In Australia, a boy of the age of ten died due to an ear infection. It was reported that the house he was living in was no where near healthy standards. Apparently it reeked with the stench of feces, rotten food, sweat, and urine. There were layers and layers of garbage around the house, and yet a grown adult who was the boy’s mother and his sister lived there as well. The boy was complaining about his ear and he had a fever as well as a bloody ear. He was taken to a local health clinic where they suggested that he be taken to hospital for immediate and proper treatment. Instead of taking the advice, his mother chose to take him home and give him antibiotics she saw fit. Jared Roberts died twenty minutes later.
For goodness sake!
First of all, motherly instincts—take your kid to the damn hospital for treatment. And second, you have two kids to be concerned with, why the hell is your house in that condition?! I can’t imagine anyone that would allow their living space to get so out of hand and see hands on that it is affecting their family.
Where are our priorities? Where do we draw the line between wellness and laziness? Things seem to be going downhill these days. There needs to be a change, and like the first blog on this site… the changes starts with us.
P E A C E

Domestic abuse occurs in all walks of life. With the recent event of Chris Brown and Rhianna proves that celebrities are not exempt. It remains a "secret" case everyone wants to know about, but the media keeps the public informed on their every move. It's not something that's to be taken lightly though. Domestic abuse is real and can be fatal. The sad part is that not every if any incidents are reported. With the industry that both parties are from, there is minimal respect for women. In the fashion and music industry, it is both direct and indirect that males are dominant and women are merely objects.

Both Chris Brown and Rhianna are both successful musicians, they are both human and make mistakes. With their social status and wealth, they aren't treated as regular citizens, but if their situation gets worse, it could end up like O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown. Being a celebrity has its perks, but "if you do the crime, you need to do the time." Unfortunately, Chris Brown probably won't.

All around our dear great world.
In London, 14 people arrested for knife possession within the past two weeks.
In Glasgow, teens from Real Calton Tong gang fear walking past a sport complex because of the fear of being stabbed to death.
In Durham, a driver found a woman dead near Ellis road.
In Torquay, the stabbing of a 43-year old man led to the arrest of a 20-year old hero who returned from Iraq.
In Johannesburg, four schoolboys were charged with the stabbing of a 17-year old Greenside High school student.
In Honolulu, another stabbing of an innocent victim occurs a month after stabbings at Koko Head.
What on earth is going on! This time, I’m focusing on stabbings because it’s just too close to home. What is the drive, what is their drive? Is it something within the human brain that demands absurd behavior or the need to satisfy violent acts? These crimes are as random as they can get; happening to all sorts of people performed by all kinds of statuses. Thank you captain obvious—schoolboys, heroes, gangs, The Unstable. Is there one particular way that we can address this? Are we to watch out for suspicious acts and be the watchdogs for ourselves? Are we to warn others of harmful acts? Who are we suppose to tell, the one right beside us? How are we to be sure that that very one beside us is not the one who will harm us? Or is it us that will inflict harm upon someone else?
Whatever happened to the good old days when we could walk into a store for ten minutes, having left our car unlocked without the fear of someone robbing our vehicle, let alone stealing the entire thing? Whatever happened to the good old days when we could take our families to parks without the notion of having some prick fuck preying on our loved ones? Whatever happened to the good old days when we could take a morning job without being harassed? Whatever happened to the good old days when we could go to sleep peacefully without having our kids hear the sound of a dying man who had just been severely beaten?
Whatever happened to the good old safe days?
Be courteous to all, intimate with few, and let those be well tried before you give them your confidence.
Pray because all that’s left is to…
Let Go, and Let God.

Undying Loyalty

Since it is Softball Season for Chaminade, I thought it would be appropriate to blog about everything that is going on with baseball. No, I am not talking about Spring Training and its almost time to start buying peanuts in the bleachers, or heckling at the opposing team, or even the smell of the fresh cut grass, I am talking Barry Bonds and his personal trainer who is keeping his mouth shut. "Greg Anderson, one-time youth baseball teammate of, personal trainer to, forever silent soldier for and likely legal savior of Barry Lamar Bonds." I read this in a Yahoo Sports report about how Greg Anderson won’t talk, won’t testify and won’t cooperate with authorities in a case about Barry Bonds. Anderson has done more than a year in prison for refusing to testify against his long time friend.
This article has caught my attention because Federal prosecutors have won about 95% of their cases due to the rush of the witnessess to cooperate to lessen their penalty or so they can get off the hook. This man, Mr. Anderson, has gone in and out of jail, has been on house arrest and he still hasn't cracked. I would say that he is being more than a good friend to Barry Bonds. Maybe he really does take the word friendship to heart, or maybe he knows if Bonds gets off, then that could mean big bucks for Mr. Anderson for keeping quiet. And just to throw this in, Barry Bonds isn't that popular with fans, media, or anybody really, but no matter what people think of him or even Mr. Anderson, the level of loyalty here is something to behold. Right or wrong, I look at the loyalty to the friendship that Mr. Anderson has towards Barry Bonds and am in awe of it. When it comes down to it, jail did not break him, house arrest did not break him, and the Feds still haven't broke him, it truly is an undying loyalty.

successful advertising.

New week, new blog, and this week I just so happen to be attracted to an ad.
Ever heard of a Himalyan Rock Salt Lamp? It's a natural salt rock from the Himalayas that ranges from shades of pinks to peach. They can be lit with a light bulb or by candle light. With the different sites that I visited, they always get good reviews for their "stunning effect."
But here's what sold me..
Apparently they offer homeopathic health benefits that have been scientifically proven. Owners of these salt lamps claim that the air in their homes are easier to breath and that it has a cleansing effect. It is said to be formed 250 million years ago when the light and energy of the dun dried up the original primal ocean. It is completely pristine and natural and identical to the composition of the ancient sea. It also contains 84 minerals essential to our body, 74 of which are actually found in the human body. Salt lamps have been recommended for people with respiratory illness and or asthma because the rock removes moisture from indoor air which eliminates bacteria, mold spores, and other respiratory allergens. It in turn makes a great ionizer. They are also used for the treatments of stress, insomnia, body-aches, arthritis, muscle spasms, skin conditions and fatigue.
Pretty amazing if you ask me!
In any case.. I saw an advertisement for this unfamiliar "Himalayan Rock Salt Lamp" and I've done my research... it's official, I want one.

FYI:
Showroom at Walter's Karaoke Shop
2337 N. King St.
842-7003
www.walterkaraoke.com

more or less...

sites:
http://www.gascoals.net/Products/ElectricFireplaces/ElectricLogsOtherSimpleElectricFires/HimalayanRockSaltLamps/tabid/1468/Default.aspx
http://www.himalayanrocksaltcrystallamps.com/



p e a c e

Land Down Under

Australia, Australia, Australia.
In today's paper there was an update about the wildfires in Australia. Apparently, deadly firestorms sweep across Australia every few years and this article said that the death toll for the wildfires will surpass 200.
I have never been to Australia, so the landscape and environment are strictly from my imagination and influence of few pictures. I began to wonder just how strong Australia must be as a country. If people are dying left and right from natural disatsters, it must bring Australia close together as a nation. Being from an island, whenever we are hit with strong-winded storms and typhoons, our community keeps us together and gives even more endless support to one another. We bring the life back to our island together.
I was also considering the latest , "Best Job in Queensland." This job is in search of a caretaker of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The website says that this job is specifically aimed at bringing the tourism back to Queensland. There are a few responisibilities pertaining to feeding the fish in the ocean, checking the mail, and blogging about their duties and stay as a caretaker.
The applicants are to apply via online and start the job on June 1. More information can be found at http://www.islandreefjob.com/?cmpid=66.
My point with this bit of information is since tourism is not thriving as much as it used to, the community of australia must be strong despite both wildfires and tourism decline altogether. Thumbs up Australia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9bbzvdYi7g

It's official, I'm a news-reader-regular, and I'm proud.
Monday's paper--Koko head stabbings.
Before this weeked I never, in my entire life heard about Koko head. Diamond head maybe, but not Koko head. Friday night I had been invited, moreso, dared to hike Koko head. My "compadres" said it'd be great fun and a nice jot of a work out. WRONG! It was good fun at the top and walking back to the car, and a hell of a work out PLUS life scares because of the height differential and steepness. I thought I'd only hear about Koko head when remeniscing about '09 memories.
Wrong again. Come Monday, Stabbing at Koko head was right there, whaabam front page headline. I seriously couldn't believe me eyes. I began to read the article, one man, two men STABBED at Koko crater?! I saw that crater at the top of my hike! There was a thorough discussion about the rim of the crater and whether or not we would like to venture out and hike that as well. And then I read about a stabbing. I don't like that kind of stuff. One, panic attack about the next time I decide to hike somewhere. Two, who wants to panic anyway?! Three, there are some "interesting" people on this island--and i've always been told not to judge people--but as of monday, I will judge but for my safety alone.
It kind of brings you back to reality--to know that yes, you might just be out and about trying to have a good time..but always be cautious of your surroundings. Sometimes it's just best to go with your gut feelings--like the guy on his cell phone "I was on the phone and this guy was just in his underwear--I knew something wasn't right......."
In all seriousness, thank God everyone was safe and that despite the crazy things some of us resort to, there are still those of us who will do anything in our power to be at the aid of someone in need.

Be mindful and limit mindlessness.
p e a c e .