The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has made the decision to postpone the execution of Scott Panetti. Panetti's case has created a form of debate for years over whether the state can execute someone who is severely mentally ill, or not. During his trial for the 1992 killing of his mother and father-in-law, Panetti represented himself dressed in a purple cowboy outfit and called Jesus, John F. Kennedy and the Pope to the stand. He was there convicted of shooting the two to death at close range, in front of his wife and daughter. Panetti has suffered from schizophrenia for 30 years and he was hospitalized for mental illness numerous times before any conviction of the murders.

I feel that the man should not be executed. He has an obvious mental disease, and after waiting this long, he should spend the remainder of his life in jail or a mental hospital. There is a law that prevents the mentally ill from being executed, and there is no reason that should not be followed through to this case. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11272118/US-grants-stay-of-execution-for-schizophrenic-Texas-killer.html

A grand jury issued a no bill on the case against a male officer and a store owner. A white NY police officer preformed a choke-hold on the store owner after breaking up a fight and selling untaxed cigarettes, Mr. Garner, which eventually lead to his death later that day. He shouted many times the phrase "I can't breathe!" yet that didn't stop the officer from killing him. The family is devastated after they felt they did't get any justice out of the jury's decision.

I feel that the officer should have received an indictment, issued by the grand jury. Even though it may seem as if it was an accident, and maybe it was, there was no need to use that much force on a man who was throwing his hands up to the officers. I feel the family did not get justice from the jury's decision and these outbursts in the public are uncalled for. Although, I thoroughly disagree with those who feel this is a type of racist outcry.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/04/us/eric-garner-chokehold-debate/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Current Event

     At Worcester Technical High School last week they had a spirit week where students could dress up out of the ordinary to a specific theme. The theme for one day last week was "Heroes vs. Villains." As students walked around aimlessly dressed as "Batman" and "The Joker," one student chose a different approach and dressed as a member of the Klu Klux Klan to depict a villain. One student, Jared Parretti photographed this person and posted it on Twitter which brought newreporters galore. The student quickly apologized and removed the costume. They have deleted all social media networks due to people's angry comments toward her costume. 

     I think what happened is outrageous. I understand what the girl was trying to get at, and although it was creative, it was FAR from appropriate. This extreme form of racism is a harsh topic still for many, as it should be. The KKK members were some of the biggest murderers in the 1900s. The girl shouldn't be surprised by the public's reaction. 

Current Event

   CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, came out "proud to be gay" today. Tim, at a press conference finally let out to all of the public his sexual orientation, not for accepting reviews, but for his own personal need. He said he "would not stay silent," and was overly happy with his decision. He also quoted Dr. King in his address to the public to relate LGBT's struggle to be accepted to that of the African Americans in the 1960's. He explained that if the CEO of Apple coming out helps other people struggling with the same issue, it was well worth it. 

     I thought this article was extremely interesting, but at the same time really upsetting to think about. The way I look at this is yes, it is great for someone to feel so comfortable coming out to the world that they are gay, but why should they have to even consider the reaction of others? Why is liking the same sex so sinister to some people? It makes you think the people who share the same 99.9% DNA with us are looked at as "imposters" because of who they're attracted to, and can even live their life hiding it in fear. 

http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/30/technology/tim-cook-gay/index.html

Current Event

     A Maine nurse Kaci Hickok went on a bike ride last Thursday. Although, this event may sound irrelevant and you may find yourself saying "who cares", others aren't. A police cruiser followed her and her boyfriend around. This was all due to the fact she had been treating Ebola patients in another country. Though she is not said to have the virus yet, many are frantically disagreeing with the fact she is able to go out in public. Her lawyer's say the bike ride was a symbol of "her freedoms that cannot be am taken away with her without a court order." That being said, until being tested positive for the Ebola virus, she will not see that order.

     I thought this article was really interesting because it's showing how crazy people are becoming just because of this virus. I know how deathly it is, and how the United States officials MUST keep it contained, but they are messing with the freedom of individuals who don't even positively have the disease yet. It's crazy how nurses, doctors... Any type of medical practitioner must be quarantined after helping those who need them. Seems like those volunteering are the ones who's lives are being taken away from them.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/30/health/us-ebola/index.html?c=us&page=1

     

The ebola virus might be more of a problem than we already think it is. The hospitals that are holding the affected patients are at a loss for what they should do with the patients waste, soiled sheets and contaminated tools and medical accessories used on the patients. This created a huge problem for the hospitals; one, Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. They stated that they make up as much as 40 bags of medical waste a day that they have no way to get rid of. This creates a huge problem for the patients because no hospital can think of a way to solve their problem.

This shocked me because there are so many people developing the illness. If even doctors and nurses don't want to deal with the virus, how are people going to get better? It seems kind of like the people are going to be helpless when they develop the illness. We need to figure out a way to throw out the waste and save these innocent peoples' lives.  

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: Helping or Hurting?

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been a world-wide phenomenon for the past few months. People have been dumping ice cold buckets of water over their heads' to help show the pain and suffering people with ALS endure for thei whole life, not just for the 5 cold seconds. One group of fire fighters helping out the cause, however, have done some unintentional damage to themselves. Capt. Tony Grider died from a power line shock after trying to help out during the the challenge. The firefighter died from the shock, his partner released from the hospital just the past Tuesday. It seems that a life was lost while trying to help another. 

This article really spoke to me in the sense that it was no one's direct fault in this accident. It just happened while doing a good man was doing a good deed. It really feels ironic that a firefighter, taking time from his life to help ALS patients around the world with this challenge, lost his life. It goes to show that the unthinkable can happen. I hope that both the families of the men are holding up, and remember that the life of the one that no longer lives, was trying to help an ALS patient live longer. May he rest in peace. 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/21/us/firefighters-ice-bucket-challenge/index.html?c=homepage-t&page=1

Current Events Article

  In this weekend's current events article I actually found an article that was quite interesting, yet very frightening to me. I learned how easy it is to get hacked. Not just hacked on social media, but getting out credit cards, social security, even our medical records, hacked. Now everyone might be saying, "how does this even apply to me," because I know I thought the same when I read the article's title "Welcome to the Age of Hacks." It's actually really easy for any of us to get hacked. I recently decided to get my first debit card, but using debit and credit cards can be more dangerous than we all know. Especially now since it's so easy to do everything from our phones. One swipe and a hacker can use all your information. They can take money from your bank accounts, use your social security, anything. The possibilities of information they can get to are limitless. It's actually said to be really easy to do also, big companies like Target, who lost $146 million from the jacks done to their customers. This article said to use cash as much as possible. Swiping ours cards is more dangerous than we think. And getting all your information back and our of the hackers hands is a tedious and long process. Good luck getting the mess figured out once it happens. 

     I liked this article a lot because it pertained to me, it has to do with so many people today, and so many generations to come. Hacking is so prevalent now. Seems like way too many petiole know how to take advantage and hurt people's lives. I'm shocked at how many people were hacked in the past year: almost half American adults. That's so many that it's not only alarming but makes you think about how important it is to take necessary precautions. No one is safe, seriously no one. Keep an eye on bank accounts, credit cards. People can get your information from hospital records as well. Well aren't those "classified?" Pretty scary to think about. 

  

Here's my article link, I suggest everyone actually read it: 

http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/04/technology/security/age-of-the-hack/index.html

In previous years' yearbooks there are some nice things that I wouldn't mind continuing in our 2015 yearbook, but also many things I think we need to change. First off, can we stop putting pictures in where people clearly aren't ready? Also, I think we should make sure the backgrounds of the pages aren't boring white. I liked 2014's yearbook the best, it got a lot of great pictures of people, and the quality was awesome. You can tell they put a lot of work into it.

Get out mi blog!! Just kidding, here's my objective article first in blue, and my subjective article second in pink!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/showbiz/justin-bieber-arrested/index.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/back-to-college-the-on_b_5749712.html