, interesting. The hosts were very energetic women that smiled a little too wide for the cameras. The interview began with a description the event and why we hold it. Simple enough.
But, the host asked the most random question: What is recruitment, or rush, like? And it was directed to me. I'm not sure how that tied into holding a dodgeball tournament, but the rule is you should be ready for anything on live television. For most of the interview my head was in a fog, probably from the adrenaline-filled race I'd been running since I woke up late, but I was able to answer the question vaguely and simply enough to fully answer the question, prevent boring the viewers and keep the Greek system in a positive light. You know what they say, it takes one person to ruin it for everyone.
After the sit-down interview, it was time to play dodgeball. I'm not kidding. We lined up the three balls we brought along and a cameraman whistled to signal start. The first time we played the woman from California, who had never heard of dodgeball, leaped onto all of the balls and refused to give them up. We continued trying to play and explain the rules, but it ended up being a contest between the hosts while my sorority sister and I stood there awkwardly.
From the interview, I continued East to Lincoln to meet with my family at the Nebraska Heart Institute Hospital where my grandpa had heart surgery. I'm happy to say he is doing well, although he isn't very happy about the new diet.
After supper, I stayed the night in Lincoln with my sister and left for Omaha in the morning for an internship interview. The interviewing process wasn't so bad. What got me was the press release I had 20 minutes to write. It wouldn't have been such a big deal, except that the brochure didn't have much information to go off of.
Once finished writing, I thanked them and finally headed home to Beatrice. For the rest of my break, I suffered a sinus infection and wrote a 12 page paper. After all that traveling in such a brief time, I was relieved to have an excuse to stay in and sleep. Spring Break may not have found me lying on the beach, but I was sure dreaming about it in my cozy Nebraska bed.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
8 foods we eat too much
I saw this on MSN and it caught my eye, I think it describes our campus well when looking at the Union (especially the 1st floor.)
These are the top eight foods we eat too much:
1. Pizza
2. Salad Dressing
3. Ice Cream
4. Orange Juice
5. Soft Drinks
6. White Rice
7. Potato Chips
8. Burgers
After reading the descriptions, I found it was mostly talking about how too large of servings are being consumed and those foods that should be healthy are not what they're all cracked up to be. For instance: orange juice. Seems pretty harmless, right? Yet, according to the article, one 8 oz. serving contains 112 calories. In addition, a study found that a serving of OJ has increased 40% in the last 20 years. Instead, the article suggests that you have one glass a day and eat whole, frozen or canned fruits for the rest of the day because the fiber in the fruits is more filling.
I liked the suggestions the article gave, but another thought popped into my head: These foods are all relatively cheap and are easy to find. No wonder we have too much! With the expense of groceries, people are having to choose cheaper meals, which isn't always the best for us. Even trying to stay healthy with something as innocent as a salad is corrupted by the dressing.
So basically the way I see it, watch your portions and read the labels. If there is a lighter version of your salad dressing-go for it. If your pizza is shiny with grease, blot it with a paper napkin or wring it out-whichever you choose.
These are the top eight foods we eat too much:
1. Pizza
2. Salad Dressing
3. Ice Cream
4. Orange Juice
5. Soft Drinks
6. White Rice
7. Potato Chips
8. Burgers
After reading the descriptions, I found it was mostly talking about how too large of servings are being consumed and those foods that should be healthy are not what they're all cracked up to be. For instance: orange juice. Seems pretty harmless, right? Yet, according to the article, one 8 oz. serving contains 112 calories. In addition, a study found that a serving of OJ has increased 40% in the last 20 years. Instead, the article suggests that you have one glass a day and eat whole, frozen or canned fruits for the rest of the day because the fiber in the fruits is more filling.
I liked the suggestions the article gave, but another thought popped into my head: These foods are all relatively cheap and are easy to find. No wonder we have too much! With the expense of groceries, people are having to choose cheaper meals, which isn't always the best for us. Even trying to stay healthy with something as innocent as a salad is corrupted by the dressing.
So basically the way I see it, watch your portions and read the labels. If there is a lighter version of your salad dressing-go for it. If your pizza is shiny with grease, blot it with a paper napkin or wring it out-whichever you choose.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows my sorrow
Gage county, my county, my hometown, Beatrice, now has the highest unemployment rate in Nebraska.
The population of Beatrice is around 13,000 people. In December, the unemployment rate was at 6.1 percent and has since risen to 7.2 percent in January. The national percentage of unemployment is 7.6 percent.
Around 14,300 people lost their jobs around Nebraska in January.
One of them was my dad.
The impact of the failing economy is really hitting me home, literally, now.
My dad worked at a recycling plant in Lincoln, named Firstarfiber. He was a supervisor for this relatively new company. Luckily, this week he found a job in quality management on an assembly line in some manufacturing plant in Lincoln.
The pay is small.
The hours are long.
Ten hours to be exact.
And he just "graduated" last Friday from cardiac rehabilitation from his heart attack back in December 2008.
With no health insurance, it's hard to pay the bills and help support the family.
Without a proper diet and exercise, these next two weeks could find his heart in the same, or even worse, condition that he had originally started with.
Gage county, my county, my hometown: Beatrice.
My dad, my troubles, my sorrow.
Here's the article: Beatrice Daily Sun
P.S.-I recognize that there are people out there who have it worse than me and I sympathize and acknowledge them. This is just my story, yet another piece to the puzzle to our nation's growing concern with the poor economy.
The population of Beatrice is around 13,000 people. In December, the unemployment rate was at 6.1 percent and has since risen to 7.2 percent in January. The national percentage of unemployment is 7.6 percent.
Around 14,300 people lost their jobs around Nebraska in January.
One of them was my dad.
The impact of the failing economy is really hitting me home, literally, now.
My dad worked at a recycling plant in Lincoln, named Firstarfiber. He was a supervisor for this relatively new company. Luckily, this week he found a job in quality management on an assembly line in some manufacturing plant in Lincoln.
The pay is small.
The hours are long.
Ten hours to be exact.
And he just "graduated" last Friday from cardiac rehabilitation from his heart attack back in December 2008.
With no health insurance, it's hard to pay the bills and help support the family.
Without a proper diet and exercise, these next two weeks could find his heart in the same, or even worse, condition that he had originally started with.
Gage county, my county, my hometown: Beatrice.
My dad, my troubles, my sorrow.
Here's the article: Beatrice Daily Sun
P.S.-I recognize that there are people out there who have it worse than me and I sympathize and acknowledge them. This is just my story, yet another piece to the puzzle to our nation's growing concern with the poor economy.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
New ipod shuffle hits the store shelves
Google News
Apple released a new ipod shuffle this morning, and I have to say, it's pretty neat for the shuffle lovers out there. It's great for those who want the no-nonsense, straight to the music kind-of a MP3 player. This ipod is about the size of a house key with a stainless steel clip on the back, so it can hold onto anything. This is so much better than the tiny plastic clip that was on the first generation shuffle. There is only one button on the tiny ipod that can be switched to: play through the song list, shuffle, or off. It's as simple as that.
The headphones contain the rest of the buttons: forward, backward, and the center which talks to you. Yes, talks to you. Simply push the button and it will tell you the artist name and the song title, so you don't have to look at the player. This saves you when you are exercising, walking to class or anything else when you need to watch where you are going.
My only fear is the cost of the headphones if they got lost or were broken. It would be a problem to not have them when they are the only way you can access your music.
View the new ipod shuffle here.
Apple released a new ipod shuffle this morning, and I have to say, it's pretty neat for the shuffle lovers out there. It's great for those who want the no-nonsense, straight to the music kind-of a MP3 player. This ipod is about the size of a house key with a stainless steel clip on the back, so it can hold onto anything. This is so much better than the tiny plastic clip that was on the first generation shuffle. There is only one button on the tiny ipod that can be switched to: play through the song list, shuffle, or off. It's as simple as that.
The headphones contain the rest of the buttons: forward, backward, and the center which talks to you. Yes, talks to you. Simply push the button and it will tell you the artist name and the song title, so you don't have to look at the player. This saves you when you are exercising, walking to class or anything else when you need to watch where you are going.
My only fear is the cost of the headphones if they got lost or were broken. It would be a problem to not have them when they are the only way you can access your music.
View the new ipod shuffle here.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
10 Most Expensive Catastrophes in History
Titanic - $150 Million
10. The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today ' s dollars).
9. Tanker Truck vs Bridge - $358 Million
On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.
8. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million
On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles . It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging.. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink.
7.B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion
Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we ' re only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.
6.Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world ' s biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship ' s master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.
5.Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion
The world ' s worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world ' s single largest oil producer, spewing out 317,000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world ' s most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion.
Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.
4.Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion
The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today ' s dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today ' s dollars).
3.Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion
On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain . Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea.
According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.
2.Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion
The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA ' s orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today ' s dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million.
In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics..
1.Chernobyl - $200 Billion
On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.
10. The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today ' s dollars).
9. Tanker Truck vs Bridge - $358 Million
On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.
8. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million
On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles . It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging.. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink.
7.B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion
Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we ' re only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.
6.Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world ' s biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship ' s master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.
5.Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion
The world ' s worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world ' s single largest oil producer, spewing out 317,000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world ' s most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion.
Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.
4.Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion
The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today ' s dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today ' s dollars).
3.Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion
On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain . Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea.
According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.
2.Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion
The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA ' s orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today ' s dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million.
In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics..
1.Chernobyl - $200 Billion
On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Editorial #3
Tray less college cafeterias are the new fad, and they're not going to leave anytime soon. But what can be done to aleviate the hassle of juggling silverware, plates and cups in one trip?
People buy less food and subsequently eat less and throw away less. For the student, it’s good for the budget and the waistline; for the cafeteria (and the environment), it substantially cuts down on waste.
Research conducted by Aramark, a food service company, found that universities that stopped using trays have saved $57,000 to $79,000 per year in food, dishwashing and other costs.
Take the University at Buffalo North (Amherst) Campus, for instance. Nearly 48,000 pounds of food waste are saved in one semester by going tray less in the three dining centers.
And it gets better. By going tray less, mindless eating is less likely to occur. The concept can be summarized thusly: the bigger your plate, the more you’ll eat, even if you aren't hungry or know better. That's pretty good, considering swimsuit season is just around the corner.
Yet there is one problem with this seemingly flawless concept: how in the world to you balance all of it? Arlin Wasserman, vice president of corporate citizenship and catering giant, Sodexo, found out the hard way. While demonstrating at Georgia Tech how to carry an entree, salad and coffee up steps — without a tray — he slipped and dumped everything on his nice, clean kahkis. So much for convincing.
But what, you may ask, can we do to make is easy enough for even the laziest undergraduate?
The answer is simple: compartment trays.
Yes, compartment trays.
Think of your elementary school days in the cafeteria. The tray is big enough to hold all the food a person would want to eat, all while ensuring that no plate or spoon is dropped in the process of carrying it back to a table.
Portions would be better measured.
Waistlines would decrease.
And for those picky eaters, the food would be separated so it does not touch.
All while taking less food, using less dishes to hold the food and ensuring that the probability that an item dropped is lowered.
And they're cheaper, too.
When comparing prices, the cost of the compartment trays compared to what UNK uses now is substantially lower. About 2,600 student live and eat on campus. The trays that are currently used cost $127 for 12 trays. Compartment trays cost $114 for 24 trays. Assuming that there are 3,000 trays available on campus, the cost of the trays used currently is $31,750. The compartment trays cost $14,250. That's a savings of $17,500!
Trayless dining is the answer to our financial, environmental and healthful woes.
Compartment trays will just make it easier for students to cope.
Claims
Tray less college cafeterias are the new in, and they're not going to leave anytime soon.
People buy less food and subsequently eat less and throw away less.
For the customer, it’s good for the budget and the waistline; for the cafeteria (and the environment), it substantially cuts down on waste.
Research conducted by Aramark, a food service company, found that universities that stopped using trays have saved $57,000 to $79,000 per year in food, dishwashing and other costs.
Nearly 48,000 pounds of food waste are saved in one semester by going tray less in the three dining centers.
By going tray less, mindless eating is less likely to occur.
Weight is a hot topic among America's population.
The tray is big enough to hold all the food a person would want to eat, all while ensuring that no plate or spoon is dropped in the process of carrying it back to a table.
Portions would be better measured.
Waistlines could decrease.
And for those picky eaters, the food would be separated so it does not touch.
All while taking less food, using less dishes to hold the food and ensuring that the probability that an item dropped is lowered.
And they're cheaper, too.
Trayless dining is the answer to our financial, environmental and healthful woes.
Compartment trays will just make it easier for students to cope.
Sources
Are the Days of the Food Tray Over on Campus? http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10559646.
By Going "Trayless," UB Student Dining Centers Will Reduce Food Waste 50 Percent.http://www.buffalo.edu/news/9853.
Cambro® Compartment Cafeteria Tray. http://www.hubert.com/store/products.asp?CAWELAID=126246335&A=SB%2E18965%2E42196&Dn=0&An=966+966&Au=Presentation+Id&Ntt=42196&N=966+966&src=chanadv&Ntx=mode+matchall&D=42196&Ntk=SKU.
Carlisle GlasteelTM Trapezoid Decorative Fiberglass Trays. http://www.cooksdirect.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=10005548&prodid=3755B91.
College Cafeterias Go Trayless; Cut Waste by Half. http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-03/college-cafeterias-go-trayless-cut-waste-half.
Making Yourself at Home. http://www.unk.edu/studentlife/index2.php?id=152.
More College Cafeterias Dump Food Trays. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-22-trays-college-cafeterias_N.htm.
Students Take a Crash Course in Trayless Dining 101. http://www.startribune.com/local/29918804.html?page=2&c=y.
What Happens When College Cafeterias Go Trayless?http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/what-happens-when-college-cafeterias-go-trayless/?apage=1#comments.
People buy less food and subsequently eat less and throw away less. For the student, it’s good for the budget and the waistline; for the cafeteria (and the environment), it substantially cuts down on waste.
Research conducted by Aramark, a food service company, found that universities that stopped using trays have saved $57,000 to $79,000 per year in food, dishwashing and other costs.
Take the University at Buffalo North (Amherst) Campus, for instance. Nearly 48,000 pounds of food waste are saved in one semester by going tray less in the three dining centers.
And it gets better. By going tray less, mindless eating is less likely to occur. The concept can be summarized thusly: the bigger your plate, the more you’ll eat, even if you aren't hungry or know better. That's pretty good, considering swimsuit season is just around the corner.
Yet there is one problem with this seemingly flawless concept: how in the world to you balance all of it? Arlin Wasserman, vice president of corporate citizenship and catering giant, Sodexo, found out the hard way. While demonstrating at Georgia Tech how to carry an entree, salad and coffee up steps — without a tray — he slipped and dumped everything on his nice, clean kahkis. So much for convincing.
But what, you may ask, can we do to make is easy enough for even the laziest undergraduate?
The answer is simple: compartment trays.
Yes, compartment trays.
Think of your elementary school days in the cafeteria. The tray is big enough to hold all the food a person would want to eat, all while ensuring that no plate or spoon is dropped in the process of carrying it back to a table.
Portions would be better measured.
Waistlines would decrease.
And for those picky eaters, the food would be separated so it does not touch.
All while taking less food, using less dishes to hold the food and ensuring that the probability that an item dropped is lowered.
And they're cheaper, too.
When comparing prices, the cost of the compartment trays compared to what UNK uses now is substantially lower. About 2,600 student live and eat on campus. The trays that are currently used cost $127 for 12 trays. Compartment trays cost $114 for 24 trays. Assuming that there are 3,000 trays available on campus, the cost of the trays used currently is $31,750. The compartment trays cost $14,250. That's a savings of $17,500!
Trayless dining is the answer to our financial, environmental and healthful woes.
Compartment trays will just make it easier for students to cope.
Claims
Tray less college cafeterias are the new in, and they're not going to leave anytime soon.
People buy less food and subsequently eat less and throw away less.
For the customer, it’s good for the budget and the waistline; for the cafeteria (and the environment), it substantially cuts down on waste.
Research conducted by Aramark, a food service company, found that universities that stopped using trays have saved $57,000 to $79,000 per year in food, dishwashing and other costs.
Nearly 48,000 pounds of food waste are saved in one semester by going tray less in the three dining centers.
By going tray less, mindless eating is less likely to occur.
Weight is a hot topic among America's population.
The tray is big enough to hold all the food a person would want to eat, all while ensuring that no plate or spoon is dropped in the process of carrying it back to a table.
Portions would be better measured.
Waistlines could decrease.
And for those picky eaters, the food would be separated so it does not touch.
All while taking less food, using less dishes to hold the food and ensuring that the probability that an item dropped is lowered.
And they're cheaper, too.
Trayless dining is the answer to our financial, environmental and healthful woes.
Compartment trays will just make it easier for students to cope.
Sources
Are the Days of the Food Tray Over on Campus? http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10559646.
By Going "Trayless," UB Student Dining Centers Will Reduce Food Waste 50 Percent.http://www.buffalo.edu/news/9853.
Cambro® Compartment Cafeteria Tray. http://www.hubert.com/store/products.asp?CAWELAID=126246335&A=SB%2E18965%2E42196&Dn=0&An=966+966&Au=Presentation+Id&Ntt=42196&N=966+966&src=chanadv&Ntx=mode+matchall&D=42196&Ntk=SKU.
Carlisle GlasteelTM Trapezoid Decorative Fiberglass Trays. http://www.cooksdirect.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=10005548&prodid=3755B91.
College Cafeterias Go Trayless; Cut Waste by Half. http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-03/college-cafeterias-go-trayless-cut-waste-half.
Making Yourself at Home. http://www.unk.edu/studentlife/index2.php?id=152.
More College Cafeterias Dump Food Trays. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-22-trays-college-cafeterias_N.htm.
Students Take a Crash Course in Trayless Dining 101. http://www.startribune.com/local/29918804.html?page=2&c=y.
What Happens When College Cafeterias Go Trayless?http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/what-happens-when-college-cafeterias-go-trayless/?apage=1#comments.
Pranks and automatic bathrooms
So I noticed some interesting things today regarding pranks in the parking lot. For those of you who live in URS or URN, this may have been more apparent. Lately, someone has been writing things like, "I like c**k," on people windows of their vehicles. I'm assuming it is to friends because it's only certain vehicles, it doesn't appear random. But the funniest thing was today when walking to blogging class I noticed the same truck that had been vandalized the night before with writing was now covered in post-it notes. I mean the whole dang thing. It was really neat, but the wind was starting to peel the notes off.
I also found this amusing. Have you noticed the changes to the bathrooms on campus? This is a rant I talk about at any public facility, because it's so funny. Bathrooms are all about being healthier and keeping germs down the drain. So we have the automatically flushing toilets, automatic sinks, soap dispensers and paper towels or dryers. But what happens when the bathrooms are a mixture of the two? Are you really cleaning your hands? When you have to manually turn on the water to the sink, but the soap dispenser is automatic, is it really a benefit to have that dispenser? Yes I know, use the paper towel to turn off the water, but just think about it. Remember, people by nature are lazy, or so Dr. Hanson has told us.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Research on trayless dining
So here are some articles that I thought were very interesting...I know that tray less dining can be a pain in the side, but I actually like it. Besides the fact that it reduces food waste and saves on energy and water, I think it could also help with America's growing obesity. Hear me out. If you are taking less food, because by nature we are lazy, then we will eat less. The less we eat, the less weight is on our bodies. Combine that with walking from one end of campus to the other, and I think we have a simple way to keep ourselves moderately healthy. Now, I don't have any facts on that, it's just an observation. But it would be interesting to see research done on it and if my theory is correct. So, instead, I'll probably write on being for tray less dining and how it will help eliminate our carbon footprint.
Oh and P.S.-maybe it could eventually lower the cost of meal plans on campus.
USA Today
"Some campuses that already have tested the concept report food waste declines of up to 50%. Then, there's the thousands of dollars in energy savings when trays don't need washing. An astonishing 79% of the 92,000 students surveyed this spring by Aramark said they support tray less dining to reduce campus waste."
StarTribune.com
"The St. Paul school serves about 6,700 meals a week in its dining hall. With students taking less food from the all-you-can-eat cafeteria, the school estimates it is saving 12 cents per person per meal this fall. If that continues throughout the school year, Hamline will save more than $25,000 this academic year. But money isn't the only thing saved. Last spring, Hamline filled two 32-gallon trash cans with leftover food every day. That has been reduced to one this year."
I like the different ideas. Like how can we get everything we want without spilling, stacking, and making extra trips. One suggested meals a-la-carte and eliminate the all-you-can-eat feel in the cafeteria. I disagree, I think that picky eaters will be very unhappy. I suggest the smaller trays with the raised dividers-think elementary school. You know, it was all squares and you put your food in each one. It separates your food, and it allows portion control.
University at Buffalo
"'We anticipate saving nearly 48,000 pounds of food waste this semester by going tray less in the three dining centers,' said Jeff Brady, interim executive director for UB Campus Dining & Shops."
Even the New York Times 25 best blogs, Freakonomics, is on the tray less wagon.
Just for kicks, I looked up the cost of a compartment tray versus what we have now.
One Web site had the compartment trays at 24 for $114.
They trays that we have now cost $127 for 12 trays at this Cooks direct.
According to the UNK Web site, 2,600 students live on campus.
So lets say we have 3,000 trays to purchase. The trays we have now cost us $31,750. The compartment trays would cost us $14, 250. That's a savings of $17,500, not to mention the amount of food and water saved.
Ah...the good ol' days of school...oh wait, I'm still in it.
I looked at the Times list of the 25 best blogs, and there were some interesting ones. The one that caught my attention was the detentionslip.org blog.
Whomever is writing this has a dry sense of humor-and it's hilarious! Even the pictures with every story are ironic. They're not the typical pictures that you would expect to go with a news story, but somehow they relate.
For example, one picture had Wil-E Coyote (er, however you spell it) with a detonated explosive in his face...the article was over an employee keeping bomb materials in an elementary school office. Not the same, but similiar. Get it?
Lately, a big article has been over a principal eliminating "grinding" from a dance. The students, in turn, didn't buy tickets so the dance was canceled. Although funny, it does have a darker side. It brings to light the bad found in all public schools in America. The only thing I don't like about this blog is that yes, it shows what is going on in our school systems, yet there is no ideas for a solution. It's mostly a complaint, but it could affect someone else to a point where they do do something about it.
Whomever is writing this has a dry sense of humor-and it's hilarious! Even the pictures with every story are ironic. They're not the typical pictures that you would expect to go with a news story, but somehow they relate.
For example, one picture had Wil-E Coyote (er, however you spell it) with a detonated explosive in his face...the article was over an employee keeping bomb materials in an elementary school office. Not the same, but similiar. Get it?
Lately, a big article has been over a principal eliminating "grinding" from a dance. The students, in turn, didn't buy tickets so the dance was canceled. Although funny, it does have a darker side. It brings to light the bad found in all public schools in America. The only thing I don't like about this blog is that yes, it shows what is going on in our school systems, yet there is no ideas for a solution. It's mostly a complaint, but it could affect someone else to a point where they do do something about it.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Option for UNK editorial
This goes with the idea of cutting jobs or reducing payment.
It was on CareerBuilder.com.
When polled, people were split on making a decision. Some have enough to worry about, and losing pay would make it harder for them to pay for everything that they already have. They say that they're spending less, but it still makes me wonder. If someone was truly sacrificing their life because of the economy, then why are intangible goods still being purchased? Are these people really hurting when they still go on elaborate vacations, just maybe not for as many nights?
It was interesting how one person said that it's better than relying on unemployment. One person had to take a 10% cut or "hit the streets." Another person would want to help another by taking the cut because they feel that the wealthy were greedy. I reccomend reading the comments, it was interesting to see why people voted the way they did. People took pay cuts for different reasons...from helping another to saying that they'd be better off with a pay cut than with no job at all.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Editorial #2 rough draft
There are more than 200 stories of neglect and abuse at the Beatrice State Developmental Center, but we'll focus on the most recent one.
In the month of January, four people died at BSDC. One was Olivia Manes, who was only 18 years old. Olivia was loved by her parents. They visited her three to four times a week. Nobody told them that she was taken off her seizure medication.
Olivia began to have a seizure between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m. on January 15. She was given shots twice; the first time the needle broke in her leg. Both times the nurse left the untrained staff with no instructions, except to "wait and see" if the medication worked.
Nobody did anything for Olivia until she stopped breathing at about 1:15 a.m.
Some staff members started CPR while others were sent to call 911. At the center, the switchboard must be called first. From there, the call may be made outside of campus. Yet those working on the switchboard stalled for 12 minutes before calling an ambulance. Olivia died at 2:20 a.m. at the Beatrice Community Hospital.
Some staff members did not know that Olivia had a history of seizures.
They didn’t know what signs or symptoms to watch for or what action to take.
They didn’t know how long they should wait before calling for medical help nor whom to call.
Olivia's death, along with others, have prompted Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Joann Schaefer, to order the movement of 47 "medically fragile" residents to hospitals in Lincoln and Omaha.
But these residents are not safe in community programs with a constant turnover of less trained staff. A quick move to a hospital will be emotionally disruptive to residents who do not adapt well to change.
“This is a harsh practice that can result in people with significant disabilities being moved from the only home many of them have ever known to live and die among strangers who do not understand their limited communication skills or care needs,” said John McGee, who was appointed by the U.S. District Court to monitor a settlement between the state and the Department of Justice to resolve civil rights issues.
“It slams shut the door of hope to individuals who could be supported in more intimate and personalized community homes.”
The residents and their families have the right to make the decision; not a state official who only knows the facts, not the emotions.
And it gets worse. The state is expected to lose $29 million in annual and federal funding to run the center, and it could take two years to regain federal certification.
It is not the direct care staff's fault, it is those in the administrative department who are to blame.
Staff are improperly trained.
Background checks are not through enough.
Punishment for those who abuse the residents is not harsh enough.
The center should stay open. BSDC should be kept a close eye on by the Developmental Disabilities Special Seven Committee; a group of representatives from the state.
In a December report to the Nebraska State Legislature, the special committee recommended that top state Health and Human Services and developmental center staff be removed.
BSDC needs to improve dramatically, significantly and quickly.
More needs to be done. The state needs to bring together organizations to assure that appropriate services will be provided to the residents and that staff are throughly trained.
“The lives of the residents at Beatrice are at stake,” said Senator Steve Lathrop, chairman of the special committee. “The lives of families depending on the state for services is at stake. The $29 million in federal funds is at stake. And how we treat or are perceived to treat the most vulnerable in the state is at stake.”
Sources Cited
Expert says progress made at BSDC, more needed, Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star,
Feb 10, 2009.
Beatrice center committee will continue its work,Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star
Feb 09, 2009.
The Story So Far: Beatrice State Developmental Center, Lincoln Journal Star, http://media.journalstar.com/comments/?mid=M4989d8b988a41.
Claims
Four people died at BSDC.
Olivia was loved by her parents.
They visited her three to four times a week.
Nobody told them that she was taken off her seizure medication.
Nobody did anything for Olivia until she stopped breathing at about 1:15 a.m.
Yet those working on the switchboard stalled for 12 minutes before calling an ambulance.
Olivia died at 2:20 a.m. at the Beatrice Community Hospital.
Some staff members did not know that Olivia had a history of seizures.
They didn’t know what signs or symptoms to watch for or what action to take.
They didn’t know how long they should wait before calling for medical help nor whom to call.
These residents are not safe in community programs with a constant turnover of less trained staff.
A quick move to a hospital will be emotionally disruptive to residents who do not adapt well to change.
The residents and their families have the right to make the decision; not a state official who only knows the facts, not the emotions.
The state is expected to lose $29 million in annual and federal funding to run the center, and it could take two years to regain federal certification.
It is not the direct care staff's fault, it is those in the administrative department who are to blame.
Staff are improperly trained.
Background checks are not through enough.
Punishment for those who abuse the residents is not harsh enough.
The center should stay open.
BSDC needs to improve dramatically, significantly and quickly.
More needs to be done.
The state needs to bring together organizations to assure that appropriate services will be provided to the residents and that staff are throughly trained.
In the month of January, four people died at BSDC. One was Olivia Manes, who was only 18 years old. Olivia was loved by her parents. They visited her three to four times a week. Nobody told them that she was taken off her seizure medication.
Olivia began to have a seizure between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m. on January 15. She was given shots twice; the first time the needle broke in her leg. Both times the nurse left the untrained staff with no instructions, except to "wait and see" if the medication worked.
Nobody did anything for Olivia until she stopped breathing at about 1:15 a.m.
Some staff members started CPR while others were sent to call 911. At the center, the switchboard must be called first. From there, the call may be made outside of campus. Yet those working on the switchboard stalled for 12 minutes before calling an ambulance. Olivia died at 2:20 a.m. at the Beatrice Community Hospital.
Some staff members did not know that Olivia had a history of seizures.
They didn’t know what signs or symptoms to watch for or what action to take.
They didn’t know how long they should wait before calling for medical help nor whom to call.
Olivia's death, along with others, have prompted Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Joann Schaefer, to order the movement of 47 "medically fragile" residents to hospitals in Lincoln and Omaha.
But these residents are not safe in community programs with a constant turnover of less trained staff. A quick move to a hospital will be emotionally disruptive to residents who do not adapt well to change.
“This is a harsh practice that can result in people with significant disabilities being moved from the only home many of them have ever known to live and die among strangers who do not understand their limited communication skills or care needs,” said John McGee, who was appointed by the U.S. District Court to monitor a settlement between the state and the Department of Justice to resolve civil rights issues.
“It slams shut the door of hope to individuals who could be supported in more intimate and personalized community homes.”
The residents and their families have the right to make the decision; not a state official who only knows the facts, not the emotions.
And it gets worse. The state is expected to lose $29 million in annual and federal funding to run the center, and it could take two years to regain federal certification.
It is not the direct care staff's fault, it is those in the administrative department who are to blame.
Staff are improperly trained.
Background checks are not through enough.
Punishment for those who abuse the residents is not harsh enough.
The center should stay open. BSDC should be kept a close eye on by the Developmental Disabilities Special Seven Committee; a group of representatives from the state.
In a December report to the Nebraska State Legislature, the special committee recommended that top state Health and Human Services and developmental center staff be removed.
BSDC needs to improve dramatically, significantly and quickly.
More needs to be done. The state needs to bring together organizations to assure that appropriate services will be provided to the residents and that staff are throughly trained.
“The lives of the residents at Beatrice are at stake,” said Senator Steve Lathrop, chairman of the special committee. “The lives of families depending on the state for services is at stake. The $29 million in federal funds is at stake. And how we treat or are perceived to treat the most vulnerable in the state is at stake.”
Sources Cited
Expert says progress made at BSDC, more needed, Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star,
Feb 10, 2009.
Beatrice center committee will continue its work,Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star
Feb 09, 2009.
The Story So Far: Beatrice State Developmental Center, Lincoln Journal Star, http://media.journalstar.com/comments/?mid=M4989d8b988a41.
Claims
Four people died at BSDC.
Olivia was loved by her parents.
They visited her three to four times a week.
Nobody told them that she was taken off her seizure medication.
Nobody did anything for Olivia until she stopped breathing at about 1:15 a.m.
Yet those working on the switchboard stalled for 12 minutes before calling an ambulance.
Olivia died at 2:20 a.m. at the Beatrice Community Hospital.
Some staff members did not know that Olivia had a history of seizures.
They didn’t know what signs or symptoms to watch for or what action to take.
They didn’t know how long they should wait before calling for medical help nor whom to call.
These residents are not safe in community programs with a constant turnover of less trained staff.
A quick move to a hospital will be emotionally disruptive to residents who do not adapt well to change.
The residents and their families have the right to make the decision; not a state official who only knows the facts, not the emotions.
The state is expected to lose $29 million in annual and federal funding to run the center, and it could take two years to regain federal certification.
It is not the direct care staff's fault, it is those in the administrative department who are to blame.
Staff are improperly trained.
Background checks are not through enough.
Punishment for those who abuse the residents is not harsh enough.
The center should stay open.
BSDC needs to improve dramatically, significantly and quickly.
More needs to be done.
The state needs to bring together organizations to assure that appropriate services will be provided to the residents and that staff are throughly trained.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Improvements made to BSDC
This was written on Feb. 10 from the Lincoln Journal Star.
It was interesting to see how much progress the staff and leaders of the facility are making, but there is room for a lot of improvements. The U.S. District Court hired John McGee of Omaha to monitor a settlement between the state and the Department of Justice to resolve civil rights issues.
I liked McGee's comment regarding the moving of clients over the past year:
“This is a harsh practice that can result in people with significant disabilities being moved from the only home many of them have ever known to live and die among strangers who do not understand their limited communication skills or care needs,” he wrote. “It slams shut the door of hope to individuals who could be supported in more intimate and personalized community homes.”
I also like how he said that when moving the clients that they must think of the safety of the public. There have been cases of patients with sexual assault charges. Last year, a patient had walked off of campus when there was only 1 staff member watching 16 people. He was found about a mile away from campus in a resident's home. She called the police and they safely returned him. There was no harm done to either the resident or patient. I remember that, it was a little spooky because most people in my neighborhood don't lock their doors, and this could happen to anybody.
This will be great support to my arguement that the facility needs to stay open despite it's set backs for the sake of the patients. A rough draft is in the works...
It was interesting to see how much progress the staff and leaders of the facility are making, but there is room for a lot of improvements. The U.S. District Court hired John McGee of Omaha to monitor a settlement between the state and the Department of Justice to resolve civil rights issues.
I liked McGee's comment regarding the moving of clients over the past year:
“This is a harsh practice that can result in people with significant disabilities being moved from the only home many of them have ever known to live and die among strangers who do not understand their limited communication skills or care needs,” he wrote. “It slams shut the door of hope to individuals who could be supported in more intimate and personalized community homes.”
I also like how he said that when moving the clients that they must think of the safety of the public. There have been cases of patients with sexual assault charges. Last year, a patient had walked off of campus when there was only 1 staff member watching 16 people. He was found about a mile away from campus in a resident's home. She called the police and they safely returned him. There was no harm done to either the resident or patient. I remember that, it was a little spooky because most people in my neighborhood don't lock their doors, and this could happen to anybody.
This will be great support to my arguement that the facility needs to stay open despite it's set backs for the sake of the patients. A rough draft is in the works...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Assignment, 3 Nebraska issues
1. The first one comes from the Omaha World Hearld regarding the spread of infections within hospitals. Yet, this is also considered a national issue, but we'll keep it more personal.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center has now given a stethoscope to each patient so bacteria aren't carried from one patient to another. The stethoscopes hang on a hook at patients' bedsides. In additon, the med center will ask patients to bathe in a sanitary solution 3 times a week. Even ties are a source to bacteria, doctors, patients, and visitors alike have been asked to refrain from wearing them now.
Medicaid and Medicare have begun withholding payments in certain cases involving hospital-acquired infections. And some states now require hospitals to report infection rates, although Nebraska and Iowa aren't among them.
2. The next one is proposed bills as exemptions to the smoking ban that will become active on June 1.
Two proposals would grant those exemptions. One bill (LB355), introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would exempt cigar bars that meet certain requirements. The other (LB600), introduced by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, would exempt pool halls with at least 20 hourly fee pool tables.
A co-owner of a cigar bar in Lincoln and one in Omaha, said that when the city of Lincoln enacted its smoking ban in 2005, cigar sales in his Lincoln business dropped 10 percent. After the Omaha ban went into effect in July, cigar sales dropped overall 19 percent, and has now become less of a focus in the business. Retail tobacco stores were automatically excluded from the ban as of last year, but cigar bars have been overlooked.
3. This one is over fire-safe cigarettes. At first, I honestly thought it was a joke. Uh, hello, you have to light those nasty things on fire in order to smoke them, duh. So how in the world can they be considered fire-safe? Apparently they can be. 37 other states have already required the standard of cigarettes sold to be fire-safe, and now Nebraska is looking at it.
The fire-safe cigarettes are thicker in two separate spots so they will go out if not puffed when they burn to these areas. The idea is to prevent fires caused when cigarettes are left unattended.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says smoking was the biggest cause of fire-related deaths in the country from 2002 to 2004, the most recent years for which data are available. On average, 630 deaths were caused by smoking-related fires during each of those years. My advice? Just don't smoke, or quit. But I know, easier said than done.
4. My issue I already thought of, the Beatrice State Developmental Center. See the blogs below for more information on it.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center has now given a stethoscope to each patient so bacteria aren't carried from one patient to another. The stethoscopes hang on a hook at patients' bedsides. In additon, the med center will ask patients to bathe in a sanitary solution 3 times a week. Even ties are a source to bacteria, doctors, patients, and visitors alike have been asked to refrain from wearing them now.
Medicaid and Medicare have begun withholding payments in certain cases involving hospital-acquired infections. And some states now require hospitals to report infection rates, although Nebraska and Iowa aren't among them.
2. The next one is proposed bills as exemptions to the smoking ban that will become active on June 1.
Two proposals would grant those exemptions. One bill (LB355), introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would exempt cigar bars that meet certain requirements. The other (LB600), introduced by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, would exempt pool halls with at least 20 hourly fee pool tables.
A co-owner of a cigar bar in Lincoln and one in Omaha, said that when the city of Lincoln enacted its smoking ban in 2005, cigar sales in his Lincoln business dropped 10 percent. After the Omaha ban went into effect in July, cigar sales dropped overall 19 percent, and has now become less of a focus in the business. Retail tobacco stores were automatically excluded from the ban as of last year, but cigar bars have been overlooked.
3. This one is over fire-safe cigarettes. At first, I honestly thought it was a joke. Uh, hello, you have to light those nasty things on fire in order to smoke them, duh. So how in the world can they be considered fire-safe? Apparently they can be. 37 other states have already required the standard of cigarettes sold to be fire-safe, and now Nebraska is looking at it.
The fire-safe cigarettes are thicker in two separate spots so they will go out if not puffed when they burn to these areas. The idea is to prevent fires caused when cigarettes are left unattended.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says smoking was the biggest cause of fire-related deaths in the country from 2002 to 2004, the most recent years for which data are available. On average, 630 deaths were caused by smoking-related fires during each of those years. My advice? Just don't smoke, or quit. But I know, easier said than done.
4. My issue I already thought of, the Beatrice State Developmental Center. See the blogs below for more information on it.
UNK issues to consider
In my search to find 3 topics of discussion on state issues, I ran into two for UNK. I know it's a way off, but I'm holding onto these for reference.
The first is eliminating trays from the cafeteria. This was on the Omaha World Herald.
I found it kind-of funny, though with this quote:
"Just the other day, Zatechka saw a student pile his plate high with chicken nuggets. When the student finished his meal, Zatechka followed him to the tray-return area and saw eight untouched nuggets on his plate. 'We aren't going to permit that kind of food waste," Zatechka said. "We can't.'"
*Gasp* OMG, like, 8 chicken nuggets left over after an entire plate full...maybe it's good that he didn't eat all of them.
But, I did like this information:
Gauging waste
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last fall, the University of Kansas looked at whether trays made a difference in how much food students threw out. KU found students dumped more food with trays than without them.
Food waste: Decreased from an average of 1,063 pounds per meal to 657 pounds when the trays were taken away.
Beverage waste: Decreased from 105 gallons per meal to 48 gallons without the trays.
The next article I found in the Lincoln Journal Star and it was about budget cuts on the UNK campus in order to keep jobs.
The proposed pay cuts would range from 10 percent for those making more than $150,00 a year to 1 percent for those making more than $30,000. Those making less than $30,000 a year would see pay cuts of less than 1 percent.
I like this idea better than eliminating jobs completely. First, if we eliminate professors then there will be less classes available, less classes available means not many students can take the class-so why not consider another major or another school that is adaquetly staffed. And let's not forget the Kearney community, UNK is a primary employer in this town.
The last one I found was in the Journal Star.
According to the article, a high school coach and 3rd grad teacher was placed on paid leave for giving a 17-year-old Sidney girl alcohol. Shane Nordby, 36, is charged in Buffalo County Court with two misdemeanor counts: procuring alcohol for minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Court records say the incident occurred Dec. 23 at Nordby’s home.
The first is eliminating trays from the cafeteria. This was on the Omaha World Herald.
I found it kind-of funny, though with this quote:
"Just the other day, Zatechka saw a student pile his plate high with chicken nuggets. When the student finished his meal, Zatechka followed him to the tray-return area and saw eight untouched nuggets on his plate. 'We aren't going to permit that kind of food waste," Zatechka said. "We can't.'"
*Gasp* OMG, like, 8 chicken nuggets left over after an entire plate full...maybe it's good that he didn't eat all of them.
But, I did like this information:
Gauging waste
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last fall, the University of Kansas looked at whether trays made a difference in how much food students threw out. KU found students dumped more food with trays than without them.
Food waste: Decreased from an average of 1,063 pounds per meal to 657 pounds when the trays were taken away.
Beverage waste: Decreased from 105 gallons per meal to 48 gallons without the trays.
The next article I found in the Lincoln Journal Star and it was about budget cuts on the UNK campus in order to keep jobs.
The proposed pay cuts would range from 10 percent for those making more than $150,00 a year to 1 percent for those making more than $30,000. Those making less than $30,000 a year would see pay cuts of less than 1 percent.
I like this idea better than eliminating jobs completely. First, if we eliminate professors then there will be less classes available, less classes available means not many students can take the class-so why not consider another major or another school that is adaquetly staffed. And let's not forget the Kearney community, UNK is a primary employer in this town.
The last one I found was in the Journal Star.
According to the article, a high school coach and 3rd grad teacher was placed on paid leave for giving a 17-year-old Sidney girl alcohol. Shane Nordby, 36, is charged in Buffalo County Court with two misdemeanor counts: procuring alcohol for minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Court records say the incident occurred Dec. 23 at Nordby’s home.
More on BSDC
I'm getting most of my sources from Journal Star.com,
I found it interesting in this article that retired speech therapist said that she blames former Gov. Ben Nelson for the issues because combined five separate agencies into a single massive health and human services system, in which, McConnell said, there were more levels to hide and more levels to confuse people.
A seven-member committee was created last year to oversee the problems at BSDC. After review, it was decided that they should continue to oversee the facility.
"'This spring, the center will likely lose about $29 million in annual federal funding because of those problems and will be completely state funded for the one or two years it takes to get recertified by the federal Medicaid program,' special committee chairman Sen. Steve Lathrop said Monday."
See, this is where I get confused. If this facility is in such poor shape, why take away federal money from it? How is that supposed to fund better facilities, new equipment, medicine, doctor and therapist visits, food and proper training for employees that is routinely checked on? There is no way that the state can fund all of that, unless taxes are raised or something gets cut. Which, by the way, has happened. BSDC used to have a hospital on it's campus to treat it's patients, so this made is easier in an emergency situation because the patient could be taken under care until an ambulance came (if it was that severe). It shut down last year.
I found it interesting in this article that retired speech therapist said that she blames former Gov. Ben Nelson for the issues because combined five separate agencies into a single massive health and human services system, in which, McConnell said, there were more levels to hide and more levels to confuse people.
A seven-member committee was created last year to oversee the problems at BSDC. After review, it was decided that they should continue to oversee the facility.
"'This spring, the center will likely lose about $29 million in annual federal funding because of those problems and will be completely state funded for the one or two years it takes to get recertified by the federal Medicaid program,' special committee chairman Sen. Steve Lathrop said Monday."
See, this is where I get confused. If this facility is in such poor shape, why take away federal money from it? How is that supposed to fund better facilities, new equipment, medicine, doctor and therapist visits, food and proper training for employees that is routinely checked on? There is no way that the state can fund all of that, unless taxes are raised or something gets cut. Which, by the way, has happened. BSDC used to have a hospital on it's campus to treat it's patients, so this made is easier in an emergency situation because the patient could be taken under care until an ambulance came (if it was that severe). It shut down last year.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Nebraska Issue: Beatrice State Development Center
I've been doing some research and decided to write my next editorial on the Beatrice State Developmental Center, since it is in my hometown and my younger sister works there. I, too, have experience in working with the mentally disabled when I worked at Mosaic, a private instuition that is also in Beatrice and throughout the Midwest.
Here, the Lincoln Journal Star has been doing a lot of work coving the issues at hand.
The latest issue stated that BSDC had to get 50 residents moved to Lincoln and Omaha facilities my 5:00 p.m. today due to concerns of their ability to handle, "medically fragile" residents. Concern arose when two deaths occured in March 2008 and mid-January 2009. Proper emergency procedure was not followed.
My younger sister only works in the kitchen of this instuition, and from her experience it is very relevant that abuse in almost a natural thing. Her boyfriend works directly with the clients. He has not abused his clients, but he has had to turn in co-workers for it. The lastest "de-de-de" moment from the workers there was that when temperatures were below zero...just a few weeks ago. The boyfriend's co-worker came to visit him at his house with a client in the passenger seat. The client already had a cold and typically is sleeping by 8:00, it was 8:30 when he visited. Now, what would posess this kid to think that it's a good idea to drive around a sick client in the evening in temperatures below zero with icy driving conditions? Why didn't someone stop him? This is relevantly minor compared with other events that have happened on the campus.
As a resident of Beatrice, I understand that those who work there do not want to see the instuition shut down, this means our town unemployment rate will skyrocket...a large chuck of people who work in town work there. Otherwise, it's manufacturing plants or Wal-Mart (which most jobs are taken by the elderly, who have to still work well over their retirement age for minimum wage pay just to afford groceries and perscriptions, but that's another story).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Phelps smokes pot, apologizes
CBC Sports
So here goes another big debate, is marijuana OK to use? Will it have negative effects?
For Michael Phelps, the answer is no. Recently, a photograph began floating around of Phelps with a baseball hat turned backwards taking a hit from a bong in a party at the University of South Carolina in November. The photo turned up in a British tabloid.
"I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement to the Associated Press. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."
Marijuana is different from performance-enhancing drugs, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA.An athlete is subject to WADA sanctions only for a positive test that occurs during competition periods.
"We don't have any jurisdiction," Howman said. "It's not banned out of competition. It's only if you test positive in competition."
The worst thing that is going to happen to him is that he may lose $100 million dollars in sanctions by embarrassed sponsors.
Yes, he is a role model for many aspiring athletes and for America as a whole, therefore I agree that his behavior was inapproiate. Yet, he did apologize and he should be forgiven. It obviously didn't stop him from winning 8 gold medals in Bejing, China and be named sportsman of the year by Sports Illustrated.
I think embarrassment should be enough of a punishment. Some people who commented on the news article I found stated that they think Phelps should give up his medals. I disagree. Marijuana in no way enhances a person's performance, so he wasn't cheating. I think people should refer to their D.A.R.E. Program days and get the facts.
I personally do not agree with Phelps using the drug at the party, and I agree that he demonstrated bad judgement. But, this does not mean that he should forever be punished for one bad night by taking away sanctions, his medals, and his good reputation.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
YouTube Obama "Single Ladies" spoof
So I saw this on E! news and found it hilarious so "I thought I would share it with everyone. What I thought was interesting was that this got 2 million views compared to Beyonce's official Sony video that had 450,000. Yet, there are several videos of the "Single Ladies" song, so adding it up it came to more views...so far.
The 26-year-old Iman Crosson said that he wanted to support Obama by impersonating him in a respectful manner. Which, after watching his videos, you can see.
His interview can be found on the post above.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Final draft for editorial #1
The Fight for Freedom of Speech Reaches Online Boundaries
The development of new media technologies has always altered the way we think about threats to free speech. In the beginning of the 20th century, civil libertarians in America worried over the danger of the government silencing and controlling free speech. Fear arose when Eugene V. Debs, the Socialist candidate for President, was imprisoned for publicly protesting American involvement in 1919 during World War I. After the Supreme Court started to protect unpopular speakers consistently, critics worried that free speech in America was threatened less by government suppression than by editorial decisions made by mass-media corporations.
Today, the Internet has given anyone access to reach a potential global audience. Internet service providers, such a Google, have the ultimate power to decide what is published and what is not. Google holds 63% of the world’s Internet searches. With this, Google has the power to decide what controversial material may or may not appear on local search engines; like in China.
The country has always had skeptics over the country’s consideration for human rights, and this brings up yet another concern. The most recent noted attempt the Chinese government has done to censor China’s people was during the Obama inauguration. When Obama said, “recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions,” and, "to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist,” the sound was cut off, leaving Obama’s lip moving and English text scrolling at the bottom of the screen.
In response to the rise of online gatekeepers a bipartisan bill, named the Global Online Freedom Act, has been introduced by House Democrats and Republicans. The bill would require Internet companies to disclose all information in response to demands by foreign governments. This would make it difficult for the companies to keep local employees within repressive countries. In turn, the people of the country would not be able to find information that they have the right to view. Although, a software named “Freegate” was created to wage cyber war on the Chinese regime. The program finds holes in the firewalls, created by the Chinese government, and takes Chinese users to banned web sites undetected.
If so many people are finding alternatives to get to a banned web site, isn’t the attempt to restrict information futile? We believe that free speech applies to everyone, despite their country, when it comes to the Internet. There is too much information that is easily accessible, and as the phrase goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Free speech is not just a right to those in America, but the entire world. So, we say to those of Google, do not give in to the demands of foreign countries. Those of China have the right to find information on events going on in the world around them, just as any other person has the right to do so. So long as there are those who fight for freedom of speech, we shall stand behind them.
Works Cited
“Can Bloggers Crack The Great Firewall of China?” Digital Journal. You Tube. August 15, 2007.
“Chilling Effects Clearinghouse.” Electronic Frontier Foundation. www.chillingeffects.org.
“Chinese TV Censors Part of Address by Obama.” Edward Wong. The New York Times. January 21, 2009.
“Cracking the Great Firewall.” Paul Wiseman. USA Today. April 23, 2008.
“Global Online Freedom Act of 2007.” January 5, 2007.
“Google’s Gatekeepers.” Jeffrey Rosen. The New York Times. November 28, 2008.
“Google to Censor China Web Searches.” Elinor Mills. Cnet News. January 24, 2006.
List of Claims
Policy: Freedom of Speech should apply to everyone in the world, despite their country, because the Internet is too vast to contain and discriminate against.
Chinese users are still finding ways around their government’s firewalls to find information they seek.
China censored Obama during his speech addressing the United States and the World.
Google hold 63% of the world’s searches.
Google has the power to determine what is available to people within a local area.
The Global Online Freedom Act requires online companies to disclose information that foreign countries want banned from their citizens.
The development of new media technologies has always altered the way we think about threats to free speech. In the beginning of the 20th century, civil libertarians in America worried over the danger of the government silencing and controlling free speech. Fear arose when Eugene V. Debs, the Socialist candidate for President, was imprisoned for publicly protesting American involvement in 1919 during World War I. After the Supreme Court started to protect unpopular speakers consistently, critics worried that free speech in America was threatened less by government suppression than by editorial decisions made by mass-media corporations.
Today, the Internet has given anyone access to reach a potential global audience. Internet service providers, such a Google, have the ultimate power to decide what is published and what is not. Google holds 63% of the world’s Internet searches. With this, Google has the power to decide what controversial material may or may not appear on local search engines; like in China.
The country has always had skeptics over the country’s consideration for human rights, and this brings up yet another concern. The most recent noted attempt the Chinese government has done to censor China’s people was during the Obama inauguration. When Obama said, “recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions,” and, "to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist,” the sound was cut off, leaving Obama’s lip moving and English text scrolling at the bottom of the screen.
In response to the rise of online gatekeepers a bipartisan bill, named the Global Online Freedom Act, has been introduced by House Democrats and Republicans. The bill would require Internet companies to disclose all information in response to demands by foreign governments. This would make it difficult for the companies to keep local employees within repressive countries. In turn, the people of the country would not be able to find information that they have the right to view. Although, a software named “Freegate” was created to wage cyber war on the Chinese regime. The program finds holes in the firewalls, created by the Chinese government, and takes Chinese users to banned web sites undetected.
If so many people are finding alternatives to get to a banned web site, isn’t the attempt to restrict information futile? We believe that free speech applies to everyone, despite their country, when it comes to the Internet. There is too much information that is easily accessible, and as the phrase goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Free speech is not just a right to those in America, but the entire world. So, we say to those of Google, do not give in to the demands of foreign countries. Those of China have the right to find information on events going on in the world around them, just as any other person has the right to do so. So long as there are those who fight for freedom of speech, we shall stand behind them.
Works Cited
“Can Bloggers Crack The Great Firewall of China?” Digital Journal. You Tube. August 15, 2007.
“Chilling Effects Clearinghouse.” Electronic Frontier Foundation. www.chillingeffects.org.
“Chinese TV Censors Part of Address by Obama.” Edward Wong. The New York Times. January 21, 2009.
“Cracking the Great Firewall.” Paul Wiseman. USA Today. April 23, 2008.
“Global Online Freedom Act of 2007.” January 5, 2007.
“Google’s Gatekeepers.” Jeffrey Rosen. The New York Times. November 28, 2008.
“Google to Censor China Web Searches.” Elinor Mills. Cnet News. January 24, 2006.
List of Claims
Policy: Freedom of Speech should apply to everyone in the world, despite their country, because the Internet is too vast to contain and discriminate against.
Chinese users are still finding ways around their government’s firewalls to find information they seek.
China censored Obama during his speech addressing the United States and the World.
Google hold 63% of the world’s searches.
Google has the power to determine what is available to people within a local area.
The Global Online Freedom Act requires online companies to disclose information that foreign countries want banned from their citizens.
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