Ex-Fugitive Pleads Guilty; Used Child For Porn

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28286205/

In Spokane, Washington a man who raped his own daughter and posted videos of abuse online prior to his flee to China, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednsday. Kenneth John Freeman could face the rest of his life in prison. He is 46 and pleaded guilty to the making of child pornography and interstate transportation of a minor for sexual activity that is illegal. Kenneth is accused of three counts of child rape. He fled the U.S. in 2006 and lived in China. He was put on the most-wanted lists of the U.S. Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement up to his arrest in May 2007 in Hong Kong. His daughter was ten when the abuse occurred in 2000. She is now 19 and first told her mom about the abuse in Nov. 2005. When Kenneth was in custody he wrote a 400 page autobiography which held confessions to a lot of the criminal conduct that he was charged for.

When I first read this I thought that it was of a younger girl but she was ten when he first started! I would have thought that the girl would have been a little younger becuase then the threat of her saying something would be lessened. When I hear of child pornography my stomach just goes into knots. All in all this is horrible. These types of things scare me a lot because I have three younger sisters and I could not imagine if something like this were to happen to them. I find child pornography absolutely disqusting and it bothers me that someone would do this. It is hard for me to believe that people would rather torture a child than find someone their own age to try and actually have a relationship with. Freeman's daughter will with out a doubt have troubles with trusting men for the rest of her life. Having her own father sexually use and abuse her has got to make her trust go to an all time low. Freeman deserves his sentence and I think that he should be locked up for life. What he did is torture for his daughter. I'm not sure if he has done this to any other little kids but just doing it to one is bad enough. There is something about children being hurt that tears at my heart and I hate it. I can't stand it one bit and don't understand how anyone could do this to another human being, especially a child, is mind boggling!!! It is a very sick thing to do.

Police Arrest Aunt in California Shackled Teen Case

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28014820/

In San Francisco police arrested a 17-year-old boy's aunt who had been held the 17-year-old captive. The boy showed puu at a gym shackled claiming that he had just fled his captors. Caren Ramirez is the name of the aunt and is the third suspect arrested in the assault against the teen boy. The two other suspects were in jail with a bail set at about $1.2 million each. They were arrested for the suspicion of torture, kidnapping and child abuse. The children of the two had been taken into protective custody. After the child-welfare officials took the teen from his absusive father three or four years previous, the aunt became the teen's legal guardian. After the aunt was arrested for abusing the boy, he was put into a foster home which he fled from in 2007 which was the last time he was seen until Monday when he entered the fitness center.

The main thing I don't understand about this whole thing is why the aunt took him into her custody to get away from an abusive father when she did the same thing. It is a good thing that she is going to get in trouble for what she has done because that is just not right. I do not know how someone would want to beat a child. When the teen boy had disappeared for about a year one would think he was just off doing his own thing but turns out he was being held captive with shackles and all. Had he not ran into that gym that day after escaping he could have been continued to be lost and probably killed or tortured more. I don't understand why people think it's ok to physically hurt another person for now apparent reason other than some disqusting pleasurement for themselves. That makes them no better than anyone, it doesn't make them look tough, and it surely doesn't prove anything. This teen boy will suffer mental health issues for the rest of his life for everything he has been through. Hopefully he can get better and go on in life and make something of himself but it will not be easy, especially the part of getting better mentally.

Woman Charged With Raping, Beating Niece

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27787134/

In Worcester, Mass. a woman was charged with raping and beating her 16 year old niece. The 16 year old was forced to work for the rest of the people in the household kind of like a "Cinderella-type situation" they say. Mara Escobar, the woman charged, was ordered held on $25,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty on Monday. She had a lot of different charges including assault and battery on a child and rape of a child with force. The 16 year old had a not so great room as opposed to Mara's two daughters having nice rooms with t.v.s and dvd players. The rapes happened between June 2007 and September 1. The girl had gone to social workers in September that she was being abused and she was referred to law enforcement.

This whole situation kind of disqusts me. To recreate the Cinderella story like this is not so great. This 16 year old girl will have this situation haunting her in the back of her mind forever. Within the article it talked about the rapes and it described that objects were used and she had been slammed to the floor, kicked, and punchced. From this incident she recieved two black eyes and a sprained wrist. The thought of a human doing this to another human is wrong. Not only is she a relative she is much older and should know better. Mara needs to fess up to what she has done. If you have done the crime you have to pay the time and people shouldn't lie at the stand like that especially when they can truly be proven guilty. Sure they wouldn't want to but hey, they shouldn't have done it in the first place. This has to be one of thee most sickening "Cinderella-like story" I've heard of. This girl has been having these problems for years and now it's the "aunt's" turn to suffer for a while.

Supreme Court Wrestles With TV Profanity Case

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446689,00.html

Today the Supreme Court were disputing dirty words on television. There was really no decision made about what to do. The main thing that was brought to attention was that these words are being used at times when kids are most likely to be watching. The case is between the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, and Fox Television Stations 07-582. Chief Justice John Roberts said that the reason why these words are so shocking is because of their association with the literal meaning of the word. Other justices said that they don't see a problem with putting a ban on these words on the television while other justices had little to nothing to say. Previous bans have been put out but the FCC didn't have enough explanation.

Personally I think that putting a ban on these words is a good idea. I have four younger siblings and I know they have heard things on television and have repeated them. My parents don't swear in front of the kids so the television has to be where they are getting it from. Hearing words like that come out of their mouths is just crazy. I don't like that they say those things so putting a ban on those words wouldn't be such a bad thing. I don't want my kids to be running around saying a swear word because they think it's ok since they heard it from the television. Kids idolize people on television and think that it is alright to do, say, and act in the ways they do. It really isn't always ok obviously demonstrated by this case. By banning profane words on television won't rid of kids developing this not so great habit but it will make an improvement. Swearing really isn't all that necessary and I've been told by some teachers that it is only something that makes you sound "dumb" because you aren't intellegent enough to think of something more appropriate to say. I will have to say I somewhat agree with what my teachers have told me. Only somewhat becacuse I occassionally use a swear word out of frustration. I think that if this doesn't pass through the Supreme Court, the issue of all the sex and violence on the television needs to be addressed. Some of it is getting way out of hand and it is sickening.

What Exactly Is Clean Coal?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446266,00.html

This article is about the support behind clean coal for energy. Both presidential candidates are in support for continuing to use clean coal. Within the article both sides are presented as to the ups and downs of this type of alternative fuel. To some, clean coal means to reduce the pollutants that cause smog and acid rain. Others say coal remains dirty aslong as it continues to put out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It has it's pros and cons but it continues to be 50 percent of what keeps our country going.

I think that if it is working now we continue to use it. Although it may be a little harmful to our atmosphere, it is a good way to give us more time to find other ways of alternative fuel. This is a major issue in our world and we need to do something about it. I've been told that the green act has been done before in history but none of the people from then have followed through with going "green". I think that my generation will follow through with it for a longer time at least. It really isn't that hard but we just need everyone to chip in a little bit. Government says that this clean coal is a little on the spendy side but wouldn't a new renewable resource be just as exspensive? We still haven't figured that out. Sticking with clean coal seems to me to be a good idea...for now. When technology moves on and we can figure things out as far as renewable resources goes, then we can change to do what is the new best thing.

Former Detroit Mayor Will Not Mix With Other Inmates, But Sheriff Denies Any Special Treatment

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444228,00.html

In this article, former Detroit, Michigan Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sent to jail after a sex-and-misconduct scandal. A sheriff says that Kilpatrick will not be put in with other inmates in the jail. The reason that he will be kept out of their is because of his notoriety, or the fact that he is well known. He has a 120-day sentence starting today for obstruction of justice. He lied in a civil trial involving former police officers. In the trial he pleaded guilty and had to resign from his position. His living cell will be a 15 by 10 foot cell in which he will be in for 23 hours of the day with one hour of recreational activity. At $60 a day there will be a nice bill awaiting him when he gets out.

When it comes to well known people getting in to some trouble and having to go to jail it bothers me to no end that they get to be in their own little secluded area because people know them. Celebrities is a big one that gets me. They get to be in nice little "jail cells" and still have some luxuries that others who did the same crime would never get in jail let alone in thier actual life. When it comes to this mayor, he should do the time the right way. Kept within the other inmates. He really is no better than other inmates because he too committed a crime. He shouldn't have done it in the first place really. I guess it's easier said than done for some. It's good that he will be in that cell for 23 out of the 24 hours though. But when I think about it 10 by 15 foot isn't all that small. When I think of a jail cell, I think smaller than that and the bare necessities not something the size of my own bedroom.

FBI Probes 30 Powder-Laced Letters Sent to Banks

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,442621,00.html

Thirty plus letters were mailed to Chase banks in nine cities that were containing a suspicious powder. Authorities said that after some investigation they believed that this threat was a public backlash over the financial crisis of the nation right now. Tests done on the powder were proved to be negative for poisonous or other dangerous toxins. The FBI has been doing all the investigating. The powder is said to be some harmless calcium. Even though the powder is no the real deal, sending this is still a major crime. The nine cities included: Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Denver, Newark, N.J., NYC, Oklahoma City, and Washington. All of the letters appear to be from the same source and began to show up at the banks on Monday.

I find this whole situation kind of crazy. When I first read this I was kind of surprised. I knew that the anthrax ordeal was a huge problem because it is a very dangerous powder. Threatening banks with this powder is a very daring thing to do by whom ever did it. They have a lot of courage and they really stand up for what they believe in but taking it to this level may actually may do more harm than good. Further in the article it says that the threat in the letter waws based on past actions of the bank and that they implied that the opener of the letter was going to die. By doing this act, it is pushing back the solution to our troubled economy because we have to waster our time to try and figure out who on earth did this and why. I really don't understand why people have to go to such extremes to get a point across. They are willing to put other peoples lives in danger just to make thiers better. I don't get it!

IMF Investigates Chief's Relationship With Ex-Employee

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,440502,00.html



The International Monetary Fund, the IMF, is a huge part in the worlds financial crisis. They recently have hired a law firm to investigate if its chief has had an unappropriate relationship with one of the female employees. Within this article, it is described that Dominique Strauss-Kahn had a relationship with an employee. The investigation of this was first reported on Saturday by The Wall Street Journal. The women involved was said to be Piroska Nagy who is now working in London with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. She claims to have not recieved any special treatment while at IMF and voluntarilly left from IMF. The scandal was brought to attention 15 months after Paul Wolfowitz resigned as World Bank president due to an upset over a pay package for his girlfriend who was a bank employee.



This article seemed a little bit unimportant. I guess to others it may be but since I don't really know what the IMF is and what it does other than what I read from this article. To me it seems as if there is so many other things that could be reported on rather than this type. I do suppose that with the way the economy is that and crisis within this issue would make it to the paper. Since IMF deals with the financial crisises of the world today it makes sense to talk about any uproars within it. It seems that only because another person had an issue with how the presidnet of World Bank had a pay package for his girlfriend who worked at the bank, this issue with Strauss-Kahn resurfaced. It's understandable for some to be nervous or questioning the reasons behind the relationship. Could it be to get higher up in the bank? Who knows... I guess this shows one to keep their personal life out of the business world because it could come back to get you when

Campaigns Get Personal; McCain called 'Erratic'

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27034817/

This article was once again about the campaignee's tactics to win popular vote. This time around Presidential nominee John McCain was called 'erratic' which means to be a wanderer or having no attachment. He was called this because with the $700 billion Wall Street ordeal, McCain was going to not attend the debate to help to try and find a solution to it all. He instead went to the debate unlike what he had said. Supporters of Obama thought that this made him appear as 'erratic'. Sarah Palin had a few words back to Obama being that he didn't see America and her and us the people. She is stating that Obama is buddying up with the terrorists that would target their own country.

Like I have stated before in the put downs given and recieved by the presidential nominees, it all seems so silly. But it proves what people will go to to win. In a way I can see why McCain was called erratic because he didn't really stick to his word that he supposedly had said. As for the fire back from Sarah Palin, I will have to say I am a bit confused. Who honestly would believe that a future presidential nominee would be mingling with the terrorists of the country? To me that doesn't make sense. Obama know that our country is not perfect and he feels his duty as president is to help improve that. I admire McCain for attempting to make things better for the $700 billion Wall Street issue but if he is really going to make a difference he has to make a commitment to do so. I don't know the whole story but from what I read in this article, he is kind of wishy washy on what he says.

Post-Debate Attack Ads Launched

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26915424/

Along with every election comes attack ads to persuade voters views. This article was stating that the presidential candidates have been attacking one another after Friday night's debate. McCain's ad was about how Obama isn't ready to lead. Obama had an ad saying that McCain not once said anything about the middle class during the debate on Friday. Throughout the entire debate McCain said a lot about Obama but not a whole lot about the people.

If one thing gets me annoyed during election time it is the constant ads trying to campaign for the presidential candidates. These leaders are bashing one another to make themselves appear as the better person for our country. I realize it is competition but I think the ads can be silly at times. Although I think negatively about the ads, mostly because they are on all the time, they do serve a purpose. They are to sway the people of America into voting a certain candidate. Out of the commercials that came from last night's debate, Obama's would have to be the better of the two candidates. "McCain doesn't get it. Barack Obama does," was what was stated by the announcer in the ad. According to this article all that McCain said was things about Obama rather than about the people who may be electing him to office. I didn't watch the debate but if it is true that McCain never mentioned anything about the middle and working classes, that is a little odd. Being raised and most likely going to be living in the middle class, I would like to hear my possible future president talk about our class and see what kind of things he has in mind for us.

Can Early Voting Ease Election Day Drama?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26851737/

For the upcoming election early voting is highly encouraged. This type of voting is being urged to limit down those crazy lines on election day. In previous elections early voting has been allowed but only with an excuse such as a traveling obligation or some type of medical issue that makes it difficult to be in the long lines to vote. Different methods of early voting are being used such as mail in ballots and absentee ballots that can be filled out and brought to a headquarter.

With this being my first year voting and it actually counting, I would personally would like to experience going to vote on election day. Maybe once I get a feel of how everything works my opinion will change but for now election day voting is what I'm planning on doing. The idea of early voting is a good idea for those who need it. I think those with medical issues and others who may have business on the otherside of the world on election day would really appreciate it. It's a growing thing that I hope doesn't change the traditional way of voting. To me going to a city hall, school, or church to place your vote on Nov. 4th is something that should be kept in our customs and not be changed just for convience of others obligations. Some reasons I can understand as stated above but just not to wait in long lines seems a little silly because people need to slow down their lives for a little bit anyways. When waiting in line one could catch up with a buddy in line or even discuss political views. All in all I think it's a beneficial idea but for me I will stick to going to the polls on election day.

Palin's Fusion of Politic's and Motherhood

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26602065/

This article was about the Republican Vice President candidate Sarah Palin's hidden pregnancy. She hadn't told anyone until her seventh month in the pregnancy. Once she had the baby everyone soon found out the other secret she was hiding from them all. Her new baby son, Trig, was born with Down Syndrome. Ms. Palin and her family have happily welcomed their gift from God as she continues in the race to become Vice President.
When reading this article I found it odd that Ms. Palin hadn't told anyone of her pregnancy with such a major job she is running for. The fact that she carries Trig everywhere with her is a good thing for her image. Like stated in the article, by Ms. Palin doing this she is showing women that they can handle a young child and try to do something powerful like running to be Vice President. As far as Ms. Palin using Trig as political gain I think that is not the case. She is simply being a mother and doing what she can. It definitely could not be an easy job being a new mother of a child with special needs and still hold a positive image in the eyes of those who would be possibly electing her into office.

Mr. Meyer this is my actual e-mail address: h_to_the_olea@hotmail.com