Canadian still faces public beheading in Saudi Arabia(final post)

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Canadian_still_faces_public_beheading_in_Saudi_Arabia

Mohamed Kohail, a 23 year old Canadian, sits on death row in Saudi Arabia, waiting for his public beheading, which will serve as an execution for his murdering of an Saudi official. He has written a letter to Candian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, asking for help. The crime was murder. The victim was Munzer Al-Haraki. Apparently, Mohamed's younger brother, Sultan, asked for Mohamed to come help him with a fight with Munzer. Munzer brought a lot of people to the fight, while there was only Sultan, Mohamed, and a friends of theirs to fight against them. Somehow, Munzer ended up killed. Mohamed claimed he did not do it.



Honestly, I believe that Mohamed did kill him, but the death penalty should not be in play here. He is a Canadian citizen, he should be judged by the Canadian courts, where the death penalty is illegal, I believe. Maybe he should be punished, but he should not be killed, certainly not with a beheading!

Below is a picture of the two brothers upon graduation.




This is also the final post of my civics blog. I hope that all who read it enjoyed it!

Court rules teen must take chemotherapy

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Court_rules_teen_must_take_chemotherapy?curid=126375

Daniel Hauser, a boy in Minneapolis with Hodgkin's lymphoma, has been ruled by a judge that his parents have been medically neglecting him, and he must take chemotherapy and radiation therapy against his will. Medical professionals have stated that he has a 90% chance of survival if he has treatment, but only a 10% chance if he does not. He doesn't want the treatment because he is a member of the Nemenhah, a Native American style group which opposes medical practice as it "harms the body." If he refuses treatment, he shall be taken into custody.

Honestly, this boy needs treatment. He is causing harm to his body by not seeking treatment, not by getting chemotherapy! This is the 21st century! If your religion or tribe forbids you from getting treatment from a disease that will kill you, you get the treatment! And that is that!

Below is a picture of the boy's disease:

NASA launches Space Shuttle Atlantis

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/NASA_launches_Space_Shuttle_Atlantis

At 2:01:56 P.M. on Monday, May 11, 2009, the Space Shuttle Atlantins was launched from Florida on a two day journey to the Hubble Space Telescope. The astronauts will perform five spacewalks on the 11 day repair mission, installing two new instruments and repairing two others. Crew members include Scott D. Altman as the mission commander, John Grunsfield, Michael Massimo, two space-walkers, Andrew Feustel, Michael Good, two other space-walkers, Gregory C. Johnson, the pilot, and Megan McArthur, the flight engineer.

I believe this is necessary for us to keep learning about space, as we do need our major telescope to keep working.

Wildfire in California displaces 30,000

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wildfire_in_California_displaces_30,000?curid=126085

The recent Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara County, California, has burned more then 8,600 acres over the last 4 days of land and displaced over 30,000 citizens. Another 23,000 citizens are ready to evacuate. Fire Cheif Andrew DiMizio was quoted as saying, "Right now, if you are not evacuated in the Santa Barbara area, you are sheltering evacuees."

I think that this is terrible. How can a fire last so long an do so much damage?

American comedic actor Dom DeLuise dies at age 75

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/American_comedic_actor_Dom_DeLuise_dies_at_age_75?curid=125967

American actor Dom Deluise dies at age 75, on May 4, 2009, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was known for his roles in Mel Brooks movies, such as Blazing Saddles, The Twelve Chairs, Silent Movie, and Spaceballs, as well as co-starring in multiple films with other famous actor Burt Reynolds, such as The Cannonball Run, Cannonball Run II, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and The End. He was also an avid chef, having written two cookbooks.

He was a good actor, and he will be missed. He shall live on though, through his movies.

Indo-Canadian teens kidnapped, found dead in car

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Indo-Canadian_teens_kidnapped,_found_dead_in_car

Two young teens, Joseph Randay and Dilser Singh Gill, 18 and 17 respectively, were kidnapped on Thursday, April 30, 2009, and found dead in a car the next day, Friday, May 1, 2009. in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Police have no leads. They believe that this might have something to do with Mike Ahuja, someone that Randay communicated with on facebook. Sunny Ahuja is associated with the Bacon brothers, who are alleged gang members. In March, there had been a shooting associated with the Ahuja home.

I believe that this is terrible, because these 2 teens had their entire life in front of them. It's a damn shame, killing these young teens.

Swine flu cases worldwide top 1,000

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Swine_flu_cases_worldwide_top_1,000

Recently, Swine flu has become a major pandemic. It now has 1000 victims. This is just as big as the SARS outbreak a few years back.

Personally, I think everyone is freaking out on this. The normal flu claims a victim every day, and people think that this is a major pandemic? People are just overreacting.

Ten dead in Alabama shooting

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Ten_dead_in_Alabama_shooting

Ten people have been killed and several injured in a shooting incident across the two towns of Samson and Geneva in Alabama. The victims included the gunman, and the wife and child of a sheriff's deputy. The gunman was identified as Michael McLendon, who once worked at the Reliable Metal Products plant, which is where he claimed his life.

I think that this is terrible, and I don't know why somebody would do something like this.

This is the town of Geneva, Alabama.

Windows 7 will allow users to disable Internet Explorer

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Windows_7_will_allow_users_to_disable_Internet_Explorer?curid=122077

After discovery by a blogger, Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 will allow users to remove Internet Explorer and other select Microsoft programs. This is because Microsoft has often been accused of forcing their own software onto Microsoft users.

I think that this is good, because people use Mozilla Firefox and Safari more then Internet Explorer nowadays. Microsoft has finally caught on, and let users use the programs that they want.

Michael Jackson to make last public concerts

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_to_make_last_public_concerts?curid=121968

Michael Jackson has announced that he is embarking on one last concert tour in the U.K., and after this, he will never perform a concert tour again, calling this his, "final curtain call." He announced this after performing at the O2 Arena in London, England, on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. He is quoted as saying, "These will be my final shows ... performances in London. When I say this is it, I mean this is it. I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear. This is it, this is really it, this is the final curtain call."

I think that this is really good for die hard fans of Michael Jackson. Personally, I think it would be great to see one of his last concerts, but the whole "sleeping with children" thing, and the multiple surgeries affects my opinion on him.

President of Guinea-Bissau assassinated

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/President_of_Guinea-Bissau_assassinated?curid=121860

João Bernardo Vieira, the President of Guinea-Bissau has been assasinated. He was shot to death by renegade soldiers in his palace on Monday. He was trying to flee as his palace was being attacked. It it believed that this assasination was revenge for a bomb that killed one of Vieira's rivals, just a few hours earlier.

I think that this is terrible, as this man was helping the country of Guinea-Bissau. Now, this coutnry will likely go through another coup, and who knows what will happen then.

Obama sets deadline to withdraw troops from Iraq

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Obama_sets_deadline_to_withdraw_troops_from_Iraq?curid=121773

President Obama has now officialy set the deadline for the troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. "Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," says the President. The combat will end before that date, and all troops will be out within a year of that date.

I think that this is simply amazing, as this war has gone on too long, and it needs to end. Too many innocent people have died, Americans, Iraqis, Canadians, all that have participated in this war, and it needs to end. Now, this stupid war will end.

New comet to be visible to naked eye for several days

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/New_comet_to_be_visible_to_naked_eye_for_several_days?curid=121402

For the next few days, a green tinted comet that was newly discovered will be visible to the naked eye in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It is called Comet Lulin, it was discovered in 2007, and this is the first time it will go through our solar system, and probably the last as well. As it makes it's way around the Sun, it will shed 800 gallons of water per second. That is enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool, every 15 minutes. It will come within 38 million miles of Earth, so you can see it, and mroe clearly with a pair of binoculars, or a telescope.

I think that this is pretty interesting. The fact that it will shed all of that water is extremely interesting, as is seeing a new comet, of course.

The Oscars!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/81st_Academy_Awards

On Sunday, February 22, 2009, the 81st Academy Awards were held. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button held the most nominations, with 13, followed by Slumdog Millionaire, with 10 nominations. The Major Award Winners are as follows:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire.

Best Foreign Language Film: Departures - Japan

Best Documentary Feature: Man On Wire

Best Animated Feature: Wall-E

Best Director: Danny Boyle, for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn, for Milk

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet, for The Reader

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger, for The Dark Knight

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Penelope Cruz, for Vicky Christina Barcelona

Best Writing - Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, for Milk

Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, for Slumdog Millionaire

Jerry Lewis was also awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

The Oscars are one of the biggest events of the year, if not the biggest.

There were however, some controversies involved in the most recent Oscars. Such as, Gran Torino was not nominated for anything at all. That film deserved a Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor nomination. Also, The Wrestler, the song written by Bruce Springsteen for the film, The Wrestler, was nominated for Best Song, despite winning that award at the Golden Globes. Also, Christopher Nolan was not nominated for Best Director, even though he did deserve a nomination, at the very least. As you can see, the most recent Oscars was an interesting one.

I thought that this year's Oscars was one of the best, if not the best that they have ever seen. Hugh Jackman did a great job as host.

AIM activist, Leonard Peltier defender Robert Robideau dies

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/AIM_activist,_Leonard_Peltier_defender_Robert_Robideau_dies?curid=121201

Robert Robideau, an Ashinaabe activist who was involved in the Leonard Peltier, which was where in 1975, Leonard Peltier killed two FBI agents, has just died a few days ago, due to seizures at his home in Barcelona, Spain. He was 61 years old.

I think that this is sad, because this man was an activist for Native Indian rights. But, all people die, as has been proven today.

20,000 Californian state workers may lose their jobs

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/20,000_Californian_state_workers_may_lose_their_jobs?curid=121116

On Tuesday, California announced that they are about to lay off 20,000 workers. The cuts will start at the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1. The announcement was made by a spokesman Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's governor. This came after California lawmakers voted down a budget worth US$40 billion last weekend.

I do not think this is good, as I don't like to fire that many people. However, we are in some tough times now, and some jobs need to be cut, so, it needs to be done.

Canadian lawyer urges Prime Minister to repatriate Omar Khadr

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Canadian_lawyer_urges_Prime_Minister_to_repatriate_Omar_Khadr?curid=120905

The lawyer of Omar Khadr,(Dennis Edney) the boy who at the age of 15, was involved in a firefight with militants at Ayub Kheyl, Afganihastan, and went to Guantanomo Bay for it, is urging the Canadian government to repratriate Omar Khadr. While he was involved in the fight, it was thought that he threw a grenade that seriously injured many men, while recently, it has been shown that he might not have thrown the grenade. He has many supports, roughly 64% of Canadians want to bring back Omar Khadr to Canada.

I think that he should come back, as I am a supporter of Omar Khadr.

Subject of high-profile Italian euthanasia case dies

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Subject_of_high-profile_Italian_euthanasia_case_dies?curid=120812

Eluana Englaro, who has been is a cnostant vegetative state since shw was in a car accident in 1992, died Monday, at the "La Quiete" clinic Udine, where her doctors stopped feeding her 4 days ago. This particular case has sparked a debate about euthanasia, as well as a political crisis. Euthanasia is illegal in Italy, however, refusing treatment is not. On Friday, her doctors removed her feeding tubes, because her father, Beppino Englaro, wanted them removed. In the last few days of her life, the Itailian Government, backed by the Vatican, attemped to have her feeding tubes reinserted. Her father has fought a 10-year battle to have her daughter die, because he and her friends say that it is what she wanted.

I think that her father was correct in remiving her feeding tubes. She has been in a vegetative state for 17 years, there is no helping her, so she deserves to die peacefully.

Bill Gates releases mosquitoes during conference for malaria awareness

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Bill_Gates_releases_mosquitoes_during_conference_for_malaria_awareness?curid=120628

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, tried to show people the problem with malaria while speaking at the TED conference. He did so by releasing a swarm of mosquitos. He let them go, and after a minute, revealed that the mosquitos did not have malaria. It was first reported on by Dave Morin, Facebook's manager. He said, "Gates just released mosquitos into the audience at TED and said, not only poor people should experience this" followed by a smiley face.

I thought that this was a very good idea, and that Bill Gates is a smart man for doing something like this.

Australian teenager sentenced to three months in jail for graffiti

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Australian_teenager_sentenced_to_three_months_in_jail_for_graffiti?curid=120534

Earlier today, an 18-year old Australian teennager was arrested for writing, "2shie" on a wall outside a cafe Hyde Park, Sydney, Australia. After Cheyenne Beck was arrested, she pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly damaging property. Song Wang, the owner of the cafe, is seekign A$200 in compensation, although she does not agree with the jail sentence, saying that she should just do some more community service.

I think that she should not have been arrested, much less sentenced to jail for three months just for some grafitti. It was just a very small thing, just writing on a wall. It can easily be painted over.

Bart Simpson Used To Promote Scientology

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Bart_Simpson_used_to_promote_Scientology?curid=120115

On January 29, 2009, Nancy Cartwright, voice actor famous for portraying Bart Simpson, used Bart's voice to promote a Scientology event the following weekend. She uploaded a video to Youtube, which was in the style of a phone call, where she, in character as Bart, sais that she was now "auditing on new OT (Operating Thetan) 7", and invited fellow Scientologists to a special event on the weekend.

I think that this was a big mistake for Nancy Cartwright, because the writers of the show did not give her permission to do this, she did this of her own will. I don't even know why she is a Scientologist, seeing that it is a very stupid religion.

Encyclopædia Britannica fights back against Wikipedia, soon to let users edit contents

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_fights_back_against_Wikipedia,_soon_to_let_users_edit_contents?curid=119813

Encyclopedia Brittanica, the famous encyclopedia, is now to let users edit their articles in order to combat with Wikipedia, the even more famous encyclopedia. Starting next week, users will be able to suggest edits to posts, and then the Brittanica editors will review them, and make the necessary edits.

I think that this is stupid, because everybody uses Wikipedia instead on Encyclopedia Brittanica. As a matter of fact, this is the very first time that I have ever heard of Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Gillibrand named as Clinton's Senate Replacement

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Gillibrand_named_as_Clinton%27s_Senate_replacement

On the 23 of January, 2009, David Patterson, Governer of New York, named Kirsten Gillibrand, 42, as the new Senator of New York, after Hilary Clinton. "I believe I have found the best candidate to become the next senator from the state of New York. She is dynamic, she is articulate, she is perceptive, she is outspoken," said Paterson at a news conference. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She was chosen after Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, withdrew from the race due to unspecified personal reasons, even though being the leading candidate. She was sworn in yesterday.

I think that she is a very good choice for the job, and she will fill the shoes left by former Senator Clinton.

US Senate confirms Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State.

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/US_Senate_confirms_Clinton_as_Secretary_of_State

Well, it was confirmed yesterday that Hilary Clinton, the former First Lady and Senator from New York, is now President Obama's Secretary of State. So, she will get to be in the White House after all... except she won't be living there, she will be working there. Many people supported her in this, such as former Presidentials Candidates, Senator John McCain, and Senator John Kerry. After the Senante voted, she was confirmed in at 5:29 P.M. local time, and resigned her Senate seat shortly thereafter. New York Governer David Patterson is to appoint her replacement.

I think that now that Obama has Hilary on the team, he will do amazingly well with fixing many of America's problems, such as the economy, and the wars.

President-Elect Obama to President Obama.

Yes, the moment that we have been waiting for is finally here. Ever since people started thinking about who would replace George W. Bush, we've wondered as to who it could be. Some said Hilary Clinton. Some said Rudy Guilani. Some said Al Gore. Some said John McCain. But no, they were all wrong. Barack Obama won the election on November 4, 2008. And today, January 20, 2009, he will be sworn in as President. Today is a historical day, because the first black President is getting sworn in.

My personal opinion on this is that America has finally proven that they are sorry for what they have done to the black people, by electing an African-American President. I think that it is great, not only because he's black, but I believe that Barack Obama will solve all, or near all, of the problems in the world.