CAN YOUR DOG VOTE, JANE BALOGH'S CAN

In 2005, Jane Balogh signed her dog up to vote as an act of protest against a state voter-registration law she thought made it too easy for noncitizens to vote. On Thursday, she pleaded not guilty to making false statements on a voter registration form, the charge is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. She wasn't going to contest to a misdemeanor, but changed her mind after officials stated that their system worked. Balogh disagrees, because Duncan, the dog, is still on the voting rolls.
So how did Balogh get Duncan registered? She put her phone bill in her dogs name, Duncan MacDonald, then used that as identification to register him to vote. She even submitted ballots in theee dog's name in September and November of 2006 and May 2007 elections, however she did mark them as "VOID" and didn't actually cast any vote on his behalf.

- So my question is.....if Duncan is still registered, will he be voting in the November election, and if so, who's he voting for?

To read the entire story, click the link below
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/woman-in-hot-water-over-doggie-vote/20070629151409990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

OUR WEB IS SLOWER THAN YOURS

So I just read this report commissioned by the Communications Workers of America that stated that the in the U.S. our high-speed internet access is slower than other industrialized nations.
Apparently the USA's median download speed is 1.97 megabits per second.....only a fraction of what some other industrialized countries are enjoying. In Japan the median download speed is 61 megabits per second, in South Korea its 45 megabits per second, in France its 17 megabits per second...and our neighbor to the north, Canada, enjoys 7 megabits per second. The article doesn't exactly outline a way to correct our slow speeds but it does state that "broadband speed is a function of network capacity. The more capacity you have, the more speed you can deliver."

- Honestly, I'm not really shocked at these findings. The USA seems to be falling farther and farther behind, while other nations pass us by. Pretty soon, Canada's going to own us....sometimes, well oftn...I think they'd do a better job than we are, lol.

MAN'S WALLET FOUND 43 YEARS LATER

Epigmenio Sanchez lost his wallet in 1964 and it was found just the other day (43 years later). Workeers renovating a movie theater found Sanchez's wallet jammed between the metal casings of a radiator. Inside the wallet lay intact still holding relics of his past; some old charge cards, dusty photographs, some pay stubs,and his birth certificate.

To read the complete story, click the link below
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/mans-wallet-found-after-43-years/n20070619151609990016?cid=936

SIX SEWING NEEDLES FOUND IN BEIJING BABY

Doctors in Beijing, China are planning to perform surgery on a 1-year-old boy who has 6 sewing needles embedded inside the boy's body. The Beijing Youth Daily ran color photos of an X-ray showing 5 of the 6 needles in the boy's torso and the Beijing Morning Post printed close-ups of the X-ray and another that showed the 6th needle where it had been pushed through the child's head. Doctors say they need to perform the surgery as soon as possible, but they can't guarantee that they can remove all the needles. The child has 2 needles in his chest, 2 in his scrotum, one in his abdomen, and 1 in his head. The parents claim that no strangers have come in contact with the child.

To read the complete story, click the link below
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/doctors-find-six-sewing-needles-in-baby/n20070618171609990011

GODLESS DOLLARS

Well the U.S. Mint has struck again.....or well not struck. The new dollar coins featuring John Adams are missing some inscriptions, namely the "In God We Trust." People have found hundreds of the Adams dollar coins without the inscription. In March, the U.S. Mint had a similar problem with the George Washington dollar coins. Many of those coins were missing the "In God We Trust, E Pluribus Unum", and the year and mint mark.
Missing words are not the only problem with the Adams coins...some have been double struck. These coins will probably "mint" a pretty penny in the long run for their oddity.

To read the complete story, click the link below
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/mint-releases-more-godless-dollars/20070620101309990001

HAS AIRPORT SECURITY GONE TOO FAR?

The TSA is denying claims that airport screeners have gone too far. Sources claim that screeners seizedd a toddler's sippy cup and mistreated his mother. Camera footage gives you an idea of what happened but is still slightly unclear. TSA argues that the footage shows the officers acting with "professionalism and concern for all passengers."
The issue is whether or not Monica Emmerson, a former Secret Service officer, was improperly detained after spilling water out of her child's sippy cup at Washington's Reagan National Airport. Emmerson claims "I was distraught. I opened my son's sippy cup. I twisted off the top. I wanted to drink the water. It spilled out." Emmerson said an officer threatened arrest when she spilled the water, claiming she was "endangering the public."

- I think airport security has gone too far. I thought our right were outlined that we are innocent until proven guilty. At the airport they make you feel like you are a criminal, even when you are innocent.

To read the complete story click on the link below
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/airport-security-counters-sippy-cup/20070617134309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

DYING WOMAN DENIED CONT....

ok...I want to tell all my faithful readers that I received some derrogatory statements....that I will not publish. I understand having an opinion on topics I write about...but I WILL NOT ACCEPT DERROGATORY OR DEFLAMATORY STATEMENTS. Ok...now that we are clear on this...let me also say that this article never stated whether or not Ms. Rodriguez was a United States citizen. But not being a citizen is not a valid reason to refuse someone in need. There is an oath that doctors take the Hippocratic Oath....
It is defined by wikipedia as: an oath traditionally taken by physcicians pertaining to the ethical practice of medicine. Here are the main points of that oath that are used today and is now called Good Medical Practice, these are the duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council:
1. Make the care of your patient your first concern
2. Protect and promote the health of patients and the public
3. Provide a good standart of practice and care
Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date
Recognise and work within the limits of your competence
Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients' interests
4. Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
Treat patients politely and considerately
Respect patients' right to confidentiality
5. Work in partnership with patients
Listen to patients and respond to their concerns and preferences
Give patients' right to reach decisions with you about their treatment and care
Support patients in caring for themselves to improve and maintain their health
6. Be honest nad open and act with integrity
Act without delay if you have good reason to believe that you or a colleague may be putting patients at risk
Never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
Never abuse your patients' trust in you or the public's trust in the profession

- I don't believe the hospital and staff abided by these elements of the oath. Also, this case is obviously not an isolated incident, considering they are basically on probation.