Death of F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Fitzgerald had been an alcoholic since he was very young. He had became notorious during the 1920s for his heavy drinking which caused him to have bad health by the late 1930s. He claimed to have contracted tuberculosis but his biographer says it was just to cover his drinking problem. However he indeed did have tuberculosis and suffered a mild attack of tuberculosis in 1919 and in 1929 it was clear that he had a tubercular hemorrhage. Fitzgerald suffered two heart attacks in the 1940s. His doctor ordered him to avoid strenuous exertion. He moved in with Sheilah Graham who lived in Hollywood. One day while he was eating, Ms. Graham saw him jump from his chair, grab the mantelpiece, and fall to the floor. Fitzgerald had been the victim of a big heart attack.

                                                         

Gatsby Party

     If I was as rich as Jay Gatsby and had the ability to throw parties that lasted the entire weekend, we would all have much fun. On Friday after all my friends, relatives, celebrities, and random hot girls have finished work or school. We would all go to my 100 million dollar yacht and head out. We would start by eating because everybody knows you can't drink on an empty stomach. After we have all finished with our dinner, everyone would go and get dressed and go to the ballroom for the big dance. We would start drinking until every last drop is done. Everybody would dance and be friendly with one another. Following my 100 million dollar yacht, would be the 3 million dollar yacht filled with my teachers. The reason they are not allowed on my boat is because they are not the most exciting people to party with(with some exceptions). The day after, when everybody is hung over and is unable to move we would have reached my private islands where there are no rules and I am king. This is where people would be separated into three groups. First, the ones who are going to have a great time on the island and be treated like queens and kings. Second, the second group is not appropriate for school. Third, the ones who's voyage of life has come to an end. Everybody would part their different ways and relax on the island with their on personal servants, free food, and lots of alcohol....well almost everybody.

"Drinking test: Bill would require drinkers on Utah alcohol panel"

     It is unfair to pass laws on certain products when the people passing the law are not users of that product. The article "Drinking test: Bill would require drinkers on Utah alcohol panel"
 written in the Los Angeles Times by Ricardo Lopez discusses how a Utah lawmaker wants to make the voice of alcohol users heard. He came up with the idea that at least two fifths of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission must be made up of people who drink at least once a month. "Utah’s restrictive liquor laws have long been in place. About 70% of state residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which teaches its members to abstain from drinking alcohol."  These laws have been criticized by the Utah tourism industry claiming that Utah is missing out because the laws drive away tourist to the neighboring state of Colorado.
      This is a great idea because lawmakers are suppose to represent everyone. By requiring at least two of the lawmakers to be drinkers, they get a better more representative result.

"Unsafe levels of lead still found in California youths"

      Lead is around everyone. It can easily be found in toys, jewelry, old paint, dirt, and home remedies. Lead poisoning can have everlasting and irreversible effects on children damaging their IQ's and causing brain damage. In the recent article "Unsafe levels of lead still found in California youths" published in the Los Angeles Times by Anna Gorman, one can read about an apparent lead poisoning occurence. Nelly Gomez refused to eat, her parents believed she had indigestion. Whatever she at she threw up. However a blood test revealed that she did in fact have lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is more common in low income neighborhoods where families like Nelly's are living. Health agencies such as the CDC are considering lowering the lead level considered safe for children. "Currently, the agency says 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood is considered elevated. But in light of research showing damage to children with lower levels, an expert advisory panel wants the cutoff dropped to 5 micrograms." Children under 6 are more likely to be exposed to lead poisoning because they put more things in their mouth. 
       Issues like these are very important and must be taken care of 

immediately. With this bad econommy one can only imagine how hard it must be to pay for proper diagnostics and tests by professional doctors. Everybody must work as a one to find a answer to this problem. There are many cases that are going undetected and untreated which are causing children to suffer.

     

"More human remains found at Calif. ranch"

     The article "More human remains found at Calif. ranch" was written by the Associated Press and was published on "Yahoo News". Skull fragments, bones, clothing, a purse, and jewelry were found in a Northern California rural area. The killer, currently on death row, told authorites there may be ten or more victims. The remains and items were found in a 45 feet deep hole, in an abandoned cattle ranch. Sunday, February 13 marks the fourth straight day that remains have been found with the help of a map from the death row inmate Wesley Shermantine. Shermantine was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death. He and a friend were known as the "Speed Freak Killers" and are said to have had more than 15 victims.

Half Hour away from the world

     As I sitting on my roof, with the hot sun shining on my skin I realized how beautiful the world really is. The sky is clear, only one or two clouds moving slowly and quietly. The clouds appear to be in the shape of two dogs. The smell of fresh air surrounds the space around me. The trees, as green as they can be, are moving to the sound of the wind as if they were dancing to it. The sound of Armenian music and 16 year olds driving their father Mercedes suddenly filled my ears. Buildings were everywhere and I felt as if I was on top of it all. Mothers walking with their daughters, old grandmas carrying grocery bags, people laughing and joking, children playing were all sights visible from my rooftop. A flock of birds just passed by, chirping as if it was their last day on earth.

     Isolating myself from technology and people for half an hour helped me realize the connection between God, people and nature. In order for one to become successful they must find a perfect balance between these three thats unique for themselves. Once one successfully determines their perfect mixture of God, humans and nature in their lives they will be at peace with themselves and in harmony with the world.

"One child may be the victim of two Miramonte teachers"

      In a recent article published in the Los Angeles Times by Sam Allen, Richard Winton and Howard Blume two teachers are accused of performing disturbing acts on their students. Mark Berndt and Martin Bernard Springer allegedly took pictures of their second-graders, spoon fed them semen, and touched them inappropriately. The confusion of one parent began when one second-grader went home and showed her parents two photos taken by the teacher. One depicted her, along with other girls standing against a wall. The other is a picture of her biting down on a cookie, which appeared to have a white substance on top of it. The parents made an effort to voice their concern to the principal, however he quickly dismissed their worries and suggested it was part of a class project. "Springer was arrested after two students said he touched them improperly within the last three years. The father, disatissfied did not send his child to school for a week. "The father said that after his daughter told him that the teacher touched her, he made a complaint with local police but never heard back from authorities.Law enforcement sources said they are also looking for evidence that a report was taken."

     It is cases like these that makes one wonder what kind of disturbed and mentally sick person would do such things. Many people claim the United States to be the "best" or "Number 1" country on earth, but it is difficult to believe that is possible because it is home to the worlds most psychotic people.