Week 17

The article is about how New York Court of Appeals deems viewing child pornography legal. If one is not downloading, saving, and printing the picture, it is okay to view the photo. Because a photo cache on a computer stores memory of every picture viewed, it is unclear as to whether the person meant to view the image or not, if short of being saved. The ruling comes after Professor James D. Kent was sentenced to prison in August of 2009 for viewing child pornography.

Article

It is really disturbing that it's okay to view child pornography if you're not saving it. It gives a lot of sick people a way out of being caught to continue on with their obsession. I know it may not be far of a stretch, but what if that person viewing those images of children is a predator? The court is granting him permission to feed his desires until it is not enough. It's a serious loophole that those people can use and get away with. How do you view child pornography by mistake? It's very disturbing to me that a Court of the law, the Court who is supposed to protect the rights and the safety of the majority, to let a minority of freaks flourish in their sick obsession.

Week 16

After being devastated by horrific tornadoes, Henryville schools have been relocated with brand new supplies to help teachers finish out the school year. Because of Lily and their generosity, science teachers are given a helping handing. The company has donated science lab supplies to substitute what the faculty lost in/due to the tornadoes. Not only will their supplies be replenished, but their equipment will far surpass what they used to have.

Link

I think it's great that a big corporation is willing to give such a helping hand! As it seems, many a willing to give the small Indiana community a leg up. With the new lab equipment, it can the students and staff members feel a little bit more at home than the situation provides.  It's humbling to see such a big company reach out to a small community that may have not gotten their attention otherwise. I think it's really awesome, and very generous, of Lily to give the school supplies like that.

Week 15

The article is about a New Jersey man, Stuart Chaifetz, wanting an apology from his son's teacher. Akian Chaifetz is an autistic ten year old boy who attended Horace Mann Elementary in Cherry Hill, NJ. When Chaifetz put his son in the school system, he knew his child would be in a classroom with other autistic children and specialized teachers to craft their brains; however, Chaifetz did not know the abuse going on in the classroom. After receiving reports of his son acting out in violence, Chaifetz put a wired his son one morning for school. After listening to the six and a half hour recording, Chaifetz discovered the emotional abuse of the teachers and aides, going as far as calling the child hostile name and yelling at him for crying because they said he couldn't see his father. It was then that the father demanded an apology from the teachers to his son in a YouTube video that soon went viral.

Link to Article   YouTube commentary

When I read this story and then listened to the father and the audio recordings, I was sickened. How could an educator do such a thing to, what seems to be, a perfectly nice, loving child? Why is the aide and the teacher talking about their personal lives in front of impressionable minds? Just because they can't communicate what they hear to their parents doesn't mean they don't understand. Teachers like that are a real disgrace, especially to teachers who get let go just because of budget cuts and they don't have tenure. The aides were fired but not the teacher because of tenure. There would be someone more than willing and much more qualified to teach those child than that disgrace of a teacher. The school district is trying to cover up what happened by reassigning the teacher to a different school. How is it possible to know she won't do the same thing? Just because a child might be sometimes difficult, especially if he or she were born that way, gives no one the right to make them cry and throw them into violent fits. I can only imagine how Chaifetz felt when he heard his child cry because of those in authority. If I was heartbroken about it, I don't want to feel what he was feeling. His child deserves an apology, and that teacher deserves to be fired.

Week 14

The article I chose is about North Korea threatening war against South Korea. After a failed rocket launch on Friday, North Korea went on to celebrate the 100th birthday of Kim Il-Sung, the dynasty's first leader. Like every other country, South Korea made a few comments about the North's failure. Because of South Korea's comments, North Korea is vowing a "sacred war" if South Korea does not apologize.

Link

Just a passing question, but haven't these two nations already been to war? Didn't that war accomplish nothing? To quote Peter Griffin in the Family Guy episode where he went back to third grade, "Oh my God! Who the (heck) cares?!" I find this quote to be true in this case. Who cares what South Korea said? North Korea is just looking for someone to take their failure out on. I hate to break it to North Korea, but everyone was kind of laughing at them. Despite warnings not to launch a rocket, North Korea did. It's their own fault they publicly humiliated themselves. It's no reason to start a war against South Korea.

Week 13

The article I chose is about the state fair stage collapse investigation. The article says that the death of seven people and injuring of others could have been prevented if an evacuation was called. In addition, those reviewing the case said that the rigging was in adequate.

Link

Personally, I believe that the whole thing could have been avoided if someone had a brain and said, "Hey, this isn't safe; we need to evacuate,". Now, different companies are shelling out lots of dough to victims and their families. Yes, those who set up the stage are responsible too. They should have to repay the families for all the trauma that they caused. However, if the place would have been evacuated, we wouldn't be talking about this eight months after the fact. Because of this example, better safety regulations should be made and enforced to prevent another tragedy.

Week 12

The article I chose was about the AZ "trolling" ban. Internet trolling is basically a mean comment or harassment. On Facebook, it is seen as "stalking" someone's profile. Because the new bill in AZ is under fire, it has come to a halt.

Link

I think what AZ is trying to do is good in thought but can never be done. You really can't punish someone if they leave one mean comment. Who eve knows, could that one mean comment just be an opposing opinion? I think what they're trying to do is subjective to each person. One person might go farther than another just because they don't have the same boundaries. In addition, the commenter is protected by the First Amendment. I hate to tell the AZ congress this, but that hasn't changed since the birth of our country.

Week 10

In summary, the article is about Peyton working out for the Broncos. In the "Manning watch", he has turned down the Miami Dolphins. Peyton will work out at Duke, where he has been recovering from neck surgery, for the Denver Broncos.

Link to article

Personally, I'm over all the speculation. I just want him to choose a place. He said he'd choose a place in a week, but obviously, that hasn't happened. It leads me to believe that maybe Peyton does like to toy with emotions. It would explain why he and Irsay got so much "enjoyment" for making Colts fans squirm while taking weeks to come to a decision. I just wish Peyton would choose a team. He's already overshadowed his brother's Super Bowl win. He really doesn't deserve all this attention just because he's looking for the best organization where he'll get the most money and best benefits.

WEEK 9

The article I chose is about how to donate money to victims of tornado victims. The particular site I chose, WTHR, teamed up with the Pacers and Kroger. Also, if belonging to a Financial Credit Union, one could donate there as well. In addition, if you were to text the Red Cross, you would instantly be donating $10.

Link to News Story

I will be open and say that, yes, I have donated. Though I did not go by means of texting a number or stopping in at a Kroger, I made sure I helped out in some way. My question, though, is where does this money go? After I give it to someone, how does it end up in the hands of the victims? After hurricane Katrina where Red Cross money was not used to help victims, I have been very cautious in donating money. Personally, I believe that is much better to donate stuff. In that situation, a case of water could be much helpful than five dollars because that amount of money does not even begin to give back someone what they lost. I know that water does not help someone sleep at night, but neither does a green piece of paper. I believe my time, my prayers, and my ability to provide actual substance is much better than money. Though I can not give all those people their previous lives back, I can start by helping them meet their basic needs to help them get by until their lives are restored.