Birth Control for Middle Schoolers

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Portland Maine -King Middle School students have the option of receiving birth control methods from the school and some critics have a problem with it.

The full story can be found from The Boston Globe, Attorney general's wife outspoken about contraceptive decision

Also at the Portland Press Herald provides a full detailed story about the public school contraceptive methods

The ultimate decision to allow middle school students access to such contraceptive methods came down with the stipulation that the parents must allow the students access to the school clinic. Otherwise they will not have such access.

However Amanda Rowe, the coordinator for the Portland school nurses and an attorney general's wife, says she isn't watching the national media and what they have to say about the Portland School Committee's decision. The policy, to her, makes sense.

"I am committed to this, and I will see it through," Rowe told the Portland Press Herald.

The Christian Civic League of Maine has questioned the silence of Rowe's husband, Attorney General Steven Rowe on the contraceptive issue.

Fox TV commentator Bill O'Reilly said Maine's attorney general faces "a conflict of interest."

Another theme park in Orlando

Busch Entertainment to call Orlando home for park number eight. Anheuser-Busch, the parent company for SeaWorld and Discovery Cove in Orlando. And Busch Gardens and Adventure Island is Tamps will open Aquatica in March 2008. The company's corporate entertainment headquarters will also move from St. Louis to Orlando next year.

Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest brewers in the world and has a annual revenue of greater than $15 billion. with more than 26,000 employees within the entertainment corporation, the company is expected to generate about $1.3 billion in revenue for the 2007 fiscal year.

"We've recognized over time that frankly, with our three parks here in Orlando and two in Tampa, we have five of our 10 operating parks -- half of our operations -- here in Florida," Atchison said. "We frankly see a lot of synergy between being in the 'Wall Street' of the theme-park business and being close to our major operations and our flagship operations here in Orlando."

Most of the move from St. Louis will take place next year, with 35-55 executives and vice presidents expected to move.

The location of the headquarters are unclear as of Tuesday.

Other parks include SeaWorld San Diego; SeaWorld San Antonio; Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va.; Sesame Place near Philadelphia; and Water Country USA in Williamsburg.

More College Student Volunteering

An article published in 2006 in the Chronicle of Higher Education states that more college students are volunteering.

The corporation for National and Community service "found that 3.3 million college students, or 30 percent of all students ages 16 to 24 at American colleges, had donated their time to various causes in 2005, compared with 2.7 million, or 28 percent of all students, in 2002."

In a three-year period, the number of 16-24-year old college attendees rose only 8 percent over the same three year period. There was a 20-percent rise in the number of college-student volunteers from 2002-2005.

In any case, who are these college volunteers? One can concise the population of volunteers into age categories, including college students. These volunteers are our neighbors, friends, relatives, and co-workers. What makes this adult have the desire to volunteer?

I too have pondered the thought of extensive volunteer-ism. While a student at the University of Central Florida I volunteer at the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando. However I do not feel that this is the most one can do, primarily I don't think that my time and effort ends in Orlando.

For the past five months I have pondered joining the Peace Corps and even more recently the Ameicorps.

Someone asked me recently why I wanted to do this. The answer? My mind went blank.
While the article, More College Students are Volunteering, does not state why the increase in volunteering is primarily around college aged students - those 16 to 24-year-olds. There is a significant difference that even one can make in their lifetime.

Lack of Sleep for one justice under all?

It seems all too common. Perhaps you have experienced it. Though it would not surprise me if the majority of the college population has fallen victim to one of these at least once in their young career. The culprit? All-nighters. You know when you procrastinate until the absolute last minute to cram three days of studying into an entire eight hour cram session. Sometimes this may only occur one time in the typical four-year experience. Then for others it may be a few times a semester. Then there's a bi-weekly occurrence or more. In my career I used to fit into the middle category; where I would sacrifice an entire night of sleep perhaps a time or two a semester. However I seem to have fallen into the bi-weekly or more sacrifice. It has only been within the past few months where I pay for either my over-loaded schedule or procrastination. Perhaps I can blame it on both.

More recently however, Dr. Neil B. Kavey, the director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, offers some clues in the msnbc article

Why do we need so much sleep?

We don't fully understand the importance of sleep. What we do know is that sleep is an anabolic, or building, process. And we think it restores the body’s energy supplies that have been depleted through the day’s activities.

Sleep is also the time when the body does most of its repair work; muscle tissue is rebuilt and restored. We know, for example, that growth hormone is secreted during sleep. This hormone is important for growth in children, but is also important throughout adulthood in rebuilding tissues.

What are some of the consequences of not having enough sleep?

One of the ways we have of understanding why we need to sleep so much is to look at what happens if we don’t get enough sleep. It affects our personalities and our sense of humor. We may become irritable and less tolerant. Parents of small children often tell me that when they’re tired they get irritated at the antics of children that might amuse them if they were properly rested.

Lack of sleep clearly affects our thinking, or cognitive, processes. A sleep-deprived brain is truly running on four rather than eight cylinders. If we’re trying to be creative, the motor doesn’t work as well. We can perform calculations, but not as quickly. We’re much more likely to make errors. It’s because the brain’s engine hasn’t been replenished.

Price William's Friend Killed in War

Maj. Alexis Roberts' vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, near Kandahar on Thursday. Roberts, who was a friend of Prince William, was serving with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles in the British army. He makes the 82nd British troop to die in the Afghan war.

He leaves two daughters, Alice and Freya and his wife Lex Roberts.

An excerpt from the cnn article

Prince William "was deeply saddened to learn of the death in action of Lex Roberts, who he remembers with great respect as his platoon commander at Sandhurst and as a good friend," the prince's spokesman told CNN.

"Lex was my best friend, the most wonderful husband and deeply loving father to Alice and Freya," she said in a statement released by the Ministry of Defense.

Health Insurance Risks

As of today, September 27, 2007 there is roughly seven months and two weeks before spring graduation at UCF. Seven months prior to that momentum day I ponder what my life will hold. I've thought about joining the peace corps, perusing graduate school or getting a job. Along with these "future" concerns, I have to keep in mind that whatever I do I have to think about decent health insurance. Health insurance that will ultimately decide how the rest of my income is spent or saved. Having diabetes is extremely expensive and without proper health insurance, your income could quite literally go down the tube. This in mind, I ran across this article from the Baltimore Sun, Get healthy or get fired.

"If you smoke, you might not get hired or you could get fired. If your cholesterol is too high, you could pay higher premiums for health insurance. The requirements embraced by a growing number of companies are raising questions about who will qualify for health insurance, as well as employment."

However some may not appreciate the Get healthy or get fired concept. A Michigan firm, Weyco Inc., drew national attention in 2005 after the company fired four employees who used tobacco. The company has expanded its insurance requirement when it penalizes employees whose spouses smoke or chew tobacco. Up to $50 per paycheck per employee.

The health sweep covers about 30 employees with a random carbon monoxide testing every three months.

While I would not appreciate a random tobacco test, I do understand the financial stability that a company must ensure for its employees. Health insurance being one financial stability.

My hope - for this to not become a trend.

Another student dies

Early Tuesday morning Tiffany Barwick and UCF student Michael Ruschak, 22, were fatally shot inside an Oviedo duplex.

The alleged shooter, Andrew Allred, 21, who is believed to be the ex-boyfriend of Barwick rammed his vehicle into a white Ford
Tiffany Barwick and Michael Ruschak

Escort outside the home before firing off several rounds of ammunition inside the house.

As of Tuesday night Ruschak's facebook and myspace accounts was filled with "In Remembrance" posts.

Every year students die. Whether it is as extreme as the Virgina Tech shooting or random car accidents. Here at UCF, we have had our share of deaths. Just a few weeks ago another student was run over by a car while crossing Alafaya Trail.

I have heard much discussion throughout my two years here that UCF should partake in a vigil once a year in remembrance of those who died. However I ponder what good would that do? Is it really that beneficial to bring back a rush of memories once a year for those students who have died? Where would this vigil take place? Should there be a plaque or form of it permanently displayed on campus? Should UCF be responsible for paying for this ceremony?

Other questions are debatable but on the the other spectrum...

One opinion may be that the vigil will alleviate the emotional pain that is caused by the loss of friends, family and essentially other UCF knights.

Whatever the answer is to this, one fact remains true, students die and too frequently at that.

One quick google search displays the following...and these are simply a small steak as to how many there actually are..

Student's death stirs traffic fears -- OrlandoSentinel.com

UCF Student Dies From Meningitis - Health News Story - WKMG Orlando

UCF Student dies in tragic car crash