Blog #4

In the Los Angeles Times, Michael Hiltzik wrote an article about the legislature contemplating pulling the plug on Medical Board. The board does its share that it needs to, but it has become a danger to the community. Many patients have died, doctors have continued to work after their malpractice has surfaced, and clinics have been open for years after dangerous conditions have been identified. The board is facing a crisis of its own, it is up for legislative re-authorization, the legislature is talking about taking out the current membership and their executive director. The board stands by while its program is falling to pieces, and the medical centers which they have opened are becoming nonexistent. People are dying in the hands of these doctors, and they are the ones who are suppose to keep the patients safe, this the board should already know but it came to them out of know where and seemed a bit odd. The medical board agreed to accept tougher disciplinary action, but never fulfilled that promise. The board executive, said that tougher disciplinary action was not needed unless a patient complained  about a doctor. The medical board has all the power it needs to start investigations on its own, it just chooses not to.

Blog #3

In the Los Angeles Times, Garrett Therolf wrote an article about problems in the foster care agency. Auditors found out that the workers at Teens Happy Homes, the private foster care agency was buying beer and cigarettes with the money given by the government for child care. They would also write checks to themselves worth thousands of dollars and keep no receipts. The county board of Supervisors tripled the value of the agency and continued its contract. Besides the agency using the money on everything except the children, they also repeatedly abused and neglected the children. Many people had opinions about this, some said that if this continues then Teens will be shut down, and serious actions will be taken. Philip Browning, director of the Department of Children and Family Services, said that he will figure out what is the issue and try to fix it immediately. Beautina Robinson, who is Teens chief executive also grew up in foster homes, and knows what living in that type of situation is like. Because Teens is a private group it is loosely monitored, and is audited once a decade. In 2003, there was a sewage problem which destroyed most of the financial records of the agency, and the amount of records that was found showed a sense of chaos. There was $46,000 worth of beer and cigarettes bought from the government money for child care, and the company bookkeeper, wrote $13,000 in checks to herself. The auditors told county officials, to consider contracting with this agency again, but the agency retained its contract, and the auditor never went to the agency for further examination.

Blog #2

In the Los Angeles Times, Ken Dilanian and Brian Bennett wrote an article about the suspects confessing that they were the only two involved in the bombings of Boston. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ,19 one of the surviving suspects of the bombings of the Boston Marathon, told FBI officials that he and his brother had no help from other terrorist groups. Federal agents asked many questions to the suspect, trying to figure out the reasons behind the bombings, and shortly after they read him his charges and Miranda rights. He now remains in the Boston hospital. Officials concluded that the older brother,  Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26 who died earlier that week from a shootout with the police, had not met with Islamist militants on his six month trip to Russia. Experts say that the two brothers had been working alone, were self-radicalized, and had gathered bomb recipes from several websites. Terrorism expert Brian Jenkins, says that the brothers fit a description or pattern of alienated young men who embraced Islamic extremism on the internet. However, investigators continue to look into Tamerlan's trip to Russia, where he met with a militant whom the Russians are tracking. The FBI had interviewed Tamerlan in 2011, because of the Russians request, however they did not find any reason to continue the investigation. FBI was not aware of Tamerlans travel, because of his misspelled name on the flight information. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, on Tuesday told a Senate panel, that the US Customs and Border Protection, was alerted when Tamerlan boarded a flight to Russia. And by the time he returned from Russia all investigations was closed.

Blog #1

In the Los Angeles Times, Michael A. Memoli has written an article about Vice President Joe Biden, saying a few words about the suspects and the victims. He begins by stating that the terrorists have seen over and over again that the American people are not afraid and are heroic, especially the ones in Boston. At the memorial service on Wednesday for the police officer who was killed because of the attack Sean Collier, Biden spoke on behalf of the heroic police officer, and said that the two terrorists Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev  were cowards. He makes it clear to all listening that the American people are not intimidated and that we will not bend for anyone. The memorial service had thousands of people, police officers, there were speeches, silence at times when needed, bagpipes and music from Boston native James Taylor, and a flyover by police helicopters. Rob Rogers, Sean Colliers' brother said that he loved law enforcement, and would have loved to have seen the arrests of the criminals. "He was born to be a police officer, and he lived out his dreams," Rogers said(LA Times). John DiFava, said that he felt betrayed by the society they try so hard to protect. However he was honored to have such an amazing officer working with him, one whose goal was to prevent issues from becoming problems. MIT's president  L. Rafael Reif, said that many students wrote notes for Colliers memorial service, some about him, and one in particular caught his eye, and it said that out of uniform it was as if Sean Collier was a student, because he blended in so well with the geeky style of the students. "He truly was one of us," Reif said(LA Times).

Stereotypes

1)What factors contribute to such prejudice and how?
2) Is it possible to grow to adulthood without harboring at least some prejudice toward certain groups?

A stereotype is something that people grow up hearing about, and they assume that it is true, and go along with them. Factors that can contribute to prejudice can vary, from television, media, people one associates themselves with, and parental attitudes. The television is one thing that everyone watches, and listens to, whatever the news says most of the time people believe, and certain television  shows kids watch brainwash them into thinking in a certain way. Friends can have a big influence on a child, especially when they are first beginning to understand certain things, and are developing. What friends say, what opinions they have, and what they believe can have an influence on the other child, just starting to form an opinion about that particular situation. A child's parents also contribute to prejudice, when a child is growing up, they do not have a clear opinion about everything, they don't know everything yet, and have not become familiar with all of the stereotypes in the world that others have created. However, what the child knows, and if the child believes in the same stereotypes is all up to the parents, if the parents believe in a certain stereotype then they are going to push the same mentality on their child. The parents decide, when their child is at a young age what they know, and what type of a mentality they will have, it is all based on the parents attitude. Even though there are stereotypes in the world, and it is something that one has no control over, I believe that one can always stop being judgmental if they try. I believe that one can go to adulthood without stereotypes, but one can also believe in stereotypes but choose to not judge someone or spread those stereotypes. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and if they choose to think a certain way about someone they have the right to, but having an opinion and just being rude are two totally different things. If someone chooses to have an opinion about something is fine as long as they are not rude about it. I have opinions, but to the people whom I have opinions about I am never rude or do I show a bad vibe to them. There are going to be stereotypes in the world whether we like them or not, but what we choose to do with those opinions is something each and every person needs to work on.

Teens in a Rape Trial

In an article in the Los Angeles Times, written by Tina Susman two teenage boys are in a trial for rape. The judge sentenced the two boys at least one year in juvenile detention, for raping a classmate. There was text messages, tweets, and pictures shared by the defendants and their friends that the judge and the jury observed. The two boys were Ma’Lik Richmond, 16, and Trent Mays, 17, who could be held in the juvenile detention until they are twenty-one. Mays was also convicted, because he had nudity on his cell phone, of another minor, and was sentenced an additional year in detention. As the verdict was being said, the two boys began to cry as did the attorneys, and family member appealed for leniency. The judge felt as though these were serious charges and the boys have to be punished even though this was the first time they had ever been in trouble with the law. Both boys apologized in their own words, and sincerely meant it. The two boys said their goodbyes to their families before being taken into custody to serve their sentences. This trial caught national attention, it touched other topics besides the accusation, other women began to compare this trial to others. Others began to question why teenagers should be allowed without parental guidance go from one party to the next at which there is alcohol present. Many agreed that without social media the case may have never came to court. The girl did not even remember what happened last night, and she found out about all of it through the pictures and chatter online. The girl and her parents went to the police on August 14, and the boys were convicted eight days later. The trial included graphic pictures of the girl, eyewitnesses, and testimonies. This could happen anywhere, and teens should be very careful in what they drink, who they hang out with, and what they do at parties. The boys did a horrible thing , but it is partially the girls fault for drinking so much, rejecting her friends request to stay with them, and passing out by the boys. One should always be sober enough to take care of themselves, and granted she wasn't that intoxicated the boys would have not taken advantage of her. However their actions are wrong on so many levels, and they deserve to be punished, a year or two will suffice.

A Protest for Gay Rights

In the Los Angeles Times, there was an article about two men being kicked out of the mall for showing affection to one another. A week prior to the protest, the two men, Daniel Chesmore and Jose Guzman were at the Westfield Galleria in Roseville. They were approached by a security guard who told them that if they kissed one more time, then they would have to leave the mall. All the two men were doing was showing affection toward one another which consisted of holding hands and kissing. “I kissed him on the cheek. That’s how my boyfriend and I show affection, Daniel Chesmore told Fox 40"(LATimes). And on Saturday, a week later supporters of gay rights stood outside the galleria, protesting for the two men that were disrespected, for doing something that is natural and every other couple does. Galleria officials welcomed the event. and they said that they wanted people to feel comfortable, and the event organizers were happy to know that the event was allowed, and they hope everyone who has heard the story, stands up and protects gay rights and equality. When the security guard approached the couple, they began recording the conversation, “If you continue to kiss, you will be asked to leave the mall. Period,” a voice on the recording, apparently the security guard, said. “I counted you guys kissing 25 times. I told you before, we contact any couple ... about this”(LATimes). Chesmore is a student at UC Berkley, and Guzman is a Berkley graduate, and both felt as though they are treated differently because they are gay, and it made them sad to know that that is how people think and behave. Gay people are human beings as well, just like anyone else, and they should receive the same treatment and get the same rights as anyone else. People deserve to be treated equally without any objection.