A Mother’s Loss, a Daughter’s Story

On April 21, 2010 Robin Pobregin wrote an article in The New York Times, about a mother choice to make a documentary of her daughter's life who died last year with a battle of bulimia. Melissa died at age 19 due to a heart attack that was induced by her eating disorder. Ms. Alvrin, Melissa's mother, wanted to make the documentary to not only help grieve with the loss of her daughter but to help other parents that are going through the same things that she did with her daughter. Many contributors have thanked her for her entries because they have given them hope and hopefully the understatement of what their loved one needs to recover. To this day Ms. Alvrin thinks that her daughter could have beaten the disorder of the damage wasn't already set to her body. Melissa's family and friends wish they had done more, like talked to her and cared more, so that the disorder didn't get to the point where she needed therapy. The website is called somedaymelissa.com because in her journal she would write things like someday I'll eat breakfast and someday I'll keep a job for more then 3 weeks. Her brother Andrew finally now understands that dark life that she felt she lived, there were never happy days. Many see as Ms. Alvrin's choice to make the documentary wrong but she sees it as a way that she can cope with her loss and to help save other lives.

I found this article to be very upsetting yet up lifting as well. It is very sad that people do suffer from eating disorders and don't get the help that they need and either live a life of unhappiness or die. Whether there is an actual cure for eating disorders is unknown but many people are lucky enough to over come the disorder and live a happy life. I think that making a documentary of Melissa's life was very brave of her mother because it made her relive and rethink all of the hardships that her daughter, herself, and her family went through. Maybe with this website and documentary out there, family, friends, victims can see it and give them the hope and motivation that is needed to get help or overcome the disorder.

Woman kept dogs in horrible living conditions

On April 15 2010, Kim Predham wrote an article in the Asbury Park Press about a women that is facing serious fines and possible jail time for keeping her dogs in horrendous living conditions. Deborah Melick, from Manalapan, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of failure to provide proper shelter for a dog, she has $2750 in fines, $363 in court fees, and could possibly serve up to 6 months in prison; also she will receive $1000 fine for every count she has counted against her. The dogs were removed from her house in March by Victor "Buddy" Amato. He told her that she would be inspected randomly because she had over 6 dogs living with her, and when inspection came things were not up to par. The dogs were ordered to be kept outside until the road home, which was filled with animal feces and urine, was cleaned up. An anonymous tipster reported Melick to officials and when Sgt. Matty Guiliano showed up to the house the allegations were confirmed. Animal feces were piled 3 feet high in the garage, and urine and feces were pooled in moats around the dogs' cages, and outside the kennels also were covered in feces and urine. Melick will return to Manalapan municipal court May 10 on two pending charges, that she failed to keep her property clean and sanitary and that she operated a boarding kennel without a municipal license.

I find this article sickening. The fact that a person could treat so many animals so poorly and not do anything about it. Since she was warned that she would be inspected randomly, she should've cleaned the house up and keep the dog's area clean and presentable. Animals are like people too, they need to be cared for in a safe and sanitary environment. I'm glad that there are still humane people in the world, like Amato, who still care about the protection of animals and continue to try and give each animal the happy life it deserves.

Growing waiting list fuels a need for NJ organ donors

In the article was

in published in the Asbury Park Press on April 14, 2010. Nina Rizzo explains how a daughter, Elizabeth Lane, donated a kidney to her father, Lewis W. Kisenwether Jr, because the New Jersey waiting list for a kidney donation was five to seven years. Many family members were tested, such as his sister, wife, three children, and son in law, hoping that at least one person would be a close match. The father felt bad about taking his daughter's kidneys but he greatly appreciated it. Lane clearly explained that it was a no brainer, she had t do this for her father.

I think that it was really great that the daugter donated one of her kidneys to save her father's life. I would do that for one of my relatives if I was the best match as well. I decided to read the comments that was one the article and it suprised me that I saw that a person commented that they wouldn't do that for her family. There would be no doubt in my mind that I would do it if it meant that I could save a person's life and it's even better that it could be my own family.

Tiger Woods Says He Will Return for Masters

In the New York Times, on March 16, 2010, Larry Dorman wrote an articles about Tiger's return to the Masters Tournament on April. He sees the Masters tournament as a sentimental tournament so he wants to get back in time for that one. He has missed a few other tournaments such as the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational because he felt it was too early to come back. Out of respect he called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer to thank them for the invitation but that he wouldn't be coming this out. He has been through 2 months of in-patient therapy and continues to go, and even though he is starting his professional life again, there is more work that need to be done in his personal life. The benefit to the Maters Tournament is that the course is secluded and 365 acres big; this gives lots of room for the media not to be. Only contestants, caddies and rules officials are aloud inside the ropes, giving him the privacy and quiet he will need. Interviews are only aloud in certain areas of the course but Tiger would rather answer questions in the media center where he can sit and answer everyone's questions. He is very excited to be starting up again with a quality tournament.

I think it's a good idea that Tiger starts up his career again. Everyone eventually needs to move on with their lives and start over. The past might not ever be forgotten but no one can live through it. Starting over and getting back to a normal life is the bets thing that someone could do. Everyone learns from mistakes and could become a better person from it. The sad thing about Tiger's life now is that everyone will no longer see him for the golf player he was, but for the cheating sex addict that was revealed.

Murder in Holmdel NJ

On March 3, 2010 there was a serious murder in Holmdel. In the Asbury Park Press, on March 5th 2010, Matthew McGrath gave some details on the case. Carina Schlesinger, a 36 year old woman who was a former model and a dog obedience school owner, murdered her boyfriend Daniel Cresci, age 29. He was a lawyer, a pilot, and an aspiring restaurateur. She shot him, set her rented home, that was located on Red Hill Road, on fire, and then shot herself. It was said she had gone through alot in her life dealing with her house being closed in Long Island by JC Morgan Chase bank that she owned with her former husband in January; where Cresci represented her in court. Also in March of 2004, she was a victim of attempted rape, leaving her emotionally unstable. The couple had been dating for 18 months and had a content relationship. The relationship became rocky after the court case in which she lost her house. The day that Cresci was actually shot is still unknown because the family hadn't heard from him since Sunday, which was very odd for his family not to hear from him. It was a tragic lose for both families.

I couldn't imagine what the families are going through right now. For the Cresci family, I can't imagine losing someone that they love to a situation like this. It is a scenario that only seems to be in horror movies. And knowing that he didn't go in a peaceful way can only leave a heavy burden on their lives. And for the Schlesinger family, I would feel so bad that they couldn't see the problems that she was having or not being able to help her. It is very sad to see that she felt her life was so bad that she not only took her own life but the life of someone else too, possibly someone she cared for alot. Maybe she could've gotten help but that wasn't the option she chose. My thoughts and prayers go out to both families.

The media and celebrities

The media is the reason that everybody knows celebrities personal lives. Every break up, every engagement, and every wedding seems to be the cover of all magazines. At what point is the media crossing the line social lives and personal lives? When there is a big event going on, such as the Grammies and Oscars, it is normal to have the media there to cover all the latest fashions and the cover who win the awards. But the questions that seemed to be asked lately are
"Are you really dating...?" or "Is it true that...?" They want all the gossip on their live. Reality televising shows are made to follow some celebrities around and to capture every moment of the person's lives. I don't see why they would do this, there is no such thing as alone time and when that person starts to have a break down they don't get the time they need alone, the camera wants to capture every second of it. Many families have been broken apart because of the television shows and the zero privacy, such as Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey and Jon and Kate Gosline. Its sad to see their families torn apart because of this, but what do they expect when they always have someone in their face? At what point does the camera stop rolling and the cameras stop flashing to give these people the privacy they want?
Why are people so fascinated with these people lives? Just because they're on television and in movies they are better than any other person, I don't think so. They are just like everyone else and should be treated like everyone else.

Trace of Thought Is Found in ‘Vegetative’ Patient

On February 4, 2009 the New York Times posted an article written by Benedict Carey concerning the amount of brain activity that goes on in a patients mind that in considered in a vegetative state. The article is based on test that can show brain movement when asked a yes or no question. A 29 year old man, who was in a serious car accident and has been left immobile for the past 5 years, showed brain activity when asked a series of yes and no questions. Doctors aren't ready to use the MRI testing yet because they feel it's not ready yet due to technical problems. With this test, doctors have to start questioning the severity of brain damage and could possible start to ask the patient questions rather then family members who only base questions on what they feel is best for their family member. Even though the MRI testing isn't promised now, there is a promise that the problems will be fixed and the new test will be introduced to all patients.

In 2005 , a woman by the name of Terri Schiavo, was taken off life support because of a previous controversy of a patients rights in a vegetative state. With these test, the patient could make up their own minds what they want to do in life. The simple question of 'do you want to die?' can be answered clearly 'yes or no.' Doctors need to see these answers as sufficient, just because they can't move of talk, they know what they want to do and it should be accepted as if asking a family member. The patients can clearly understand what people are saying, they just can respond. So before asking the patient whether they want to live or not, their state of health should be explained saying, this is what your life is going to be like, we are not sure of how much improvement there can be done to your brain.

With these MRI testing, i believe that a whole new world is going to be opened up. These test can show valid information and should be worked on everyday. I can only imagine how being in a vegetative state feels like, knowing how you feel and want to say but not being able to express yourself. They are people to, they have feelings and I know if I was in the position they were in, that I'd want to make my own decisions too. Every patient should be given this test to see how dead their brain really is so that doctors can move forward for those who has brain activity and who doesn't. Those with it, should start receiving treatment so that they can start to get better and for those who don't, to keep trying now things so that can try and get better.

Rule of Thumb: Koreans Reign in Texting World

Ha Mok-min and Bae Yeong-ho are now popularly know as part of the "thumb tribe" in South Korea because of text messaging. Both of them have won text messaging contest over the past 2 years. In 2008, Bae was the champion, typing 8 characters per second, and Ha was the champion, typing 7.25 characters per second. Author, Choe Sang-Hun, explains that the contest are held in New York City and the winners receive $50,000 in prize money. 13 countries intake in the contest which makes 6 million contestant compete. Ha's mother takes great pride in her daughters accomplishment because she hopes it will help her with college admissions as an engineer major.

I find it amazing how similar yet different cultures can be. What both countries have in common it the attachments to the phone. People send out as of much of 500 messages a day. Text messaging has become such a big problem, it's hard to have the complete attention of another because they are always involved in conversation and the severity of texting and driving it the same penalty of drunk driving. The biggest shock to me is how the cultures react to text messaging. Here in America, parents take phones away as punishment and it s a big deal to not be able to text a friend and parents want to "throw the phone trough the wall" because it drives them that crazy. In South Korea though, the reaction is a little different. Parents are proud of their child's ability to text so fast. They see it as an intelligent factor to be able to hold conversation and text at the same time. I've always known that text messaging was a popular thing but never knew that a parent could actually be proud of that.