Swine in Kearney?

Just in...first case of swine flu reported IN KEARNEY at the hospital. Now do not quote me on this, but I heard it today from a friend who heard it from a professor---yes it is hearsay but OH MY. The point: If you are feeling sick STAY HOME. The most common disease or sickness in America is the common cold but this time we must treat the common cold with more precautions. “It’s not a pandemic, it’s not an epidemic — it’s an outbreak,” he said. “It’s like the old saying, ‘There’s no need to panic until it’s time to panic.’ And I’m not entirely sure that it’s now time to panic.” Personally, I thought same day different disease, but after I heard about the reported case in Kearney, I think we need to think twice. So far I have no information to back up the reported case in Kearney, but maybe tomorrow there will be some article. The scary thing about this is that it is sooo easy to catch.
On a different note, sometimes you wonder if this is going to be the pandemic that ends the world. Crazy I know, but scary. I remember being a kid and being scared of Y2K and the world ending with terrorist, but hell maybe its the swine flu. I understand that its not a guarantee death, but when there are few vaccines for this, its makes you wonder, are we going to become similar to extinct dinosaurs. Sounds nuts! It makes me think of my brother and what he would be saying about this right now. He is scared to death, full of the history channel and other nonsense programs about the world ending, of something killing off humans...it would be interesting to hear his thoughts.
Anyway, I strayed a bit, but a case possibly hitting so close to home, makes you wonder. We must take precautions.

Another national disease....

Another day, another disease. It seems like America is no longer the melting pot of the world, but now the center of disease control. From West Nile, to bird flu, to peanut butter contamination and now to the Swine flu. It's funny though because compared to the other diseases, it is almost as if America is not scared. I mean obviously they are scared, but it does not seem as if there is near as much hype about this disease as all other diseases, when this disease probably could affect Americans the most. I watched a segment on CNN last night about the Swine flu and how these pig farmers are denying the infection of their own pigs. What was most disturbing to me is how the pigs were kept. There were over thousands of pigs pinned up in cages where they could not even turn their heads. The thought of it makes my stomach curdle. Maybe American officials should worry about how these pigs are kept! Besides that, it is no wonder that this disease is spreading. The show explained that because these pigs are kept so tightly in cages, they have very weak immune systems and when one pig gets a cold or any sort of sickness, more than likely every pig will get it simply because they are kept so tightly and close together.
I have grown to have feelings for pigs and set aside their ugliness and the smell. My dad works for a pig corporation in my home town, so there is sensitivity for pigs. But after seeing the show last night, I was disgusted.
First thing is first, officials need to reorganize how these farmers keep these pigs and this would solve the whole problem.
I don't think disease is the only problem we have on our hands here. Anyone who would watch this clip would be amazed and probably change their eating habits fast.

Jon and Kate + Eight-1?

Jon and Kate + Eight-1? I recently read an article on yahoo.com about Jon from the infamous Jon and Kate plus eight "showing poor judgement." It is so funny because the web address it www.omg.yahoo.com OH MY GOSH! Apparently, Jon went out on a night on the town and was seen with another women in the car, her driving. Jon admits to this, but claims that he does have male and female friends and one of his female friends wanted to drive his car....no shame there. I think this can go three ways 1. typical guy behavior, needs a break from the wife, so hangs out with another women to boost his ego a little---no problem, 2. sick of Kate (with all of her nagging that is obvious on the show) so decides to go a different route, or 3. WANTS TO HAVE A NIGHT OF FUN AWAY FROM HIS EIGHT CHILDREN! BIG DEAL! This is so ridiculous. No, I will not say that he can be trusted, but I will say this, any man who sticks through it with his wife after eight children all very close in age, is a keeper and entitled to at least one night on the town without being ridiculed. The sad part about this is that he actually feels bad, he says, ""Like most people, I have male and female friends, and I'm not going to end my friendships just because I'm on TV," the dad of 8 tells Extra. "However, being out with them late at night showed poor judgment on my part." There is no shame in what he did and no reason he should feel bad that is if he is telling the truth.
Do I feel sorry for the guy? Not really, he and his wife chose to do the show that revolved around their lives and Jon going out to all hours in the morning was part of his life, this is exactly what he asked for. But, in all consideration, he deserves to have fun and take a break from his huge family, as does Kate, that is if his true confession is only that he feels bad for "staying out late."

Slumdog Millionaire Review

A Free America?

One of the hottest topics in today's society is same sex marriage. Although I personally am very liberal about the subject, some are not and that is their prerogative. For example, Miss California Carrie Prejean states her thoughts about same sex marriage openly on national television saying, "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." Should we criticize her? Absolutely not. Apparently this is why Miss California did not take home the crown. Ridiculous. Although we are suppose to be living in a open society, criticizing someone for their beliefs is not something that should reflect them as people. According to a FOX News story, Keith Lewis who runs the Miss California pageant was "As co-director of the Miss California USA, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman." I believe in one of two things here: 1. we live in a free society which can mean that same sex marriage should be allowed to give people rights and also that people opposing this should be able to voice their opinion, especially according to the First Amendment. 2. how come the judges and the whole nation judge Miss California calling her a "stupid b****" and that be okay, but Miss California herself cannot voice HER OPINION, not judging on anything else? Does not sound like a fair society to me.
Another thing that concerns me is the fact that we have a swarm of media around this topic. You hear more about the runner-up than you do about Miss USA herself. And instead of proposing objectivity, the media decides to interview every gay man or woman in the audience to talk about the subject, making it seem worse than it is. One statement in the FOX news article stated, "I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are.""I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are.""I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are." Yes, I am sure there are a lot of gay men in the audience, but whats better: a dishonest person or a strong person?
In conclusion, this is ridiculous. I do not even think that pageants should be able to ask such controversial issues. Why? Because the contestants are going to do one of two things: 1. lie to please the audience or 2. be honest and get accused of discrimination or racism, or just in general being a bad person.
Personally, I am proud of Miss California. I respect her honesty and most of all I respect that she has "no regrets" about the pageant. How come I can accept this, but no one else can? I believe in society today, people gay, straight, or whatever, can be and do whatever they please, including Miss California.

Go Big Red

Drinking at football games seems like a trend for most. Most of the time people go to sports games simply for the drinking, even if they have no idea who is playing. Except for NCAA/college games. For example, Nebraska football games. People go tailgating outside of the games in parking lots, but no alcohol allowed in the stadium. Which is weird, because more than likely a person going to a game is already 10 sheets to the wind by the time the game starts, so basically, the game itself is just a ticket to being "cut off." I agree that alcohol should not be served at Husker football games because we all know how crazy they are already. People and Nebraska football are like anyone from Texas and the state alone. I remember one year listening to the radio about 4 or 5 different people calling in and complaining about weddings on Nebraska Husker Saturdays! Really? No one in Nebraska can get married from Sept. until Dec. because the Huskers play? Or are they just suppose to be sure if they do get married in these months it is between Sunday and Friday? Ridiculous.
Anyway, back to the drinking. April 23 marked the day when those privileged die-hard Husker fans that get to sit in the sky boxes can no longer drink in the boxes. According to an article in the Omaha World Herald, there was a case last season of alcohol poisoning, so Tom Osborne announced yesterday, that those in the boxes could no longer drink and officials would be more strict.
Thank you Tom Osborne. I mean really, these people have the cake and get to eat it too? They get the best seats in the house and get to drink while watching. More than likely half of them are too intoxicated to know what is going on anyway, so they may as well sit in the nose bleed sections, but hey, this is what money can do for you.
Go Big Red!

Is this for real?

A story that I have been following for some time is the story of pirates capturing a U.S. ship. Today, the captain finally came home. When I first heard of the story, I was astounded and felt like I was in some kind of movie, Hook or something. I guess I always thought that Pirates were some sort of imaginary villain. Last night when I was watching the news, it became reality. One rescued coast guard said, "We all had knives and they had AK 47's." My stomach immediately got sick. I could not imagine being captured by pirates, not because it would be terrifying but because it seems so fictional. What seems even more surreal is that in order to get the captain home, Navy snipers had to kill three pirates. The whole story seems make-believe, yet was so appalling to me. I only wish that I would get to see a picture of the actual "pirate." I know that seems odd, but I wonder what classifies them as pirates and if they look as we all would assume. Hooks on their hands, bandannas in their hair, and mean as hell. When I heard the news that the captain was to return, it was like I finally got to breathe for the first time. It was the never ending bizarre story to me. No, I am not ignorant, but it is not as if these stories pop up all the time. It had the works-the villain and the hero, and thank goodness the hero came out on top.
My only amazement with the story concerning the press is that they did not have a hay day. Perhaps because information was so limited, but I did not hear any false stories or fictional statistics, just the facts, which was nice for a change.
I think the best aspect of the story is that the captain said, " I am not a hero, the military is." He is grateful to be home and very modest.
In conclusion, this bizarre story finally came to an end and really it is like watching your favorite movie and the star of the show coming out on top. Amazing.