91 and still running

"People think I’m bonkers but they inspire me to carry on": Superhuman 91-year-old swims 500 metres, bikes 20k and runs 5k to complete his 41st amazing triathlon

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/worlds-oldest-triathlete-is-91---873573

News

A 91 year old man just completed his 41^st triathlon, in less than three hours. Arthur Gilbert, the man in question, is the oldest triathlete in the world. He came in last, but said that at his age he thinks he’s allowed to. Arthur goes to the gym three times a week, cycles 25 miles on Sundays and swims 50 lengths every day. His secret, as he says, is staying stress-free, being happy, doing charity work and being positive. He doesn’t drink or smoke and has regular check-ups. He also follows a balanced diet with lots of fruit. Arthur started doing triathlons at the age of 68 for charity and has never stopped. The last triathlon was, as he said, his third last one, but he just can’t stop.

I think it is wonderful that a man his age still does what he wants and that it is something active. It doesn’t matter he comes in last, it’s already wonderful he does it. I also think it’s great he doesn’t only do it for himself, but also does it for charity. It’s a great accomplishment and a lot of young people should set this as an example, instead of hanging in front of the TV all the time. I hope this man can keep doing what he likes to do and doesn’t have to stop soon because of health problems or anything like that. Keep up the good work!

Dog beating

Is this the sickest dog owner in Britain? Thug shot pet 10 times, slashed face with a meat cleaver and left bull terrier to die by the road

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/andrew-summerfield-thug-shot-pet-880372

News, Animals

A 43 year old man, called Andrew Summerfield, has been convicted of two counts of animal cruelty. He had shot his dog 10 times with an air rifle, slashed its face with a meat cleaver, then left it for dead on a roadside with a noose around his neck. They traced the owner through the animal’s microchip. Summerfield first told the police he sold the pet before it was found. Eventually he changed his story, saying that he did attack the animal, but that it was in self-defence. Experts’  tests however had shown that this cannot be the case. The RSPCA said it was among the worst cases of cruelty it had seen in many years. Summerfield did not show up in court and an arrest warrant has been issued.

Why would you buy a pet and do things like this to him? I feel so sorry for the dog, because he couldn’t put up a fight when his owner attacked him. I think it’s a good thing the owner gets to be punished, and I hope they find him soon. People like this man should be forbidden to have pets. Because why take an animal in your house, and do something like this to it? I think it’s really sad for the dog and I hope he will be alright and finds a better home where people will really love him.

Broken home, but still two parents.

Mothers who deny fathers access to the couple’s children after a break-up could be jailed

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2158490/Mothers-deny-fathers-access-couple-s-children-break-jailed.html

News

One in five children from a broken home loses touch with the parent that leaves the family home within just three years and never sees them again. Many more lose contact with a parent, most often with fathers when mothers are awarded custody, as they grow older. This is one of the reasons that ministers have decided that reform is necessary. Separated parents who fail to allow their partners to maintain a proper relationship with their children could be stripped of driving licenses or passports, hit with curfews, ordered to do a period of unpaid work or even jailed.

I think it’s a good thing that children from broken homes stay in touch with both the parents, and that the parents shouldn’t keep their children away from their other parent. I come from a broken home too, and my mother always encouraged me to go and visit, or at least call, my dad as often as I could. I think this is very important for the child, because both his parents love him and he should know that. I do think being jailed for it is a little overboard, but that there should be punishment for withholding your child of a proper relationship with the other parent is a good thing.

Circus sex

Off-duty female border agent ‘performed sex act on co-worker as they sat in audience at Cirque du Soleil show'http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2158168/Two-duty-border-agents-performed-sex-act-sat-audience-Cirque-du-Soleil-show.html

News

Kallie Helwig and Gerald Torello, two people who works as border guards, have been accused of partaking in a lewd act during a show of Cirque du Soleil. An anonymous woman had noticed them in the crowd. First they were kissing intimately and he was touching her breasts. Not long after the sexual acts became even worse. She asked the two to stop, but they said they couldn’t. Children who sat in front of them turned around and Torello gave them a high five. The anonymous woman shone a light on the pair to alert security, who eventually made them stop. After the show, the woman was struck by Helwig.

First of all, I think it is ridiculous you would do such a thing at a public place, in the audience of a show where you know there are children around you and can see what you are doing. I have no idea what these people were thinking, but a sane person would never do such a thing. The fact that the man high fived watching children makes it even worse. And when the woman asked them to stop and they wouldn’t, shows that they have no respect. I think that for actions like these, serious consequences should be handled.

Dog attack

Schoolgirl, 7, has face mauled by Japanese Akita in another horrific dog attack which follows savaging of toddler

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2158220/Schoolgirl-7-face-mauled-Japanese-Akita-horrific-dog-attack.html

News

Shannon Rennie, a 7 year old girl, was attacked by a Japanese Akita, while playing at a friend´s house. The girl, who was bitten in the face, had to have 10 stitches. She was bitten under her eye and some of the skin came of her nose. This is not the first time a dog attacked a child. Over the past month 3 other children were also attacked by dogs. The owners of the dog have not come to visit the young girl to see how she is, or apologized for what happened. The dog has been seized by the police and will hold it until a decision has been made on whether it should be destroyed.

I think it’s terrible that things like these can happen. It’s so horrible for a child to be attacked by a dog. I once was bitten by a dog too, and though I had no real injuries whatsoever, it was one of the most unpleasant things I ever had happened to me. These children however, who have been savaged by these dogs, will have a fear of dogs for the rest of their lives. Besides that, I think it’s ridiculous that the owners of the dog didn’t even apologize and check up on the victim. If I were them it would be the first thing I’d do.

Failing parenthood, failing investigation

Disabled girl, 16, found starved down to 23 pounds by her mother four MONTHS after social services received first emergency call

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157692/Disabled-girl-16-starved-23-pounds-mother-MONTHS-social-services-received-call.html
News

A 17 year old girl suffering from cerebral palsy was found in her home, starved by her mother. She only weighed one and a half stone when she was finally found on March the 14^th. The girl could have been rescued four months earlier, but because an investigator came at their home three times, only to be sent away without going inside, it took so long. The girl’s mother, who had 4 other children, said she was a good mother, but did not know when her daughter was last outside or had seen a doctor. She has been sentenced for 18 months of probation and ordered to undergo parenting classes.

I think it’s first of all ridiculous for a mother to starve her child, disabled or not, and not let her out or have her see a doctor, when you know she has a disability. I think the punishment might be a little on the low side. Further, I find it very odd that the investigators would leave the house so easily the first three times they got there, without even going inside. Also, the times between the visits of the investigators was absurdly long, sometimes even a month in between. The girl could have been saved so much earlier, and might have been in a better condition than she is now.

Parking tickets for surgery

Traffic warden plasters 10 parking tickets on car parked in hospital's disabled bay as driver was inside having emergency transplant surgery

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154810/Traffic-warden-plasters-10-parking-tickets-car-parked-hospitals-disabled-bay-driver-inside-having-emergency-transplant-surgery.html

News

A woman who had checked into the hospital for treatment after a kidney swap, and had to stay there because of an emergency received 10 parking tickets. Her car was standing in a disability parking spot, with a blue disabled badge in the screen and a note that she was in hospital. Still she received the 10 parking tickets. Many people said it was a disgrace and the car park wardens should show some compassion. The tickets have been removed since and a Vinci Park UK Spokeswoman told the newspaper they are trying to resolve the issue with Cardiff and Vale University Health Boards.

I think it’s terrible that the car park warden didn’t even check why the car was there in the first place. If he had known what the situation of the car owner was he might have not put the parking tickets there. It’s worse enough for the woman that she had to stay in the hospital for so long, let alone coming out and finding 10 parking tickets on her car. I think it is very emotionless to just put up so many tickets without even checking. I think it is the right thing to do to not let the woman pay for the tickets, since she couldn’t move her car while she was in the hospital.

Disney's junkfood ban

Disney to ban junk food advertising on its TV channels

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9312119/Disney-to-ban-junk-food-advertising-on-its-TV-channels.html
News, Health

Disney is planning on banning the advertising on junk food on its television channels. They will prohibit the advertising of foods with high calories, sugars, fats and sodium. There are also plans to reduce the amount of sodium in the theme parks by 25%. Many people are opposed to the ideas, saying it should be a person’s individual choice to decide whether to buy unhealthy foods and drinks or not. Michelle Obama however says it’s an initiative that many companies should follow with their eyes on child obesity. The idea came right after the Mayor of New York announced his plan to ban the sale of large soft drinks.

I think banning advertisement for junk food and other unhealthy food is a good idea, because many children these days are overweight, and this way they will be less attracted to the good looking but very unhealthy foods that you see in a lot of commercials. But I don’t think this is the best solution for the problem, because when children want to eat something unhealthy, because it’s not only commercials that put children up to eating unhealthy. The parents should also encourage their children to have a healthy diet and grab an apple instead of a bag of chips.

Losing weigth

"I’m getting my life back": Britain's fattest teen Georgia Davis loses THREE STONE in just one week after rescue

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/georgia-davis-britains-fattest-teen-860537
News, real-life stories

The article is about Georgia Davis, who is the fattest teen in Britain. She is only 19 years old, and recently rushed to the hospital, because she was on the verge of death due to her weight. There she lost 3 pounds, dropping under the 60-stone mark, but the hospital will not release her until she drops below 50 pounds. Georgia used to eat a lot of fast food, but now that she is in the hospital she is ready to change her life and over the next few months she will try and exercise, will being on a healthy diet. This way she hopes she will get her life back.

I think it is really ridiculous that someone could get their life so far that they are so fat they cannot move anymore and have to be rushed to the hospital. I’m glad for Georgia that this happening has made her take the decision to change her life. I think it is really unhealthy to be this fat and not doing anything about it, but unfortunately overweight is a big issue in a lot of countries these days. I hope a story like this will also help other teen to change their life style, before they reach this point.

Drug your baby

Parents jailed for giving toddler fatal dose of methadone

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jun/01/parents-jailed-toddler-dose-methadone
News

The article is about a couple that killed their baby by giving him methadone, a substitute drug for heroin. The baby was only 23 months, and had been given methadone for the past eight months. The parents didn’t notice that their baby was dead, because they were hungover after taking drugs and vodka. The father has been given a 9 year jail sentence for manslaughter, and the mother is convicted for 4 years. They drugged the baby to pacify him, his body however contained the amount of methadone that was similar to the amount in an adult who follows a methadone programme.

My opinion on this is that people like this shouldn’t even be allowed to have a baby. I think it is outrageous for a parent to ‘feed’ their child drugs, no matter what age. I also think their punishment, especially that of the mother, is way too low. What if they get out, have another kid and do exactly the same to it? I really feel sorry for the child, that he had to die so young and in this way, but at the other hand I think it would be even worse if he did not die, because he would grow up a drug addict, and would be doomed for the rest of his life. 

Matilda child star

What happened to the original Matilda?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2130752/What-happened-original-Matilda-As-musical-dominates-Olivier-awards-look-cute-child-movie-star-Mara-Wilson-24-abandons-acting.html

News, entertainment

This article is about Mara Wilson, who used to play the lead role in the movie ‘Matilda’. They have looked her up because of the musical ‘Mathilda’ that recently won a prize. Mara is now 24 and does not act anymore, and says she never will. She does not like it anymore and now she is a playwright. Many people still ask her about her acting career and bother her about it, asking her when she will be acting again, or participating in a Reality Show. Mara does not want to do any of these things and does not want to be a celebrity.

When I read the article I first remembered how much I loved the movie ‘Matilda’ and Wilson’s role in it. Then I thought about how her life must be now. I think it’s really hard for her to keep answering questions about her acting career that ended over 15 years ago, and that people still try to make her act again or appear on TV. I think Mara is a lot happier now that she does what she loves. If she would have kept acting her life would probably be terrible by now, because she would be forced into a certain image.

Cigarette package

Cigarette packet branding to face consultation
News - Health
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17698730
This article is about the packet branding of cigarettes. The British government is considering to strip all branding from cigarette packs sold in England, to make sure smoking is less attractive. This is because 5% of 11 to 15-year-olds were regular smokers and smoking led to 100,000 deaths in the UK only. They might leave the packaging the same, change it to something plain, or come up with a whole new solution. There is already a ban on tobacco displays, and other measures are taken against the nasty habit. Right now, Australia is the only country where they have plain packages.

When I read this article, being a smoker myself, I wondered if having plain packages would help. Of course, they do appeal a bit. I still remember the limited packets that Lucky Strike did during the time I still smoked Lucky Strike, and I tried to collect them all. But right now I smoke Gauloises, which is in itself a rather plain packet. It's dark blue with the brand name and a helmet or something on it. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter what the packet looks like. Most people who start smoking don't buy anyway, they get cigarettes from friends or relatives, so the packet doesn't matter then at all.