Week 5 ... Local

Deputies arrest man accused of posing as a firefighter at scene of crash 

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 7/15/2009  8:29 PM

Officials arrested a man who is accused of posing as a fire fighter and interfering with a deadly crash scene.

Joel Clay Lack, 22, resides in the Tulsa County jail on charges of impersonating a fire fighter, interfering with emergency personnel and two counts of grand larceny.

According to officials, Lack posed as an off duty fire fighter after an accident where an SUV hit a group of cyclists.

He flashed a badge at the scene, claiming to have had medical experience, authorities said.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20090715_298_0_Sherif891716

On one point, this is shocking that a man actually impersonated a fire fighter for no given reason.  On another, I am surprised I haven't heard about something like this happening before.  People these days are weird and crazy.  He could have made the situation ten times worse by improperly treating someone, and what's worse is that people truly believed he was what he said he was.  Accidents are scary enough as it is, we don't need fake paramedics out there making it even worse.

4th Blog Week ... International

Russia warns US over missile shield

By STEVE GUTTERMAN

Associated Press Writer

The U.S. will jeopardize progress towards a new treaty with Russia if it creates a nuclear defense system.  Russian and U.S. presidents reached a preliminary agreement setting goals for further reductions of the world's largest nuclear arsenals.

The START replacement pact states that the two sides must reduce the number of warheads between 1,500-1,675.

The U.S. however has been debating a decision to create an American missile defense system with global reach that will in turn question the reductions in strategic offensive weapons.  President Obama has issued a review on this proposed plan.

http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/1310489.html

This article was somewhat difficult to understand due to its technicality.  However, it was somewhat interesting to know that two powerful countries have a plan to reduce the size of nuclear production.  Normally, both countries would not likely reduce the numbers at free will.  I think the biggest contributor to the reduction factor is that there is an agreement for both to do this, not just one or the other.  

4th Blog Week ... National

Irish national police probe snub of 3 Plano travelers

By MATTHEW HAAG / The Dallas Morning News
mhaag@dallasnews.com

An investigation is pending for the Ireland national police as to why three Plano men were denied entry into the country Friday.

The three friends landed in Dublin to begin a backpacking trip across western Europe.  They did not expect to get sent directly back to the States. 

They were told they could not enter Ireland because they could not provide an address where they planned to stay or produce a bank statement showing they had enough funds to afford the trip.

Ireland's national police, Garda Siochana, released a statement saying how it was quite rare for U.S. citizens to be denied entry into the country because the majority know the regulations and requirements.

The police press secretary highlighted the point that only a very small number are refused entry at entry ports in Ireland each year.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/070709dnmetirish.191a4a5c.html

This story is a wake-up call for ignorant Americans.  Just because we are Americans doesn't mean we can get away with not having an idea of rules in foreign countries.  Name dropping doesn't always work.  It is sad that these guys got there and had to come back.  That would be very frustrating, but at the same time, if it were the other way around and three Irish men tried to come here under those circumstances, I am sure they would be denied and it wouldn't seem like a big deal.  It's all about perspective.

4th Blog Week ... Local

University of Oklahoma student’s idea takes headache out of medicine
OU STUDENT’S IDEA TAKES HEADACHE OUT OF MEDICINE

Buzz up!

BY DUSTY SOMERS

A University of Oklahoma pharmacy student took medicine to the new level without inventing a new product.  His tactic is to eliminate confusion of the consumer when trying to choose the right cold and flu medication.

Chad Harrison, 30, invented SymptomPak which is more of a marketing strategy that enables users to buy a group of medications, all with separate purposes.  Depending on the symptoms, the consumer can choose either one pill, or all five.  The purpose is to take only medications that are needed and to educate the consumer on what each does.  With a combination pill, the consumer doesn't always know what is or is not working.  

Harrison had a difficult time pitching the idea due to his "student" status.  He finally got a small manufacturer in New York to agree to produce the product.

http://newsok.com/ou-students-idea-takes-headache-out-of-medicine/article/3383389?custom_click=lead_story_title

I think Harrison is on the right track with his idea.  It is true that consumers don't know what they are ingesting every time they take a medication.  The product he is producing not only has one specific purpose, it educates the user as well.  The users will be more informed on what they are putting into their body.  When it comes to one's health, ignorance is not always bliss.  I would love to try this product because there is no need to be taking a medicine for one purpose and get multiple side effects from the other active ingredients that I don't need.

Third Week Blog... International

Study blames alcohol for half of 1990s Russian deaths

By DOUGLAS BIRCH

The Associated Press

An international team of health researchers have been hosting a study showing that over half of Russia's deaths are due to drinking.  The findings were off a survey of 49,000 deaths between 1990 and 2001.  The study included 3 industrial towns with 1990 Russian mortality patterns.  The study is to find what the causes of spike in mortality among Russians.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/1282973.html

It is crazy to think that these deaths could've been prevented.  But by the decisions of these people, their lives were cut short.  I am also somewhat surprised that Russia's statistics were so high.  I understand their laws are more lax than ours, so in a way it does make sense.  But perhaps if they would've had laws restricting alcohol these statistics would vary.

Third Week Blog... National

Town rallies behind convicted soldier

After he's found guilty in the execution-style murder of 4 Iraqis, friends and family campaign for leniency.

By Joel Hood 
June 30, 2009

A conviction of an Army soldier has family and friends outraged.  Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr. was convicted of premeditated murder in execution-style of four Iraqi men.  He was sentenced to life in prison.

Leahy and his unit were driving toward a village when they were fired upon.  They were not sure where the shots were coming from, but discovered four men and followed them to a nearby house where they found weapons.  They then captured the Iraqi men, blind folded them, and tied their hands behind their backs and were shot execution-style.  It was questioned whether they should take the Iraqi men back to base; however, the soldiers thought there wouldn't be enough evidence to withhold them.  Two weeks prior, two soldiers in their unit were killed by militiamen.  Soldiers testified that an officer said these murders were a retaliation against the two soldiers killed.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-iraq-soldier30-2009jun30,0,2638861.story

In my opinion, this case is crap.  Prosecutors have no idea what it is like to be in a foreign country, risking their lives every day.  They don't know the feeling of adrenaline that pumps through a soldier's veins as he is being shot at.  They do not understand the stress of a soldier as he has to not only protect himself, but everyone around him, and on top of that, abide by strict rules that make his job even harder.  This type of thing happens all the time in war, but yet we can't do anything like it because it is so heinous and vulgar.  How are these troops supposed to do their jobs while being tied on a leash allowing them to only "fight so much?"

Until these men who sit in an air-conditioned building with their expensive suits actually enlist and go out and fight, they have no right to judge a soldier's actions. 

Third Week Blog... Local

Peterson reflects on Sooners career

• Jono Greco/The Daily

Monday, June 29, 2009

OU football legend, Adrian Peterson, coached children this week in the fundamentals of football.  Peterson said it brought back old memories.  The Old Spice Adrian Peterson Football Camp was a three-day camp for children that had Peterson looking back on the days he wore crimson and cream.  He was a player with outstanding statistics even though he never got a Heisman or a National Championship to prove it.

He is currently in the NFL racking up stats as he did in college, even though the competition is one step above.  His goals are to win the NFC North and just be a "complete player." 

http://oudaily.com/news/2009/jun/29/peterson-reflects-sooners-career/

I think it is great that Adrian Peterson comes back to host a camp at the college that jump-started his career.  After reading the his statistics and realizing that he didn't win a Heisman or  a National Championship, it seems as though he was 'robbed'.  He as a great player, and a great team leader whose cards just didn't play out.  It is good that he realizes the past is the past and there is nothing one can do to change that.  He has a great career now that he is focused on which is outstanding.  Peterson seems like an athlete that uses the past to help push him forward and advance himself in anything he does.