Former drug addicts find new fixation on triathlons

Since the age of 13 Eddie Frease was addicted to drugs and alcohol. He was kicked off the football and wreastling teams because he failed a drug a test. So when he got home after a night of drinking, he was so depressed. He turned on the TV and a sow about Todd Crandell who lost an athletic scholarship because he failed a drug test. Todd was saying that he turened to exersing instead of drugs. This inspired Eddie, because he used to be in sports he started doing triathlons. He swan 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles. Then in 2008 he completed an ironman. Then later he returned to his hometown, and he started helping the kids in his community that really needed his help, or the help of someone.

I think that it is really great that he did something that would help him kick his addiction of drugs and alcohol. He spent his life doing this stuff and with one TV made him change the way he lives his life. Being active and competitive came be a good thing, it will take your mind on whatever you are trying to stop. I like that even though he had a horrible past that he was able to compete in a ironman. He pushed himself and this made him stop the drugs and other things and know he is competing in some difficult triathlons. Also that he is talking to kids with the some addictions and telling them that they can stop if they want to, by doing something that will take their mind off of whatever they are doing. He is giving them a real lesson in that dangers of the addictions. He turned his life around to help others and for himself.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/05/triathlon.drug.addiction/index.html

Convicted killler beheaded, put on display in Saudi Arabia

Friday convicted killer Ahmed Al-Shamlani Al-Anzi was beheaded by Saudi Arabian officials. Then they put the body on public display despite the criticism from Amnesty International. Al-Anzi was sentenced to death after being found guilty for kidnapping and killing an 11 year old boy and his father. Government officials in Saudi Arabia display excecuted bodies to scare people from committing crimes. After the beheading the criminal, the head is sewn to the body, and the corpse is mounted onto a pole, and displayed for hours. Amnesty International denounced Saudi Arabias use of the death penalty. Last year there was 102 executions, and there more than 136 people going executed. If the continue in this same way, then they can't call themselves a world leader or be part of the G-20.

I agree with Marit. This is disgraceful action that should be taken into consideration by more than just Amnesty International. The United Nations should be looking into the actions that Saudi Arabia are taking to make sure no one commits any crimes in the counrty. Of course something is going to happen, but to enforce the death penalty for kidnapping and murder isn't fair. They should just get time in jail or something even if it is for life it is better than beheading someone. Even though trials arnt' always fair, people in every country should get one, if the person ends up with the death penalty, don't behead them and show off the body to promote fear in the people. Today we dealing with what was happening at Guantuamo Bay, and what was methods were being used to get information out of terrorists, but this is worse than that. People who are dead should not be made an example of, no matter what they did.

http://marit-blog.blogspot.com/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/30/saudi.arabia.execution/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Leno to America: Goodbye! I'm Not Going Anywhere

For 17 years Jay Leno has hosted to Tonight Show and he is now going to get a nightly slot everynight. When he was asked if it was sad to hand the show over he said that is was fine honest. He always was making fun of someone or something, like jaywalking or his jokes about politics and politans. It was all very funny. But Conan O'Brian is going to take Leno's place as host of the Tonight Show and some people think that he could be to funny to replace Jay. On his final show it was a sentimental end, with kids who were born within the 17 years that he hosted came onto the stage with him. He said "Ten miles behind me Ten Thousand miles in front of me".

I think that Jay Leno is so funny and I am sad to see him go. I would stay up and watch it, espically when he did headlines, and jaywalking. But my favorite part would be the monoloug in the beginning, it was always hilarious and awsome. It almost always made me laugh. But I don't know how well Conan is going to do because he has a different way of comedy that isn't always funny or understandable. It will be tough for him, but I think that in some way he will try to be as funny as Leno. But I don't really care for Conan that much as it is so we will see if I watch the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brian. I know for sure that I will watch the primetime spot when it is on.

http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/05/30/leno-to-america-goodbye-im-not-going-anywhere/

Polar bear attacks woman at Berlin Zoo

In April a women jumped over a fence into the water habitat of the polar bear at the Berlin Zoo. She jumped into their water during feeding time. The polar bears proceeded to attack her. Biting her and hitting her. The zookeepers then threw out life perservers and rescue rings into the water to try and get her out. They also used the rescue rings to distract the other polar bears while they tried to hoist her out of the water. At one point they had her but she ended up falling back into the water and grabbed by another bear. The zookeepers did eventually get her out of the habitat to safety. She is now being treated at a nearby hospital with severe injuries. No one knows why she went into the polar bear habitat, but the police did issue her with a trespassing citation.

I agree with Liz. Who would want to jump into a habitat especially when they are eating. I mean anyone with any commn sense wouldn't ever do that. Except for the trainers who work with the animals and feed them. It is sort of like jumping into a ocean when you are bleeding, you are going to get the animals attention in someway. But any animal even in the zoo is dangerous. They can/might resort back to their normal behavior in the wild. Even if they were raised in captivity, they still probably know what to do when someone or something comes in disrupts what is going on in the habitat. I am happy that the polar bear didn't kill the women, but what was she thinking. It is dangerous to do something like that, she was lucky that she wasn't killed and that the staff reacted so quickly to get her out of there.

http://liz-flynn.blogspot.com/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/04/11/polar.bear.attack/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

UND's Fighting Sioux nickname going away

May 14th The North Dakota Board of Higher Education voted to stop using the Fighting Sioux nickname. The university is going to keep fighting this until the deadline on October 1st. This has been a controversial subject for the students and members of the public for years now. It is a symbol of pride for years, but they need to move on and choose something new. Unless the Indian tribes let the university keep the name. But the NCAA has not let the university host any tournements at the campus because of crontrovery. One of the tribes the Spirit Lake Nation has approved the use of the logo, but the the Standing Rock Tribe will not let the univeristy keep the logo. If the change does in fact happen, the most affected area would be the 100 million Ralph Englstead Arena where the hockey teams play. When the area was built he had hundreds of logos built in, including the Fighting Sioux logo that is on the marble floor of the arena. He said that he wanted to make sure that the logo was never taken away.

I think that the logo should stay, because this is what people hear and see everyday, they are a symbol of hockey by the green and black jerseys and every other sport on the campus. The hockey area would have to be totally ripped apart because all of the granite/marble would have to come up and be replaced with something else. It wouldn't be the same or as elegant without the Sioux. Englesteadt knew what he was doing when he built the arena, with the head in the floor, making sure that this would stay forever. The fighting sioux head being biult into the bricks and everyother aspect of the hockey arena. I want it stay, but there is no way that by October 1st, the Standing Rock Tirbe will change there mind and the change will be permanant, the arena will undergo major changes to the way it looks and to the students who go there.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/05/14/fightingsioux_vote/

Screams recorded in cockpit of plane crash

February 12, 2009 was a night that killed 50 people because of a plane crash near Buffalo, New York. Around 10:00 the pilot lost control of the plane and started to head down towards that ground. It killed 49 people on the plane as well as one person in the house that the plane crashed into. About 5 minutes before the plane crashed the co-pilot said that she didn't like flying in icy conditions. '"I don't want to have to experience that and make those kinds of calls. You know I'dve freaked out. I'dve [sic] had like seen this much ice and thought, 'oh my gosh, we were going to crash," Shaw told Renslow."' Renslow was the pilot and Shaw was the co-pilot. The investigation showed that there was some ice, but not enough to cause any damge to the plane. Before the crash the recording recorded Shaw saying "We're" and then screaming. But the crash occured because the pilot didn't know how to get out of the dive that it was in, which they use a stick pusher to do. The improper way in which he used casued the crashi said the NTSB and the FAA.

I think that it is sad, because this pilot did everything correctly but this one thing that caused 50 people to die. But when they are learning how to fly they should be taught to get out of any situtaion that they are put in, that is within a certain amount of safety. Or do a flight simulation that would allow to practice these things safely without anyone getting hurt. But it was also inaproatite that they were screaming the cockpit, because I am guessing that the passengers on boared didn't know what was going on and to hear random screams would scare me to death. If i didn't know what was going on, and we were heading towards the ground, rocking back and forth, I would be worried. If they did then they probably would still be scared. But the airline industries need to better train there pilots to handle anything, like birds, or get the right amount of training.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/12/buffalo.crash.hearing/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Confirmed swine flu cases leap

275 confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported according to the World Health Organization. (WHO) which went up from 147 before today. The swine flu or H1N1 virsus is a combination of swine, avain and human stands. It is a disease that went from swine to swine then to human and is now being passed with ease to other people. According to the WHO, who raised the epidemic to a level 5 says that everyone needs to be carefull. The symptoms of H1N1 are fever, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Because of the spead over 300 schools across the country have been shut down for around a week maybe even more.

Personally I am a little tired of hearing about it. I know that it is a big deal because it can spread so easily between humans. But I think people are over reacting and if they feel sick they should go to the doctor right away. It is common sense, the earlier you go the better the chance that you won't die from H1N1. I understand that it is a huge deal in many countries and in the U.S. and that the health agancies are doing everything they can to make sure that people are aware of what it is and what it can do. But this is all over the news and people really shouldn't have to hear everyday that someone else died or got infected with it. It just makes it more scary for people who are around them. Also that people should be informed of where the most cases are coming from but recording the number isn't right. They should say another case has been reported here or something like that. It just isn't the flu which kills way more people so why is everyone worried about it. The regular flu kills around 3500 a year and the swine flu has killed over 150.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/swine.flu.outbreak/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Obama 'We can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction'

While at the Summit of the Americas, President Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez talked about the relations between their two contries and relations with Cuba. Cuba was the talked about a lot, and Obama recently loosened the restrictions to Americans who have family in Cuba. They can go see them and send money to them now. This came a day after Cuba said it would do everything possible to discuss the issues between the two countries. The tension started in 1962 when we put a trade embargo on goods from Cuba, from that things got worse. But Obama wants to change this relationship, and President Chavez thinks that the relations could end up getting better.

I like the idea that Obama is trying to improve the rift between the U.S. and Cuba. The past is the past and we should try to improve the way we handle international relations. It is good that President Chavez is helping to make this happen for our two countries and that Cuba is willing to listen to what we have to say. Also that Obama is changing the relations because they have been unchanged since the embargo in 1962. Change is good and that is what Obama's campaingn solgan was 'Change.' He said he was going to change many things and he is living up to that by helping the ecomony and international relations with other countries.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/17/obama.latinamerica/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Obama calls for reduction in nuclear weapons

While on his eight day visit to Europe, Obama said that he wants other nations to get rid of the nuclear weapons, and said that in the next four years, the U.S is committed to do this. Obama said that " they are the most dangerous legaices since the Cold War." Obama said that if some nations don't get rid of the weapons the U.S. will pose a threat, only to scare the "adversaries and reassure the allies." Obama wants this to happen; so within the next year Russia and the United States are going to negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. This speech that he gave in Czech Republic, came on the same day that North Korea lauched a long range rocket. The was condemmed by the U.S. and international officals. Obama said that this was why a reason that we need to denuclearize, and tell Iran that they have a choice on what they want to do.

I agree with Obama, I mean every country has a right to defend themselves from other countries but we don't need to do it with nuclear weapons. This is why there is a military in almost every country, the military is supposed to be the one to help protect the country and fight off threatening countries that want to invade. So why do countries like North Korea need to show off something that could be deadly to other countries? I also like that Obama is trying to set a new treaty that will hopefully help reduce the amount of nuclear weapons and with Russia. This is also a big step for Obama, he has passed so many things already in this country and is now on an international level, with nuclear weapons. I also like, in a way, that he is letting Iran choose what that country wants to do, but because they pose a threat to this and other countries around them, they should have to make some sort of treaty with countries surronding them.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/04/05/czech.republic.obama/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Jobless claims rise in the last week

The number of people of filing for unemployment benifts are increasing and it is on the rise. It has hit an all time high for the past nine weeks in a row. By the end of March 21 over 652,000 filied for the benifts, it is up over 8,000 for the week before. The Labor Department recorded that at March 11, it rose from 122,000 to 5,560,000 people the highest since we started keeping track in 1967. Also adding to the mess Americans can't find work because employers arn't hiring.

I think that it is horrible that so many people are losing their jobs. They have families that they need to support and can't do it without a steady income. Because of the loss of the job, they can't pay for the house that they are living in and will end up in debt or living on the streets. The rate is isn't all that close to what it was during the depression,but it is creeping uo their, and without the money, they can't get the food to feed themselves or the family. This new bill that President Obama is working on, i think really needs to focus on the unemployed, and instead of semi-projects make more longer lasting projects that give people a part time job at least. That way they can make some money and provide for the family.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090326/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy

Resients Race to fill sandbags as flooding threatens North Dakota

For a while know many people in the Fargo Moorhead area are being threatened by the rising waters of the Red River. Over 6,000 homes are being threatened by the rising waters, and it not done yet. Officals say that the river should creast on Saturday at about 40ft, and flood stage is at 17 ft. Volunteers have helped fill over 310,000 on monday, with more coming the in the following days. This is some of the worst flooding that the Fargo area has seen sice 1997 and in 2001. The weather over the week will determine how much more the water will rise. Hopefully the sandbags will hold back the water so the homes that are in danger are saved.

I love the fact that people from all over are coming to volunteer to help fill sandbags and make barriers between the water and the homes. This is really a comunity effort and help is coming in of all ages. On Tuesday the group seniors from Alex went to help out and it was hard work but it payed off. They stuffed over 200 bags and hour and help save someones home. It is good that the kids wanted to go and help out, many could have said that it wasn't their problem, but every little thing helps out. What happens affects the lives of many people who live and work in that area, so to make it almost a state effort shows that the "Minnesota Nice" is really in effect. This is horrible and to know that we are making a differnce in a city that we don't live in and to help out where we can is just great.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/03/23/dakota.flooding/index.html?iref=newssearch

Tents on wheels give homeless people roof and pride

Starting in L.A. the EDAR (Everyone Deserves a Roof) is giving away tents to the homeless people. It is 7ft peice that looks like an over-sized shopping cart and it is on wheels. So they can take it with them. Almost everyday Peter Samuelson would ride his bike past the homeless and would stop and talk to them. He talked to 62 people, who all mostly said that all they wanted was a roof over their head. Inside the tents, there is a bed with a sleeping bag, flame-retardent and it would keep the people dry when it rains. They all come with a chain and padlock to prevent anyone from steeling their home.

I agree with Marit, this is an excellant idea. Everybody should have the chance at a home, and this is a little step to make sure that this is going to happen. It is sad to drive through some major cities and see almost every corner have some type of homeless person. They sleep on the concrete or the park benchs. So for them to have a bed to sleep on, for them, is the best thing that could happen to them. I am a little surprised that this took so long to take any action. I mean this is good, but why didn't someone start this sooner, all it takes is one good idea to change something. What if we started this five years ago, how many of the tents would be there today? How many people would have shelter during the rain? All it took was one man to stop and talk to the homeless.

http://marit-blog.blogspot.com/

Source: Mullen offers Obama update on Mexico

Obama was briefed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen about the drug wars going on in Mexico over that last few months. He was also thinking of ways that the U.S. can help out the Mexican military leaders. Mullen called the recent drug wars in Mexico a crisis. So far this year around 1,000 people have been killed and last year over 6,000 people killed. Both Canada and the U.S. say that with the wars happening so close to the U.S.-Mexican border that there is some cause for alarm. Also just last month, in the U.S. there were 700 people arrested, they were linked to Mexican drug cartels.

I agree with Liz on this issue. We don't need to send our military to handle this, but we could help them by giving them so pointers on how to handle this in Mexico. The U.S. can't afford to be in two different wars, one in Iraq and the other in Mexico. It would be better if we stayed out with the military. But we can have some people go and talk to the Mexican government and help them figure out how to handle it. As Liz said, so many U.S. citizens travel to Mexico for vacation and we don't want them to get mixed up in something like this. Because they border us we need to make sure that the people here and in Mexico who are U.S. citizens are safe, and not dead. You never know what will happen if you are traveling in the heart of Mexico. We also need to protect the states that are bordering Mexico, some of the drug leaders can come up and start one right in our country.


http://liz-flynn.blogspot.com/

College for all: Is Obama's Goal Attainable?

President Obama is saying that everyone should go on to a college after high school. But just because you have a high school degree doesn't mean that you are ready for the college work that is going to come. Kati Haycock, president of the Education Trust, say that instead of just preparing the brightest students for college, instead we should prepare everyone for it, and not let the ones who do the drugs slide by. Richard Vedder says that not everyone can or is able to go to college because they lack the motovation and can't handle the college work load. Nicole Hurd, executive director of the National College Advising Corp, says that everybody is capable of going futher than high school.

I agree with Richard Vedder. I think that everybody should go to college, but i don't that everybody can because they lack the motovation to go the harder route in life. In high school you can choose to take the easy way and only graduate with just enough or you can take the harder way and take the college classes. That will help you out, it saves you money to take those classes, the more you do in high school the less money you are paying in college. But some people don't see it like that, they think of college as party time, finaly away from your parents to tell you what not to do. It is supposed to be hard and challenging so why try the classes in high school then it is only one semester other three. It is the choice of the student, whether they want to go the easy why or the hard way.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29445201/

Holder embarks on Guantanamo inspection

Attorney General Eric Holder visited Gunantanamo Bay, Cuba on monday. This place has been the center of controversy for a while now, nationaly and internationaly. While Bush was in office, there were many stories of prisoners who were being mistreated. So with Obama elected President, he said that he would shut that place down. It hold over 200 prisoners who are suspected of being terrorits.

I think that it is about time that we shut it down. It is one of the worst places that you might end up, and the place pretty much takes away your rights that have. We talk about equal rights to everyone, but the officers are taking away those rights as soon as they walk through the door. They may be terrorists but they have rights, we all are intitled to them, but you can't take away their right to a lawyer, and a right to a jury. They should be tried in court and if they are found guilty then apportiate action should be taken. Even if Guantanamo Bay ins't even on U.S. soil, the facility is still U.S. opperated.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29347135/

Obama returns to D.C., Afghan decision near

7 years ago, the U.S. stopped the Taliban led governmnet in Afghanistan, and we want to keep the control that we have. So Obama wants to add 30,000 more troops to that region by the end of the year. The commander in Afghanistan asked for more troops to get a new handle on what is going on. This is one of the top priorites to look at while he is in office. Obama has this big decision and also what to do about the ecomony on his mind. He spent a few days back in Chicago with his family. This was a break for him, since he has been working to pass the stimuls bill.

I think that we shouldn't send anymore troops into that region at all. Not Iraq nor Afghanistan because he said that during the election that he was going to pull the troops out. So why is he adding more. Yes we want to keep the democratic governmnet in place there. But what about the safty of the troops that are fighting there. If the Taliban is gaining a little more control we should be fighting them off but we shouldn't add anymore troops to that region. We have been in that region way to long, this isn't our war to fight anymore. It was in the beginning but now it is the people of the country.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28883744/

Stimulas bill far from perfect, Obama Says

The stimulas package that Obama has put together isn't going over to well with Republicans, they say that it is too much money. That their isn't enough of a tax cut, and the money for education. Obama was saying that the new stimulas package isn't perfect, but it will help out where it can. The Senate is reviewing the bill, so far over 108 billion dollars is taken out of the package. The package that Obama wanted to hopefully pass was 937 billion dollars and now it is 827 billion. Saying that these economic times are as bad as the Great Depression.

I think that this is too much money. Yes we need the economy to get better but you are going to put more one into the nation debt. Even though the whole goal is to get money back into to economy and have consumers buying more. It is to much. In the long run it will help, but right now, when we have a new President who wants to change the economy, he is starting out to fast. He has 4 years to change the U.S. he can't do in the first year or to. But the good thing about this bill is that is looking at giving money back to schools. Which is very good because education needs the funding to get the books that the students need. So by giving the states money to spend on education, they are helping out all over the country.

Obama had a meeting at the Pentagon about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is talking to some of the top military leaders, to decide what is the best way to handle Iraq. Obama's plan is to have a 16-month withdrawal date set to get the troops out. Some don't want to pull out fast because it could hurt the government in Iraq, but the President is going to make sure that the government/security is still good by the time they leave. President Obama wants the troops out by May 2010, but will re-adjust if there is any danger to the troops.

I think that it a good idea to start or at least plan to get the troops out of Iraq. We have been there a very long time, and many of the soldiers have served in that country more than once. It is time that the U.S. pulls out and let the people of Iraq handle the situation. We helped them get to a point where they can have elections and elect a leader. We helped them form a democray, which is what they need. Wasn't that the point, to help set up a government, which we did. No it isn't perfect, but with any new government starting it will take time to get through the worst of it. Yes there will still be fighting, but it has been long enough. I also think that May 2010 is good to pull the remaining soldiers out. They need to come home, those who are their, they have families who they want to see and family who want to see them.