San Diego couple arrested on suspicion of stealing toys from Christmas toy drive

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/san-diego-couple-arrested-on-suspicion-of-stealing-toys-from-christmas-toy-drive.html

So this couple was arrested because apparently they stole toys from the Ronald McDonald House donation box in the lobby of a credit union branch in San Diego. That is so pathetic. Really? If you're going to steal, don't choose to do so from a donation center. And for underpriveleged children? So sad.

Lybia Cartoon

cocaine saturated ropes.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/federal-officers-seize-ropes-saturated-with-cocaine-at-lax.html

Federal Officers seized ropes and cords saturated in cocaine at LAX on March 15. They were inside the backpacks of two U.S male citizens, ages 20 and 21, who were from Panama City. They said they bought them at a swap meet and were going to use them on his fishing boat. They were both arrested because, well, they had cocaine covered ropes.

Discussion Reflection

Many things were mentioned during the discussion on Wednesday and the one thing that most, if not all, of us agreed upon was the need to get rid of tenure. I strongly stand by this because I really do not understand why we need tenure. I think that if a teacher really loves what he/ she does then there would be no need to solidify the job. If a teacher does a horrible job at what he/ she has gone to school to do then he/ she is obviously in the wrong field of work and should be fired. I brought up the idea of merit pay and how I thought it was a good idea until someone disagreed with me. She said that a teacher shouldn't have to be rewarded for doing their job and I honestly agreed with this.
Another thing we discussed was how students should be given more freedom, such as having a bigger variety of classes and different times to take the classes, kind of like college. I think that if we were given these freedoms it would either be a hit or miss. I personally would use this to my advantage and take a variety of courses in the day time to help me find what I want to do with my life. But on the other hand, there would be the students who would take easy courses and would completely mess it up for everyone else.
One topic that we didn't get to touch on was No Child Left Behind. I really did want to get to the topic, but we ran out of time. I feel that NCLB should be abolished. It does no good and I find it pointless. Why should a student be able to slide through grades 1-11 and do nothing, then during their senior year they have to make everything up. Its not fair for the students who actually try and also isn't fair for the students that are just being bumped up to the next grade. They shouldn't be made to think that they can get through life doing the bare minimum. The sad part is that becomes the harsh reality when they are sitting in the bleachers watching their friends graduate.

Nude man caught on security video prowling around an LA preschool

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/nude-man-caught-on-security-video-prowling-around-la-preschool.html

Well this is a really creepy story. So this dude was caught on video parading around a preschool lobby naked, engaging in *cough* strange behavior of the sexual nature. This article was updated and it was found out that this man actually forced his way in and was looking for expensive things to steal. He stole a few keys and some other stuff. Then he proceeded to rip off his clothes and parade around the lobby. Creeeepy...

Snake bites model's bust, dies from silicon poisoning

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/mad-mad-world/Snake-bites-models-bust-dies-of-silicon-poisoning/articleshow/7715176.cms

Okay, so this model, Orit Fox was doing a photo shoot with a big snake in a dress that showed off a bit much of her cleavage. She wanted to make the pictures even more... sexy? Unique? I dont know what she was aiming for when she decided to lick the snake, but she licked the snake. Well the snake was not happy about this and decided to bite her in the breast. Fox was rushed to the hospital and lived, but the snake died from silicon poisoning. Ironic? Yes.

After 20 years, finally set free.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/after-20-years-in-prison-man-set-free-after-witnesses-recant-testimony-in-murder.html

A man who has spent 20 years in jail for a murder he says he didnt commit is expected to be released after several witnesses reacanted their identification of him. Apparently 5 of the 6 witnesses, including the vicitms son, recanted their identification of him as the murderer. I think this is a very bittersweet story. This man is getting out of jail and he will be free, but it took 20 years for that to happen. "Franky (the convict) is going to have some life and some freedom, but he lost so much," said Linda Starr, the legal director of the Northern California Innocence Project, which worked on the case.