"Youth in Asia?"

BABY IN BRITISH COURT BATTLE DIES
(CNN)

The 13-month-old known as Baby RB has finally passed away after the resolution of a legal battle between his mother and father finally came to an end as the father agreed to have RB's life support stopped in his best interest. Despite his initial objection, the father ultimately agreed to allow his baby boy to pass on "in a planned way, with the administration of a large dose of sedative, the removal of the ventilation tube and his consequent death." Naturally, the ominous ethical question rears its head -- who had the ultimate say? Was the father right in trying to preserve his son's life at any cost or was the mother who judged her son's life not by its length but its quality. The father claimed the baby could play, while the hospital was steadfast in saying his progressive disease caused great discomfort and other respiratory problems. The article itself merely hinted at the issue at it seems almost fruitless to address it in international news stories such as this. The allusions were clear, but the article kept it diplomatic and stuck to the empirical facts.

I've always personally grappled with this issue, especially after the most recent episode of House, M.D. in which the character Chase knowingly misdiagnoses an African dictator (played by the oh-so-suave James Earl Jones) so that he passes away without much of a trace of blame on the diagnostics staff. Was he sacrificing a human life to spare others as a hero, or a demon himself for taking another life? Is the father selfish for wanting to keep his son alive at all costs, or does he believe his son would've wanted to be alive? Sure, it's a stretch connection to a point, but it comes down to the value of a human life and if it is worth preserving in either its most empty form or at the expense of others.


Link to story at cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/15/uk.baby.dies/index.html

A naynay for the vajayjay

NEW WARNING ON 'PERFECT VAGINAS'
(BBC)

The United States is not the only nation succumbing to the plastic trend. The UK has also seen a dramatic rise in surgeries to improve aesthetic appearances; however, tummy tucks and Botox are not the end to the lengths women will go to to seem appealing to the opposite sex. Labial surgeries have seen an alarming spike amidst what appears to be an ignorant general populace.

"Labioplasty, as it is known, costs about £3,000 privately and is offered for a variety of reasons: some women complain that wearing tight clothes or riding a bike is uncomfortable, while others say they are embarrassed in front of a sexual partner."

While research from the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology emphasize the dangers of these operations when done unnecessarily, surgeons seem to agree that the risk the research shows is hyperbolized. I respect the BBC from giving both sides of the issue -- they don't appear to commit to either side. I must agree, though, that the comparisons between labioplasty and FGM seem a little stretched to tear at the heartstrings, though there are inherent risks with any surgery. The point is that women strive for unrealistic bodies that simply cannot be attained without a nip here or a tuck here and, quite frankly, it's time we stopped snooping about men's magazines to see what our spouses or significant others desire. Let them have their fantasies and if they cannot come to you -- a real woman -- and be satisfied despite your human imperfections, they're simply not mature enough for you and it's time to move on.

In the end, whether or not labioplasty is physically dangerous, the psychological ramifications of being so uncomfortable with your appearance in a place most people (usually) don't exhibit everyday are unparalleled. Ever seen Repo! The Genetic Opera? Let's not even get into how to PAY for such luxuries.


Link to story at bbc.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8352711.stm

No small roles, only small actors? Yeah, if you're a midget.

SMALL ROLES STILL ALLOW FOR HUMOR, REVENGE
(The Alligator/Erik Voss)

I'm beginning to feel almost creepy considering how often I wind up commenting on my own improv mentor's columns but I've got to say -- Erik really knows how to serve up humor in the strangest and most relatable packages. Here he addresses the innate desire to impress those we despise if only for the cheapest form of validation (in this case, his elementary school drama teacher). I know I've been there; those demeaning school plays that pit toddler divas against one another as if Miss Smith the drama teacher with a BA in English was a legitimate Broadway producer. Alas, poor Erik (I knew him well?) and myself were often confined to small roles (him for his unfortunate phallic object and me for just being a forgettable sort of girl). His desire to ruin the ambiance of the play with one apathetic "hooray" really does hit home to that inner desire to adhere to "if I can't have it, nobody can" mentality.Sure, it's wrong -- but is it funny coming from a third grader? Heck yes.

Good show, little vengeful Erik. Take a bow.

Machin' me crazy

MACHEN TICKETED IN PARKING LOT INCIDENT
(The Gainesville Sun)

"University of Florida President Bernie Machen was ticketed by Gainesville police Friday night for hitting another car in a downtown parking lot and failing to leave information on the car, police said Saturday." Allegedly, Machen did not seem to think there had been any damage and left the scene to go to dinner, leaving the parking lot attendant to tell the owner of the red Camry that the UF president had backed into his/her car. The officer at the scene said this was a criminal violation and a court date would be necessary.

As one of the top schools in the nation, it would be nice if our president could set a mature example. Not too impressive if he can't even fess up to a minor fender bender in place of a fancy schmancy dinner that could most definitely have waited 5 minutes for him to scribble a note. For crying out loud, you're the figurehead of a top education institution -- take responsibility for your actions! 


Link to story at gainesville.com:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091108/NEWS/911079895/1002?Title=Machen-ticketed-in-parking-lot-incident

Keep your hands down, they're not playing your song

MILEY THE FRAUD -- I'VE NEVER HEARD A JAY-Z SONG
(TMZ)

"Party In the USA" -- it's on every radio station, in every store, and everyone's humming it on the bus. The undeniably catchy tune from teen sensation Miley Cyrus has everyone jamming. The line "and a Jay-Z song was on" would lead one to wonder, "Well, what Jay-Z song has Ms. Cyrus singing?" And the answer is none as the pop starlet was unable to name any songs when posed the question and claims she's never even heard a Jay-Z song in her life. Look, we know you don't write your own music, but at least do a little background research before you make a smash hit music video.

Link to story at tmz.com:
http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/06/miley-cyrus-jay-z-song-video/

Cushion for the kushin'

SAVE THE POT DEALERS!
(Time)

"They're almost as bad off as journalists." Who are we talking about, here? Actors? Nope. English majors? Eh, possibly. More like marijuana dealers. For you see, especially in California where obtaining a medical marijuana license is easier than a driver's license, most have turned away from their dependable dealers in favor of allowing the strong hand of capitalism to feed their need.

I think what's most endearing about this article is its blatent honesty -- there's no candy coating the fact that the author himself bullshit the system to get weed (as did his wife) and that the War on Drugs hasn't really accomplished much more than creating an army of hipster smokers. ("Also, legitimizing pot hasn't created more users; it has just produced more annoying ones, who now apply Whole Foods--ian levels of snobbiness to the differences between Hawaiian Sativa and Humboldt Indica.") Does this call for another bailout to save the suffering back-alley marijuana industry? Not quite. But a legalization of it would certainly cut the crap out of the bureacratic system in which obtaining a medical marijuana license through deceit. Save everyone the trouble and just let it go, feds.

Link to story at time.com:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1934996-2,00.html

An eye for an eye?

BRANDON SPIKES EYE GOUGING VIDEO: FLORIDA GATOR SUSPENDED FOR EYE POKING
(Huffington Post)

Coach Urban Meyer has suspended star linebacker Brandon Spikes from the first half of the Vanderbilt game after Spikes attempted to gouge the eyes of running back Washaun Ealey during the Florida-Georgia game this past Saturday. According to Meyer, it was retaliation for an earlier play in which Spikes' eyes almost met a similar fate.

I love my Florida Gators and I've been an avid football fan as long as I can remember (I'm thinking womb), but I have to say that it's actions like these that really make me lose faith in sports. Yes, Spikes is a valuable player to the team as a whole but the consequences to his actions seem almost trivial. It was an admittedly deliberate act and the punishment should reflect that. Of course this happens all the time in the NFL, yes, but there are viral videos spiraling about the Internet that simply cannot be ignored.

Sorry, Spikes -- Hammurabi just isn't for everyone.


Link to story and video at huffingtonpost.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/brandon-spikes-eye-gougin_n_342401.html


Edit: I wrote this before I had many of the later details of the story, including Ealey's defense of Spikes and the like. Totally unjournalistic of me, right? Anyway, my opinion on the matter has changed since then so bear that in mind before I get a horde of angry Gators at me with pitchforks and torches. Please and thank you!