Convicted killler beheaded, put on display in Saudi Arabia

Summary: On Friday convicted killer Ahmed Al-Shamlani Al-Anzi was beheaded by Saudi Arabian officials who then put the body on public display despite harsh criticism from Amnesty International.  Al-Anzi had been sentenced to death and 'crucifixion' after being found guilty for kidnapping and killing an 11 year old boy and his father. Government officials in Saudi Arabia publically display excecuted bodies as a tool to scare people from committing similar crimes. After the beheading the head of the criminal is sewn to the body, and the corpse is mounted onto a pole, and displayed for hours. Amnesty International denounced Saudi Arabias extensive use of the death penalty. Last year alone there were 102 executions, and it is thought that more than 136 people are awaiting execution. Often trail proceedings are unfair, without adequate legal representation, and may involve torture.  Amnesty says that Saudi Arabia cannot play a role as a world leader or member of the G-20 if they continue in the same path.

Opinion: I cannot believe that in this day and age there are still countries who use such horrific execution methods as beheading, and worse, who still terrorize their citizens through public displays of corpses. I was under the impression that in these modern times there was such a thing as decency, empathy, and basic human rights. The times of the ancient Romans, when blood-thirsty citizens would gleefully watch gladiators fight to the death, is long gone, or at least it should be. In this country there is so much controversy over lethal injection, yet no one pays attention to the attrocities taking place in places like Saudi Arabia. In my opinion the death penalty should be completely banned. It is cruel and unusual punishment no matter how it comes about. I think that criminals would pay the price for their crimes more effectively if they have to live out the rest of their lives in a prison cell. This way they have to live with what they have done, they don't get the easy way out. I hope that one day we won't have to hear about stories like these anymore, because they just won't exist. I hope that our world can overcome this animalistic violence. 

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

Mother, son missing in forced chemotherapy case

Summary: Daniel Hauser, a 13 year old boy who is refusing his treatment for his cancer, and his mother Colleen Hauser went missing before they were supposed to appear in court over forced chemotherapy treatment. The boy was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in January, and the first round of chemotherapy went well but his parents were troubled by the physical side effects, and they believed that it was a form of torture. They rejected further treatment and began holistic medical treatment based upon Native American healing practices called Nemenhah. Meanwhile the cancer is worsening, and so are Daniel's chances of survival. A Minnesota judge issued an arrest warrant for Colleen Hauser. The boys father says he doesn't know where they have gone.

Opinion: This story really makes me sad. As all this trouble has developed, the treatments, the lawsuits, the fighting, the media attention, etc. this boy Daniel Hauser has been getting sicker and sicker. As everyone is distracted by the twists to the story, and new developments, etc. his tumor continues to get bigger and bigger. I simply hope that Daniels parents, his mother especially, will realize that she is taking her son farther and farther away from being healthy. By running away with him she is severely decreasing the chances of a healthy recovery. This whole case comes down to ethics. Do you let a patient and their family decide what treatment they want, even if that treatment will do no good? In this case, I think that doctors and other medical experts have the right to overrule the family judgment to treat Daniel. It doesn't appear that the knowledge that Daniel and his family have is enough to ensure a safe decision. My heart aches for this family. I know several families that have been affected by childhood cancer, and I know that the pain that it causes can be emense. I also know how difficult it is for a family to watch a child go through chemotherapy. No matter how difficult it is to watch, chemo is one of the best methods for treating cancer. I hope that Daniel and his mother will come back home soon so that he can get better and have a chance at living life. 

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/19/minnesota.forced.chemo/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

120 degrees + 150 miles - toilet = fun

Summary: People from across the world will run 150 miles in 6 days across Namibia in Africa. They have to endure 120 degree heat, pain, limited food and water, and lack of privacy throughout. The course is difficult yet friendships and romances still form. This is a new form of race, and the company who has organized it also organized other similar races in the Sahara desert, the Gobi desert, and in a Chilean desert. Only those who successfully complete all these races can participate in a walk across Antarctica.

Opinion: I am probably not the only person who considers these athletes crazy. Their definition of fun is nowhere near mine. In my opinion 'fun' is care-free, exciting, delightful, adventurous, and, well, fun! I guess for these runners 'fun' is adventurous, but also excruciatingly painful, exhausting, tiring, and other things I don't even want to think about. I admire them for their courage, endurance, determination, and athleticism, but really isn't one marathon in a normal climate hard enough? Or 9 marathhons in regular climate? What inspired people to run a marathon in the desert in the first place? Doesn't that go against every basic instinct in the human body? I guess as the civilized world expands from continent to continent, nothing seems too difficult. The world is shrinking, and people can do all sorts of crazy things across the globe. People can run marathons in what used to be the great unknown wilderness. I think that the exlporers of our past, Magellan, Columbus, Ponce de Leon, would be proud. 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/05/11/namibia.race/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Scientists chasing killer tornadoes across Midwest

Summary: The largest field experiment to study tornadoes ever began on Sunday and will go until June 13. The $11.9 million program is called V2 or VORTEX 2 and more than 100 scientists from across the country will chase supercells from South Dakota to Texas to study how and why twisters form. They surround storms with radar, weather balloons, and computer programs to understand how and why they work. Just on Wednesday violent storms killed three people in Missouri. The goal of V2 is to improve their understanding of tornadoes so that residents can be warned more quickly and fewer lives will be lost. Their dangerous journey will be followed by video cameras.

Opinion: I had no idea that there is still so much we don't know about tornadoes, even with all the advanced technology that we have today. I guess that even the best human technology is still no match for the huge and dangerous force of nature. I think it would be amazing to follow these scientists for awhile, it must be incredibly boring just waiting for storms to come, but incredibly intense when they do come. I used to have a big fear of tornadoes, especially since we live in the midwest, tornadoe alley, but if these scientists are successful hopefully our towns will always be prepared for storms. If we know everything there is to know about tornadoes, they can't suprise us anymore, and residents will be ready. The price tag of almost $12 million seems pretty large, but if it means that no more lives will be lost, it is worth it.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/14/vortex2.tornado.chasers/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

photo:http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090406_tornado.html

Lost boys of Swat flee for their lives as fighting rages

Summary: Last Friday 20 boys escaped their orphanage as it ended up on the front-line of the Pakistani government's war with the Taliban. When fighting began in the Swat valley Pakistani soldiers used the orphanage as a look-out, and planted landmines in the playground. Later the Taliban, surrounded the building, with more than 50 orphans inside. 20 of them managed to escape on the roof of a bus which they rode for many hours, then hitched a ride on a vegetable truck. They arrived in Peshawar where they are safe and recieving counseling. The boys have witnessed much violence in their lives, sucide bombers being the worst. Many are angry with the Taliban, some are in favor. The other 24 orphans escaped the orphanage by foot, walking more than 20 miles before finding transportation, but one was left behind.

Opinion: Of all the negative affects that war brings, I believe the worst one is the affect it makes on children. Once an innocent child witnesses violence and destruction they will never be the same, it will most likely haunt them the rest of their lives. What is the cost of this? The next generations in the middle east will be scarred, their feelings of hurt, anger, and hate cannot easily be erased. How can peace be made if no one there knows what peace is? Violence is a part of their life, it is something they've always known. This is one of the most tragic things I know of. What is worst is that there is no legitimate explanation or reason to why this tragidy has to occur. I don't think that any conflict is worth the suffering that will ensue. I understand that war is a fact of life, no matter how much people want it world peace is far from happening. But I wish that in war people could at least have the decency to spare children of the horror. Children are helpless, and they should not have to pay in any way fort the mistakes their parents have made. I hope that these orphans can rise above the violence that they have lived through and fight for change in their country with words, not guns. They of all people should understand that violence solves nothing.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/11/orphans.swat.taliban.pakistan/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Body fits description of former UGA professor, police say

Summary: A body which police found in woods near Athens, Georgia meets the description of George Zinkhan, who is accused of shooting his wife and two others to death on April 25.  The former professor of marketing at the University of Georgia drove to a community theater where his wife was at a picnic, and the two got in an argument. He returned to his car, where his two children were, got two handguns, and returned to the theater killing three and wounding two. He left his children with neighbors and then disappeared. The body was found concealed, and will be identified this week. 

Opinion: I can't understand what could compel this seemingly decent, down to earth, and intelligent person to commit murder. There must be much more to this story than meets the eye. A family made up of a college professor, a lawyer, and two young children is the last family I would ever expect to be torn apart by murder. There are so many unanswered questions to this tragic event that probably can't or won't be answered. The only logical explanation I can think of is mental illness. George Zinkhan must have had a lot more going on under the surface, maybe bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. Ordinary people don't randomly pull out a gun and go out on a murderous rampage. What was he thinking? What triggered his anger? I think the most troubling thing of all is that because of his actions he left his two children orphaned. I feel horrible for those kids, their world was completely torn apart. Hopefully they can get help so they can lead normal and happy lives, but it will be a long journey.