'Godmother of Cocaine' Gunned Down in Colombia

'Godmother of Cocaine' Gunned Down in Colombia: Reports - A 69-year-old woman known throughout the drug world as the "Godmother of Cocaine" was gunned down by an assassin on a motorcycle in Colombia Monday, according to international news reports.

Griselda Blanco, once listed alongside Pablo Escobar as one of the "most notorious drug lords of the 1980s" by the Drug Enforcement Administration, was fatally shot as she left a butcher's shop in western Medellin Monday afternoon, according to a report by Univision and El Colombiano. Colombia's El Espectador reported authorities are looking for Blanco's killers and are investigating possible motives for the killing.

 

ABC News - 'Godmother of Cocaine' Gunned Down in Colombia: Reports (ABC News) 

Blanco served nearly 20 years in an American prison on drug trafficking charges and was at one point tied to as many as 40 murders in the U.S., according to a 1997 Senate testimony given by then-director of DEA international operations Michael Horn. Horn said that Blanco ordered a Florida mall shooting in 1979 that left two dead and four injured, and she apparently enjoyed her line of work.

"To foster her reputation as the 'Godmother' of cocaine, [Blanco] named her fourth son Michael Corleone, after the fictional mob character portrayed in the movie 'The Godfather,'" Horn said.

Court documents filed in 1988, three years after Blanco was caught, detail the shadowy, decade-long hunt for the queenpin that involved federal agents chasing false identities and checking Miami hospitals for gunshot wound victims that matched Blanco's description. But she wasn't able to elude them forever and after being captured in 1985 in Irvin, Calif. and serving nearly two decades behind bars in America, Blanco was released from prison and deported back to Colombia in 2004.

The DEA referred all inquiries into Blanco's death to Colombian authorities, telling ABC News, "she served her time here." The Colombian National Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this report. ( ABC News )

READ MORE - 'Godmother of Cocaine' Gunned Down in Colombia

Polite Parents Warn Fellow Passengers About Their Newborns with Candy Gift Bag

Polite Parents Warn Fellow Passengers About Their Newborns with Candy Gift Bag - Almost everyone knows that feeling of dread we get when a person with a crying baby boards our flight. Try doubling that, and watching parents get on with twins. At that very moment, most of us think "'wouldn't it be nice if there were a mute button for life?"' Well, one couple decided to ease the tension and stress of their fellow passengers by being polite while on their flight.

A Reddit user posted a photo from a recent flight with the headline, "'Brilliant and thoughtful parents handed these out to everyone to everyone on my flight."' The image is of a small bag of candies with a message written within. The message reads, "Hello! We're twin baby boys on our first flight, and we're only 14 weeks old. We'll try to be on our best behavior, but we'd like to apologize in advance just in case we lose our cool, get scared, or our ears hurt." The message also offers to earplugs to anyone who requests them, which the parents could provide.

As would be expected, this gesture earned the parents a lot of fans who praised their concern for their fellow passengers. One user on Reddit wrote, "Extra props for somehow finding the space in their carry-ons to fit all of this with whatever materials you may need to console twin infants on a plane ride." Not everyone lauded the parents with applause, suggesting they went overboard, "This is considerate, but aren't we all adults who can understand that babies are prone to bouts of crying?"

The flight itself apparently was not too bad, one passenger commented, "The parents were fantastic, and the kids were better than would be expected. Saw them meeting the dad's parents at baggage, who were seeing babies for the first time, and got a bit teary."

Who knows, maybe the parents' heartfelt gesture will set an example for others and lead to more random acts of kindness.

Reddit User Gigantomachy

Text From the Parents' Note:

Hello! We're twin baby boys on our first flight and we're only 14 weeks old! We'll try to be on our best behavior, but we'd like to apologize in advance just in case we lose our cool, get scared or our ears hurt. Our mom and dad (AKA our portable milk machine and our diaper changer) have ear plugs available if you need them. We are all sitting in 20E and 20F if you want to come by to get a pair. We hope you have a great flight! ( Trending Now )

READ MORE - Polite Parents Warn Fellow Passengers About Their Newborns with Candy Gift Bag

21 Ways Rich People Think Differently

21 Ways Rich People Think Differently - World's richest woman Gina Rinehart is enduring a media firestorm over an article in which she takes the "jealous" middle class to task for "drinking, or smoking and socializing" rather than working to earn their own fortune. 

What if she has a point? 

Steve Siebold, author of "How Rich People Think," spent nearly three decades interviewing millionaires around the world to find out what separates them from everyone else. 

It had little to do with money itself, he told Business Insider. It was about their mentality.

"[The middle class] tells people to be happy with what they have," he said. "And on the whole, most people are steeped in fear when it comes to money."

Flickr / C. Pajunen

1. Average people think MONEY is the root of all evil. Rich people believe POVERTY is the root of all evil.

"The average person has been brainwashed to believe rich people are lucky or dishonest," Siebold writes.

That's why there's a certain shame that comes along with "getting rich" in lower-income communities.

"The world class knows that while having money doesn't guarantee happiness, it does make your life easier and more enjoyable." 

2. Average people think selfishness is a vice. Rich people think selfishness is a virtue.

"The rich go out there and try to make themselves happy. They don't try to pretend to save the world," Siebold told Business Insider. 

The problem is that middle class people see that as a negative––and it's keeping them poor, he writes.

"If you're not taking care of you, you're not in a position to help anyone else. You can't give what you don't have."

Getty Images

3. Average people have a lottery mentality. Rich people have an action mentality.

"While the masses are waiting to pick the right numbers and praying for prosperity, the great ones are solving problems," Siebold writes.

"The hero [middle class people] are waiting for may be God, government, their boss or their spouse. It's the average person's level of thinking that breeds this approach to life and living while the clock keeps ticking away." 

4. Average people think the road to riches is paved with formal education. Rich people believe in acquiring specific knowledge.

"Many world-class performers have little formal education, and have amassed their wealth through the acquisition and subsequent sale of specific knowledge," he writes. 

"Meanwhile, the masses are convinced that master's degrees and doctorates are the way to wealth, mostly because they are trapped in the linear line of thought that holds them back from higher levels of consciousness...The wealthy aren't interested in the means, only the end."

I Love Lucy screencap

5. Average people long for the good old days. Rich people dream of the future.

"Self-made millionaires get rich because they're willing to bet on themselves and project their dreams, goals and ideas into an unknown future," Siebold writes. 

"People who believe their best days are behind them rarely get rich, and often struggle with unhappiness and depression."

6. Average people see money through the eyes of emotion. Rich people think about money logically.

"An ordinarily smart, well-educated and otherwise successful person can be instantly transformed into a fear-based, scarcity driven thinker whose greatest financial aspiration is to retire comfortably," he writes.

"The world class sees money for what it is and what it's not, through the eyes of logic. The great ones know money is a critical tool that presents options and opportunities." 

7. Average people earn money doing things they don't love. Rich people follow their passion.

"To the average person, it looks like the rich are working all the time," Siebold says. "But one of the smartest strategies of the world class is doing what they love and finding a way to get paid for it."

On the other hand, middle class take jobs they don't enjoy "because they need the money and they've been trained in school and conditioned by society to live in a linear thinking world that equates earning money with physical or mental effort." 

8. Average people set low expectations so they're never disappointed. Rich people are up for the challenge.

"Psychologists and other mental health experts often advise people to set low expectations for their life to ensure they are not disappointed," Siebold writes.

"No one would ever strike it rich and live their dreams without huge expectations." 

BarackObamadotcom via YouTube

9. Average people believe you have to DO something to get rich. Rich people believe you have to BE something to get rich.

"That's why people like Donald Trump go from millionaire to nine billion dollars in debt and come back richer than ever," he writes. 

"While the masses are fixated on the doing and the immediate results of their actions, the great ones are learning and growing from every experience, whether it's a success or a failure, knowing their true reward is becoming a human success machine that eventually produces outstanding results."

10. Average people believe you need money to make money. Rich people use other people's money.

Linear thought might tell people to make money in order to earn more, but Siebold says the rich aren't afraid to fund their future from other people's pockets.

"Rich people know not being solvent enough to personally afford something is not relevant. The real question is, 'Is this worth buying, investing in, or pursuing?'" he writes.

11. Average people believe the markets are driven by logic and strategy. Rich people know they're driven by emotion and greed.

Investing successfully in the stock market isn't just about a fancy math formula.

"The rich know that the primary emotions that drive financial markets are fear and greed, and they factor this into all trades and trends they observe," Siebold writes.

"This knowledge of human nature and its overlapping impact on trading give them strategic advantage in building greater wealth through leverage."

12. Average people live beyond their means. Rich people live below theirs.

"Here's how to live below your means and tap into the secret wealthy people have used for centuries: Get rich so you can afford to," he writes. 

"The rich live below their means, not because they're so savvy, but because they make so much money that they can afford to live like royalty while still having a king's ransom socked away for the future." 

richkidsofinstagram.tumblr.com

13. Average people teach their children how to survive. Rich people teach their kids to get rich.

Rich parents teach their kids from an early age about the world of "haves" and "have-nots," Siebold says. Even he admits many people have argued that he's supporting the idea of elitism. 

He disagrees.

"[People] say parents are teaching their kids to look down on the masses because they're poor. This isn't true," he writes. "What they're teaching their kids is to see the world through the eyes of objective reality––the way society really is." 

If children understand wealth early on, they'll be more likely to strive for it later in life.

14. Average people let money stress them out. Rich people find peace of mind in wealth.

The reason wealthy people earn more wealth is that they're not afraid to admit that money can solve most problems, Siebold says.

"[The middle class] sees money as a never-ending necessary evil that must be endured as part of life. The world class sees money as the great liberator, and with enough of it, they are able to purchase financial peace of mind."

Kim Bhasin / Business Insider

15. Average people would rather be entertained than educated. Rich people would rather be educated than entertained.

While the rich don't put much stock in furthering wealth through formal education, they appreciate the power of learning long after college is over, Siebold says.

"Walk into a wealthy person's home and one of the first things you'll see is an extensive library of books they've used to educate themselves on how to become more successful," he writes.

"The middle class reads novels, tabloids and entertainment magazines." 

16. Average people think rich people are snobs. Rich people just want to surround themselves with like-minded people.

The negative money mentality poisoning the middle class is what keeps the rich hanging out with the rich, he says.

"[Rich people] can't afford the messages of doom and gloom," he writes. "This is often misinterpreted by the masses as snobbery.

Labeling the world class as snobs is another way the middle class finds to feel better bout themselves and their chosen path of mediocrity."

Flickr / Wei Tchou

17. Average people focus on saving. Rich people focus on earning.

Siebold theorizes that the wealthy focus on what they'll gain by taking risks, rather than how to save what they have.

"The masses are so focused on clipping coupons and living frugally they miss major opportunities," he writes.

"Even in the midst of a cash flow crisis, the rich reject the nickle and dime thinking of the masses. They are the masters of focusing their mental energy where it belongs: on the big money." 

18. Average people play it safe with money. Rich people know when to take risks.

"Leverage is the watchword of the rich," Siebold writes. 

"Every investor loses money on occasion, but the world class knows no matter what happens, they will aways be able to earn more." 

Flickr / Ibrahim Iujaz

19. Average people love to be comfortable. Rich people find comfort in uncertainty.

For the most part, it takes guts to take the risks necessary to make it as a millionaire––a challenge most middle class thinkers aren't comfortable living with.

"Physical, psychological, and emotional comfort is the primary goal of the middle class mindset," Siebold writes.

World class thinkers learn early on that becoming a millionaire isn't easy and the need for comfort can be devastating. They learn to be comfortable while operating in a state of ongoing uncertainty."

20. Average people never make the connection between money and health. Rich people know money can save your life.

While the middle class squabbles over the virtues of Obamacare and their company's health plan, the super wealthy are enrolled in a super elite "boutique medical care" association, Siebold says.

"They pay a substantial yearly membership fee that guarantees them 24-hour access to a private physician who only serves a small group of members," he writes.

"Some wealthy neighborhoods have implemented this strategy and even require the physician to live in the neighborhood."

Getty Images

21. Average people believe they must choose between a great family and being rich. Rich people know you can have it all.

The idea the wealth must come at the expense of family time is nothing but a "cop-out", Siebold says.

"The masses have been brainwashed to believe it's an either/or equation," he writes. "The rich know you can have anything you want if you approach the challenge with a mindset rooted in love and abundance." ( Business Insider )

READ MORE - 21 Ways Rich People Think Differently

Torch relay's Nazi origins aren't widely known

Nazi soldiers line up during the Opening Ceremony in Berlin on Aug. 1, 1936. (AP)

Torch relay's Nazi origins aren't widely known – When the most famous flame in sports winds its way through the streets of London before entering the Olympic Stadium and providing the 2012 Games with one of its most iconic images, it will be seen as a touching gesture of symbolism, grace and a nod to the ancient world.

Yet while the torch relay began once again at the historic site of Olympia on May 10 and is an integral part of any Games, its modern incarnation comes laced with sinister undertones that can be traced back to Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party and the controversial 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Many of those witnessing the final journey of the flame July 27 will have little idea that its origins do not lie in ancient Greece, and was instead formulated as a major part of the Nazis' plot to shift international opinion in their favor.

"There had been no such torch relays in the ancient Games or, for that matter, in any of the 10 modern Summer Olympics preceding the Berlin Games," wrote renowned author David Clay Large in his outstanding book, "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936," which was published in 2007. "The torch relay was one of but many ways in which the Nazi Games helped define the modern Olympic experience as we know it today."

The torch relay would play a major role in the propaganda offensive backed by Hitler and orchestrated by Dr. Joseph Goebbels. In the lead-up to the Games, the Nazi Propaganda Ministry supported a relay of the Olympic flame that would not only provide spectacular footage for Olympia, the 1938 film that was used to promote the Nazi ideal ahead of World War II, but could also be used for significant political and public relations benefit.

The ancient Greeks had run relay races that involved flames as part of their worship to the Gods, but there had been no such symbolism in the modern Games. There had been a flame at Amsterdam in 1928 and Los Angeles in 1932, but it did not come from Olympia and there was no relay.

Yet ahead of Berlin, the Nazis wasted no opportunity to ensure the flame's journey was used to promote the party ethos. At the lighting ceremony in Greece, a German ambassador dedicated the torch to Hitler himself, while a band played the marching song of the Sturmabteilung, the Nazi Party army, according to Large.

"The Nazis used the Olympics to give the German public an exaggerated sense of national superiority that later was used in the service of military aggression," said Dr. Rafael Medoff, director of Holocaust Studies at the David S. Wyman Institute in Washington D.C. "The games also gave Hitler a way to soften his public image in order to allay the international community's concerns about his bigotry, violence and militarism."

Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda chief, carefully orchestrated coverage of the torch's journey toward Berlin, which stretched through the Sudetenland, the region of Western Czechoslovakia that Germany wished to, and eventually would, annex.

Organization of the relay was left to Carl Diem, a leading German sports administrator and chief organizer of the Berlin Games who willed his extraordinary collection of memorabilia to a trust when he died in 1962. Yet Diem himself had a mixed past. He was a strong administrator and promoter of sports, and was not a Party member. Indeed, his wife's Jewish heritage led to him being regarded with suspicion by some Nazi higher-ups.

However, toward the end of the war he gave an impassioned speech exhorting young German soldiers to fight until the death even as the full force of the Allied machine closed in.

Walter Borgers, director of the Carl and Lies Diem Archive, spoke of Diem's passionate belief in the torch relay.

"He saw this as his life's work," Borgers said. "He decided to make the relay part of the ceremony. It was the best advertising campaign of all time."

Diem and film director Leni Riefenstahl created much of the vision, but it was wholeheartedly embraced by Hitler and the Nazis. On the last part of the relay through Germany, only blue-eyed blond males were selected and the torch led Hitler and other senior party members into the Olympic stadium.

The imagery was powerful and the PR spin was, sadly, effective in persuading many observers that the Nazi regime was strong, but not brutal.

"To a significant extent, these Nazi deceptions worked," Medoff said. "The New York Times reported to its readers that the Germans displayed 'good will' and 'flawless hospitality.' The Associated Press predicted that the games would help 'assure peace' in Europe."

The truth of course, was very different and within three years the entire continent was at war. Yet when hostilities finally ceased and the Games restarted in London in 1948, the torch relay was considered an element worth keeping.

Over the past 10 weeks, about 8,000 people will have carried the torch through 1,019 cities, towns and villages en route to London. How many know of the relay's murky origin is anyone's guess. ( Yahoo! Sports )

Blog : Beautiful Scene | Torch relay's Nazi origins aren't widely known

READ MORE - Torch relay's Nazi origins aren't widely known

Easter Island’s statues may have been ‘walked’ to their location

Easter Island’s statues may have been ‘walked’ to their location - Were the giant statues on Easter Island actually "walked" to their final resting spots?

Researchers have unveiled a new theory that may redefine the historical understanding of how natives on Easter Island transported the iconic moai statues.

Writing in July's issue of National Geographic magazine, California State University at Long Beach archeologist Carl Lipo and Hawaii anthropologist Terry Hunt postulate that Polynesian natives used a system of ropes and manpower to walk the statues across the island.

Researchers "walk" a replica of Easter Island's famous statues (Sheela Sharma/National Geographic)

"A lot of what people think they know about the island turns out to be not true," Lipo says.

Using the ropes, islanders would stand on each side of the statues, swaying them back and forth to create the walking effect.

Popular theory has held that the islanders created sled-like devices out of the island's trees to cart the statues. That theory also claims that deforestation from the island's inhabitants as part of the statue transporting process was directly tied to the population's eventual downfall.

Instead, Lipo and Hunt say the island's population was actually sustainable and instead fell victim to disease when European explorers first visited the island. In fact, Lipo said the cooperative effort involved in his transportation theory might have led to a more harmonious existence amongst Easter Island's inhabitants.

"You're actually putting a lot of your effort into the process of moving a statue rather than fighting," Lipo said. "Moving the moai was a little bit like playing a football game."

Jared Diamond, proponent of the sled transportation and subsequent deforestation theory, has disputed the new theory.

"This seems an implausible recipe for disaster," Diamond wrote in a post titled "The Myths of Easter Island" on Mark Lynas' blog. "Imagine it yourself: If you were told to transport a 90-ton statue 33 feet high over a dirt road, why would you risk tipping and breaking it by transporting it vertically with all its weight concentrated on its small base, rather than avoiding the risk of tipping by laying it flat and distributing its weight over its entire length?"

To counter Diamond's criticism, Lipo and Hunt attempted to recreate the walking method. They built a 5-ton moai replica (much smaller than the 90-ton Easter Island versions) and found the method worked quite well. And Hunt tells MSNBC that the theory applies to the larger statues as well.
"With the physics of the taller statue, you have greater leverage," he said. "It almost gets to the point where you would have to do it that way."

Blog : Beautiful Scene | Easter Island’s statues may have been ‘walked’ to their location

READ MORE - Easter Island’s statues may have been ‘walked’ to their location

‘Kebaya’ honored at city fashion event

‘Kebaya’ honored at city fashion event - Around 159 fashion designers will showcase their stylish collections at the city’s biggest fashion event, the Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2010/2011, which opened Saturday at the Pacific Place shopping center in South Jakarta under the theme “Styling Modernity”.

This event, organized by media group Femina, was opened with a show titled “A Tribute to Kebaya”, which featured the beauty of kebaya (traditional Indonesian blouse-dress combination) from noted local designers such as Anne Avantie, Ari Seputra, Edward Hutabarat, Harry Darsono, Lenny Agustin, Musa Widyatmojo, Priyo Oktaviano, Raden Sirait, Ramli and Suzy Lucon.

On the catwalk: Four models display the kebaya during a “Tribute to Kebaya” fashion show at the opening of Jakarta Fashion Week in Jakarta on Saturday. JP/Nurhayati

Designers participating in the JFW event include several from the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association (APPMI) and the Indonesian Fashion Designers Council (IPMI), as well as other independent designers.

APPMI, for instance, will stage six shows with 30 fashion brands, while 10 designers from IPMI will also display their collections.

Sebastian Gunawan is scheduled to bring fun and joy on Sunday through his very own children’s clothing line, Bubble Girl.

This year’s fashion week, which runs until Nov. 21, will also feature a special show from independent designer Ghea Panggabean, celebrating her 30-year journey in fashion.

Not only showcasing local labels and designers, the JFW also always features the creative works of international fashion stylists.

This year, local designer Oscar Lawalata will show his latest creations, made from traditional textiles in collaboration with the UK’s Laura Miles, in a segment titled “Weaving the Future”. ( .thejakartapost.com )

READ MORE - ‘Kebaya’ honored at city fashion event

4-Year-Old Can Be Sued, Judge Rules in Bike Case

4-Year-Old Can Be Sued, Judge Rules in Bike Case - Citing cases dating back as far as 1928, a judge has ruled that a young girl accused of running down an elderly woman while racing a bicycle with training wheels on a Manhattan sidewalk two years ago can be sued for negligence.

The ruling by the judge, Justice Paul Wooten of State Supreme Court in Manhattan, did not find that the girl was liable, but merely permitted a lawsuit brought against her, another boy and their parents to move forward.

The suit that Justice Wooten allowed to proceed claims that in April 2009, Juliet Breitman, 4, and Jacob Kohn, 5, were racing their bicycles, under the supervision of their mothers, Dana Breitman and Rachel Kohn, on the sidewalk of a building on East 52nd Street. At some point in the race, they struck an 87-year-old woman named Claire Menagh, who was walking in front of the building and, according to the complaint, was “seriously and severely injured,” suffering a hip fracture that required surgery. She died three months later of unrelated causes.

Her estate sued the children and their mothers, claiming they had acted negligently during the accident. In a response, Juliet’s lawyer, James P. Tyrie, argued that the girl was not “engaged in an adult activity” at the time of the accident — “She was riding her bicycle with training wheels under the supervision of her mother” — and was too young to be held liable for negligence.

In legal papers, Mr. Tyrie added, “Courts have held that an infant under the age of 4 is conclusively presumed to be incapable of negligence.” (Rachel and Jacob Kohn did not seek to dismiss the case against them.)

But Justice Wooten declined to stretch that rule to children over 4. On Oct. 1, he rejected a motion to dismiss the case because of Juliet’s age, noting that she was three months shy of turning 5 when Ms. Menagh was struck, and thus old enough to be sued.

Mr. Tyrie “correctly notes that infants under the age of 4 are conclusively presumed incapable of negligence,” Justice Wooten wrote in his decision, referring to the 1928 case. “Juliet Breitman, however, was over the age of 4 at the time of the subject incident. For infants above the age of 4, there is no bright-line rule.”

The New York Law Journal reported the decision on Thursday.

Mr. Tyrie had also argued that Juliet should not be held liable because her mother was present; Justice Wooten disagreed.

“A parent’s presence alone does not give a reasonable child carte blanche to engage in risky behavior such as running across a street,” the judge wrote. He added that any “reasonably prudent child,” who presumably has been told to look both ways before crossing a street, should know that dashing out without looking is dangerous, with or without a parent there. The crucial factor is whether the parent encourages the risky behavior; if so, the child should not be held accountable.

In Ms. Menagh’s case, however, there was nothing to indicate that Juliet’s mother “had any active role in the alleged incident, only that the mother was ‘supervising,’ a term that is too vague to hold meaning here,” he wrote. He concluded that there was no evidence of Juliet’s “lack of intelligence or maturity” or anything to “indicate that another child of similar age and capacity under the circumstances could not have reasonably appreciated the danger of riding a bicycle into an elderly woman.” ( nytimes.com )

READ MORE - 4-Year-Old Can Be Sued, Judge Rules in Bike Case

Dharun Ravi And Molly Wei Charged In Connection of Tyler Clementi Suicide

Dharun Ravi And Molly Wei Charged In Connection of Tyler Clementi Suicide - Dharun Ravi, 18-years-old of Plainsboro, New Jersey and his friend Molly Wei, 18-years-old of Princeton, New Jersey, two students of Rutgers University, have been charged in the suicide case of Tyler Clementi. Tyler Clementi, 18-years-old, committed suicide on 23rd September, 2010 by jumping off the George Washington bridge. Tyler’s car was found nearby with his cell phone and computer in it. The reason behind this suicide is streamed video of a classmate’s gay sexual encounter which is put on the Internet.

Dharun and Molly are facing two counts, one of invasion of privacy, by placing a video camera in the deceased’s room, and second for transmitting live images of the sexual activity done by Tyler. Dharun and Molly would be facing five years of imprisonment, if they are convicted of these charges. The sexual tape of Tyler was displayed on the Internet via Twitter account Dharun Ravi. Dharun Ravi told about their roommate’s sex. In his tweets, his partner had requested privacy for the evening and Dharun Ravi secretly created a camera in the room, and when he left Clementi alone in the room, he walked into the room Molly Wei and watched what was happening in his room.

Through a statement issued by a lawyer, his family confirmed Clementi had committed suicide. “Tyler was a fine young man and a distinguished musician. The family is heartbroken beyond words. They respectfully request that they be given time to grieve their great loss and that their privacy at this painful time be respected by all,” the Clementi family said. “The family and their representatives are cooperating fully with the ongoing criminal investigations of two Rutgers University students,” the statement said.

Two students were alleged with criminal’s fourth-degree crimes, which are applicable to the collection and / or viewing images depicting nudity or sexual content of a person without that person’s consent. If the images are transmitted or distributed, it becomes a third degree crime. Both Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei surrendered to police Rutgers University. On 27 September, 2010 Wei was released on bail and on 28th September, 2010 Ravi was released on bail of $ 25 000.

On 19th September, 2010 the first incident happened when Ravi set up a web cam in the room to capture Clementi and his partner after Clementi asked to have the room alone for a few hours, according to investigators. “Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly’s room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay,” Ravi said on his Twitter page in a September 19 entry posted at 6:17 p.m., according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of the gay rights group Garden State Equality, said in a statement Wednesday that his group considers Clementi’s death a hate crime. Goldstein said, “We are sickened that anyone in our society, such as the students allegedly responsible for making the surreptitious video, might consider destroying others’ lives as a sport”. ( today24news.com )

READ MORE - Dharun Ravi And Molly Wei Charged In Connection of Tyler Clementi Suicide

Proposals Gone Seriously Wrong

Proposals Gone Seriously Wrong.These eight stories prove that the pop-the-question process doesn't always go smoothly. Plus, tips on how to get the proposal you're hoping for.

Proposals Gone Seriously Wrong

Ring Around the ... Ow!

"I was ecstatic when my boyfriend of three years proposed. He took me out to dinner, and the actual proposal was really emotional and touching. Even better: He invested in a serious rock for me. When he went to slip it on my finger, it was a little small, but I was so excited that I forced it on. Within an hour, my finger had swollen to twice its normal size, and the ring wouldn't come off. When my finger turned blue, my fiancé dragged me to the emergency room. The doctor took one look and said he would have to cut off the ring. I cried the entire time. Luckily, we were able to get a bigger band for the diamond the following week." — Samantha, 27

Lovesick

"I love my girlfriend and knew she was The One. But for some reason, I got nervous whenever I thought of asking her. Finally, I decided to put my fears aside and just do it. One night, I asked her to go on a walk with me, and then I got down on one knee. I blurted out the question, and she said yes and started crying. All the emotion and nervousness got the best of me because as she was jumping up and down, I bent over and threw up. We have been married for a year and can laugh about it now, but it was a sore subject for quite some time." — Eddie, 29

Alternate Plans

"I wanted to ask my girl to marry me at 12:01 a.m. on her birthday. Weeks in advance, I let her sister, Lisa, know my plan and told her to expect an excited phone call shortly after I popped the question. The day before my girlfriend's birthday, I went to pick up the ring from the jeweler. I was bummed when they told me it wasn't ready yet and decided to postpone asking her. That night, she and I still went out, and when I went to the bathroom, my girlfriend happened to call her sister, who picked up and screamed 'Congrats, bride-to-be!' I had forgotten to fill Lisa in on the change of plans, and the surprise was totally ruined." — Tim, 32

Gold Digger

"My guy and I had been dating for about a year when we decided to go on a vacation to Mexico together. After a romantic dinner on our last night there, we took a stroll on the beach. I was thinking about how much fun we were having when I looked down and saw that he was holding a ring in front of me. We hadn't been together for very long, and I was so shocked that I screamed, causing him to jump and drop the ring. When he went to get it, it was buried in the sand. We spent 10 minutes digging it up before I could say yes." — Elise, 30

A Rocky Proposal

"My boyfriend took me to New York City for the weekend and scheduled all these romantic events, like a carriage ride in Central Park, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, and a really fancy dinner at a nice restaurant. I thought for sure he was going to ask me to marry him because we had been talking about it for a while. So when he hadn't asked by the end of the weekend, I got really pouty and picked a fight about whether he was serious about us. He tried to calm me down with his usual 'I'm certain you're The One; I just want the time to be right,' but I was so mad that I started packing so I could go to the airport and leave early. He finally had to tell me that he'd planned to ask me that night after a Broadway show. I didn't believe him until he pulled a ring box out of his suitcase. Unfortunately, my bullying had totally destroyed the moment." — Tricia, 24

Surprise Strikeout

"I am a huge baseball fan, and my girlfriend, Sarah, became one too. When I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, I knew just how to ask her. I got tickets to a game, called the field, and paid to have 'Sarah, marry me' flashed across the jumbo screen. I was told that the announcement would be shown between the fourth and fifth innings. So when Sarah got up to go to the bathroom after the third inning, I thought it wouldn't be a big deal. As I was sitting there by myself, the announcement flashed on the screen, and a camera pointed directly at our seats. The entire stadium saw me sitting there alone. Sarah came back a few minutes later, but by that time, the moment was long over. I asked her anyway, but it wasn't quite the surprise I had hoped for." — Jonathan, 28

Indecent Proposal

"My boyfriend called and told me to meet him at his place for a date. I was running late, so I decided just to go over first and then get ready — I leave plenty of makeup and clothes there. I drove over in pajama pants, with my hair in a ponytail, and wearing no makeup. When I walked in, my entire family was standing there, and my guy was on one knee. Flashes started going off as my two sisters began taking pictures. All I could think about was how terrible I looked for one of the most important moments of my life. I was so embarrassed that I actually started crying. Thankfully, everyone thought it was because I was happy." — Erin, 23

In the Doghouse

"Tanya, my girlfriend, really wanted to get a puppy, but I told her I didn't think we were ready for that responsibility. About a year later, I knew I was ready for our relationship to go to the next level, so I planned a sweet surprise for her. I picked out the perfect ring, then found a breeder and bought a baby golden retriever. One day, when Tanya wasn't home, I brought the dog there and tied the ring around its neck with a thick pink ribbon. I figured that she would come home, the puppy would run up to her, and she'd find the diamond. Well, she got home, found the puppy, and was thrilled ... but when I told her to look around its neck, nothing was there. Somehow, when I wasn't looking, the dog had pawed the ribbon off its neck. We had to ransack the entire house to find the ring." — Mike, 31

Four Tips for Getting the Proposal You Want

1. Keep All Love Expectations Real

High hopes in any romantic situation are normal, but there's no need to freak if things don't go as fantasized.

2. Enlist Your Friends

Ask a pal to let you know when you're overreacting. Sometimes friends think you want them to humor your unrealistic complaints. And don't judge your guy based on what your friends' boyfriends do. It is not fair to him (those guys have flaws too!) and will only make you miserable.

3. Focus on the Good

He showed up with two dozen tulips, totally spacing that you love pink gerbera daisies? Thank him for remembering that you love flowers, and concentrate on how lucky you are to have a man who tried. Dwelling on what you didn't get only encourages you to find fault.

4. Drop Hints

Your guy can't read your mind, so if you have your heart set on something specific, give him a heads-up with a line like "You know, it's our anniversary next week, and I've been wanting to try that cute new bistro." It's not nagging — it's making his life easier and improving your experience. — Molly Creeden ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Proposals Gone Seriously Wrong

Instant calmers

Instant calmers. Ten healthy ways to relax, be calm and soothe those frazzled nerves...

Kava Kava:

A pungent herb used for centuries by islanders in the South Pacific to soothe frayed nerves. It has been proved as effective as mainstream tranquillisers such as Valium in relaxing both muscles and emotions. A member of the pepper family, kava kava has no sedative side-effects and is said to sharpen concentration and memory. It is available as a tincture, tea or in tablet form.

Milk:

During the day or before bed, calm down with a glass of milk. Milk releases the amino acid trypto-phan, necessary for the formation of serotonin. And raising the level of serotonin in the brain has a soothing and tranquillising effect on the body, increasing your sense of wellbeing. Don't drink your milk with a protein-rich food such as meat or chicken, though, because the amino acids in these foods compete with the tryptophan to get to the brain first, so interrupting the effective production of serotonin.

Camomile:

The white petalled flowers of the camomile plant are often used in infusions to calm nervous tension and aid sleep.

A gentle but effective relaxant that does not interfere with concentration, camomile is also beneficial against stress-related stomach upsets and can safely be given to hyperactive children.

Ginseng:

Siberian ginseng has been proved to stave off tiredness and strengthen the body's ability to deal with stresses of all sorts. It is an adaptogen, which means it helps the body adapt to stressful situations by stimulating the endocrine glands, including the adrenal gland, and keeping the body in harmony. Its beneficial effects appear to be cumulative and remain with you long after you stop taking the herb.

Valerian:

The herb valerian is often used in the treatment of digestive disorders, but its use as a nerve and brain tonic is also well documented. Traditionally believed to restore straight thinking and memory, valerian is the preferred choice of many herbalists for the management of stress and nervous exhaustion. If you have insomnia, it is best taken, like camomile, an hour before bed.

Bananas:

The old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away can also be applied to bananas. Eating bananas can rid the body of anxiety and aid restful sleep. During times of tension, stress hormones drain magnesium from the body's cells, weakening the immune system and increasing feelings of tiredness. Researchers have discovered that eating magnesium-rich foods, such as bananas, provides a boost to flagging energy levels.

Zinc:

If you are restless and agitated, irritable and jumpy at the slightest noise, or even if you have a nervous twitch, then you may have a deficiency of zinc. An essential trace element for normal growth, zinc replacement is often prescribed by homeopaths to relieve mental and physical exhaustion. If you prefer not to take a supplement, eat plenty of shellfish, nuts and seeds.

Passion flower:

More potent than camomile, passion flower counters a hyperactive mind. If you can't sit still or your mind is full of things you have to do tomorrow, then this remedy is for you. Its sedative properties will promote relaxation and sleep. Taken during the day, its effect will not disrupt concentration or make you drowsy.

Vitamin B:

A full spectrum vitamin B complex can help if you are suffering from low energy levels. Found in greater quantities in foods such as brewer's yeast, wheat germ and liver, vitamin B complex is vital for processing the energy transfer from food to fuel. The greater the stress, the higher the demand.

Calming foods:

Complex carbohydrates such as cereals, wholemeal bread, pasta and potatoes will keep blood sugar levels stable throughout the day, and level out the peaks and troughs of mood swings caused by too little starch or too much sugary food. Mushrooms are good, too. They are full of vitamin B12 and zinc, important in helping to combat anxiety, stress, depression and fatigue. ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - Instant calmers

Cause of death in South Africa

Cause of death in South Africa. Although HIV/Aids is gaining acceptance as a cause of death in South Africa, the leading causes are tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia, according to a report released by the South African Institute for Race Relations on Tuesday.

"This should not be taken to mean that HIV/Aids was not a direct contributor to a very large proportion of observed mortality, but rather it should be noted that these statistics track, for the most part, direct causes of death," the researchers said.

Close to 70% of all people diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa were also HIV-positive, the report found. There were 353,879 TB cases in 2007 compared with 73,917 in 1995.

"It is thus reasonable to assume that at least 70% of observed mortality from tuberculosis, and by extension a comparable percentage of deaths from influenza/pneumonia, also has HIV/Aids as an underlying cause," the report noted.

Aids-related infections

A person did not die from HIV/Aids directly, as it was a syndrome which caused immune system deficiency.

"Rather, mortality from Aids-related infections will be observed," the researchers said.

"It is possible that a person who is immuno-compromised enough to be classified as having reached 'full-blown' Aids would succumb to a great many infections that a person with a healthy immune system would never suffer from."

This meant that people infected with HIV/Aids could die from a vast range of secondary infections.

"It is impossible to say with certainty how much mortality is directly attributable to HIV/Aids, although the Actuarial Society of South Africa estimates that by 2009 some 2.9 million people will have died from HIV/Aids-related disease in South Africa," according to the South Africa Survey 2008/9.

It records 382,521 HIV/Aids related deaths for 2009. The report found that the "actual" figure of people living with HIV/Aids was 5,728,711, or 11.7% of the population.

Death by race

Researchers said that when analysing causes of death by race, a very clear pattern of mortality emerged for each different race group.

For Africans, the leading causes of death were TB and influenza/pneumonia - the diseases most closely associated with HIV/Aids-related mortality.

Coloureds were likely to die of TB, but also suffered from cerebrovascular disease and diabetes; Indians were most likely to die of diabetes or heart disease; and whites were most likely to die of heart disease.

"These causes of death are closely related to socio-economic status."

There had also been an unprecedented spike in deaths between the ages of 25 and 45, but antiretroviral treatment seemed to be having a positive effect. The researchers estimated that there were 497,756 new infections in 2009.

Other statistics the report identified were:

• An increase in the deaths of children up to the age of four from 32,468 in 1997, to 63,596 in 2006.
• A decline in malnutrition of children up to the age of six from 25% in 2001, to 5.7 percent in 2006.

  The report found that there were five recorded malaria deaths in 1971, but this spiked to 459 in 2000 and declined to 48 in 2007.

  It also found that there were 81,900 terminations of pregnancy in 2007.

  Researchers projected life expectancy for people born in 2008 as 50,5 years.
  

( Sapa, November 2009 / health24.com )

READ MORE - Cause of death in South Africa

Healthy workers work hard

Healthy workers work hard. "A healthy workforce is a productive workforce" is a concept embraced by modern day business minds. It implicates that the more companies put into their workforce, the more they will get out."

Dr Glen Hagemann from Energi, a company specialising in workplace wellness, has conducted local research and reviewed various studies related to health in the workplace and has made some astonishing findings.

His review entitled The Total Value of Corporate Health explains the basic logic behind a healthy workforce. "If you improve the health of employees, their quality of life improves. Therefore health care claims are reduced, disability is controlled, and productivity is enhanced. Thus having a positive impact on the bottom line," his report reads.

Preventable illness (i.e. diseases that could have been avoided by adopting a healthy lifestyle) is responsible for 40 to 65 percent of illnesses and their associated costs, reads Hagemann's report. "Modifiable health risk (MHR) factors are precursors to many diseases and premature death … and MHR can be improved through effective health management programmes," says Hagemann. "Improvements of the health risk profile of an employee population can lead to reductions in health-related costs and improvement in productivity."

"South African companies are addressing the health issues of their workforce, however, in some cases they're focussing on one risk while neglecting others," says Hagemann. He argues that HIV/Aids is a serious threat to productivity and indirectly to the country's economy. Therefore, justifiably, most health efforts are aimed towards fighting HIV/Aids. "However, HIV/Aids mostly affect the younger component of the workforce (25 to 40 year olds), while non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, etc. are risk factors among the more experienced senior workforce."

He highlights six key factors implicating employee health:

1. The effect of chronic disease on workers

Seven of the 15 top causes of death among South Africans are largely due to preventable diseases. These include HIV/Aids, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

• The effects of chronic disease on workers
  To illustrate this point Hagemann used rates among South African males according to age distribution. According to the South African National Burden of Disease study conducted in 2000, the death rates among the workforce (25 to 55 year olds) were particularly higher than among the rest of the population. And the two main causes of death among this group were HIV/Aids and non-communicable disease, i.e. mostly diseases that could have been prevented by lifestyle modification.

• Non-communicable disease (NCD) in South Africa
  In 2002, the Medical Research Counsel (MRC) found that 41 percent of mortality in South Africa is due to NCDs, and the figures are ever-increasing. In 1996, 487 people died per day due to NCDs. This figure rose to 536 in 2001, and is estimated to rise up to 563 by 2010.

  "Many of these deaths occur in the middle-aged and senior members of the workforce," says Hagemann, therefore having a substantial effect on the country's productivity and economy.

• Burden of NCDs in South Africa
  The MRC also reported that approximately 6 million South Africans suffer from hypertension, 4 million have diabetes, 7 million are smokers and 4 million have hyperlipidaemia.

  "Approximately 56 percent of the population are reported to have at least one of these risk factors and about 20 percent are at high risk for NCD," says Hagemann.

2. High-risk employees are high cost

The following monetary value has been calculated as the annual healthcare claims cost for certain health risk factors (regardless of whether or not a patient is on treatment):

• Depression risk – R1763
• Elevated cholesterol – R1171
• Stress – R881
• Body mass index (BMI) – R748
• Glucose levels – R558
• Blood pressure – R354
• Alcohol – R329

As the level of these risk factors increase, for example, elevating blood pressure levels, the cost of medical claims also increase.

3. Absenteeism

Health risk factors also impact on the amount of sick leave taken by the employee, ultimately leading to lower productivity output of the company.

• Annually a person with an elevated BMI costs the company 49 percent more in direct costs associated with paid time off (PTO) than a normal weight person.
• An employee at risk for depression takes an estimated 5.7 days sick leave due to this condition, costing the company 65 percent more in PTO payroll costs than a person that’s not depressed.
• High stress levels leads to an average of 4.2 sick days every year, costing the company 98 percent more in PTO payroll costs than a person with normal stress levels.
• An employee with elevated cholesterol levels will take an average of 6.8 days of sick leave due to this condition, costing the company 66 percent more in PTO payroll costs than a person not at risk.

4. Presenteeism – the hidden enemy

Presenteeism is when an employee is present, but unproductive because of ill health. This condition also has a great effect on an employee's work output. Direct costs can be measured for medical and pharmacy claims, absenteeism, workmen’s compensation and long an short term disability. However the indirect cost of presenteeism is more difficult to measure and can be termed the “hidden enemy” as companies do not know the extent of this.

According to an American study, the following diseases are believed to cause an astonishing amount of unproductive work hours per day:

• Heart disease – 4.3 hours/day
• Respiratory infection – 4.1 hours/day
• Diabetes – 4 hours/day
• Blood pressure – 3.4 hours/day
• Migraine – 3.4 hours/day
• Arthritis – 3.2 hours/day
• Allergies – 2.8 hours/day
• Stress – 2.3 hours/day
• Depression – 2.2 hours/day
• Anxiety – 2.2 hours/day

The annual cost of presenteeism (calculated according to disease), according to another US study, are as follows:

• Hypertension - $392.31
• Heart disease - $368.34
• Depression - $348.04
• Diabetes - $256.91

5.Do not neglect the healthy

Hagemann warns that companies should not just focus their health improvement efforts on those at high risk, but also aim to keep healthy employees healthy, as low risk employees could become high risk, eventually leading to higher medical and other related costs. "It’s strategically more cost-effective in the long term to keep a healthy person healthy than to try to move a high risk individual to a medium or low risk."

6. The impact of physical activity

Inactive people tend to take more frequent and on average longer sick leave, and cost the company more in sick leave/payroll costs as active employees.

Hagemann reports that physical inactivity was significantly associated with the female gender, people with an elevated BMI, people with moderate to high levels of stress as well as unhealthy eating habits. However, the same study found, no association between physical inactivity and medical expenditure, which is opposite to the international literature which generally shows an increase in medical expenditure for inactive people vs active people.

Possible solution

In order to reduce these health risks, and in turn increase workforce productivity, Hagemann suggests that companies implement a health management programme tailor-made for the health needs of its employees and aligned with the organisations objectives.

"Resources for such programmes are often limited and companies should spend their money wisely," says Hagemann. "Companies shouldn't settle for a generic health management programme. They should assess their workforce and identify the group's specific needs. Only then should they design and implement an appropriate health risk management programme," Hagemann concludes. ( health24.com )

READ MORE - Healthy workers work hard