Obama orders 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan

This large U.S Army convoy was near Maidan Shar, Afghanistan, Monday (Associated Press photo).
WASHINGTON — In a rare Sunday meeting with military leaders in the Oval Office, President Obama ordered some 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Obama plans to share this strategy Tuesday in a televised speech. Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asked the president of France to send an extra 1,500. Australia already has 1,550 troops there. -- The New York Times, Nov. 30, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/world/asia/01orders.html?_r=1&hp

Could police have saved the 14-year-old victim?

With the discovery of the 11 dismembered bodies last week, Milwaukee police released the tapes Monday of the 911 emergency calls from three women who tried to get help for one of the victims before his death.
According to the transcript of the 911 calls, police might have saved the 14-year-old Laotian, Konerak Sinthasomphone, had they completely followed through on concerns voiced by Glenda Cleveland and her daughter and niece on May 27 at 2 a.m.
“He’s butt-naked and he has been beaten up. He is very bruised up. He can’t stand,” the niece said to the dispatcher. “He has no clothes on. He is really hurt ... He needs some help.”
When the dispatcher transferred the call to the fire department, the niece repeated her apprehension about the young victim. Then, after the sheriff's office got the call, the police checked out the apartment.
For the reason of insanity, Jeffrey L. Dahmer, 31, confessed to killing 17 people that included the 11 found dead in his rented apartment.
When Dahmer was arrested, he told police about the two officers who had stopped by his apartment two months earlier to investigate the emergency call. However, after the officers left the apartment, Dahmer then killed Sinthasomphone.
As a result, the boy’s remains were part of those found at Dahmer’s residence.
Although unidentified, two officers have been suspended with pay. Although Cleveland was concerned and followed up again with police, their lawyer said the officers did not see anything that would suggest the 14-year-old was in distress.

Can a simple drink make you intelligent?

Since it was the best deal in town, I bought a large bottle of drinking water for $1. Little did I know at the time that I would get a lot more for my money than the 33.8-ounce of water inside the container.
Because I had never tried Glacéau smartwater before, I was pleased when the cashier at Target praised the item. She also let me know that it does a lot more than “hydrate responsibly.”
(Photo courtesy of Glaceau).
The cashier’s story began when her boyfriend recommended that she drink smartwater before she took some big tests. She did just that and surprisingly passed the exams.
“And, another friend who normally doesn’t even pass his tests also drank the water and did well. This was really a big deal for him,” the cashier said.
Unbelievably, I was able to keep a straight face when I admitted that I had never heard of this before. Since I had nothing to offer, I smiled and thanked the Target worker for her good words.
Actually, I appreciated the friendly cashier’s “thumbs up,” I really did. Because the truth is, I can use all the help that I can get when it comes to taking college tests.
Long after I left Target, I could not get the so-called elixir and its possibilities off my mind. Sure, I was skeptical. But, who am I to judge something badly before I even try it? After all, colleges teach students to keep an open mind and think critically.
Therefore, I conducted an online survey to learn if other students had had similar positive experiences with using Glaceau smartwater before tests. Among the 170 students invited by e-mail, 18 participated in the survey.
When students were ask if they had ever tried Glacéau smartwater before, 38.9 percent had tried it and the same percentage had not. Additionally, 16.7 percent drink the water regularly and 5.6 percent did not know if they had ever had it before.
When students were asked if they or their friends had personally consumed smartwater before taking school tests, 5.6 percent said yes. However, 66.7 percent said no and 27.8 percent did not know.
While 11.1 percent said Glaceau smartwater makes you more intelligent, 55.6 percent said no and 5.6 percent did not care. Also, of the 27.8 percent who were unsure, Krista Manuelson said, “Is it smart to drink smartwater? Are you smart for drinking it or smarter for drinking it?”
Thus, overall, results of this survey showed that it might be wiser if learners relied on more than well-regarded water for their academic success. And, although vapor distillation and electrolyte-enhancement might be as good as hydration, scholars interested in improving their test scores and grade point averages might want to take a look at more tried and true methods to become smarter when taking tests.
And, after trying those more reliable academic approaches, if students still want to imbibe on a little wonder water to stay hydrated during a test, then that’s OK. Like one student, Tammy Robertson, said, “People need to stay hydrated while learning. So drink up everybody ... it sure cannot make you dumber.”

Taking time out to relieve stress not easy for students

(Graphic by MCT Campus)
The best way to relieve stress is by exercise like brisk walking or working out at the health center. Still, I've found it hard to keep up regular routines, although exercise really helps my brain.
Another good stress reliever is to just get away from all the homework and tasks to spend time with friends/family. Although I frequently turn down invitations because of school work, my attitude and outlook always improves when I finally say “yes.”
After attending a state college in Texas in the 70s, I returned to school two years ago. Although I should be old enough and smart enough to know better, I’ve taken on unhealthy habits common to college students -- not getting enough sleep, spending too many hours at a computer and desk, eating less healthy food on the run and rarely taking time out for myself -- because there's always so much to do and so little time.
Interestingly, Debbie Tillman, director of Normandale's Office of Student Disabilities, said studies prove that community college students are under more stress than other students. This is because they try to do too much and constantly juggle school, family, work and other commitments.

UC students occupy buildings to protest fee hike

Students gather on the University of California, Berkeley campus Friday (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma).
BERKELEY, Calif. — In protest of a 32 percent increase in student fees, job layoffs and program cuts, students locked up in buildings, blocked exits and gathered outside at different University of California campuses. Campus police arrested more than 50 supporters Thursday and three on Friday. According to regents, fees increased because of the lack of state funding. -- The Associated Press, Nov. 20, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gi_1CaTjFsR3j2QntpKsXZY0sP1gD9C3NLE00

What NCC students wish to see at their school

The new Activities Building at NCC (Photo courtesy of ITS).
Because students continue to talk about the parking problems, it’d be easy to assume that this is the number one campus concern among the student population at Normandale.
But, when it comes to what students want that’s not currently at NCC or how things should be done differently, students have more on their minds than just those same old, same old parking problems.
This came from an unscientific poll set up in November to find out what students want beyond parking spots right by the main entrances. Because of an online Media Writing assignment, 100 NCC students were invited by e-mail to participate in a quick, two-minute survey via metnet.edu.
More than anything, the results of the informal poll suggested that the best way to get to a student’s heart is through their stomachs and wallets. Other opinions ranged from Facebook to faculty, from Farsi to fitness and from four-year degrees to free stuff.
When it came to food and beverages, 26 percent asked for better cafeteria food and more variety, healthier food choices and more Vegan options, “taco bar the same day every week” and “Chipotle in the school! :) I know it’s a long shot!”
Whether students eat or drink in the cafeteria, Java Junction or the new healthy snack bar in the Activities Building, 30 percent of all respondents wanted “cheap, cheaper” and “low, lower.” Students also said:
o “I have to pay around $5 for a salad.”
o “Last week 2 slices of pizza set me back 6 bucks, too expensive.”
o “Maybe offer healthier affordable foods and beverages emphasizing on more affordable because the new snack bar is too expensive for many students.“
o “Lower priced coffee drinks at Java Junction.”
o “Many items are expensive. I paid $4 for a plate of salad yesterday. Items in the lunchroom, bookstore and vending machines are often more expensive than they would be at a gas station, Target or fast food place. I am paying for college myself (with the help of financial aid) and I can't afford to spend that much more money at school.”
NCC students also wanted better hours in the cafeteria and the Java Junction opened without afternoon breaks. Plus, students asked for more vending machines, a “punch card of sorts” and a “more convenient location to buy food instead of having to walk all the way to the back of the school for the cafeteria.”
Regarding the 17 percent concerned about the academic courses, one-half asked for pre-law classes and more honors, music and language classes -- Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Portuguese, etc. -- with an increase in the levels offered for those languages.
The other half wanted to see more than one instructor teach the same course and “more times for the classes offered.”
“I would like at least TWO different teachers teaching the same course. Sometimes there will be only one choice offered with no alternative and that is very limiting to some people.”
“Having more classes offered T/H days. For people who have full-time jobs and schoolwork, it would be more convenient.”
“Offering Math 1050 in the Spring as well Math 1060 in the Fall, due to the need to get it all done, and then you have 150 kids battling for only 2 CLASSES in the spring?? Really frustrating!!!”
“I wish they offered more gym classes at night.”
“Certain classes that I need to take are only available during morning or early afternoon, and I need night classes.”
Although students were pleased about the four-year degrees that can now be earned at NCC, 11 percent wished for more.
“I like that Normandale now offers four-year degrees, however I would like to see more added to that list.”
Of the 8 percent that had to do with computers, 5 percent wanted more available computers and printers with “perhaps a second computer center.” The other 3 percent were unhappy that NCC students use the computers for facebook rather than schoolwork.
“Make it so people can't go to frickin facebook in the computer center. Even if the supervisor says for people to stop using computers for pleasure, no one gets up. They still keep on facebooking.”
“Send the facebook and e-mail kids to the library computer lab if the third-floor lab is full.”
About the faculty, 21 percent wished for more consistent professors and that professors cared more about the students. Students also wanted to see an increase in the amount of instructors using D2L and for their teachers to get back to them faster.
Although parking issues were not at the forefront, 9 percent still brought it up. These students wanted “better,” “closer,” “covered” and “more” parking. One student asked that NCC, “Run the shuttle bus throughout the ENTIRE semester, not just randomly stop mid-January without any warning what so ever.”
Finally yet importantly, one student wanted NCC to take to heart their thoughts about how to encourage students during these tough economic and academic times.
“Free meals, snacks, notebooks, planners or some sort of item. Maybe one item once a semester. Most schools give many things (pizza cutters, key chains, notebooks etc.) to their students. I think that would sort of boost morale, or give a fond reminder to students to carry with them into the future.”
Of the 100 invited to be a part, 20 actually provided answers at the link provided by a free basic survey service, http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ANbo0cWLXO5m3UeNTfzZQQ_3d_3d. There, students were specifically asked, “What would you like to see at Normandale that the college does not currently have or offer?” And, “What would you like to see done differently at Normandale?”
Whether their comments were related to classes, beverages and foods, programs and services or hours, procedures and rules, participants were told that they could list as many things as they’d like.
Although the overall 20 percent student response rate was on the lower end, it fell within the 14 percent to 70 percent reported by the National Survey of Student Engagement. Their findings were the result of a 2003 study where NSSE polled students at 316 colleges and universities.

Man Jailed for ’91 Murder Is Cleared by Judge

Fernando Bermudez at Sing Sing in 2007 (Photo by The New York Times).
According to a Manhattan judge Thursday, a man who has already spent 18 years in prison is innocent.
“I find no credible evidence connects Fernando Bermudez to the homicide of Mr. Blount,” Justice John Cataldo of the State Supreme Court said.
Because of the ruling, Bermudez, 40, may be able to collect compensation from the state of New York. -- The New York Times, Nov. 12, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/nyregion/13freed.html?hp

Traveling to Mazatlan

After our family transferred to the Twin Cities from down south, we soon learned that Minnesotans take trips to warmer and sunnier climates to get through the five-month long winters here. Therefore, after we survived a few Minnesota winters, we followed suit and took our first spring break trip to Mazatlan, Mexico, in 1996.
The friendly and happy people there impressed us. In fact, we’ve made some good friends and try to keep in touch.
Also, we love the variety of fresh fruits and fish and seafood along with the Mexican cuisine of the region. The open-air restaurants by the ocean are calming and soothing.
Our very favorite hotel is Playa de Mazatlan where the service is impeccable. Although the sprawling stucco resort was built in the 50s, it’s often hard to get reservations there because it’s a popular holiday spot for the natives of Mexico.
Naturally, the water on the Pacific coast is not as clear and blue as the Caribbean side. Nevertheless, it still has a beauty of its own and taking walks on those beaches are just as enjoyable.
Because the peso is usually devalued at less than the U.S. dollar, this means that our money goes further south of the border. Thus, travels to Mexico have been good budget choices in vacations for a big family of six.
Interestingly, we have learned that if we want to take a real break, then it’s better to get far away from home. Even then, it takes two or three days to de-stress and wind down once we get there.
So, being gone one week isn’t nearly long enough. I think spending 10 days to two weeks on a warm, sunny beach is much better. Oh, yeah!

Surviving Fort Hood

It’s hard to understand why the U.S. Army doctor allegedly killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30 at Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas, Thursday. But, it’s possible Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan snapped because of all the sufferings of the victims of war the psychiatrist had helped at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
"Warfare has a way of making us into something that we are not," Joseph A. Kinney, a decorated Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War, said.
Because post-traumatic stress syndrome often goes undetected, it can torment a soldier for a lifetime. But, P.T.S.D. support groups have helped, especially when the facilitators are combat veterans, rather than clinicians. --The New York Times, Nov. 6, http://homefires.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/surviving-fort-hood/
Among those killed was Army Spc. Kham Xiong of St. Paul, Minn., while he waited in line at the Soldiers Readiness Processing Center. For five months, Xiong, 23, had prepared to deploy to Afghanistan in January. His brother, Nelson, 18, is a Marine in Afghanistan. Their father from Laos, Chor Xiong, fought the Vietnamese with the CIA in 1972. Xiong, who loved fishing on the St. Croix River, is survived by wife Shoua, three children under five and 10 siblings (AP Photo).
While preparing to deploy to Iraq at the Readiness Center, U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Keara Bono Torkelson, 21, of Otsego, Minn., was shot in the back of the shoulder and scraped her head while on the phone with her husband, Joe Torkelson.

Costumes are biggest part of Halloween's event marketing

Although consumers planned to cut back on spending for Halloween outfits, costume sales still brought in the most revenue -- $2.12 billion -– of the four sales categories that included candy, decorations and greeting cards (MCT Campus photo).

Halloween is a good excuse to dress up in a costume. But, event marketing has made the darkest holiday of the year just another commercial tradition to keep shoppers spending until the Christmas shopping season begins. Thus, during a 10.2 percent jobless rate reported for October, more pressure was put upon people to spend money they most likely didn't have.
In stark contrast, the retail store owners were the ones who laughed all the way to the bank, because they gained the most from Halloween. Halloween sales were expected to break a record and top off at $6 billion in the U.S. This is a 4.2 percent increase from the $5.77 billion spent in 2008, according to Reuters News Service, Oct. 13.
While I've always respected that most people celebrate Halloween because it’s fun, I don’t participate specifically because of its dark past in pagan customs. This is why I took the road less traveled in this blog about Halloween costumes. If you'd like to know more about where Halloween comes from, please read Post #2 that follows this story.

When children and adults go out dressed as ghosts or witches to get a Halloween treat or play a mischievous trick, they innocently re-enact the sacred Celtic ceremony of Samhain, according to French historian, Jean Markale, in “The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year,” August 2001 (MCT Campus photo).