Bronwen Vogel- make up

national:
"Taser parties" are quickly replacing Tupperware parties in many homes. The guns used compressed nitrogen to to fire two barbed darts and come in a variety of colors including metallic pink. The darts can go through clothing and give a 50,000-volt shock, capable of paralyzing a person. Lynne Rigberg of Arizona recently hosted a Taser party in her home and justified the gun by saying "If you know you're going to be in a certain situation where you might be uncomfortable, why not have it with you?" Rigberg said. "It just makes you more confident."

There may be a few specific cases where having a taser gun may be handy, but I doubt many women will get their money out of it. Something capable of completely immobilizing a person seems like it should be reserved for police forces. There will be lawsuits over this in the future, I predict it. I would rely on my cell phone to protect me more than a taser gun. I bet calling 911 and screaming would keep a girl safer, unless you're in a foreign country, then I would go with the gun.

National:
Two students at Southern Illinois University are no longer allowed back after torturing a person with hot cookies. sophomore Jordan Sallis and junior Rosario James are charged with kidnapping, battery, and robbery. Three men went to the home of Rosario James to buy marijuana. Two men tortured a third (the victim's name was not given) wanting money. Later, the victim was able to escape. The University's police chief, Regina Hays, has told the students not to come back.

If they are smoking marijuana, I doubt if they care about school. I am trying to picture someone being tortured with hot cookies, and it is pretty hard to imagine. It sounds less cruel than water boarding (although I am not against that in certain cases) but torturing someone for money is stupid because unless you kill them after getting the cash they are going to tell on you. I hope these guys get a more serious penalty.

International:
former foreign minister of the Khmer Rouge regime,Ieng Sary, was arrested in his home in Cambodia and taken in a ten car convoy to tribunal offices. A spokesman said Sary and his wife were brought to trial because of a warrant issued by the tribunal, but no specifics were given. Sary is one of five men wanted by the tribunal for genocide of some sort; only one other has been arrested.

Didn't this happen a long time ago? In the 1970's? And it was a massive genocide with many people involved. It seems plausible that more arrests ought to be made and those responsible ought to face harsh penalties. Once more information comes out I might blog on this again, but anyone involved in genocide should face the maximum penalty, especially a ruler (or former ruler) in order to set an example and standard. At least Cambodia is bringing this man to justice without the help of another country.

Internatioal:
The industrial part of Stratford in east London is ablaze. An unused warehouse near the spot for the 2012 olympics was the starting point for the blase. Emma Brompton who works near the fire said, "From our production office it's blackened the sky. There are a few sirens going off. It's blackened the sky. All you can see are the plumes of black smoke." Thankfully there have been no injuries and Scotland Yard does not suspect the fire to be terror related.

It seems to be the season for fires for London and California.... London does not seem to have very good luck with flames. I hope it gets under control and London has the resources to control it soon. The best case scenario would be if firemen could continue keeping people safe and save the area that's under construction for the Olympics.