Poland deaths from deep freeze reach 30

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Associated Press

The country of Poland is experiencing a deadly deep freeze; thirty people have died, with dozens more expected overnight.  The police in attempts to prevent the homeless from freezing have been canvassing the street in hopes of preventing further tragedies.  The frigid weather has caused chaos amongst travelers across Europe, with the closing of airports in several countries. The travel situation seemed to be improving as of Friday, with the reopening of airports in England, Scotland, and France.  However, London’s Heathrow airport has advised travelers that there would be flight cancelations and delays.  Elsewhere in Europe, heavy rains have caused severe flooding along the Drina River.

It is getting to be that time of year again; I am just enjoying the fact that we do not have to contend with that kind of weather yet.  With the cooling of the weather, I dread daily the coming of snow, and ice.  This article has made me more aware that homelessness is not isolated to the United States, I had never thought of it as a global problem.  It is not just our issue, but it is the problem of every nation.  I think that perhaps we are most aware of our own homeless due to our society’s constant efforts to eradicate it from our society. 

Arlington finds 8 sets of remains in 1 grave

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Associated press

The United States Army has launched a criminal investigation, after finding the cremated remains of eight individuals buried in a single grave marked with a headstone titled “unknown”, in Arlington National Cemetery.  The problem was first discovered in October, says Kaitlin Horst, representative for the Arlington National Cemetery.  Since the discovery, three of the remains have been indentified and reburied.  Investigators are still in the process of trying to identify the other remains.  This investigation comes after a report filed earlier this year stated that more than two-hundred of the graves in Arlington National Cemetery have been mismarked on maps. Christopher Grey, the representative for the Criminal Investigation Command of the Army, has said that while the mistakes on the maps could have been human error, the burial of eight urns in a single grave was unlikely to be an accident.

I cannot imagine a reason to bury eight peoples remains together, unless it was the wishes of the buried or their families.  I find it amazing that they can now identify people previously labeled unknown through the process of identifying their DNA.  I remember several years ago, when they identified the solider housed in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and were able to return his remains to his family.  I hope that the investigators can identify the remaining ashes and have them properly entombed.

A Day in the Life

Early this morning I as I sat waiting for the sun to rise above the horizon, the telephone rang. My heart fell into my stomach.  In my household, a call received before 9am and after 9pm, is never good news.  Today in no way proved me wrong.  My mother was calling to let me know that my paternal Grandma had passed away.  This came as a shock to say the least. While attending therapy, following a recent surgery, she collapsed with sudden heart failure and they were not able to resuscitate her.  The loss of my grandma was upsetting enough, but added to the fact that I lost my maternal Grandma nine months earlier, makes the situation harder to endure. At least when we lost Granny, we had time to prepare for the loss, she had been fighting cancer for awhile, and in her way prepared us for her passing.  With Grandma, it happened so suddenly, one minute she was there the next she was not, since it is the end of the semester, with finals coming up, and term papers due, I am unsure if I will be able to take the time away from my studies to attend the funeral.  If the services were local, there would be no problem, but in order to attend the services I will have to travel to Michigan, taking time, and money that I really cannot afford to spend.  I will have to wait until the arrangements have been made before a final decision of whether or not to go can be determined.

California DA Vows to Prosecute Airport Screeners Who Touch Travelers Inappropriately

The new pat down procedures conducted by members of the Transportation Security Administration has caused a massive public outcry. The fear amongst citizens is that TSA agents will take advantage of the pat downs, and dislike the thought of having their private parts groped by strangers.  Steve Wagstaffe, district attorney of San Mateo County, CA, has made a statement that any screener charged with inappropriate touching with a sexual or lewd intent will be charged with sexual battery.  A case has already achieved national attention, it is a video of John Tyner informing a TSA screener that if he touched his “junk” he would have the screener arrested; this resulted in Tyner’s removal from the San Diego Airport.

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Welcome to Russia….oops…I mean America.  There goes another of our civil liberties, before long our capitalist union will start to resemble a socialist state.  I understand the need for security.   I believe that since the events of 9/11, through the fear of terrorism, security has become ridiculous, in an effort to undo the security breaches that occurred upon that day.  I’m all for the safety of the passengers, so bring on the metal detectors that have always been there in my lifetime, combine them with the scanner bars , along with security officers that have the proper training and experience to accurately access threats, I’m even game for bomb dogs, as long as the TSA keeps their hands to their self.

Father of GA baby attacked by raccoons charged

Authorities in Covington, GA, have file charges against Michael Wayne Cannon, father of the nine-month-old girl attacked by raccoons within their home.  Cannon has been charged with unlawfully possessing wildlife.  According to Lt. Tyrone Oliver of the Newton county sheriff’s department, the raccoons, which Cannon had raised as pets, often entered the home, letting themselves in through open windows.  The child was hospitalized for severe bites to the head and body.  Cannon was released on a $2,000 bond, when contacted at home there was not comment.

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Associated press

I know people love animals, and sometimes make the mistake of thinking you can domesticate wild animals, but the safety of your child should be your main concern.  There are legitimate reasons, that the department of Conservation regulates the possession of wild animals, they are not meant to be kept in the same manner as domesticated species.  I personally, do not trust domesticated animals that I have known for many years around my daughter unsupervised. It only takes one time of leaving a child without the proper supervision for an incident to happen. 

Holiday Queries

Isn’t it ironic that in a nation determined to keep church and state separated, we as a nation pause in observance of Thanksgiving.  A holiday that is based upon the celebration of the pilgrims of Plymouth Rock, celebrating and giving thanks to their God for the blessings in their lives, after enduring the hardships of settling in a new land, in search of religious freedoms.  In recent years our government has gone out of its was to separate itself from the Christian majority within our nation, but we as a nation still hold with a tradition based in the giving of thanks of a Christian society. I often wonder if the only reason that we as a nation still celebrate Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, is for the massive influx of money that enters the economy at each of these holidays, since our  country wishes to disassociate itself from its christian roots, the money  would have to be its main incentive.