PETA Goes Amityville Horror

Not yet, but PETA is close to owning the famous house in Long Island that is on the market for $1.5 million US, after being the subject of several films and novels. Why, you may ask, is PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, interested in owning a house of horrors? Simple, to create a meat industry themed house of horrors, revolving around the true horrors of the process of making meat. Rather than a typical exhibit, with pleasant music playing in the background, the exhibit will feature the roaring sounds of whizzing blades, and the occasional blood curdling scream of an animal being slaughtered. If you have ever wondered what a pig in captavity feels like, then you have the oppurtunity to step inside the metal cages a pig would stay in, which are horribly tiny. Animatronic hens and fish will also be seen in the exhibit, which would be suffering, of course, due to limited space and fishing boats. Weapons/instruments for the industry can also be touched by guests, including a third degree inflicting cow prod, used to shove cows towards slaughter houses. If this doesn't sound child friendly, do not fret, the guests will receive a doll with good ol' Ronald McDonald, as usual, wielding a knife and covered in blood, as he is the face of "McCruelty". I have opinions, to say the least, on the matter, but here is the link.

I wanted my last blog to come back to the importance of the treatment of animals, but after this story, I think it is also important to shed light on the insanity of extremist groups. I support PETA, have joined their newsletter, signed petitions, helped campaign for their causes with friends, but this is just nuts. It is a peverse farce of a musuem, which will teach people absolutely nothing, because going about things in a terrorist like manner will only make people think less of your ideals. I have told numerous people that pig captavity cages are so small that sows crush half of their baby piglets in captavity, because one slight roll will suffucate them, as their isn't enough space. PETA can use their words, and the horrors of animal abuse will come out, but they don't need to make a circus freakshow out of a famous landmark to make a point. Anyway, here is the link for PETA. I hope you have enjoyed my slightly ecclectic choice of stories, which would be quirky to say the least, and that my blog gave you information and a few laughs along the way.

Middle School Sex Parties Get Out Of Control

"Little Girl" parties. It sounds innocent enough, but the LG party is what has parents across British Columbia fretting for their youngings, at the thought of teenage boys using social networking sites like Facebook to invite middle school girls over for a sex party. The party, involving lots of liquor, has caused two warnings by police to be sent out, in an attempt to keep the virtue of these young girls. The first time had police discovering Grade 11 boys having a contest to see how many Grade 8 girls they could get in bed with before the night's end, and warnings sent out to schools and parents alike. Constable Tracy Wolbeck of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police says that "The intent of these parties and the group mentality that goes along with them is what makes them very frightening for parents and police alike". "Yeah parties that include lots of little girls, hence the term LG, little girls -- you can find them anywhere" said an adolescent in BC, who casually discusses the nature of these rowdy get togethers. Anita Roberts, a counsellor on the matter, has a more calm approach to the matter, but sees the problem at hand. "Older boys seducing younger girls, that's not new. It's been around as long as I've been on the planet," she said. "It's the strategic predatory nature of this: actually planning it. How many notches on the belt; how many girls can I sleep with before I graduate -- 'sleep with' is not the right term. It is sexual assault". Police are warning parents to check your children's contact lists, and not to let them go to parties that do not have parental supervision, or without first having knowledge on the dangers of drinking, especially because these parties are "mostly just drugs, sex and alcohol and then a lot of partying until they just drop", as stated by a high school girl in BC. The original article can be found here.

This just confirms for me that teenagers are getting way out of control in this day and age. Honestly, there is no hormone in teenage boys that would drive them to want to basically commit statutory rape against girls that are not in a state of mind to consent, especially not to drive them to plan a party to do so. And these girls know what are at these parties, but since they are too young to make decisions this serious, they need a parent to step in and help them. I just can't believe that a parent would let their son invite tons of underage girls over to intoxicate and then assault. This is a more liberal generation, but through my experience of blogging, I've found their carefree attitude leads them to making ridiculous decisions about serious matters. It is insane.

Sarah Ferguson Scandalous Video Leaks

If you haven't heard this story already, which would be quite surprising, Duchess Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson is now the topic of a lot of controversy, after an incriminating video clip leaked earlier this week, taken by a sneaky reporter. The video depicts the famous woman accepting $40,000 in cash from a News of the World undercover reporter, with the promise of $360,000 more, in order to gain a political and royal advantage through her husband. Many journalists are now taking different sides after evidence supports both arguments. A lot of journalists believe that Fergie may have had a little too much red wine that evening, and that the video footage is not that incriminating. Others believe that what the journalist was is called entrapment, where to convict someone of a crime, a position is taken where the the purportator is actively sought out, and tricked into revealing the truth. Some others are taking her side wholly, because the scandal had her coming out to say that her financial issues had brought her to such a financial situation that she took the money out of desperation. Most people, however, believe that Sarah Ferguson has let down the United Kingdom, and shamed the Royal Family, even though some peple argue that her decision doesn't reflect her husband's interests. Now, Sarah Ferguson is thinking of retreating to the United States to avoid the harsh glare of the British tabloids. We will soon see if she will follow through, and go into hiding, or try to not listen to the controversy, and continue her role as a British icon. To read the original article, click here, and to watch the incriminating clip, click here.

I personally believe that she just had too much red wine to drink, a snooping journalists came to her doorstep, and she was manipulated out of financial desperation into saying things she did not mean. I do think she has made a big mistake in this, but I really do not think she should hide from the world when she was heavily manipulated by the Britsh Press and blurted out things that were put in her mouth.

Torontonian Woman Sues Rogers After Lover is Revealed

Gabriella Nagy was in a passionate and loving relationship for the last few weeks before an event occured that led to her sueing Rogers Wireless, and unfortunately, this relationship wasn't the wth her husband, with whom she had two children under 8 years old. Gabriella had a personal cell phone account with Rogers in 2007, which was under her maiden name, and sent to her as an individual bill. Her husband, who's name is not being revealed out of obvious embarassment, opened up the cable and television bill, which was always in his name, to find Rogers had made their bills a "global bill", packaging the envelope as "Ms. Nagy and Mr. ____". This is where he found her cell phone had made several phone calls to a number he had never seen before, some of which that lasted hours. After calling the number, the recipient of the call revealed his affair with Gabriella, and Gabriella's husband immediately left her, without a single word to why he had left. When she was left with her two young children, a month later, she received an invoice from Rogers, stating that the couple's matrinomy made them one individual account. A few months later, October 2007, the stress of her marriage falling apart and being a new single mother caused her work performance to go down, and she lost her job as an apartment rental agent. Now, the woman is suing Rogers, stating that "it was a mistake, and she didn't deserve to lose her life over it", and her lawyer states that "the plaintiff’s maiden name and the husband's surname were different. Such unilateral action by the defendant was done without the knowledge, information, belief, acquiescence or approval of the plaintiff". We will soon see if the $600,000 law suit goes anywhere, and if young Gabriela Nagy's life will finally see some redemption, after her extramarital affair ruined it.

I would say that she made a mistake, but that Rogers' amateurish mistake and clear mistep of boundaries was the only reason for her marriage ending. I do think it is stretching the truth a bit to say they are the reason for her losing her job, but I would like to see her lawyer's argument for this, as a single mother and apartment agent are two jobs that are hard to do at once, especially amidst a divorce. Rogers is now saying that they "cannot be held responsible for the condition of the marriage, for the plaintiff's affair and consequential marriage break-up, nor the effects the break-up has had on her". I would disagree with this full heartedly, but we will all see when this officially goes to trial. To read the original article, click on the link here.

Uncertified Teacher Beats Student on Cellphone Camera Expose

Sheri Davis was a teacher at Jamie's House Charter School in Texas, when, during a test, the children, all under the age of 14, decided to have some fun, and play some music and dance around. One student, a thirteen year old boy, started laughing at the situation, and in response, a few female classmates told him if he didn't stop laughing, they'd hit him. Rather than back down, he continued to have fun, laugh, and said "hit me", when his teacher walked in. As a professional in the field of education, she thought it appropriate to teach him a lesson, but not with textbooks and chalkboards, but with a good old fashioned beating. She tossed him on the floor, dragged him around, and repeatedly punched his face in, with slaps and kicks thrown in between. The school is a school designed for the students with special disciplinary needs, but the teacher herself did not even have a certificate to prove she had a right to be a teacher. Unfortunately, in Texas, unless you are teaching at a special education school (which disciplinary does not fall under), you do not need a diploma to be a teacher. Equally horrifying, the fellow students in the room proceeded to laugh and cheer on the teacer during the brutal beating. Because modern day youth is so technological transfixed, the event was taped on a cellphone, later posted to Youtube, the home of other famous teacher bloopers. Luckily, the boy, Isaiah Johnson, went home and told his mother what happened, with emotional bruising, a black eye and severe bruising to show for it. As soon as the school saw the video online, the teacher was fired promptly, and charges may or may not be pressed. I hope this woman will never teach again, or be in a job near children again, as she abused her authority and used it to beat a helpless child because of her own psychological issues. I also hope that the boy has a strong family support, and they will get through this hard situation. For video coverage click here, and for a news article, click here. I hope you watch this with a mature viewpoint, but I managed to find the original video of the beating here.

Conservative Party Pulls Gay Pride Funding

In the heart of Toronto, one of the most famous annual events in Canada took place last year, the Gay Pride Parade, which has obtained fame nationwide for being a quite liberal and free spirited celebration of individual rights and sexuality. The Minister of Tourism, Diane Ablonczy, presented a $397,500 cheque to the event's organizers last year, and after pictures appeared online, a large number of compliants came from rural town in Canada, appauled that the Conservative Party of Canada would fund this event. Now, it is 2010, and Diane Ablonczy has had her authority taken away, and Industry Minister Tony Clement has now made it clear the the Gay Pride Parade will receive a whopping zero dollars. His reasoning, however, is that “this is a two-year stimulus program. In year one of this program, almost 75 per cent of the funding went to events in Canada's largest cities. In year two, we wanted to ensure that the money was spread out to some of the smaller cities so they were able to benefit as well. So Montreal got two. They got the Jazz Festival and Juste pour Rire. Toronto got two, Luminato and the Royal Fair. Edmonton got two. Vancouver got two. Winnipeg got two. There's only so much money to go around". The Liberal Party does not see it like this, and they think Canadians won't either. “Canadians see this for what it is, blatant discrimination and political pandering among the Conservative right-wing base.” The Liberals are also rightly questioning why, of all the festivals, Gay Pride should be cut. “Pride leaves a $100 million economic footprint, creates 650 jobs and generates $18 million in tax revenue. Why does ideology trump economics in this Conservative government?”. Hopefully the parade, being a famous and wildly enjoyed event within the LGBT community in Toronto and all across Canada, will still be able to run the same and bring a similar message about being open, and crushing homophobia within Toronto and abroad. To see the original article, click here.

Albertan Man and Two Daughters Die in Car Accident

It was a typical Tuesday morning, Alana Baxter was at home and her husband had driven the kids to school. But the day took a sour turn when she received a call from the kids' school, Winterburn, telling her that the kids never made it to school. Just a few minutes away from home, Alana found that her husband, John Baxter, 42, and two kids, Julianne, 9, and Coral Sky, 7, had been killed instanty when a VIA passenger train crashed head on into their car where the tracks intersect the road. John's brother, James, told the press it was very unusual this would happen, as John had driven the same road thousands of times, and this kind of accident was "one of those senseless things you can't explain". John had also just recovered from brain surgery two weeks ago, after a bad sinus infection spread to his brain. Karyn Hick is the only known witness of the accident, saying that she too had been driving on the road, but conditions had been so poor she was driving 10 kilomeres an hour, and that the wind blown snow must have caused the accident. Regardless of circumstance, this was a tragic freak accident, and I give the family my sincerest condolensces.

I am imaging that the recovery time of brain surgery would not be as rapid as he chose to drive, and that John may have been on pain killers at the time. It is, I would say, a likely possibility that this, combined with the terrible weather and bad safety bars, is the reason why the accident occured. If this was true, though, I don't believe he would be accountable, as if the weather had been better, this accident would more than likely not have happened. Here is the original article about this tragic story.

Record Breaking Number of Schools to Close

Due to economic problems within the government, after the controversial closing of many public pools, Toronto School Board is faced with the challenge of having to close a whopping nine public schools this year, which has never before happened. These schools, of all the ones across Canada, are more than likely facing the axe because of lack of usage, even though one school, Kent Senior Public, once had the larget student body in Ontario. Strangely enough, the school board's decision to close these schools is not a government decision, but that of people, who felt funding for half empty schools was appauling. Parents in ten different neighbourhoods conclude that there are 110 half empty schools around Ontario, and that list has been lowered to 55 schools that could be abolished. Most schools that are closing are Junior Highs, so any schools that end at Grade 6 will now be forced to accomodate grades 7 and 8, or face being shut down. Hopefully this issue sorts itself out, and that too many students don't face issues if their school shuts down.

I would say that it is important to use government spending properly, but considering we have fundeed many other projects of equal or less importance, I think this is a little bit odd. Students in impoverished areas, like the poorest area in Scarborough and their school, Pringdale Gardens, are going to face major issues if their school closes. I really hope the government knows what they are doing, because money right now doesn't mean anything if the people of the future cannot receive a proper education. The original article can be found here.