The Pendleton Panther

In the recent plane crash that took place in Libya, there was one lone survivor.  Of the 92 passengers and 11 crew members, the only person who survived was an eight year old boy.  The eight year old, who happens to be a Dutch citizen, is sedated and asleep.  The plane crashed when they tried to land at the Tripoli International Airport.  The child, who has been identified as Ruben van Assouw, suffered multiple fractures in his lower body and went under an operation at a hospital in Tripoli.  Nobody has been able to figure out what actually happened when the plane crashed as the black box has not been recovered.  Officials said that there was no indication that a place had landed because everything had fallen apart.  It was as if a big bomb went off at the crash site and in order to figure out what had actually happened, they called air traffic control.  Officials have also said that the rubble of the plane shows what a terrible crash it was, and for the eight year old to be alive is quite the miracle.

Although both parties absolutely refuse to meet in person to discuss their disputes, proximity talks through a third party are acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians.  This third party is named George Mitchell, and he is the U.S. peace envoy to the Middle East.  Mitchell has already met with the Israeli Premier, and is set to discuss current issues with the president of the Palestinian Authority sometime Wednesday.  While Premier Benjamin Netanyahu is optimistic about this drawn out system of communication, President Mahmoud Abbas fears that Palestinians may have little to gain.  President Abbas’ main concern appears to be that President Obama’s terms for both contacts went too soft on Israel.  Abbas complained that many of the requested guarantees from Israel were not present on the final draft.  However, this is the first step in a marathon of diplomacy.

China has become notorious for its heavy censoring of internet services such as Google, but they aren’t the only ones that are pushing for silence.  While the exact number of requests for user information or limitation is regarded as a state secret by China, the majority of the rest of the world is complaint to have theirs listed–at least for now.  Since its creation, Google has received thousands of such requests, the the U.S. weighing in at 3,580 cease and desist orders.  The United States government has done so on such grounds as declaring some content to be hate speech, impersonation, or alleged defamation.  Google has been more or less cooperative with government censors as 80 percent of the 123 requests from the U.S. from the last half of 2009 were carried out.  However, while not refusing to comply outright, Google has published these numbers to raise awareness that censorship doesn’t only happen in China.

The quagmire in Thailand continues as the anti-government “red-shirts” maintains their strong opposition against Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister of Thailand. The “red-shirts” claim that Vejjajiva, who is supported by the rich and business leaders, did not win any election to become the Prime Minister of Thailand. They are determined to see him leave office and have a new Prime Minister who will take office after a legitimate election has been held. On Saturday, April 10^th, the “red-shirts” protested in the two major rally sites, demanding to oust Vejjajiva. In an attempt to retake the two areas, the government sent out police and other security forces. However, the “red-shirts” did not give in, instead, they decided to be violent. The situation became so out of hand that weapons and grenades were used. 21 people were killed during the clash, 800 were injured. According to the government’s Emergency Center, 195 people are still hospitalized and 14 of them are in intensive care. Vejjajiva expressed his sorrow for the deaths and injured in a speech later that night and promised to further investigate the causes of the deaths.

President Pinera

During the aftermath of the destruction made by the earthquake in Chile, there has been some positive news for the country.  Literally minutes after the 7.2 aftershock, Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as the new President of Chile.  The inauguration ceremony took place just 90 miles away from the center of the aftershock.  At first, many of the costal regions around Chile were told to evacuate to higher ground as they were warned of tsunamis.  President Pinera has taken over from the countries first ever woman president.  She had a 84% popularity rating which is considerably high.  President Pinera is taking over at a very difficult time for Chile and its people.  Over half a million homes were destroyed leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.  Out of respect for the people affected by the earthquake, the grand dinner and celebrations were canceled and made a lot smaller.  I hope the President can handle the tough challenges he faces as he has been inaugurated at a very difficult time.

A Hezbollah propaganda billboard depicting an Israeli ship in flames.

Lebanon has been experiencing a period of stability and growth since the end of their last war with Israel in 2006.  Much of the violent conflict that has existed between the Mediterranean nation’s religious factions has disappeared.  However, Lebanon is not truly at peace just yet.  Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group that operates mainly in eastern Lebanon, is known for its militancy, and could end up causing major problems between their country and Israel.  Hezbollah, sharing ties with Iran from their mutual Shiite ideology, has become increasingly aggravated with the mounting sanctions placed on Iranian nuclear projects.  President Michel Suleiman and 17 other Lebanese officials met with Hezbollah representatives for two hours on Wednesday to discuss possible disarming,  but so far, the peace talks have been less that successful.  The meeting achieved only reaffirming that which had already been agreed upon, but then talks are set to continue.

Destruction in Haiti

Just when it seemed that it couldn’t get any worse for the people of Haiti, Wednesday morning CNN reporter Ivan Watson reported an aftershock that reached 5.9 on the Richter scale. Many desperate people flooded the port after the earthquake died down hoping for an escape and any way out of the country. People came with suitcases, plastic bags and any of their remaining possessions that they could carry with them. Many small boats were being sent off across the sea, all of which were severely overcrowded with civilizations. It is such a tragedy that these poor people had to deal with, not one but two earthquakes within such a short period of time (nearly 9 days). Haiti was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and now it seems, as there is no hope ahead as many people are doing all in their power to evacuate the country. The United States and other big countries are doing their part to try to help the remaining victims of the disaster. We are sending food, clothes and financial aid to help with the rebuilding process. It will take some time before Haiti is up and running again, but with the help of these other countries hopefully we can speed the process up.

Haiti

Student body I am here today talking to you about what is going on in Haiti. Last week Haiti suffered a 7.0 earthquake leaving 200,000 people dead and 250,000 injured. This week wednesday Haiti suffered another earthquake this time with a 6.0 magnitude. Things there are terrible, people dying of hunger and 1.5 million people homeless. Haiti is passing through a very rough situation that no one would like to be in. So people if you can make a donation to any charity would be very nice on your part and remember that these people have nothing. You can donate money, food anything but please donate. On campus there are starting different types of cooperation ways like, there are cans that people can put canned supplies and fund raisers etc. So please try to cooperate and donate on one of these events, Thank you. And there are different ways like telling parents to give money to charity etc.

Inauguration of the Burj Tower

The tower will be divided in three main parts. The bottom will host a luxurious hotel, the middle will only have residences – only a few will be able to afford it, since the cost of the apartments will be around $4,000 a square foot – and the top and most exceptional part will  be sold, not rented to companies that will set their offices there in order to be above their competition (at least physically).
Even thought the crisis hit Dubai last year, 100% of the space was sold beforehands. Debit crisis is now hitting the city, so the construction of this tower is a representation of extreme excess, something very few people in the world can nowadays “enjoy”.The Burj Tower in Dubai is now the tallest building in the world. With a height of 828 meters (2,600 feet), it has surpassed the previous title-holder, the Taipei 101, by 300 meters! It was inaugurated today in a show of light and fireworks that delighted the population of Dubai.

Moon Hole Discovered

Scientists from an international group have sent out message saying that they discovered a new ” protected lunar “lava tube” — a deep, giant hole — that might be well suited for a moon colony or a lunar base. The vertical hole, in the volcanic Marius Hills region on the moon’s near side, is 213 feet wide and is estimated to be more than 260 feet deep, according to findings published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.” (CNN) This hole, scientists say, is protected from not only the brutally cold temperatures of the moon but also from potential meteor strikes because it is fortified by a thin sheet of lava at its opening. Although its only speculation at this point, the moon hole serves as an outlet for exploration to test if its suitable for future colonization. They can serve as important shelters and as a base to allow exploration to occur past the moon. There have been discoveries of lava tubes on the moon before but this one is of note because of its “lava shield”. NASA is planning another expedition to the moon by 2020 and if all goes well, expects to build a lunar base by 2025.

A referendum conducted by the Swiss government on Sunday banned the construction of minarets upon Islamic Mosques.  Of the 200 Mosques that exist in Switzerland, only four are currently topped by traditional minarets.  These four examples of Islamic architecture may remain standing, but the preventative decision has come across to some as more than a little prejudiced.  Although the relatively low number of Mosques could suggest a small Muslim population, Switzerland is presently home to about 400,000 practitioners of Islam.  The fear that drove the campaign was based around the “Islamization of Switzerland”.  Some parties even went so far as to say that Switzerland was becoming a hotbed for Islamic extremism, and that the construction of minarets was on par with the wearing of burqas and enforcement of Sharia (Islamic law).  These claims may have been slightly exaggerated as Muslims only make up about 4% of the Swiss population.  Still, 58% of the voting public supported the ban, showing that a division between Muslims and non-Muslims in Switzerland may be inevitable.

cocaine user

Cocaine is a very powerful stimulant drug that people can get easily addicted to. There are three ways to do cocaine, addicts can snort, inject or smoke it. This drug has so many side effects and consequences that affect people’s health.  For example:

• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Nausea, vomiting
• Damage to lungs
• Possible heart attacks and strokes
• Loss of appetite leading to bad nutrition and weight loss
• Insomnia
• Changes in blood pressure and heart rate

The side affects are dangerous and provide no gains. People should have no reason to do this harming drug. It can even cause bigger problems in health if you are addicted to it like seizures, respiratory effects, cardiovascular effects and many different heart diseases. People should be aware of what kind of consequences this drug has and not to have it. For young people who go out to night clubs and live in big cities, cocaine is commonly used. Do not get the idea that doing cocaine is cool because it looks disgusting!

Methamphetamines, also known as meth or crystal meth has been a big issue in the drug world.  The very addicting drug has messed up many peoples lives and continue to daily.  David Goble is a victim of this drug, going in and out of jail for crime reason’s all stemming from the main problem of meth.  David Goble would stay awake for days on his high of meth, crime to crime to make money or steal to support his habit.  Finally his last arrest sent him to the maximum security prison, sectioned off with a group of other meth user’s that are all seeking help to recover.  Many of the victims of meth do not want to keep doing it and would most wish to live a normal every day life, but it is a very controlling drug.

It is hard for the police to control the production of methamphetamines when people can make it walking down the street in a soda bottle, riding a moped, behind schools, sheds, cars, buildings, and nearly anywhere.

Bottle

Every time there is a small bust, the clean up all the toxins and bad things it can cost thousands of dollars.  Often time when it is being produced in homes, there are often children around that the police will instantly take to seek medical attention.  The chemicals are embedded in the walls, carpets, and even the air system, all having to be replaced by the owner and if the owner cannot afford to fix it, the buildings and houses will often stay vacant .

The World Day Against the Death Penalty took place on Saturday, attracting human rights groups as well as ambassadors from many nations.  Most notably, the European Union made a strong case for the abolishment of prisoner execution.  With two thirds of the world’s countries in active opposition to the practice, 80% of the world’s death penalties last year occurred in only five countries.  These countries are China, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.  The U.S.’s 37 executions are dwarfed by China’s 1,178, but the EU argues that 37 is still far too many.  The ambassador from Sweden Stig Berglind claims, however, that “This is not to point fingers at the US – this is a commitment worldwide.”  The death penalties that have been given in the United States last year, nevertheless, illustrate exactly the EU’s reasons for such vehement opposition.  Four prisoners that were on death row were released as new evidence and investigative techniques.  As the EU’s ambassador to the U.S., John Bruton, put it, “Miscarriages of justice are inevitable in any legal system, and any miscarriage of justice that results in the death penalty is irreversible.”

Sultan Kosen born in 1983 in Mardin, Turkey currently holds the record for the worlds tallest man. He is 2.47 m (8ft 1 in). Kosen grew as a helathy child just as every other child. At the age of 10 he was diagnosed with pituitary gigantism after doctors discovered a tumor behind his eyes. The tumor put alot of pressure on his pituitary gland and it caused him to have extreme growth. He had many surgeries but his growth continued until the tumor was finally removed in 2008. With all of these problems around him, Kosen now suffers stress on his knees. Kosen has three brothers and a sister, he lives with his parents who are all normal size. Because of his height Kosen was unable to complete school and part time jobs as a farmer. Kosen describes his advantages and disadvantages, he describes the advantage as helping his family in domestic jobs such as changing light bulbs and hanging curtains. He describes his disadvantage as not being able to find clothes or shoes that fit him, as well as a car.The former world record holder was Bao Xishun who was 2.36 m (7ft 8.9 in) tall.

Sultan Kosen Worlds Tallest Man

LCROSS Spacecraft which launched the rocket and did the studies on the moon.

NASA has come up with another idea to gain more knowledge of what is out there in our universe. This time the target is our own moon. The plan is to blast two rockets into the moon in an attempt to find any traces of water within the soil of the moon. After the explosion, debris and dust will be collected and transmitted back to Earth to be studied. NASA also said this experiment will be available to watch from Earth. It is pretty cool to think about how far our technology of the universe outside of our planet has come. If water is found on the moon it will be interesting to see what the scientists at NASA will do next. It is only a matter of time before these types of experiments are conducted on other planets and eventually in other universes. It is a very exciting time for space scientists and everyone interested.

An out of body experince

An international study is being undertaken by doctors to better understand the mysteries of death and to revive people after flat lining. 20 years ago, Donn Piper died in a car crash on a bridge in Texas, according to doctors he was killed instantly by the steering wheel crushing his chest. When emergency workers arrived on site they pronounced him dead and put a tarp over him. After about 1 hour, Don came back to life and didn’t know why he was in the dark under a tarp, call this an out of body experience or not but some look at it as proof that after death life goes on. Patients that are about to die often recall the process and can see themselves trying to be revived. This may be just an allusion that our brains plays on us as we die, but there is one of the largest worldwide studies going on to try and determine if theses out of body experiences are a mind trick or a real phenomenon.