Kaylen May Gerkey

- National -
University Vows Probe of Taser Incident

Summary:
After an incident at the University of Florida state investigators have asked to review the police’s use of a taser on student Kyle Mitchell. Mitchell was giving a speech during the John Kerry forum held at U of Florida and the police felt that what he was saying was offensive. They attempted to take him away and ask him to sit down but the boy was not finished talking. He complained saying he was not finished and said I can’t believe you are arresting me. He further began to resist arrest and more and more police began to try to bring him to the floor. In there attempts Mitchell kept shouting I can’t believe you are arresting me I am not done yet, but the police began yelling in his face threatening to use the taser. After about 30 seconds of fighting with Mitchell the woman cop said use it, use it, referring to the taser and the police tasered Mr. Mitchell. The boy cried out ouch it hurts and by his voice it was obvious he was in pain and the more he cried out the more the crowd began to yell out stop it you are hurting him.

Opinion:
Just watching the video I still can’t believe the police found it necessary to taser him. He was not instigating a riot or being slanderous or anything of that nature he was just addressing the crowd. But even if he was being out of line the cops should have just politely asked him to step down and leave. Instead they tried to push him away from the mike and force him off, making him angry and wanting to fight back. Now, lets say Mr. Mitchell was being out of line and the cops had every right to “jump” him like that I do not whatsoever believe they needed to tase him. He was not threatening anyone, nor was he being violent or a threat to the people around him. Stories like this tend to scare me a little because although we are supposed to trust our government how do we know that they will not turn on us and tase us?




- National -
Family Sues Phone Company Over Ad

Summary:
In Dallas a family is suing Virgin Mobile (Australia) for unlawfully using their daughter’s (Alison Chang’s) picture on their advertisement. The advertisement read “Dump your pen friend” and then showed her picture and then underneath read “Free text virgin to virgin”. The picture was grabbed from a Flickr website by Chang’s church counselor who took the picture. Apparently when uploading he chose the sharing license. The family is suing for libel and invasion of privacy. Alison Chang, from reports by her parents, has said to be humiliated and emotionally destroyed because of this ad.

Opinion:
I have always if this would ever happen to someone. I post pictures all the time on MySpace and PhotoBucket and even though the sites do not ask how I want to show my pictures or whatever I know that people could still go in and copy or get the link and use my photo or crop it to make it what they want it to be. It seemed scary at first but everyone willing gets on there and uploads their photos. Now, I am not saying what Virgin did was right and it’s obviously not the girl’s fault because she had not idea it was even out there. But the man who posted it, even though he was innocent in posting it, like we all are, I think he should have told Chang. But the phone company on the other hand could have at least credited the counselor with taking the picture and to avoid another suit in the future might want to notify the person in the photo that they are going to use them for their ad.


- International -
Iceland phasing out fossil fuels for clean energy

Summary:
Since 50 years ago Iceland has been slowly decreasing its dependency on fossil fuels for their power. Iceland has so many waterfalls, volcanoes, geysers, etc… they can naturally provide electric power. This method would be clean and cheap and pollution free! The only thing left for the country is the fact that their cars still fun on gasoline. Gasoline in Iceland costs more than $8.00 a gallon because, being an island, country it is so expensive to import. Since decreasing their dependency on fossil fuels Professor Arnason has created an idea to create the world’s first hydrogen economy. His idea was to have cars run in hydrogen. The professor has caught the attention of GM, TOYOTA, and DAIMLERCHRYSLER. The idea converts hydrogen and oxygen into water. The latest test model is the “Mercedes Benz A-class F-cell -- an electric car powered by a DaimlerChrysler fuel cell. Fuel cells generate electricity by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water. And fuel cell technology is clean -- the only by-product is water.”

Opinion:
So pretty much I think that the idea is fantastic. I have always wondered what are some things that the world could do to make a healthier economy for its people? I never expected to see anything like this for awhile but if it really is realistic and works I am for it. People recently have been talking about global warming and the pollution and this could be an answer for some of those things. The only question I have is how much will it cost? Is it more efficient than fossil fuels or does it just make the air cleaner but costs twice as much?


- International -
Prayer in Pyongyang: Activists cast a light on the underground church


Summary:
It is difficult to live in North Korea and have it good there, but Son Jong Nam could. His father was a high ranking officer in the military – paid well and always had food on the table. Then his son, Nam, grew up and became personal security detail to Kim Jung Il. After saying something about Il, Nam’s wife, who maid the comment, was taken in for questioning. In the questioning, the woman, pregnant at the time, was kicked in the stomach, losing her child. Nam took his wife and family and escaped to china. There his wife died. While still in China he turned to a missionary group for help and there he converted to Christianity. He then returned to North Korea, unlike most converts afraid of persecution, and began to spread the word. Nam was found out sentenced to death. Today he sits on death row in Pyongyang, accused of being a spy – just like all the others (Il fearing that all other religions are threatening to him).

Opinion:
I am very proud to be a christian after hearing this man’s story. I have been a christian all my life and raised in a christian family yet this man grew up in a country under dictators and very powerful men yet after being converted he turns his back completely on his former life and risks being killed to spread the news of God. I find it amazing and a great story. I wish I had those kind of guts as a christian because it is hard, I’ll admit it.
On the other hand Kim Jung Il is just a crazy man. I know the man is paranoid and will probably kill anyone who threatens him no matter who they are or what they do or what they look like and that is why I admire Mr. Nam because he could have easily just said yes I am a christian and stayed in China or even returned to North Korea and act like nothing happened but instead he returns to the battle zone and stands firm and does the right thing, and now days we rarely see that anymore, let alone in our own country.