Concussions: More Serious They You May Think!

When diagnosed with a concussion, many people seem to think nothing of them, but a new study truly reveals how bad they may be. Therapists would like them to now be referred to as " mild traumatic brain injury". Concussions have nothing to do with your head, just what is inside them, a little more important; your brain. A study was done where they told some people that they had concussions and others that they had mild traumatic brain injury. The ones who were told they had mild traumatic brain injury stayed in the hospital on average more then if said that they just had a concussion. Along with this, people who have been said to have concussions, also went back to playing sports sooner. The lasting impression, was that when called a concussion, their parents seemed as if it was nothing but a scratch that a band aid could fix.

          Last April, I received a concussion in rugby. I, unlike this study took this very seriously, and listened to Marnie as when to start playing again. When yo u feel fine, is not when you are fit to play. You probably hear of football players from the 70's and 80's dieing at young ages. When you look back at those players, they all definitely received concussion. I am not saying that after receiving a concussion, that you are going to die at 42, but people should take them more seriously. Concussions or "mild traumatic brain injury", no matter what you want to call them are very serious injuries.

Terrorist Given Largest Center in History

Zakaria Amara, the mastermind behind the 2006 plan to bomb Toronto was in court yesterday.The man was inspired by the events which occurred on September 11th, 2001. Mr. Amara's goal was to build truck bombs and blow them up in downtown Toronto. His hope was to shock Canadian's and have the troops pulled out of Afghanistan. The RCMP had been surveying him for months before they made their arrests, and were paying a couple Muslim men on the inside millions to infiltrate. Mr. Amara built prototype detonators as he inspired young acolytes and tasked them with obtaining bomb ingredients. His plan was to make truck bombs, and blow them up outside: The Toronto Stock Exchange, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service office, and outside the Canadian Forces Base, Trenton. Mr. Amara could be on parole as early as in six years! A couple of his affiliates were caught unloading fertilizer out of a truck and given 14 years in prison.

          I think that it is absurd that the mastermind behind this terrible plan was given such a short time in prison, while the others who were just new recruits were given fourteen years! I do not understand this at all. It seems quite ridiculous that he was not given any longer.

The Shooter of the Pope

The Turkish man who in 1981 shot the Pope, was released from prison today. He was given just over 29 years in prison for his offence. The shooter proclaimed that he was a messenger from God and that the world would end in this century. Mehmet Ali Agca, 54, Turkish police say that they will keep a very close look on him because some still question his mental health. It was may 13, 1981, and the Pope was in an open car in St. Peter's Square. Three shots were fired, and he was hit in the abdomen, left hand, and right arm. Luckily, all missing organs. John Paul (the Pope) met with Mr. Agca in 1983, to forgive him for his shooting. Before he shot him, Mr. Agca stated that, " I proclaim the end of the world. All the world will be destroyed in this century. Every human being will die in this century." Shortly after blurting out that he was the Messiah. This man still believes he is Christ eternal. He also said that the Gospel is full of mistakes, and that he should write the perfect one.

I think that this man obviously has serious psychiatric problems, and should be put in an asylum for the rest of his life. He obviously has problems, and should not be allowed in public. I guess that 29 years wasn't enough to figure himself out.

The Attack on Google

Google is looking into the fact that a couple of their employees may have helped a Chinese Cyber attack on their mainframe. The attack occurred in mid November. Google is the largest and most popular search engine. The attack was a theft of intellectual property. The people who are thought that to have done the deed are in China's Google office. The malicious software used was a modification of the Trojan "Hydraq". The virus allows once in the computer someone unauthorized to access the files and control the computer. It has been reported that some Google China employees were denied access to internal networks. Google has denied accusations that it has already shut down part of its China office.

          I am very surprised that such a sophisticated company as Google would have something like this occur. I do think it was the Chinese branch. I imagine that many people are up in arms over the fact that their intellectual property has been stolen. If my intellectual property had been stolen, I would have been very angry.

Chemical Ali

Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin " Chemical Ali" was convicted of crimes against humanity, and given his fourth death sentence. He was given the death sentence largely because of his involvement in one of the worst poison gas attacks of all time. Ali Hassan al-Majid is one of the last of Saddam's close friends from the former regime. The poison gas occurred in Halabja in Kurd in 1988, 5,600 people were killed in the event. This was "Chemical Ali's" fourth death sentence. The first three also occurred because of his involvements in other atrocities during Saddam's rule. Many people in Halabja still physical and mental illnesses from the release of mustard and nerve gas. Many feel that it is unfair that Saddam was hung after his first death sentence, and was obviously not in attendance at this trial. That is why now, one person can receive several death sentences, and then will be hung after this. "Chemical Ali" received one of his previous death sentences because of his role in the brutal fight against the Kurds in the 1980's, where hundreds of thousands were killed. The other two death sentences were: his role in the 1991 supresion of the Shiite uprising, and for his role in the 1999 crackdown that sought to quell a Shiite backlash to the slaying of Grand Ayatollah Mohamed al-Sadr.

          I personally think that everyone involved in Saddam Hussein's atrocities should be killed. Ten years in prison is not even close to being enough for being involved in killing hundreds of thousands. I think it is fair that "Chemical Ali" is receiving several death sentences so that people who have been effected by different cases can finally feel at ease. I do not agree with the fact that it has now been this long in between court appearances though. I think they should have been relatively close, and then he should be killed. It has now been years longer that he has been allowed to live.

Earthquake in Haiti

          Haiti already being a country in bankruptcy and a state of extreme poverty was hit with a large earthquake. Fifteen hundred bodies have already been stacked on sidewalks. The earthquake hit just outside capital city Port-au-Prince. There are too many bodies to stalk on sidewalks, and bundles of bodies are even seen in cars. The estimated death toll is between 45 and 50 thousand people. Sources also estimate that there is around 3 million people in the area are either homeless or injured by this disaster. The earthquake reached a whopping 7 on the Richter Scale. This is the worst earth quake to strike the country in over 200 years. There are at least three Canadians dead. One nurse, and an RCMP couple. Over 100 Canadians were rescued and are on their way home. The government has said that it will match every dollar Canadians give (up to 50 million) on top of their original relief of 4 million. The fact that the Governor General is Haitian, had an impact when deciding on how much to give.

          I think that Canada has clearly stated its point on the subject, and that is one in which we take a strong stance and donate tons of relief and money. I am personally very proud of our governments decision on this occasion. I am sorry that other countries did not take a large initiative on this occasion.