Issues of today

Over the last couple of days the big issue screened on TV and on the internet is that of bullying in school, especially that which leads to suicide. I'm currently watching a show about various cases on this and it's really intense what people do to bully other kids. If you got bullied, picked on, hit, whatever it was. I think this would really be interested in this show because it has all risen to the next level now. The bullying to is happening today is on a felony charge level. One boy got his bike stolen by people who had been bullying him at school and when he saw them after school once they lit him on fire. They put something on him and lit him aflame. 

The subject hits a personal note with me too. Bullying has become such a big issue that children have turned to killing themselves rather than living through the torture they are experiencing. "Kick a ginger day" took over one middle school to the point of police intervention with three misdemeanor charges. In one high school a kid was bullied to the brink and killed himself because of a learning disability. With no one to intervene the bullying won't stop. School officials don't seem to do much either, what is limiting their ability to intervene? 

With all this bullying going on, one would think once you escape from high school you can live a good life and move on to whatever you find to be good next. Well, college doesn't eliminate the issue of bullying. Nationwide there are about 10,000 cases of violence on campus in the States. We all know the Columbine and Virginia Tech incidents. This week, here at uni, is the week against violence so I am doing my duty and hoping that one person at a time can learn to take action or teach other to take action. 

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Dolphahaha

Failblog.com you make my day.

Well, no more of that...

Yeah, today's a beautiful day but honestly, not so great right now. I just went to see my mentor for Criminal Justice. The big questions: What can I do with my degree that has to do with either investigations or counseling children? What options do I have in terms of counseling delinquents? Should I go to grad school? Can I be a criminal investigator without going to police academy? 

Well, there was no "maybe you should" and "it would be better", but just a simple "no". I can't be an investigator, I can't go into forensic sciences, I can't work crime scenes. None of it. Great, that's how I feel right now, just great... So all the stuff I aimed for, all the stuff I read about and learned and watched and collected, it's all for nothing because I can't be a detective anyway. So now I just have to focus on other things, like becoming a counselor for juvenile delinquents. It was my other option, but I just wished I could be a detective instead. So now my day ended up being disappointing and sad rather than fun with great weather. 

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The Pact

Yes, I made a pact. It's a good one, a horrible one, but a good one. I made a pact, that starting from today, my friend was going to quit sweets of any kind, and I was going to quit alcohol of any kind. So, today for two months, until Sunday 28th November, I will not be drinking alcohol unless there is a special occasion. 

So what is deemed an exception? Birthdays, Halloween... so you know, that weekend is going to be very difficult to remember. Mom, don't judge. I'll have to make up for lost time. So, wish me luck and hope it all ends, I'll let you know about the happenings and my wonderful will to resist. I'll still be going out, I assure you, but I'll stay away from the drinks. 

What happened today then that I decided that today is the day to tell you about my pact? Haha, yeah, I went to a liquor store. It was fascinating. I bought some awesome looking beers, I bought them because they looked so cool, I plan on keeping the bottles after they're empty. And now they stand on my shelf, keeping me sane. I promise I won't drink it!

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Explanation for the 5 year olds out there

When a person decides to help another and decides to donate blood

they are not only helping other but depleting their bodies of a vital liquid. Yes, sweat, a lot of people are scared of needles. But other than that people can save lives. Donating just one of those pretty little bags full of blood

can save someone who really needs your help. So, I decided to go to the Red Cross event here and do my part. I have plenty of stuff in my body and can donate at least one of them. But I'll wait to give them my kidney when really necessary. Ok, enough silliness. I was told my blood

may have mad cow disease. Because of the illness in Europe that affected so many people, 160 people died since it was discovered. So, since anyone, and apparently almost everyone, in Europe can have it they don't want any of my awesome blood. Ok, I don't blame them being careful. But if I had lived in Europe, which they also counted holidays to, for 4.5 years all would be cool. But 5 years? Now hold on there! So the great amounts of blood

I would have donated, like every 54 days, is now indefinitely rejected by the Red Cross in the entire US. And also, since I lived in Asia and they have Malaria (...) I have to be out of malaria's mean reach for at least 3 years. So I said I didn't live in Asia in the past three years... I really wanted to donate blood ok!

So I got an upset pat on the back from the lady in charge because she was upset that I was so disappointed. And then I left. Sad sad day.

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The Red Cross

So on a scale of 1-10, how upset am I right now? About ten. I'm disappointed. I mean, not angry at anyone except those that decide who gets to donate blood and who not. The process? So much more difficult than you expect. First, come in, sign in, get a sticker, nice, it was green. Look at a list of things you need in order to pass the first test. 

So I see, the usual, don't have HIV, don't have cancer, don't this don't that. Don't travel to the tropics in the last 12 months. So I ask "What do you consider the tropics?" Well, Hong Kong and the Philippines count... So, I say, what if I live there? Is that the same then? So I was asked did you only go to Manila, in and out without travelling? "Yes, sure." I answer. So, after some more questions about Hong Kong and China they say "We need to get the information on this." So I wait some more. They come back with three papers. I need to live in the States for more than three years after living in a country that may have malaria. Ok, just to get it out there: Hong Kong and malaria? Yeah, right, also, I'm pretty sure the US has some places with sicknesses so much worse. Ok, I know that's an immature thing to say, they have to be sure. But really? Ok, never mind. So I say, well, I lived in Spain for two years. "Still not three years". But I lived in Switzerland for two years before that. "Oh, ok well that then might work. So they say I pass and get to wait in line. 

For an hour.

So finally I make it to the interview. Or the list of questions. But it stops when I give the doctor my ID. "You're Swiss?" I nod. "Have you lived in Switzerland?" Yes, 2 years. "Was that at the beginning of your life?" No, starting four years ago. "How long have you lived in the States for?" A month. "Where did you live otherwise?" In Spain the last two years. There was a pause. Then she walked out. I waited again. The manager came again. "She lived in Europe." I nod again. "More than five years?" Well, technically no. "With holidays?" Well if you count holidays, then yes... But that's not living there. But apparently it counts as living there. So what now? I can't donate. Indefinitely. As in, I can never donate blood in the States. Boy, was I disappointed. 

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It's been a while

How am I supposed to be able to study if it's been such a long time since I last studied? Yeah, we all know this isn't going to end well. Basically, this weekend before the first couple of midterms, I went to an orchard, I went to a club, I went to a play, I went to the gym, I went to a friend's home, and I had a friend stay over night. I'm screwed...

Maybe to study I'll just watch some CSI. I mean, that is the class I need to study for. Oh, and I'll get pictures of the happenings of this weekend out soon. It was pretty epic.

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