June 2009

  • My .2% Genetic Difference is Better Than Yours

    By sarajean on 6/24/09 11:27pm
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    There is a word the Greeks used that would suffice to define man’s assumptions of superiority, and that word is hubris—an overbearing arrogance that often resulted in punishment from the gods, as Arachne found when she boasted at being better at the loom than the goddess Athena and soon found herself to be a spider.

    When humans assert themselves over other humans and claim superiority based on skin, class, race, gender, or other differences, injustice is the result—either in the form of unjust thoughts and assumptions made that trickle into the daily actions of humans like dirty tap water, or in outright violation of human and civil rights, such as owning property, voting, marrying, or even having the simple right to be alive or not be a slave.

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  • Human Trafficking: Kidnapping, Rape and Modern Day Slavery

    By sarajean on 6/24/09 11:14pm
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    The word “traffick” conjures images of bumper-to-bumper taxi cabs, women applying lipstick in smudgy lines, and men screaming obscenities at whatever unfortunate creatures that happen to be deadlocked in front of them. After the award-winning fillm Traffick hit theaters, the public may have become more aware of what the word can really mean. But human trafficking, the most heinous form of the word, is the third largest industry on earth, just behind the arms and drug trades. (Hopefully Liam Neeson's latest hit movie Taken will alert the public as Traffic previously did.)

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  • North Korea Begging for another War

    By NanoGirl on 6/24/09 10:18am
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    North Korea's HitlerNorth Korea's HitlerTomorrow (June 25th), it will have been 59 years since the Korean War had started back in 1950.  The war was started (correct me if I am wrong) because North Korea wanted to negotiate elections for the entirety of Korea.  With escalating border conflicts, on June 25, 1950, North Korea’s army stormed in on South Korea.

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  • Gay Rights in the Obama Administration

    By ecoscott on 6/17/09 11:09pm
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    This past April the House of Representatives voted to approve an expansion of the Federal "hate crime" laws. Under the legislation "hate crime" will cover gay and lesbian citizens.

    Wait, raise your hand if you knew that gay-bashing was not Federally considered a hate crime.

    What?

    But wait, there's more. The expansion of "hate crime" laws is not even close to becoming official. It hasn't passed in the senate. How could this possibly not just go through with flying (Gay Pride) colors?

    Do I remember the Bush Administration's stance on Gay rights? Wait, did they have a stance or a turned head? What about McCain's general approach? Yes, I realize that there is serious opposition to Gay rights, especially with all the progress that same sex marriages are having. It is pretty standard for Republicans to oppose anything related to Gay rights.

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  • June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

    By sarajean on 6/16/09 11:12pm
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    droughtdroughtThe United Nations General Assembly declared this day in 1992 to be a day of awareness and action against drought and desertification.

    From water crisis to land erosion and all of the other issues that affect land desertification and drought, you can keep up to speed with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s website.

    Since global warming is one of the main causes of drought, its solvency is integral in stopping worldwide drought and desertification. In order to take part in today’s observance and act to stop desertification and drought, here are some activities you may wish to do to help curb global warming, reduce your own carbon footprint and conserve water.

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  • Stop the Strip Mining of Montana's Glacier National Park

    By sarajean on 6/15/09 5:51pm
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    Normally I love Canada.  Aside from the seal hunts, it seems like a pretty nifty country. And though my country has its flaws and faults, I’m also a patriot. But this time Canada and the U.S. are both doing something that’s very earth-friendly—and not very patriotic, if you ask me.

    These countries are currently shaking hands over a mining and gas drilling deal smack in the middle of the Flathead Valley, which is upstream from Montana’s Glacier National Park. Do you know what’s in this park besides trees and deer and fairies and all the typical park stuff? The United States part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park—a symbol of peace and friendship between the U.S. and Canada!

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  • OHP State Trooper stops ambulance...transporting a patient

    By macallister on 6/15/09 5:48pm
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    Whatever you do, don't get pulled over by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Even if you have witnesses. Even if you're a paramedic, transporting a patient to the hospital, you don't want to piss off these OHP good ol' boys.



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  • Riots, Demonstrations in Iran

    By msarko on 6/13/09 8:50pm
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    Today, several massive protests broke out in cities all over Iran in response to the supposed landslide victory of sitting president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Supporters of the former Prime Minister and vocal reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi have come out in tens of thousands, shouting for freedom and accusing their government of rigging the election.

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  • The Simple Life: Lessons from Thailand

    By becksta on 6/11/09 1:48pm
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    The Simple LifeThe Simple LifeA lot of people are being forced to live simpler lives out of necessity or need. But the realizations that a simple life can be better than a more complicated life with more money seem to be out of grasp of most Americans. Most Americans seem so eager to teach the rest of the world what we have to offer (which is considerable) that we forget that we have lessons to learn from other cultures less rich than our own.

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  • What Does Obama's Speech In Cairo Mean For Americans?

    By msarko on 6/4/09 6:09pm
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  • Death Penalty Repealed in New Mexico

    By sarajean on 6/2/09 7:37pm
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    Lethal InjectionLethal InjectionWhether it’s because Kevin Spacey moved you in The Life of David Gale or it’s because most of the developed world doesn’t use murder as a form of punishment, you may be against the death penalty. And you wouldn’t be alone.

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