Swine Flu Update!

Swine Flu is spreading across the world as we know it. The never before seen strain of Swine Flu is a combination of pig, bird and human viruses. Humans generally have no immunity to the influenza. There have been many news stories and discussions about the epidemic. The White House has asked Congress for $1.5 billion dollars to fight the outbreak. International Health said that the flu is coming from Mexico.

There are also speculations about how the disease is hurting the pork industry, which has seen sales plummet even though the swine flu cannot be contracted by eating pork. The Swine Flu epidemic needs to be contained. This is also causing a crisis in America and Americans’ businesses are getting hurt from this virus.

There has been new information released about the cause of the Swine Flu. Edgar Hernandez, a five year old child from Mexico became ill last month and recovered after a week, according to his mother. His family lives near a pig farm and the reason for his sickness is still unknown. But this is a step closer to figuring out how the illness is contracted. He is the youngest victim of the flu this far.“He had been infected by the swine flu strain, said Dr. Miguel Angel Lezana, head of the national Epidemiological Vigilance and Disease Control Center.” According to his mother, Edgar is healthy now and playing outside.

This reminds of the SARS virus that killed over 774 people. The Swine Flu is a crisis that is spreading all across the world.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-flu-victim29-2009apr29,0,5477506.story

The 10th Anniversary of Columbine

April 20, 2009, was the 10^th year anniversary of Columbine. Residents of Littleton, Colorado held a candlelight vigil the night before the anniversary. Thousands of people gather together in the small town of Colorado and remember those that were killed. A dove was released for each of the thirteen victims. There was also a rally to promote gun control. The school will be closed on the anniversary all day for the town to remember the tragedy.

Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, two high school seniors came to school on April 20, 1999, with a plan to kill hundreds of their peers. There were planning on using pipe bombs, guns, and knives. Thirteen students were killed in the shooting of Columbine High School, including one teacher and twelve students.

The Today Show held a special news cast on the anniversary of Columbine. They interviewed parents, survivors, people in the community about the incident. Mr. Mauser, father of victim Daniel Mauser, talks about how it has been a struggle to get over this terrible disaster. Frank DeAngelis, Principal of Columbine High School, discussed how the school will never be “normal” and they had to re-define what normal means. There was exclusive interview with survivor, Patrick Ireland, also known as “boy out of the window” about his survival. Ireland was shot in the head twice in the library and crawled his way to the window where the SWAT team rescued him and took him immediately to the hospital. Ireland is now married and a financial adviser. They also had Craig Scott, brother of Rachel Scott, talking about his story. He now goes to public schools and teaches his families’ program “Rachel’s Challenge.” The program teaches students about what happened at Columbine and has prevented other school shootings. Scott uses in sisters’ story in a positive way.

It is good to hear that Columbine High School takes the day off to remember those victims that have past. After watching the Today Show, it made realize how many positive things have come from this crisis. Ten years is a really long time and people are finally starting to heal. This crisis was the biggest school shooting in history up until Virginia Tech Shooting. It is refreshing to hear that a family member as started an organization promoting awareness in schools.

For more information please visit:

http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/1:what_they_pla994:31077d676e7e51883ac7effd0065fb89/What-They-Play-18-Columbine-10th-anniversary

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30306728/#storyContinued

Dominos YouTube Scandal

Two Domino’s employees post a series of videos on YouTube while they are doing disgusting things to the food before they give it to customers. In the most recent video, Kristy is filming Michael put boogers on the Domino’s sandwiches. “According to spokesman Tim McIntyre of Domino’s, the employees were identified and promptly terminated.” Dominos is also considering filing a suit on the two for brand defamation.

This was a quote from a letter Kristy wrote about the incident, “It was all a prank and me nor Michael expected to have this much attention from the videos that were uploaded!” she wrote. “No food was ever sent out to any customer. We would never put something like that on you tube if it were real!! It was fake and I wish that everyone knew that!!!!”

Spokesperson Tim McIntyre wants to protect the brand name, but has not issued press releases and will not hold a press conference. He doesn’t want to bring more attention to the issue than there already is. Dominos has over 125,000 people employees in their company and hope that Dominos can get past this.

By not holding a press conference, I think that McIntyre is not taking the issue seriously. The Dominos YouTube scandal is all over the internet and has been on the news. People across the country are blogging and tweeting about the incident. I do think it was appropriate for both employees to be fired and I think scandals like this will continue to occur in the food industry. There will little prodromes for this crisis and Dominos sales will diminish because of this.

For more information please visit:

http://www.marketingvox.com/dominos-employees-cause-youtube-brand-scandal-043809/

Athens Shooting!

I received a shocking phone call Saturday, April 26, from my friend Bekah in Athens that was in the Town and Gown play, “Sherlock Holmes, The Final Adventure.” Bekah was crying hysterically telling me that three of her cast members were murdered that afternoon. I immediately turn on the news to see what was going on in Athens, Georgia.

I come to find out that George M. Zinkhan, a University of Georgia Marketing professor killed three people at the Town and Gown Theater in Athens at a Town and Gown homecoming luncheon. Witnesses said he opened fire and fled the scene. “The three confirmed dead include 47-year-old Marie E. Bruce, Ben Teague, 63, and Thomas Cole Tanner, 40, Clarke County coroner Sonny Wilson said Saturday night. All three were shot multiple times, Wilson said, with Tanner receiving the most wounds (www.ajc.com).”

Zinkhan left the scene in a red Jeep Liberty and no one has seen him since. The news of the shooting on Prince street spread throughout the small town of Athens. Many people were there for the Twilight Criterium bike event going on that evening.

Bruce was Zinkhan’s wife and the mother of their two children who are eight and ten. Zinkhan has not reported back to Athens and is still nowhere to be found. Armed police officers are all over the University’s campus keeping an eye out and protecting students.

In recent news, Zinkhan purchased a plane ticket to the Netherlands. The FBI is now partnering with Athens- Clark County Police force to try and find him.

There seems to be little prodromes to this crisis in Athens, Georgia. After reading multiple news stories, it seems like Zinkhan was a nice man that just kept to himself. According to family friends, they were not aware of any marital problems with the relationship between Bruce and Zinkhan.

Police continue to search for Zinkhan and the crisis is still present!

For more information visit:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/04/25/uga_professor_shooting.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iw8wxkpeLufk-1Be-7iJBhA344iAD97R50MO0

Michael Phelps and the Bong!

In recent news, Michael Phelps admitted to smoking weed out of a bong at a University of South Carolina party in November last year.  Most athletes caught doing drugs don’t make it so easy on their investors.  Phelps has lost his Kellogg’s endorsement, and other sponsors are threatening to follow suit. USA Swimming suspended Phelps from competitive swimming for three months. “The World Anti-Doping Agency does not treat marijuana like performance-enhancing drugs and only punishes an athlete if he or she tests positive during competition,” according to Michael Shannon. There has been a lot of talk about Phelps and he will still keep the eight gold medals from last summer’s Beijing Olympics.

I feel kinda bad for Phelps! He is a 23 year-old man trying to have a good time at a college party and no one could give him his privacy. Someone had the nerve to sell the picture to a British tabloid.  At the same time, Phelps is viewed as a role model for younger teens and shouldn’t encourage smoking weed.  He was not training or competing during this time, he was just at a college party trying to have a good time.  I think America  should just forgive Phelps and accept his apology.  Phelps is a fantastic athlete that should continue to swim with his extraordinary talent!