A drug wave, similar to the one surrounding once-legal drug “Spice” last year in Idaho, is sweeping yet again across the state. The new drug is called “bath salts,” and it mimics the effects similar to the high from meth or cocaine. It is made synthetically using chemicals that have no FDA approval, and is marketed as bath salt, fertilizer, and/or plant food. The drug has also been labeled with the names “White Girls” and “Pixie Dust.”
A Meridian man had his son sent to the hospital after overdosing on the “bath salts.” He said, his son only had enough to be a few grains of salt in his hand, and he nearly died as a result. Two days after his son was released from the hospital, he took the drug again. His father said, “He told me, ‘The high is so unbelievable I can’t not do it, regardless of the consequences.’” Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea says the drug has only been on the radar for about 6 months, and they have been tracking the movement of the drug from southern Idaho to the Treasure Valley. The drug can be purchased on the Internet or at local paraphernalia shops. Idaho lawmakers are working towards passing a ban on this synthetic substance, which would allow police to crack down on the drug’s major selling and use areas in Idaho.
Bronco Stadium and Utah State's Spectrum tough on opponents
Nick Jezierny's article discusses the home field and home court similarity between Bronco Stadium and the Spectrum in Logan. I have personally experienced both a game at Bronco Stadium and a game in the Spectrum. I would honestly say that Utah State has one of the top 5 game day atmospheres in the country. BSU's students that attend games at Bronco Stadium are not even worth mentioning while discussing the Aggie student section. The blue turf gives BSU a different kind of advantage than a loud student section from the Spectrum. The blue on blue look creates a mess for opposing teams on a saturday night. The Aggie student section is very organized at what they do for games. They have a student run newsletter that is produced weekly to give students information on opposing players and coaches. The cheers are well performed and the Aggie students avoid tasteless chants for the most part. Each school has its homefield advantage and that is the beauty of college sports, every school has its own unique wrinkle.
Boise state researcher gets dinosaur named after her- Arbiter Online
Celina Suarez, a Boise State posdoctoral researcher, has had the honor to have a dinosaur named after her. The Geminiraptor suarezarum was said to have walked the Earth about 125 million years ago. Suarez and her twin sister Marina found this fossil near Green River, Utah in 2004.
An interesting fact is that the classification of this creature was given the name Gemini, which is Latin for “twins.” She said ever since her and her twin sister were little they always said they would find a dinosaur in their backyard. They found this fossil when they were working on a summer excavation project for the Utah Geological Survey. The fossil that they found, Geminiraptor, is currently the oldest known member of the dinosaur family Troodontidae. It is also the only Troodonitade ever to be found in North America during that time period (about 145 to 98 million years ago).
Today Suarez is at Boise State University performing posdoctoral research. Her work that she is working on at BSU is expected to be a part of scholarly publications and research results in the Department of Geosciences.
Along with scientists from University of Pennsylvania and the Chinese Geological Academy of Sciences Suarez will be going to China this summer to examine dig sites. Suarez has also traveled to Alaska to do research on fossils. She is going to continue to search for species that have not been discovered yet because it is possible that they could give us clues to our survival.
Kelly Sweeney Idaho Statesman: Ada County Jail plans small expansion In today’s world many people are being affected by the economy. People are losing jobs and becoming poor. But no one would have thought that it would eventually start affecting our jails. Do to the fact that most people have to rely on their spouses, families, friends, and relatives to bail them out of jail, our jail systems are ready to explode. The economy has so many families struggling and not being able to afford anything outside of bills and food. There a less and less jail birds going out on bail because their families are struggling with getting the everyday needs. Ada County Jail is now talking about adding more beds to the cells. They want to add 100 beds but need roughly 6 million dollars to be able to expand the jail. They are also losing one source of funding due to the budget cuts. They would like to start the constructing in 2012 if the Ada County Commissioner approves of the funding. The state has said that they will pay a minimum of 40 dollars a day to cover the staff. They would also like the inmates to be able to find jobs to serve back to society for the crime they have committed, and the staff would be helping them with this goal. Sheriff Raney says that the staff will not be filled over time and that with this contract ending, it will not matter anymore.
Kyle Shirley House and Senate Dems Reject Luna Plan: Job-Killing Plan More About Politics Than Promoting Student Performance Superintendent Luna has been working diligently on revamping the allocation of funds for education and teachers in Idaho. The only problem with this Bill Mr. Luna has proposed is that it offers an increase in teachers’ pay and increase in schools available technology by eliminating teaching positions offered and increasing the enrollment per class. This ultimately raises a multitude of questions. My biggest issue I have with this proposed plan by Mr. Luna deals with the unorthodox and whimsical thought that every high school student needs a laptop to function in schools. How this plan devotes to save money is beyond me. As I recall, the computer lab in the Library worked just fine and writing by hand helps reinforce material learned, so where is the justification? Laptops are also rather fragile, require periodic updates, and obsolete within 4 years. Text books have lasted 20+ years in public schools and cost a fraction of the price as a laptop would … Data analysists suggesting this as a “wise move to save money” are extremely flawed in their logic. Also, removing the teachers’ who actually TEACH the material and replacing them with Laptops is simply Ludacris, are students expected to use “Google” to find out the answers to their questions now? The biggest issue with this entire proposal is the lack of sufficient evidence to promote or suggest this will be a better method of teaching (although the current system is enforced without much quantitative data to promote it as well) it has been my experience the more intimate the class setting, the more attention and dedication is spent on the subject.
Schools May Have to Absorb Student’s Unpaid Lunch Bills
This article was about big states, specifically New York, having a problem with collecting lunch money from student’s parents. The article was very surprising to me; I had no idea how such a little issue could become such a huge one. The article stated that in one particular school in Queens, 86% of students received free lunch, and the 14% that didn’t, were not paying their bills. Failure by the parents to pay these fees has resulted in the school having to act as a collecting agency rather than focusing all attention on educational issues. I think that this is unfair to the school officials as well as unfair for the children. The part about this article that shocked me the most was how fast these unpaid tabs add up. In New York City alone, since 2004 the school system has absorbed 42 million dollars in unpaid tabs, which is exactly why the school system can’t afford to do it anymore. So if the system can’t afford it, and the families can’t afford it, what is the solution? The fact is, there no easy answer to this problem. Should the kids whose parents are not paying be punished by not getting to eat? If they aren’t getting fed at school, they probably aren’t getting fed at home. One solution that has helped is offering these students fruits and vegetables, but nothing else. Another is offering only a cold sandwich and a glass of milk to each child. Can a child survive off of only fruits and vegetables? If the child eats only fruits and vegetables for more than 3 consecutive days, then the school is required to report it to Child Protective Services. Judging by the article, I think that the schools are doing everything in their power to try and solve this problem, but it is not easy. Then next step: cutting in to the school’s classroom budget. Hopefully it doesn’t have to result in that.
Boise police find marijuana in car of wrong-way driver Downtown late Monday night By The Idaho Statesman
This article talks about a young women named, Stacia M. Johns that is being held in the Ada County Jail on felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine, and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without privileges. Allegedly she was driving on the wrong side of the road in downtown Boise that’s when a police officer decided to pull her over. The officer thought there might be some kind of drugs in the car so the officer called in a K-9 unit to search the car. Once the K-9 unit got there the officer found baggies of marijuana and a glass pipe that tested positive for methamphetamine use. They did not disclose the amount of marijuana that was in the car. Authorities indicated that Johns has been arrested before on many misdemeanor drug charges that include, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, drug paraphernalia, and frequenting a place where drugs are sold. Johns will make her first court appearance on Tuesday and she could be sentenced for up to five years in prison. I love to read articles about dumb criminal or people who deal drugs because there is always a little comedy in it. Why would people do stuff like this in the first place? I mean really, are they really that stupid. Yeah they might need money or something like that, and if that’s the case they should go get a job. Shea McClellin Tue/Thur
Funny thing is I knew this woman. She had a strange obsession with the latest raids, who was selling what and how she could get involved. She was always around, but when asking others never did one person witness her using drugs. She was very spacy and always mumbling to herself. We always had suspicion that she worked for the bpd
Hey " Anonymous" she is a person not a dumb criminal. She is a young woman who has made bad decisions. She is a good human being that means well and has been through true tragedy and needs support to get through her mistakes. People like you who say hurtful things to weak people do not help the problem at all but just make it worse. Why don't you try feeling something different for people that have made poor decisions in life besides hate and judgement? Personal growth needs support and love not hate.
The article I read was about “bath salt” and how Idaho is pursuing a ban on the new synthetic drug. Debbie Field, director of the Idaho Office of Drug Policy, introduced a bill Monday in the Idaho Legislature that would ban the drug, which is now sold legally online and in drug paraphernalia stores under brand names like “Purple Wave” and “Ivory Wave”. If the proposed bill is passed, Idaho will join a growing number of states considering laws to ban the sale or possession of “bath salt”. Field said this is not something you can buy and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It causes hallucinogenic and suicidal thoughts to users. The so-called “bath salts” are snorted like cocaine, but can also be smoked or injected. This bill arrives less than one week after lawmakers took up legislation to ban the so-called drug “spice”. Field said that once “spice” got outlawed, “bath salts” took its place. Synthetic stimulants in the drug—known to give a high similar to cocaine, LSD, or ecstasy—have sickened hundreds of people already this year.
With the introduction and ban of “spice” within the last couple of months, I found this article to be quite interesting. It seems as though people will do whatever it takes to get high, even if it includes creating a new drug. I think Idaho is on the right track with the ban. With drug use comes crime and other law-breaking activity. If you control the drug use at the beginning before it has a chance to progress, police officers won’t have to deal with the crime later on.
BY: NADINE RUSSELL Michelle Obama Sidesteps Criticism by Sarah Palin as she Discusses Anti-Obesity Campaign Chicago Tribune On the eve of the one year anniversary of the launch of her anti-obesity campaign called, “Lets Move” first lady Michelle Obama talks about her husband’s non-smoking, healthy living, and her family’s spirituality. She addressed being proud that her husband quit smoking almost a year ago, and also discussed selecting non-designer dresses for her wardrobe, then finally that raising her family and keeping her marriage strong requires lots of laughter. The “Lets Move” campaign aims to end childhood obesity, which about one third of American children today are suffering from. The first lady aims to have all obesity in children gone in one generation. Obama addressed the statement Palin made saying, “the first lady does not want people to eat dessert.” Obama did not make any direct response to that statement but did however say that most Americans today know and understand that childhood obesity is a “real issue” and that parents, teachers, and pediatricians are grateful for these kinds of conversations. Obama also discussed the question of whether serving pizza, kielbasa, bratwurst, and cheeseburgers at the White House Super Bowl Party sent the wrong message. She said, “there were also salads served and that achieving ‘balance’ is what is important.” In her anti-obesity campaign, she teaches children that things like pizza and ice cream are to be looked at as treats as opposed to everyday menu items. Obama didn’t address questions of whether her family regularly attends church, but did say that, “on some level it’s all we have that’s ours,” in regards to her family’s faith. She concluded the night with support of her husband in the 2012 reelection bid and referring to him as a “phenomenal president.”
This article deals with the fact that kids will basically do anything to get high nowadays. “Bath salts”, which is described as a type of synthetic cocaine, goes under this alias in order to be sold and used undetected by the law. However, what the users of it don’t realize is that it is extremely dangerous and just plain dumb to be putting miscellaneous chemicals into your body which are clearly not meant for that purpose. What causes a momentary high could cause a lifetime of harm if not death.
Kreller does a very good job at relaying this information to her readers. She starts off with an emotional story about a father who is watching his ‘bath salt’ user son convulsing on a hospital bed, and this engages the reader from the first line. Included among the information is what this substance is, why it is bad, and what the authorities are planning to do about it. Although I thought the article was very clear and descriptive, it seems to be a little long winded and I think she could have edited some of the body to make it shorter. My attention span got last after awhile due to this.
Early today in Kentucky a woman whose car crashed off an overpassed was rescued from her burning car by people passing by. This is a refreshing reminder that there are good people out there. Not all people are looking for a payoff or for a spotlight. There are still people out there who will do a good deed simply because someone needs help. In this current environment of gloom and doom, suspicion and cynicism it’s nice to have glimpse of hope. Hope that having faith in humanity isn’t a foolish notion. Bryan Brulport had been on his way to Northern Kentucky University when he saw the car upside down on the other side of the highway. Brulport who is studying nursing ran across the highway where other passersby had collected. Scott Williams a painter from Hamersville, Ohio helped Brulport pull Melissa Robbins out of the flaming car before it exploded in flames. Brulport says he was acting on instinct when he and former firefighter Eric Tungate punched and kicked out the windows of the car so Robbins could be pulled out before the flames got to her. Others at the scene call the three of them modern day hero’s. Not many people would ignore they own safety to save someone else. As police and emergency crews arrived another motorist used a fire extinguisher on the flaming car. Robbins was seen by a passing witness slumped over the wheel of her car before in went off the overpass. She was taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital in Cincinnati.
Lauren Hooker Enrico Ponzo: The fugitive who lived next door [The Idaho Statesman]
Before delving into the heart of the story, I'd like to comment on the writing style. I really enjoyed how this story was written; though at first the length was daunting, once I began reading, the length wasn't an issue. It was a really great narrative, and after reading Harvard, it really helped me appreciate it more.
After reading the entire story, the quote that struck me the most was the end; "You never know your neighbors." This is so true, and while this story may strike fear into the hearts of readers (Oh no! Could MY neighbor be a mobster?) it was a really great story about a guy who was charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and racketeering, but managed to evade law enforcement and the FBI and begin a new life.
He "was a city slicker who didn't know nothing" about farming, but figured it out. Coming from a strong 4-H background, I know that cattle ranching is a lot more difficult than it looks, and to simply figure it out on your own...well, I think that says a lot about a person's character.
I don't believe that people who have done bad things are automatically bad people. I know how easy it is to get sucked in; people can be incredibly persuasive, no matter how strong-willed YOU are. Just because Enrico killed people in the past doesn't mean he's still bad. I don't think his neighbors should freak out about it. He lived there for eleven years, and didn't kill any of them. However, I still think he should be charged for crimes committed in the past.
Whitney Holm “A play about death row wrestles with meaning” Idahostatesman.com Found: February 10, 2011
There is a play being shown in New York City about a man that is supposed to be dead. The main character that was written is a man that survived the Indiana death sentence three-drug cocktail. Now, some people think that it is controversial for a play to be performed about such a topic. The play is going to be sectioned up with life events that this man has gone through. He will read letters that deliver flashbacks to his life. This will be done so that the audience can “step into his shoes.” This play is going be difficult for the actors involved as well as the audience. The two main actors are not to look at each other for the duration of the play. It is set up in an uncomfortable manor that goes along with it’s subject. I think that this play is a good idea. I think that people often forget about what is going on in the prisons because they are intended to be secluded from the happiness of real life. A few months ago there was another controversy about the three-drug cocktail. One prison ran out and they wanted to use an animal euthanization drug instead of the standard cocktail. It makes us question what is an appropriate method of producing death? This article made me wonder how long they are going to let that man sit on death row awaiting the inevitable, again, before a “better” cocktail comes out.
Idaho Statesman.com: "'Redwall' author Brian Jacques dies at 71" By ROBERT BARR - Associated Press, Feb. 9, 2011
I was shocked and saddened to find out that one of my favorite authors, an author who's books I have read since I was ten years old, passed away on Saturday. His name Brian Jacques. And yet I didn't find out on the T.V. news or even a newspaper on Sunday. I found out on Monday night when my mom discovered it on the BBC website. I cried for two hours mourning the sudden death of this beloved author. What ticks me off is that the United States news seemed to have pushed it over to the back burner and not even post anything about it until at the earliest that Monday at the lastest Feb. 9th, at least three days after the news broke. Why is it that the death of Michael Jackson is front page news and the death of an author seems to be so insignificant in the eyes of the news media. It's not right or fair! Even authors deserve to be recognized for what they contributed to the world especially after their death no matter what they wrote. Brian Jacques was more than just a "children's author" as quoted in some parts of the media, he was an artist, a gentleman, a hero and a mentor to millions of readers both young and old.
Jacy S. Tu/Th Retrieved Friday February 11, 2011 From CNN World Egypt’s Mubarak resigns after 30 year rule On Friday, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he would be stepping down and handing over power to the military. Mubarak was in power of three decades and lost it after 18 days of revolt from the people of Egypt. After the announcement, tens of thousands of Egyptians erupted with deafening emotions throughout the streets of Cairo. The resignation of the President was something that many thought unimaginable but was celebrated with fireworks, honking of horns, and waving the Egyptian flag. “Egypt is Free!” and “God is Great,” were the things one could hear coming from the crowded streets. The opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei, while happy about the news, urged the people to stay united beyond the moment of euphoria. The Swiss government has also directed the banks to freeze all assets belonging to Mubarak and his family, because of fear that he would leave the country with looted money. Many believe that Mubaraks decision is a welcome step, but with that comes an unpredictable next chapter. Warning that the departure of one man does not mean an end to a police state. Salil Shetty, Amnesty Internation’s secretary general said “The repressive system that Egyptians have suffered under for three decades has not gone away and the state of emergency remains in place. Those in power must grasp this opportunity to consign the systematic abuses of the past to history. Human rights reform must begin now.” This is a huge step for the people of Egypt, but also for the United States. Egypt is the biggest ally to us in the Arab nation. It will be interesting to follow what happens with their government, and see how it impacts the rest of the world.
SB 1070 Counterclaim Says State Acted After Federal Officials Didn’t
Arizona suit challenges US on securing borders [Arizona Daily Star: azstarnet.com]
After the Obama administration challenged Arizona’s SB1070 law, Arizona sues the federal government for failing to protect the border properly. Governor Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne complain that the federal government has failed to “reimburse states for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants who are serving time in state prisons for violating state laws.” Horne referenced to the September 11 attacks as an example of what could happen if the federal government fails to secure its borders. Matt Chandler, spokesman for Homeland Security responded by pointing out that the law suit ignores all the facts about what the Federal Government has done to improve security. Statistically, according to Chandler, the U.S. Homeland Security is doing their job. Brewer and Horne predict that this law suit will make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and will be funded by a special $3.7 million already contributed by the state. Being an AZ citizen and resident, the situation makes me angry. The state’s money, if I understand correctly, is taxpayers’ money. Some of these taxpayers don’t support SB1070 (I being one of them). I also think a battle between the state and the federal government isn’t going to help the situation; it will probably make it worse. There are better things to invest in, in Arizona at the moment. Education, for example, is at its worst. I believe we’ve got the worst education of the 50 states at the moment. Yet the state government’s primary concern seems to be protecting the borders. I agree to some extent that this issue is important, but I don’t believe it to be important enough to spend millions on taking it to the Supreme Court.
February 7, 2011 marked the seventh and final day of Shanghai’s Spring Festival break. The festival is a twelve-year tradition in Shanghai and this year marked the high results in sales for retailers in ten years.
In the seven days, about 4,000 business retailers combined made around 5.04 billion Yuan (equivalent to US $769 million). The results are an 11.5 percent increase from 2010 revenue.
The increase in commission is being attributed to stable prices, increased tourism, sufficient supplies and disposable income between residents of Shanghai. Also, the sales peak was significant starting on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Restaurants and the service industry also saw significant increase in commission through out the holiday. Even catering, online and TV shopping networks saw a strong increase in sales, making a combined 90 million Yuan.
Following the New Year and the declaration of the year of the rabbit, the gold and jewelry industry were in the top purchases of consumers. The increase was 39.8 percent from the previous year. The next most popular in demand items were clothing and elite alcohol.
At first thought it sounds like American society the weekend after Thanksgiving (black Friday), or the week before and after Christmas because of all the sales, but the Shanghai Spring Festival did not appear to be a holiday of gift giving. All the purchasing was done just as a holiday tradition. Was Shanghai clever enough to create this holiday to strategically bump their economy out of a slump? I found this pretty interesting, especially since it is only a twelve year old tradition.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/11/1523510/obama-learns-of-mubarak-resignation.html WASHINGTON - Friday, February 11, 2011 president Barack Obama spoke about the resignation of the long time president of Egypt. As of Friday, February 11, 2011, Mubarak Hosni resigned and left the military in charge. President Obama said: "The people of Egypt have spoken. Their voices have been heard. And Egypt will never be the same." Only the night before the Egyptian president refused to leave. Obama said that this is a new beginning for the people of Egypt and many questions that will come up will not be easy but he is confident in the Egyptian military. Obama said: "Egyptians have inspired us, and they've done so by putting the lie to the idea that justice is best gained by violence." They did not use violence or mindless killings. Obama hopes that the military will be the “caretaker” of Egypt and will be able to defuse ad secure the country. Obama said that he has confidence in the Egyptian people and that they will find the answers for their country. Many things have to be done. They have to change the 30-year-old police powers laws. They will have to change everything but they are hoping to do so, and get free and fair elections. Mostly President Obama spoke about the military and he only mentioned President Mubarak in the beginning of his speech. He said: "President Mubarak responded to the Egyptian people's hunger for change." Obama finished by saying that he is confident that the democratic Egypt can assert its role as an influential player in the Mideast and beyond.
Lindsey Hileman “Online Dating” The Arbiter This article from the opinion section of The Arbiter is about online dating but more specifically, college kids using online dating sites and having it lead to marriage. The article gives statistics showing how Idaho compares to the rest of the country for average age of first marriage and percentage of residents that are married. I enjoyed that the journalist compared how much college kids spend on school related expenses versus how much they spend on online dating. I think this was a really effective way of appealing to her audience. I found the details in the article surprising, though I guess I shouldn’t have. I did get married when I was 18 and was divorced by the time I was 19. I was a divorced teenager, which just seems so ridiculous now. I had to laugh because one of the students interviewed for this article attended my wedding reception. He is quoted as being pretty opposed to college kids getting married as they are so young. I wonder if he knew then what a giant mistake I was making, and why didn’t he tell me?!?! The only thing I didn’t like about this article was the headline. The deck, “Be young, not married” was a lot more telling of what the article was going to be about, where the headline “Online Dating” was a little generic. I almost didn’t read it because I am sort of sick of hearing about online dating. But the article gave this tired topic a new angle.
New York Times: "In Montanta, A bid to End Medical Use of Marijuana"
The Times reports that events in the State of Montana have recently put the breaks on what had been a nationwide trend of liberalizing state marijuana for the purpose of medical use. The Montana State House of Representatives, where Republicans picked up substantial majorities in both chambers in the 2010 election cycle, voted on Thursday to repeal its legalized use of medical marijuana.
"We were duped," flatly says Mike Milburn, Montana House Speaker about the states permission of the drug in 2004. "This bill says, 'shut down everything'-- it's gone way too far." The article goes on to discuss the larger trend of local anti-marijuana sentiment that is sweeping the nation in states like Colorado, New Mexico, New Jersey, and California.
Many believe the reason for the recent spike in marijuana use is that the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. outlined at the beginning of the Obama administration that the drug was not going to be a priority for the federal government. As a result, state legislators in Helena have introduced no less than 16 bills that would restrict the drug in one way or another, "calling for everything from a marijuana tax to another voter referendum."
However, the article discusses ,with Republicans gaining power in states like Montana and nationally on an anti-nanny state agenda of scaling back onerous government intrusions into the private lives of citizens, the recent proposal to put the state government smack dab in-between the doctor-patient relationship seems hypocritical. The tension rests between the "conservative ranching and agriculture country to the east [and] liberal college towns and tourist communities to the west," the article says. Whether this bill goes on to pass the State Senate and gubernatorial signature or dies early in its life, this issue is far from over.
Boise State Racking Up Big Dollars for Stadium, Park Projects Idaho Statesman
It sounds like the first stage of the bronco stadium expansion is about to begin. Boise State was given the ok to begin the design phase of the project. The University has raised half the funds necessary for the first part of the project, which is estimated to cost upward of $20 million. Apparently, contained within the expansion there are also plans to build a park by the name of Dona Larsen Park. The Park will be the new home of the Boise State Track and Field program. The school has hired out an architecture firm out of San Francisco to man the project. This is an exciting time for the program since they are about to move to the Mountain West division this coming season. In terms of drawing a bigger crowd, I hope that the expansion will bring the kind of crowd that the football team is after. It does seem that for the fans it will be exciting knowing that there will be more people in the stadium for each game. More seats means more tickets, and having observed many long lines at the ticket counter I think this will be a positive direction for the program.
Physician assisted suicide is a concern for an Idaho lawmaker who wishes to make this type of medical practice a crime in the state of Idaho. 30 other states have made this practice a crime, and Sen. Russ Fulcher wishes to join them. Idaho’s neighbor states such as Oregon and Washington have passed laws allowing the physician aid in dying. Idaho, at this time has no laws stating physician assisted suicide is a crime. Sen. Fulcher said, “That Idaho could be a place where we accepted that in our culture raises enough concerns to do something about it now.” Fulcher said his proposal “does not impact comfort care for the terminal patients. His proposal will say that it is not a crime to disperse medications via prescription or by physicians “to relieve another person’s pain or discomfort, even if any such medication or procedure may hasten or increase the risk of death.” Ketchum resident Tucker, disagrees with the idea of making physician assisted suicide a crime. Tucker believes patients should be allowed to choose their care at the end of their life. Tucker referred to an incident of an 87-year-old man named Robert Emerson who shot his 90-year-old wife and then himself. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson both had terminal cancer. Tucker said if the patients had been able to attain physician assistance for aid in dying then “that kind of tragic, violent death could have been avoided.” Oregon data showed that 96 prescriptions for lethal medication were written out of that 65 patients died, and 78.9 percent of the patients had cancer. Sen. Russ Fulcher will make his proposal Friday in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
Boise State men's basketball team edges Idaho in front of record crowd
The Boise State Broncos basketball team finished off a three game series against the Idaho Vandals Saturday by winning in front of a record crowd of 12,193 fans at Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos, who improved their record to 14-11 on the season, played inspired basketball in front of an energized crowd from both schools. Head Coach Leon Rice even gave credit to the crowd, saying “I was just so pleased with the crowd. It was a great college basketball atmosphere.” The crowd had a very large effect on a game that saw over ten lead changes and twelve ties. The Broncos led by eight points with just over four minutes to go until the Vandals went on a run of nine consecutive points to take a one point lead with under two minutes to play. Even with the crowd restless, the Broncos did not panic. Senior forward Deaquon Montreal sank two free throws at the line to give Boise State a one point lead and a chance to seal the game. That chance came and freshman walk on Jeff Elorriaga took it as he made an impressive steal to tie up the game and hold off the late push of the Vandals.
Nichole Stallings {Student Voices} Students speak out about expectations for Valentine’s Day. Feb 14th Arbiter With Valentine’s Day coming up, it is not surprise that the newspaper culture column would include something or other about the holiday. Whether someone is celebrating single’s awareness day or Valentine’s Day, the Arbiter did an excellent job at covering both aspects of the holiday. One particular article that I found very creative was the student’s point of view on what is expected from the opposite gender on Valentine’s Day. The Arbiter asked students what men and women expect from their significant others on this special day. I personally thought this was extremely helpful. Along with the side notes on Romantic Places to dine and fun, original dates to go on, hearing from other people what they expect as to gifts was intriguing and helpful. Most of the time, people assume that women expect flowers and candy. But a lot of couples just enjoy spending the day with each other, minus all the gifts. The arbiter did however, find people from opposite ends of the spectrum and this is what made the story so interesting. While there were the modest gift seekers—the “oh don’t get me anything but your love” people—there were also the people who explained that sometimes guys get girls roses because they want to hook up with that girl later. Other guys explained that chivalry is not dead and that Valentine’s Day is the one day a man gets rewarded for being a gentleman…. I do not know where they found these guys who are not gentlemen all the time, but this whole section made for an eye-catching story.
Wednesday morning (EST) cyclone Yasi made landfall on Australia’s northeastern coast. It has now been deemed at category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 155mph. 170mph winds were recorded at Mission Beach just before land fall. Many families boarded up windows and left town, while others decided to remain in town.
The overall cost to recuperate is estimated to be nearly $3.5 billion. The last time Australia has seen this bad of a tropical storm was 1974. Schools expected to stay closed through next week to give plenty of time to clean and recover from the storm.
The brunt of the storm seemed to have missed the most populated areas. So far, no deaths have been reported. Most places were without power for many hours and in some cases, they are still trying to regain power and cleanup what damage there is. The damage to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding marine life is also unknown a this time.
Sam Alderman
ReplyDeleteSource: idahostatesman.com
A drug wave, similar to the one surrounding once-legal drug “Spice” last year in Idaho, is sweeping yet again across the state. The new drug is called “bath salts,” and it mimics the effects similar to the high from meth or cocaine. It is made synthetically using chemicals that have no FDA approval, and is marketed as bath salt, fertilizer, and/or plant food. The drug has also been labeled with the names “White Girls” and “Pixie Dust.”
A Meridian man had his son sent to the hospital after overdosing on the “bath salts.” He said, his son only had enough to be a few grains of salt in his hand, and he nearly died as a result. Two days after his son was released from the hospital, he took the drug again. His father said, “He told me, ‘The high is so unbelievable I can’t not do it, regardless of the consequences.’”
Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea says the drug has only been on the radar for about 6 months, and they have been tracking the movement of the drug from southern Idaho to the Treasure Valley. The drug can be purchased on the Internet or at local paraphernalia shops. Idaho lawmakers are working towards passing a ban on this synthetic substance, which would allow police to crack down on the drug’s major selling and use areas in Idaho.
Joe Ross
ReplyDeleteFrom the IdahoStatesman
Bronco Stadium and Utah State's Spectrum tough on opponents
Nick Jezierny's article discusses the home field and home court similarity between Bronco Stadium and the Spectrum in Logan. I have personally experienced both a game at Bronco Stadium and a game in the Spectrum. I would honestly say that Utah State has one of the top 5 game day atmospheres in the country. BSU's students that attend games at Bronco Stadium are not even worth mentioning while discussing the Aggie student section. The blue turf gives BSU a different kind of advantage than a loud student section from the Spectrum. The blue on blue look creates a mess for opposing teams on a saturday night. The Aggie student section is very organized at what they do for games. They have a student run newsletter that is produced weekly to give students information on opposing players and coaches. The cheers are well performed and the Aggie students avoid tasteless chants for the most part. Each school has its homefield advantage and that is the beauty of college sports, every school has its own unique wrinkle.
Sydney Gill
ReplyDeleteBoise state researcher gets dinosaur named after her- Arbiter Online
Celina Suarez, a Boise State posdoctoral researcher, has had the honor to have a dinosaur named after her. The Geminiraptor suarezarum was said to have walked the Earth about 125 million years ago. Suarez and her twin sister Marina found this fossil near Green River, Utah in 2004.
An interesting fact is that the classification of this creature was given the name Gemini, which is Latin for “twins.” She said ever since her and her twin sister were little they always said they would find a dinosaur in their backyard. They found this fossil when they were working on a summer excavation project for the Utah Geological Survey. The fossil that they found, Geminiraptor, is currently the oldest known member of the dinosaur family Troodontidae. It is also the only Troodonitade ever to be found in North America during that time period (about 145 to 98 million years ago).
Today Suarez is at Boise State University performing posdoctoral research. Her work that she is working on at BSU is expected to be a part of scholarly publications and research results in the Department of Geosciences.
Along with scientists from University of Pennsylvania and the Chinese Geological Academy of Sciences Suarez will be going to China this summer to examine dig sites. Suarez has also traveled to Alaska to do research on fossils. She is going to continue to search for species that have not been discovered yet because it is possible that they could give us clues to our survival.
Kelly Sweeney
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman: Ada County Jail plans small expansion
In today’s world many people are being affected by the economy. People are losing jobs and becoming poor. But no one would have thought that it would eventually start affecting our jails. Do to the fact that most people have to rely on their spouses, families, friends, and relatives to bail them out of jail, our jail systems are ready to explode. The economy has so many families struggling and not being able to afford anything outside of bills and food. There a less and less jail birds going out on bail because their families are struggling with getting the everyday needs. Ada County Jail is now talking about adding more beds to the cells. They want to add 100 beds but need roughly 6 million dollars to be able to expand the jail. They are also losing one source of funding due to the budget cuts. They would like to start the constructing in 2012 if the Ada County Commissioner approves of the funding. The state has said that they will pay a minimum of 40 dollars a day to cover the staff. They would also like the inmates to be able to find jobs to serve back to society for the crime they have committed, and the staff would be helping them with this goal. Sheriff Raney says that the staff will not be filled over time and that with this contract ending, it will not matter anymore.
Kyle Shirley
ReplyDeleteHouse and Senate Dems Reject Luna Plan: Job-Killing Plan More About Politics Than Promoting Student Performance
Superintendent Luna has been working diligently on revamping the allocation of funds for education and teachers in Idaho. The only problem with this Bill Mr. Luna has proposed is that it offers an increase in teachers’ pay and increase in schools available technology by eliminating teaching positions offered and increasing the enrollment per class. This ultimately raises a multitude of questions. My biggest issue I have with this proposed plan by Mr. Luna deals with the unorthodox and whimsical thought that every high school student needs a laptop to function in schools. How this plan devotes to save money is beyond me. As I recall, the computer lab in the Library worked just fine and writing by hand helps reinforce material learned, so where is the justification? Laptops are also rather fragile, require periodic updates, and obsolete within 4 years. Text books have lasted 20+ years in public schools and cost a fraction of the price as a laptop would … Data analysists suggesting this as a “wise move to save money” are extremely flawed in their logic. Also, removing the teachers’ who actually TEACH the material and replacing them with Laptops is simply Ludacris, are students expected to use “Google” to find out the answers to their questions now? The biggest issue with this entire proposal is the lack of sufficient evidence to promote or suggest this will be a better method of teaching (although the current system is enforced without much quantitative data to promote it as well) it has been my experience the more intimate the class setting, the more attention and dedication is spent on the subject.
Regan S.
ReplyDeleteSchools May Have to Absorb Student’s Unpaid Lunch Bills
This article was about big states, specifically New York, having a problem with collecting lunch money from student’s parents. The article was very surprising to me; I had no idea how such a little issue could become such a huge one. The article stated that in one particular school in Queens, 86% of students received free lunch, and the 14% that didn’t, were not paying their bills. Failure by the parents to pay these fees has resulted in the school having to act as a collecting agency rather than focusing all attention on educational issues. I think that this is unfair to the school officials as well as unfair for the children.
The part about this article that shocked me the most was how fast these unpaid tabs add up. In New York City alone, since 2004 the school system has absorbed 42 million dollars in unpaid tabs, which is exactly why the school system can’t afford to do it anymore. So if the system can’t afford it, and the families can’t afford it, what is the solution? The fact is, there no easy answer to this problem. Should the kids whose parents are not paying be punished by not getting to eat? If they aren’t getting fed at school, they probably aren’t getting fed at home.
One solution that has helped is offering these students fruits and vegetables, but nothing else. Another is offering only a cold sandwich and a glass of milk to each child. Can a child survive off of only fruits and vegetables? If the child eats only fruits and vegetables for more than 3 consecutive days, then the school is required to report it to Child Protective Services. Judging by the article, I think that the schools are doing everything in their power to try and solve this problem, but it is not easy. Then next step: cutting in to the school’s classroom budget. Hopefully it doesn’t have to result in that.
Boise police find marijuana in car of wrong-way driver Downtown late Monday night
ReplyDeleteBy The Idaho Statesman
This article talks about a young women named, Stacia M. Johns that is being held in the Ada County Jail on felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine, and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without privileges. Allegedly she was driving on the wrong side of the road in downtown Boise that’s when a police officer decided to pull her over. The officer thought there might be some kind of drugs in the car so the officer called in a K-9 unit to search the car. Once the K-9 unit got there the officer found baggies of marijuana and a glass pipe that tested positive for methamphetamine use. They did not disclose the amount of marijuana that was in the car.
Authorities indicated that Johns has been arrested before on many misdemeanor drug charges that include, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, drug paraphernalia, and frequenting a place where drugs are sold. Johns will make her first court appearance on Tuesday and she could be sentenced for up to five years in prison.
I love to read articles about dumb criminal or people who deal drugs because there is always a little comedy in it. Why would people do stuff like this in the first place? I mean really, are they really that stupid. Yeah they might need money or something like that, and if that’s the case they should go get a job.
Shea McClellin Tue/Thur
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/08/1519213/boise-police-find-marijuana-in.html#ixzz1DPLUYfxB
Funny thing is I knew this woman. She had a strange obsession with the latest raids, who was selling what and how she could get involved. She was always around, but when asking others never did one person witness her using drugs. She was very spacy and always mumbling to herself. We always had suspicion that she worked for the bpd
DeleteHey " Anonymous" she is a person not a dumb criminal. She is a young woman who has made bad decisions. She is a good human being that means well and has been through true tragedy and needs support to get through her mistakes. People like you who say hurtful things to weak people do not help the problem at all but just make it worse. Why don't you try feeling something different for people that have made poor decisions in life besides hate and judgement? Personal growth needs support and love not hate.
DeleteJarrod Driskell
ReplyDeleteT/TH
The Idaho Press-Tribune
The article I read was about “bath salt” and how Idaho is pursuing a ban on the new synthetic drug. Debbie Field, director of the Idaho Office of Drug Policy, introduced a bill Monday in the Idaho Legislature that would ban the drug, which is now sold legally online and in drug paraphernalia stores under brand names like “Purple Wave” and “Ivory Wave”. If the proposed bill is passed, Idaho will join a growing number of states considering laws to ban the sale or possession of “bath salt”. Field said this is not something you can buy and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It causes hallucinogenic and suicidal thoughts to users. The so-called “bath salts” are snorted like cocaine, but can also be smoked or injected. This bill arrives less than one week after lawmakers took up legislation to ban the so-called drug “spice”. Field said that once “spice” got outlawed, “bath salts” took its place. Synthetic stimulants in the drug—known to give a high similar to cocaine, LSD, or ecstasy—have sickened hundreds of people already this year.
With the introduction and ban of “spice” within the last couple of months, I found this article to be quite interesting. It seems as though people will do whatever it takes to get high, even if it includes creating a new drug. I think Idaho is on the right track with the ban. With drug use comes crime and other law-breaking activity. If you control the drug use at the beginning before it has a chance to progress, police officers won’t have to deal with the crime later on.
BY: NADINE RUSSELL
ReplyDeleteMichelle Obama Sidesteps Criticism by Sarah Palin as she Discusses Anti-Obesity Campaign
Chicago Tribune
On the eve of the one year anniversary of the launch of her anti-obesity campaign called, “Lets Move” first lady Michelle Obama talks about her husband’s non-smoking, healthy living, and her family’s spirituality.
She addressed being proud that her husband quit smoking almost a year ago, and also discussed selecting non-designer dresses for her wardrobe, then finally that raising her family and keeping her marriage strong requires lots of laughter.
The “Lets Move” campaign aims to end childhood obesity, which about one third of American children today are suffering from. The first lady aims to have all obesity in children gone in one generation.
Obama addressed the statement Palin made saying, “the first lady does not want people to eat dessert.” Obama did not make any direct response to that statement but did however say that most Americans today know and understand that childhood obesity is a “real issue” and that parents, teachers, and pediatricians are grateful for these kinds of conversations.
Obama also discussed the question of whether serving pizza, kielbasa, bratwurst, and cheeseburgers at the White House Super Bowl Party sent the wrong message. She said, “there were also salads served and that achieving ‘balance’ is what is important.” In her anti-obesity campaign, she teaches children that things like pizza and ice cream are to be looked at as treats as opposed to everyday menu items.
Obama didn’t address questions of whether her family regularly attends church, but did say that, “on some level it’s all we have that’s ours,” in regards to her family’s faith.
She concluded the night with support of her husband in the 2012 reelection bid and referring to him as a “phenomenal president.”
Sara Cray
ReplyDelete‘Bath salts’ a dangerous drug, Idaho police say
By: Kathleen Kreller
This article deals with the fact that kids will basically do anything to get high nowadays. “Bath salts”, which is described as a type of synthetic cocaine, goes under this alias in order to be sold and used undetected by the law. However, what the users of it don’t realize is that it is extremely dangerous and just plain dumb to be putting miscellaneous chemicals into your body which are clearly not meant for that purpose. What causes a momentary high could cause a lifetime of harm if not death.
Kreller does a very good job at relaying this information to her readers. She starts off with an emotional story about a father who is watching his ‘bath salt’ user son convulsing on a hospital bed, and this engages the reader from the first line. Included among the information is what this substance is, why it is bad, and what the authorities are planning to do about it. Although I thought the article was very clear and descriptive, it seems to be a little long winded and I think she could have edited some of the body to make it shorter. My attention span got last after awhile due to this.
KristineD-TU/TH
ReplyDeleteNews Review
February 10th
Early today in Kentucky a woman whose car crashed off an overpassed was rescued from her burning car by people passing by.
This is a refreshing reminder that there are good people out there.
Not all people are looking for a payoff or for a spotlight. There are still people out there who will do a good deed simply because someone needs help. In this current environment of gloom and doom, suspicion and cynicism it’s nice to have glimpse of hope. Hope that having faith in humanity isn’t a foolish notion.
Bryan Brulport had been on his way to Northern Kentucky University when he saw the car upside down on the other side of the highway. Brulport who is studying nursing ran across the highway where other passersby had collected.
Scott Williams a painter from Hamersville, Ohio helped Brulport pull Melissa Robbins out of the flaming car before it exploded in flames.
Brulport says he was acting on instinct when he and former firefighter Eric Tungate punched and kicked out the windows of the car so Robbins could be pulled out before the flames got to her. Others at the scene call the three of them modern day hero’s.
Not many people would ignore they own safety to save someone else. As police and emergency crews arrived another motorist used a fire extinguisher on the flaming car.
Robbins was seen by a passing witness slumped over the wheel of her car before in went off the overpass. She was taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital in Cincinnati.
Lauren Hooker
ReplyDeleteEnrico Ponzo: The fugitive who lived next door [The Idaho Statesman]
Before delving into the heart of the story, I'd like to comment on the writing style. I really enjoyed how this story was written; though at first the length was daunting, once I began reading, the length wasn't an issue. It was a really great narrative, and after reading Harvard, it really helped me appreciate it more.
After reading the entire story, the quote that struck me the most was the end; "You never know your neighbors."
This is so true, and while this story may strike fear into the hearts of readers (Oh no! Could MY neighbor be a mobster?) it was a really great story about a guy who was charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and racketeering, but managed to evade law enforcement and the FBI and begin a new life.
He "was a city slicker who didn't know nothing" about farming, but figured it out. Coming from a strong 4-H background, I know that cattle ranching is a lot more difficult than it looks, and to simply figure it out on your own...well, I think that says a lot about a person's character.
I don't believe that people who have done bad things are automatically bad people. I know how easy it is to get sucked in; people can be incredibly persuasive, no matter how strong-willed YOU are. Just because Enrico killed people in the past doesn't mean he's still bad. I don't think his neighbors should freak out about it. He lived there for eleven years, and didn't kill any of them. However, I still think he should be charged for crimes committed in the past.
Whitney Holm
ReplyDelete“A play about death row wrestles with meaning”
Idahostatesman.com
Found: February 10, 2011
There is a play being shown in New York City about a man that is supposed to be dead. The main character that was written is a man that survived the Indiana death sentence three-drug cocktail. Now, some people think that it is controversial for a play to be performed about such a topic. The play is going to be sectioned up with life events that this man has gone through. He will read letters that deliver flashbacks to his life. This will be done so that the audience can “step into his shoes.” This play is going be difficult for the actors involved as well as the audience. The two main actors are not to look at each other for the duration of the play. It is set up in an uncomfortable manor that goes along with it’s subject.
I think that this play is a good idea. I think that people often forget about what is going on in the prisons because they are intended to be secluded from the happiness of real life. A few months ago there was another controversy about the three-drug cocktail. One prison ran out and they wanted to use an animal euthanization drug instead of the standard cocktail. It makes us question what is an appropriate method of producing death? This article made me wonder how long they are going to let that man sit on death row awaiting the inevitable, again, before a “better” cocktail comes out.
Marijane Weitensteiner T/Th
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman.com: "'Redwall' author Brian Jacques dies at 71"
By ROBERT BARR - Associated Press, Feb. 9, 2011
I was shocked and saddened to find out that one of my favorite authors, an author who's books I have read since I was ten years old, passed away on Saturday. His name Brian Jacques. And yet I didn't find out on the T.V. news or even a newspaper on Sunday. I found out on Monday night when my mom discovered it on the BBC website. I cried for two hours mourning the sudden death of this beloved author. What ticks me off is that the United States news seemed to have pushed it over to the back burner and not even post anything about it until at the earliest that Monday at the lastest Feb. 9th, at least three days after the news broke. Why is it that the death of Michael Jackson is front page news and the death of an author seems to be so insignificant in the eyes of the news media. It's not right or fair! Even authors deserve to be recognized for what they contributed to the world especially after their death no matter what they wrote. Brian Jacques was more than just a "children's author" as quoted in some parts of the media, he was an artist, a gentleman, a hero and a mentor to millions of readers both young and old.
Jacy S.
ReplyDeleteTu/Th
Retrieved Friday February 11, 2011
From CNN World
Egypt’s Mubarak resigns after 30 year rule
On Friday, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he would be stepping down and handing over power to the military. Mubarak was in power of three decades and lost it after 18 days of revolt from the people of Egypt.
After the announcement, tens of thousands of Egyptians erupted with deafening emotions throughout the streets of Cairo. The resignation of the President was something that many thought unimaginable but was celebrated with fireworks, honking of horns, and waving the Egyptian flag.
“Egypt is Free!” and “God is Great,” were the things one could hear coming from the crowded streets.
The opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei, while happy about the news, urged the people to stay united beyond the moment of euphoria.
The Swiss government has also directed the banks to freeze all assets belonging to Mubarak and his family, because of fear that he would leave the country with looted money.
Many believe that Mubaraks decision is a welcome step, but with that comes an unpredictable next chapter. Warning that the departure of one man does not mean an end to a police state.
Salil Shetty, Amnesty Internation’s secretary general said “The repressive system that Egyptians have suffered under for three decades has not gone away and the state of emergency remains in place. Those in power must grasp this opportunity to consign the systematic abuses of the past to history. Human rights reform must begin now.”
This is a huge step for the people of Egypt, but also for the United States. Egypt is the biggest ally to us in the Arab nation. It will be interesting to follow what happens with their government, and see how it impacts the rest of the world.
Stephanie Casanova
ReplyDeleteSB 1070 Counterclaim Says State Acted After Federal Officials Didn’t
Arizona suit challenges US on securing borders [Arizona Daily Star: azstarnet.com]
After the Obama administration challenged Arizona’s SB1070 law, Arizona sues the federal government for failing to protect the border properly.
Governor Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne complain that the federal government has failed to “reimburse states for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants who are serving time in state prisons for violating state laws.” Horne referenced to the September 11 attacks as an example of what could happen if the federal government fails to secure its borders.
Matt Chandler, spokesman for Homeland Security responded by pointing out that the law suit ignores all the facts about what the Federal Government has done to improve security. Statistically, according to Chandler, the U.S. Homeland Security is doing their job.
Brewer and Horne predict that this law suit will make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and will be funded by a special $3.7 million already contributed by the state.
Being an AZ citizen and resident, the situation makes me angry. The state’s money, if I understand correctly, is taxpayers’ money. Some of these taxpayers don’t support SB1070 (I being one of them). I also think a battle between the state and the federal government isn’t going to help the situation; it will probably make it worse. There are better things to invest in, in Arizona at the moment. Education, for example, is at its worst. I believe we’ve got the worst education of the 50 states at the moment. Yet the state government’s primary concern seems to be protecting the borders. I agree to some extent that this issue is important, but I don’t believe it to be important enough to spend millions on taking it to the Supreme Court.
Amy Sperline
ReplyDelete12-year holiday retail high
February 7, 2011 marked the seventh and final day of Shanghai’s Spring Festival break. The festival is a twelve-year tradition in Shanghai and this year marked the high results in sales for retailers in ten years.
In the seven days, about 4,000 business retailers combined made around 5.04 billion Yuan (equivalent to US $769 million). The results are an 11.5 percent increase from 2010 revenue.
The increase in commission is being attributed to stable prices, increased tourism, sufficient supplies and disposable income between residents of Shanghai. Also, the sales peak was significant starting on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Restaurants and the service industry also saw significant increase in commission through out the holiday. Even catering, online and TV shopping networks saw a strong increase in sales, making a combined 90 million Yuan.
Following the New Year and the declaration of the year of the rabbit, the gold and jewelry industry were in the top purchases of consumers. The increase was 39.8 percent from the previous year. The next most popular in demand items were clothing and elite alcohol.
At first thought it sounds like American society the weekend after Thanksgiving (black Friday), or the week before and after Christmas because of all the sales, but the Shanghai Spring Festival did not appear to be a holiday of gift giving. All the purchasing was done just as a holiday tradition. Was Shanghai clever enough to create this holiday to strategically bump their economy out of a slump? I found this pretty interesting, especially since it is only a twelve year old tradition.
Shanghaidaily.com
Larisa Gavrilyuk
ReplyDeleteObama welcomes Egypt transition
Idaho Statesman
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/11/1523510/obama-learns-of-mubarak-resignation.html
WASHINGTON - Friday, February 11, 2011 president Barack Obama spoke about the resignation of the long time president of Egypt. As of Friday, February 11, 2011, Mubarak Hosni resigned and left the military in charge. President Obama said: "The people of Egypt have spoken. Their voices have been heard. And Egypt will never be the same."
Only the night before the Egyptian president refused to leave. Obama said that this is a new beginning for the people of Egypt and many questions that will come up will not be easy but he is confident in the Egyptian military.
Obama said: "Egyptians have inspired us, and they've done so by putting the lie to the idea that justice is best gained by violence." They did not use violence or mindless killings. Obama hopes that the military will be the “caretaker” of Egypt and will be able to defuse ad secure the country. Obama said that he has confidence in the Egyptian people and that they will find the answers for their country.
Many things have to be done. They have to change the 30-year-old police powers laws. They will have to change everything but they are hoping to do so, and get free and fair elections. Mostly President Obama spoke about the military and he only mentioned President Mubarak in the beginning of his speech. He said: "President Mubarak responded to the Egyptian people's hunger for change."
Obama finished by saying that he is confident that the democratic Egypt can assert its role as an influential player in the Mideast and beyond.
Lindsey Hileman
ReplyDelete“Online Dating” The Arbiter
This article from the opinion section of The Arbiter is about online dating but more specifically, college kids using online dating sites and having it lead to marriage. The article gives statistics showing how Idaho compares to the rest of the country for average age of first marriage and percentage of residents that are married. I enjoyed that the journalist compared how much college kids spend on school related expenses versus how much they spend on online dating. I think this was a really effective way of appealing to her audience.
I found the details in the article surprising, though I guess I shouldn’t have. I did get married when I was 18 and was divorced by the time I was 19. I was a divorced teenager, which just seems so ridiculous now. I had to laugh because one of the students interviewed for this article attended my wedding reception. He is quoted as being pretty opposed to college kids getting married as they are so young. I wonder if he knew then what a giant mistake I was making, and why didn’t he tell me?!?!
The only thing I didn’t like about this article was the headline. The deck, “Be young, not married” was a lot more telling of what the article was going to be about, where the headline “Online Dating” was a little generic. I almost didn’t read it because I am sort of sick of hearing about online dating. But the article gave this tired topic a new angle.
From David Lowenthal
ReplyDeleteNew York Times: "In Montanta, A bid to End Medical Use of Marijuana"
The Times reports that events in the State of Montana have recently put the breaks on what had been a nationwide trend of liberalizing state marijuana for the purpose of medical use. The Montana State House of Representatives, where Republicans picked up substantial majorities in both chambers in the 2010 election cycle, voted on Thursday to repeal its legalized use of medical marijuana.
"We were duped," flatly says Mike Milburn, Montana House Speaker about the states permission of the drug in 2004. "This bill says, 'shut down everything'-- it's gone way too far." The article goes on to discuss the larger trend of local anti-marijuana sentiment that is sweeping the nation in states like Colorado, New Mexico, New Jersey, and California.
Many believe the reason for the recent spike in marijuana use is that the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. outlined at the beginning of the Obama administration that the drug was not going to be a priority for the federal government. As a result, state legislators in Helena have introduced no less than 16 bills that would restrict the drug in one way or another, "calling for everything from a marijuana tax to another voter referendum."
However, the article discusses ,with Republicans gaining power in states like Montana and nationally on an anti-nanny state agenda of scaling back onerous government intrusions into the private lives of citizens, the recent proposal to put the state government smack dab in-between the doctor-patient relationship seems hypocritical.
The tension rests between the "conservative ranching and agriculture country to the east [and] liberal college towns and tourist communities to the west," the article says.
Whether this bill goes on to pass the State Senate and gubernatorial signature or dies early in its life, this issue is far from over.
James Snyder
ReplyDeleteBoise State Racking Up Big Dollars for Stadium, Park Projects
Idaho Statesman
It sounds like the first stage of the bronco stadium expansion is about to begin. Boise State was given the ok to begin the design phase of the project. The University has raised half the funds necessary for the first part of the project, which is estimated to cost upward of $20 million. Apparently, contained within the expansion there are also plans to build a park by the name of Dona Larsen Park. The Park will be the new home of the Boise State Track and Field program. The school has hired out an architecture firm out of San Francisco to man the project. This is an exciting time for the program since they are about to move to the Mountain West division this coming season. In terms of drawing a bigger crowd, I hope that the expansion will bring the kind of crowd that the football team is after. It does seem that for the fans it will be exciting knowing that there will be more people in the stadium for each game. More seats means more tickets, and having observed many long lines at the ticket counter I think this will be a positive direction for the program.
Tawnya G.
ReplyDeleteMeridian Republican will pitch law banning physician-assisted suicide in Idaho
Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/03/1513589/meridian-republican-will-pitch.html#ixzz1DPpH6iMW
Physician assisted suicide is a concern for an Idaho lawmaker who wishes to make this type of medical practice a crime in the state of Idaho. 30 other states have made this practice a crime, and Sen. Russ Fulcher wishes to join them. Idaho’s neighbor states such as Oregon and Washington have passed laws allowing the physician aid in dying. Idaho, at this time has no laws stating physician assisted suicide is a crime.
Sen. Fulcher said, “That Idaho could be a place where we accepted that in our culture raises enough concerns to do something about it now.”
Fulcher said his proposal “does not impact comfort care for the terminal patients. His proposal will say that it is not a crime to disperse medications via prescription or by physicians “to relieve another person’s pain or discomfort, even if any such medication or procedure may hasten or increase the risk of death.”
Ketchum resident Tucker, disagrees with the idea of making physician assisted suicide a crime. Tucker believes patients should be allowed to choose their care at the end of their life. Tucker referred to an incident of an 87-year-old man named Robert Emerson who shot his 90-year-old wife and then himself. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson both had terminal cancer. Tucker said if the patients had been able to attain physician assistance for aid in dying then “that kind of tragic, violent death could have been avoided.”
Oregon data showed that 96 prescriptions for lethal medication were written out of that 65 patients died, and 78.9 percent of the patients had cancer.
Sen. Russ Fulcher will make his proposal Friday in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
Ebenezer Makinde
ReplyDeleteIdahoStatesman.com:
Boise State men's basketball team edges Idaho in front of record crowd
The Boise State Broncos basketball team finished off a three game series against the Idaho Vandals Saturday by winning in front of a record crowd of 12,193 fans at Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos, who improved their record to 14-11 on the season, played inspired basketball in front of an energized crowd from both schools. Head Coach Leon Rice even gave credit to the crowd, saying “I was just so pleased with the crowd. It was a great college basketball atmosphere.” The crowd had a very large effect on a game that saw over ten lead changes and twelve ties. The Broncos led by eight points with just over four minutes to go until the Vandals went on a run of nine consecutive points to take a one point lead with under two minutes to play. Even with the crowd restless, the Broncos did not panic. Senior forward Deaquon Montreal sank two free throws at the line to give Boise State a one point lead and a chance to seal the game. That chance came and freshman walk on Jeff Elorriaga took it as he made an impressive steal to tie up the game and hold off the late push of the Vandals.
Nichole Stallings
ReplyDelete{Student Voices} Students speak out about expectations for Valentine’s Day.
Feb 14th Arbiter
With Valentine’s Day coming up, it is not surprise that the newspaper culture column would include something or other about the holiday. Whether someone is celebrating single’s awareness day or Valentine’s Day, the Arbiter did an excellent job at covering both aspects of the holiday. One particular article that I found very creative was the student’s point of view on what is expected from the opposite gender on Valentine’s Day. The Arbiter asked students what men and women expect from their significant others on this special day. I personally thought this was extremely helpful. Along with the side notes on Romantic Places to dine and fun, original dates to go on, hearing from other people what they expect as to gifts was intriguing and helpful. Most of the time, people assume that women expect flowers and candy. But a lot of couples just enjoy spending the day with each other, minus all the gifts. The arbiter did however, find people from opposite ends of the spectrum and this is what made the story so interesting. While there were the modest gift seekers—the “oh don’t get me anything but your love” people—there were also the people who explained that sometimes guys get girls roses because they want to hook up with that girl later. Other guys explained that chivalry is not dead and that Valentine’s Day is the one day a man gets rewarded for being a gentleman…. I do not know where they found these guys who are not gentlemen all the time, but this whole section made for an eye-catching story.
Michele Sneed
ReplyDeleteQueensland, Australia slammed by cyclone
Wednesday morning (EST) cyclone Yasi made landfall on Australia’s northeastern coast. It has now been deemed at category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 155mph. 170mph winds were recorded at Mission Beach just before land fall. Many families boarded up windows and left town, while others decided to remain in town.
The overall cost to recuperate is estimated to be nearly $3.5 billion. The last time Australia has seen this bad of a tropical storm was 1974. Schools expected to stay closed through next week to give plenty of time to clean and recover from the storm.
The brunt of the storm seemed to have missed the most populated areas. So far, no deaths have been reported. Most places were without power for many hours and in some cases, they are still trying to regain power and cleanup what damage there is. The damage to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding marine life is also unknown a this time.