The Risks of Helping Out a Teenager

In the last 15 years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of prescriptions given out to teens and young adults that could also possibly be abused. Even though researchers are aware that just because there’s the possibility of the drugs being abused, it doesn’t always mean they will be. Nevertheless, they’re still looking at cutbacks. Also, they want the doctors to make sure that the benefits and risks of the prescribed drugs is made clear. The most common drugs were medications for pain, injury, and insomnia. Basically, some are feeling doctors are being too loose in giving out these prescriptions. It is believed it would be effective to educate the doctors about overuse of antibiotics.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40419864/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Doing this huge research project on the abuse of prescription drugs seems a little bit tedious to me. Although I did find the increase in doctor visits and prescribed medications interesting, I also thought that it was just some interesting information. The suggestion that there are cutbacks made on prescribing such medications to young adults is just absurd; if a patient needs the medicine, why would you deny them help out of suspicion and statistics. It would make me very angry if my doctor couldn’t give me some useful medication because he suspected I was just another statistic! Also, I’m sure doctors are smart enough to know the effects of drugs on people. Lastly, I think that they can make it as clear as they want to a patient that this drug is very bad if taken recreationally, but that definitely doesn’t mean they’re always going to listen. It’s a personal choice and following a statistic and acting from there seems pretty ridiculous.

Amber Alert!

 On Sunday, police in Morenci, Michigan were searching for three young boys who are said to be in grave danger. Their father, John Skelton, a 39-year old, is currently in a hospital for "mental health issues." The story is a rather odd and very sad one. Skelton was a long-haul truck driver. He also claimed to have an online relationship for a few years now with a woman by the name of Joann Taylor. Skelton was planning to hang himself in his home so he handed the kids over to her to bring to their mother (who is separated from Skelton) because he didn't want them around when he committed suicide. However, the boys have gone missing now and the police are mostly trying to figure out if the said Joann Taylor even exists. As of now, there is no proof of her existence and things are getting hectic. As of Friday, an Amber Alert was issued for the three boys.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40402307/ns/us_news-life/

I think this story is incredibly sad! Well really, who wouldn't? One big red flag that pops up in my mind about this is why the kids are staying with Skelton if he has "mental issues." Did no one know this before or something? Was he normal enough where having the three young boys stay with him didn't worry anyone? Then again, if he's separated from their mother, it doesn't necessarily mean they were married, she could have just gotten up and left one day. Which is also a very sad situation. It's so confusing though that he said he gave the kids to a lady who may not even exist. Well here's red flag number two: Joann Taylor is said to be an online girlfriend...this is very suspicious because how do we even know Joann was a woman? Or especially a nice one? "Joann" could be a friend of Skelton's or even someone he made up! My last red flag here is how he could have someone he's in a relationship with (even if it is an online one) take his kids to their mother because he wants to kill himself! If they'd been in a relationship for so long wouldn't she try stopping him or notifying police or someone?? I just feel like this could mean "Joann" is a little messed up in the head as well. All in all, I just want these boys to be found! And I'm really curious about what happens in regards to investigating Joann Taylor...

Andrew Skelton, age 9
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40402307/ns/us_news-life/)
Alexander Skelton, age 7
(http://www.ctpost.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=448761&width=628&height=471)
Tanner Skelton, age 5   
(http://www.ctpost.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=448759&width=628&height=471)

Airport Security: For your safety, now even more complicated!

A revolt is cooking among fliers angry with the new TSA scanners and extremely thorough body pat downs. The new TSA scanner is so in depth people are almost stipped  naked by the x-ray machine. Although these scans take about half a minute, some people are refusing to fly this Thanksgiving in order to show their disapproval. There are even a couple websites in the spirit: OptOutDay.com and WeWontFly.com. Up until now, Americans have generally been ok with the searches, but now things are getting more personal, more visible, and it's even causing some to miss their flights. One woman, Marcia Miller, won't take her daughter on a plane because she doesn't want her to be scarred by the security experience and even related it to emotional scars after being raped! This mentality is rather extreme compared to others. The majority of people are willing to undergo the security checks (that doesn't mean they're comfortable with it) but nevertheless there is still dispute over whether or not the procedures should be kept as they are.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40242420/ns/travel-news/

The article didn't describe just what the new TSA standards are so I went to their website to find out for myself. It was quite ridiculous because right after reading this article on people who are upset with the full body checks at the airport, I saw a quick glimpse of a headline saying 'Most people ok with TSA full-body scanners.' Everything just seemed so politically correct. I also feel this full "pat down" is ridiculous and I object to these new measures and seeing this websit just made me a little bit more angry. Maybe I'm just out of the loop but I don't know why the terrorist threats are extra high right now. When I flew to D.C. this summer I always saw signs saying the terrorist attack risk was high; so now is it extra high? They won't be able to pull this off for long, people are only going to get more and more angry and more and more people will refuse.


check out these pictures!

A Nightmarish Vacation

An unexpected engine fire onboard a Carnival cruise ship resulted in cutting out the power and leaving the vacationers and staff in the dark for three days, adrift at sea with very limited food supplies and at one point even, no toilets. It was definitely not the idea these people had in mind when they got aboard, expecting a relaxing and rejuvenating trip and ended up in an uncomfortable "adventure." Food lines were hours long and not everyone could get to the ninth floor without the working elevators. At last, they were escorted into San Diego where, needless to say, people were very thankful to see land.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40126918/ns/travel-cruise_travel/

Honestly, it sounds kinda fun to me, to have to live in such a different setting and situation where you make eating Pop Tarts necessary for lack of other food and finding your way among the dark cabins. However, I admit three days would get long and tiresome and, just like the passengers, I would want nothing more than to be on land. It would sure make for a good story though and I would feel pretty cool to say I've been on a broken cruise ship and "lost at sea!" It's lucky though that food was able to be delivered and the situation was manageable and survivable.