Autism Treatments For As Young As 18 Months

Laura Schreibman, an autism researcher with the University of California in San Diego, says there's a growing emphasis on diagnosing autism at the earliest age possible, and the study shows that it can pay off with this early, effective treatment.

Children aged 18 to 30 months were randomly assigned to receive behavior treatment called The Early Start Denver Model to be given by therapists and parents.  Some of the others were referred to others for less comprehensive care.  This new therapy focuses on social interaction and communication, which are both very difficult for many autistic children.  Ultimately, the process is for the therapists or parents to repeatedly hold a toy near a child's face to encourage the child to make eye contact, which is a common problem with autism.  They would also reward children when they used words to ask for toys.

The children in a specialized group had four hours of therapist-led treatment 5 days a week, plus at least 5 hours from parents.  After two years of experimenting, the children in the specialized group had an IQ increase of an average of 18 points, versus 7 points in the other groups.

No children were considered "cured" in the experiment.  However, language skills did improve in both groups, again, more so in the specialized group.  Almost 30% in the specialized group were re-diagnosed with a less severe form of autism after the two years, along with 5% in the other groups.

Treatment is very expensive, close to $50,000 a year.  However, some states require insurers to cover such costs.  A group called Autism Speaks is working very hard to expand those laws and encouraging other states to take part.

One of my good friends I've known since first grade had three daughters, the youngest didn't progress like the others did.  They noticed from a young age that something wasn't quite right. The doctors weren't sure what the problem was either.  She did not want to speak, other people made her very nervous, and she didn't like loud noises, so they ruled out a hearing problem. Eventually, they set her up with a speech therapist, which helped some, but there was still not an actual diagnosis.  She was ultimately, however, diagnosed with autism, and to my knowledge, she still has some problems, but they are learning more how to deal with the disease.

Autism was barely thought of 10 to 15 years ago, although now it has been researched and diagnosed in so many children in recent years.  There must have been so many parents in the past who knew something was wrong with their children, but no one at that time could pin-point the problem.  Its so good to know there is more and more research being done on this awful disease, and that some of these children are actually getting better.  Once a few celebrities came out with their children being diagnosed with autism, the research and treatment seemed to take off quickly.  I'm thankful for those who have spoken out about this. Possibly in another few years we can have even more answers, and who knows, someday maybe there can be an actual cure.

State Dinner Crashers Met Obama

Michaele and Tareq Salahi arrived and entered as all the other guests to the White House State Dinner last Tuesday. The difference was, they allegedly were not invited.  According to a CBN News story, the couple not only entered the White House grounds, they also were in the receiving line in the Blue Room with Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for whose honor the dinner was held, and shook hands with President Obama, but no one took notice at this point.

The Secret Service insists the President was not endangered by a security breach that allowed the couple to enter.  However, there are appropriate measures being taken to ensure this sort of thing will not happen again.  Also, the Secret Service is possibly pursuing a criminal investigation of the Salahi's.

Secret Service Director, Mark Sullivan, made reference to the fact that his agency has screened more than 1.2 million visitors last year to the White House complex, and protected more than 10,000 sites for the President, Vice President, among others, but says, "Even with these successes, we need to be right 100% of the time."

The article also stated some interesting facts about the Salahi's themselves.  Apparently, Bravo Media has confirmed that Michaele Salahi is being considered to play a part in the new "The Real Housewives of D.C." reality show, and was being filmed by Half Yard Productions, the producer of the show, on the day of the dinner.  Half Yard Productions are claiming the Salahi's confirmed to them that they were invited to the State Dinner.  The production company took them at their word and filmed their preparations for the big event.

After researching further, the Salahi's apparently were previously photographed with the Obama's, or it appeared that way anyhow.  One photo taken just days before Obama took the oath of office, shows the Salahi's in a group shot with Obama and some of the musicians who performed at an inaugural concert, which was posted on the couple's Facebook page.  Other photos show the couple in the empty, glass-enclosed box from which the Obama's watched the concert with a caption that reads, "backstage with the Secret Service at the Lincoln Memorial during the Presidential Inauguration."

I guess there are still several questions to be answered involving this incident.  No one is sure what the couple told the officers at the checkpoint that allowed them to go through the security screening, but for some reason the officers that had the clipboard with the names on it, allowed them to proceed instead of calling someone from the White House staff or Secret Service to check out the problem.

This stunt is apparently a federal crime, and if pursued to the fullest extent, the Salahi's could face charges of knowingly and willfully falsifying statements on matters within the federal government's jurisdiction.

One problem is, with all this posted in the media, it looks to our enemies as if security in the United States is a joke.  Hopefully, this will just beef up security in all areas, but the reality is, the Secret Service cannot be perfect 100% of the time as they want to be.  I think they should try to be, however, they are human too, and should be allowed to make a mistake.  At least, in this particular instance, no one was hurt.

Former Hells Angel Finds God

In this story published by Fox News, Richie Kane, a 52-year-old man who is a former Hells Angel, has transformed his life by finding God, and is now even thinking about going back to school to get a college degree.

Kane is a New York native who grew up with an alcoholic father that beat him on a regular basis. He describes an incident where his father beat him with a pair of hedge clippers so bad that his head bled profusely and stuck to his pillow when he went to bed.  He was never taken to the hospital for treatment.  Kane also speaks about being sexually molested by a stranger near some railroad tracks by his home in the Bronx.  Although, he didn't tell his parents for fear that they would blame him.

As Kane grew up, he only knew of one way to rid himself of the agony he was dealing with, and that was to turn to the bottle, just as his dad did.  Another way of escape for Kane was joining the Hells Angels.  But after fighting uncontrollably with other gang members and rivals, he was also rejected by the gang.  His health eventually deteriorated and he contracted Hepititis C. Feeling as if he had no reason to live anymore, Kane turned to the bottle again.  However, this time in a desperate plea, he asked God to show him the good in himself and how to become better.  Richie got his answer.  He claimed through Alcoholics Anonymous, meditation, and looking to God for answers, he says he found strength to forgive his father, the man who molested him, and the gang members who tried to kill him.  Kane was quoted as saying, "They never touched my core being. That's where the light is. There's a part of everybody that's pure that nobody can get to you there."

What an inspiring way to look at life's circumstances.  This man obviously went through so many horrific things in his life, yet even though life was unfair to him, he still found hope in God.  I wonder if any of the former fellow gang members will follow suit and be able to turn their lives around also.

The article doesn't make any reference to what went on with his mother during those years, or where either of his parents are now.  However, it does mention that Kane wrote a book entitled, "The Bronx Kid: Into 12-Step Recovery".  A more detailed version of what he went through, and where they are now, is most likely described in the book.  He claims that the book is a way of passing on the hope he has now embraced.

I'm sure he will reach so many people with his book and his story.  These days it's hard to find people that aren't looking for a better or higher purpose in life.  Hopefully Mr. Kane can live a much happier life now that he himself has found a higher purpose. 

As I stated earlier, Richie Kane is planning to go to college and get a degree.  He is wanting to study journalism, so he might very well touch millions.  What a great story.

Sleepwalker Kills Wife

Brian Thomas, 59, of Neath, South Wales, has admitted to strangling his wife, Christine, 57, while they were on vacation in West Wales, according to a Fox News report.  

Apparently, Thomas has suffered from sleep disorders for nearly 50 years.  He and his wife had been married for almost 40, an anniversary they were due to celebrate soon.  People close to the couple claimed they were a very happy, devoted couple, and are extremely surprised something like this could have happened.

The couple had been sleeping in their camper when they awoke to "boy racers", at which time they decided to move their camper.  After getting readjusted and falling back asleep, Thomas had a terrible nightmare in which the boys they had trouble with earlier, broke into their camper van. He then awoke and found himself next to his wife's lifeless body.  Thomas immediately called for emergency assistance in which he stated, "I think I killed my wife.  Oh my God.  I thought someone had broken in.  I was fighting with those boys, but it was Christine. I must have been dreaming or something.  What have I done?  What have I done?  Can you send someone?"  Thomas was crying and shaking when he was found by the police officers that were called to the scene.  He claimed his wife was, "... my world".

Prosecutors did accept the findings of the medical experts who confirmed Thomas did suffer from a sleep disorder.  They reported to the Swansea Crown Court that they would not seek a conviction for murder or manslaughter.  The prosecutor goes on to claim that the defendant accepts that he caused the death of his wife, however, they will seek what is called a "special verdict", a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.  If he is found not guilty by reason of insanity, he will be subjected to a psychiatric hospital, and there is a possibility he could be detained there indefinitely. 

This is one of those extremely sad and incomprehensible tragedies that make you question everything about the defendant, but also makes you feel very, very sorry for him if all he claims is true.  So many of us have had dreams that seemed so real, and you have lay there for a minute and convince yourself it wasn't real.  Although, on the other hand, it's so difficult to imagine performing a physical strangulation on someone while sleeping and not realize what you were doing.  I guess that is where the sleep disorder comes into play; a disorder is something not normal.  Perhaps it did happen exactly as Thomas claimed.

According to the medical experts, their tests did confirm that his behavior was "consistent with the legal concept of automatism."  The prosecutors say, "In other words, at the time of the killing, the defendant was asleep, and his mind had no control over what his body was doing."

Regardless of what his conviction brings, this man has to live with this tragedy, along with the other family members.  There will be a great many sad years ahead of them.

First U.S. Trial For 9/11 Case

In a report from MSNBC, Zacarias Moussaoui was finally sentenced for his part in the 9/11 tragedy in a New York courtroom.  This is the first sentencing trial conducted in this country over 9/11.  United States District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who presided over the trial, believes this trial proved that federal courts can handle terror cases.  She reached the conclusion, "...that the system does work."

Moussaoui was charged in December 2001 with conspiracy for his role.  The case was sent through years of pretrial hearings and appeals as judges tried to balance national security with Moussaoui's constitutional rights, and discretion as to what evidence should be allowed. Moussaoui did, however, plead guilty in 2005 to conspiracy with the 9/11 hijackers.  Under the rules for the federal death penalty cases, a separate sentencing trial was held in 2006 to determine whether Moussaoui would lose his life or spend the rest of his life in prison.

In the first phase of the trial, the jurors concluded the defendant's actions were eligible for the death penalty.  However, during this second phase of trial, they voted to spare his life, due to one juror opposing the death sentence in this particular case.

Moussaoui had been famous for his abusive tirades, whether it be in handwritten motions, or outbursts in his hearings.  The District Judge had threatened to lock him in a separate room watching by video if he tried any outrageous outbursts in the courtroom.  Moussaoui cooperated and sat quietly at his table, surrounded by deputy marshals.  He did, however, make a few one-liner comments, like, "Victory for Moussaoui.  God curse you all."  Only these comments were made to spectators as he left the courtroom after the jury departed for lunch or for the day.  Edward MacMahon, one of Moussaoui's lawyers, thought the trial "was a very dignified process."

Prosecutors in this sentencing trial were actually surprised they were not able to get the death penalty.  Although, according to the article, Moussaoui was more surprised than anyone.  He concluded that "after reviewing the jury verdict and reading how the jurors set aside their emotions and disgust for me, and focused on the law and evidence....I now see that it is possible that I can receive a fair trial."

The lead prosecutor in this case seems to have issues with where the rest of these trials will lead.  One being, not everyone will likely plead guilty as Moussaoui had, which gives rise to more complications during an actual trial.  Another concern in the article is with possible coerced confessions, water boarding, and even the fact that this case generated detailed appellate rulings that will guide lower courts.  So eventually, there may be arguments over legalities in these future cases.

Regardless of how "forgiving" this ruling may seem Moussaoui, I think he will have to be kept very isolated in prison due to the outrage by Americans over the 9/11 tragedy.  Also, it was said by the media, that these men involved, would rather die for their efforts, now Moussaoui is going to be able to sit and think for many years about the reality of what he has done.  Maybe it is not such a bad sentence after all.

Octomom and Kids in Prime Time

Nadya Suleman, the famous mom who is only the second woman to successfully deliver octuplets in the United States, is gearing up to start filming with a television company based in the Netherlands.  The company is called Eyeworks, and is already working on shooting "Octomom: Me and My Fourteen Kids". 

Nadya has been on several shows as a guest, including, Oprah, Jimmy Kimmel, Dr. Phil, and an interview with Ann Curry from the Today Show, among others.  She has a deal with Radar Online, which also publishes National Enquirer and Star Magazine.  Suleman claims she hates the cameras, and all the attention and fame.  She explains, however, "It's a catch-22," "I'm damned if I do what I need to do with the media to support my kids, and I'm damned if I don't. If I don't, I can't take care of them."

Nadya is currently living in a two-story, tan and white tract home with Spanish tiles, in a nice Southern California neighborhood.  The main difference distinguishing her home from the others in the neighborhood, is the dead grass, and the inside, which is set up more like a daycare instead of a home.  She has four nannies on the weekends and three nannies through the week.  There is a film crew of four during filming, with a children's representative mandated by the State of California to ensure compliance with its labor laws.

Suleman was offered a quarter-million dollars by Eyeworks for the exclusive rights to film her family for 11 days, and for the option to do so again.  If this goes over well, the United States has a deal pending, to follow suit with the rest of the popular reality shows; Jon and Kate plus 8, The Duggars, etc.

Obviously there is a lot of controversy over all this, mostly because Nadya is a single parent. She has chosen this path by in-vitro fertilization and a sperm donor, not to mention the fact that between 2000 and 2008, more than $169,000 in disability payments have been given to her.  Suleman is now 34 years old, and has spent most of her life with her parents, and on welfare.

It is very disheartening to know that people can do such outrageous things and be paid so excessively for it.  These reality shows tend to send the message of how "easy" it is to make millions....... have lots of babies.

It just seems that there could be a surge of women living hard-luck lives that will attempt to pull something like this off, and what will result is millions more on welfare.  Our country has a hard enough time paying for welfare and even social security for our citizens.

Granted, with the money Suleman is getting paid, she will not need public assistance. However, if other young women follow suit in order to receive the same fame, not everyone will succeed. I think it is a fluke that Nadya Suleman has gotten this far.  And personally, I don't think people realize how hard this is on the children.  We probably won't see the real effects of that until years down the road.

She should really have to pay back that welfare money, since she is going to make millions off the whole reason she was on public assistance in the first place.

Flying Cars, A Reality?

An MSNBC.com report claims, through all the past years of hearing about flying contraptions, whether it be Santa Claus's sleigh or movies using such "flying vehicles", flying cars might actually become a reality in the next five years.  According to John Brown, editor of RoadableTimes.com, a web database of flying cars, this reality could be in the form of an actual everyday, practical car.

Apparently, there are close to 1,500 flying car designs that have been created over the years, and 152 of them have actually flown.  These were not created by your everyday, run of the mill people, these were thoughts and models put together and tinkered with by every major aerospace and auto manufacturer from Boeing to BMW.  Although, there are still kinks to work out, they just haven't come up with anything that would suit the public, cosmetic-wise. However, they think they are getting close.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has come up with a prototype that has taken to the air 27 times as of the spring of 2009.  The engineers are calling their flying car a roadable aircraft; an aircraft that can be driven to and from the airport, and also parked in a garage. This two-seater switches between a car and a plane in 30 seconds by its folding wings.  It uses unleaded gasoline and can drive at highway speeds.  It also can fly 450 miles at 115 miles per hour on a single tank of fuel.  The team from the Institute is now working on a second-stage prototype that could be out in 2011.

Another prototype preparing for completion is the X-Hawk.  It is referred to as a VTOL vehicle, which stands for "vertical take-off and landing".  This van-sized vehicle can travel up to 155 miles per hour, and was created at the Urban Aeronautics in Yavne, Israel.  It is intended to be used combat and rescue missions for soldiers.

Four more designs are in the progress of being manufactured; a spaceship type model that was designed by a California man, a parachute-glider vehicle that is more like a dune-buggy with a massive rear propeller, which was created in London, and would be primarily used for sport, a motorcycle-gyrocopter hybrid, that would be street-legal, and would be able to fly at 4,000 feet, and finally, an air-car, primarily used for long distance commutes.  It looks very similar to a small aircraft, but it would also be street-legal, measuring 7 ft. wide with the main wing folded in at the rear of the vehicle.  Most of the manufacturers of these prototypes are hoping to have these on the streets, and obviously in the air by 2010 or 2011.  

This article displays a picture for each prototype and gives a description of each.  It is well worth looking at.  

Ever since the Jetsons cartoon, millions of us have dreamed of the day we could see flying cars in real life, and never thought it could actually happen.  That day might just be closer than we think.

Crossing Racial Lines

For the first time ever, classmates from 1959 have reunited together in a reunion that combined three segregated schools.

In a story published by CNN News, the idea started about 4 years ago, when a son, Wyatt Johnson, told his father how he must have missed out on several friendships due to the segregation in the past.  The father, Tom Johnson, who is the former head of CNN, and was once the publisher for the LA Times, decided there was something he needed to do.  He needed to reach out to the African-Americans in Macon, Georgia who graduated in 1959.  He never got a chance to get to know them because of the segregation.  Mr. Johnson wrote to the graduates of the black school, Ballard-Hudson; the white girls' school, Miller; and the white boys' school, Lanier, and invited them to a combined high school reunion.  He wrote, "We all have deep personal memories of our high school experiences that will remain with us forever..."  "We had lived in a separate black and white world in Macon... It is a different world today.  We no longer are separated, except by personal choice."

The meeting did take place in early October.  More than 200 people gathered at a Goodwill banquet hall, and there were only tears, hugs, handshakes, and a few comments about the segregated past that prevented the closeness they could now share.  They also had someone from the group come up with a brilliant idea; they took out notepads and began making a to-do list of 59 things (representing the class of '59) that they could do as a united group.  They came up with several ideas from, building a home for Habitat for Humanity to writing letters to service men and women from the Macon area serving in the war.

They did have one person from the class who refused to be there, he returned a letter of hate mail.  The united class even decided to write him and persuade him to change his way of thinking.

I am so impressed by all the love and compassion that went into this reunion.  People can accomplish so much by just coming together, forgetting their differences, and realizing, at the core of everyone of us, we are all the same.  We all laugh and cry the same.  This group demonstrated what real love for humanity is.

There is also a video that accompanies this article, in which they interview students from those schools.  It's a very interesting video where they share thoughts on the segregation, most of whom did not even think about the whole realm of segregation at the time.  Most of the students from the black school did not realize until they were in high school that something was "wrong", that the reason for this was literally because of their skin color.  Everyone just accepted it the way it was.  However, they feel so blessed now that they have come to see change for the good, for the betterment of all of America.  There are all so thankful they "have come together at last," as one lady puts it, in the video.

Life Prison Sentences For Youths

This article from the New York Times, published on November 7th, states that there is an issue in Florida regarding sending felons to prison for life for crimes they committed as youths, although they were not involved in a homicide.  There are only just over 100 people in the entire world serving life sentences, with out the possibility of parole, for crimes that were committed while they were still juveniles, and in which no one was killed.  All of these are in the United States; 77 of them are in Florida.

There is much controversy over this issue, even among judges, legislators, and prosecutors. They all seem to agree that due to the high rate of crime in Florida especially, that they should take a very tough stance on juvenile crime.  However, the debate on this issue is whether life without the possibility of parole is really necessary.

The most recent controversy came about, first of all, due to the Supreme Court generally allowing states to decide for themselves what punishment will fit what crimes, and now they will be listening to two appeals today, Monday, November 9th, from two juvenile offenders, who were sentenced to life without parole.  Joe Sullivan, who raped a woman when he was 13, and Terrance Graham, who committed armed burglary at age 16.  They are appealing on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment, established by the 8th amendment.  These two individuals are claiming they were sentenced to die in prison for crimes other than homicide, and that qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment.

This does seem cruel and unusual on the surface.  However, after reading further into the article, it gave a brief history of the two defendants.  Joe Sullivan, who is now 37, had committed a string of crimes before being charged with this particular rape, of whom the victim was a 72-year-old woman, after a burglary in 1989, in Pensacola.  Then, Terrance Graham, now 22, was sentenced to one year in jail and 3 years probation for a 2003 robbery of a resident in Jacksonville.  Mr. Graham violated his probation one year later by committing another home invasion robbery.

Tourism seems to be one major issue for Florida in particular.  According to Kathleen M. Heide, a professor of criminology at the University of South Florida, she states, "We're at the more extreme level," she said, "because our economy is so tied up with people coming here on vacation and and feeling safe.  And older people want to live out their retirements and be safe."

I really can see both sides of the issue here.  If the system is tough and makes examples out of these juveniles, the crime rate could go down, and it would make tourists and society feel more safe.  However, if there could be some type of middle ground, that could help also.  Perhaps if the justice system, in these states, would come up with a mandatory sentence for repeat offenders.  For example, serving 20 years before being eligible for parole or probation on the most serious crimes that do not involve homicide.  And personally, if juvenile offenders are on probation, I believe there should be mandatory counseling, for the remainder of the probation term, provided by the state.  If the juvenile does not fulfill these requirements, they go back to prison.  It's a shame that this many young people are in trouble in this country.

Ft. Hood Killings

Authorities are calling the killings at Ft. Hood, TX, the largest terror act in America since 9/11. According to a story put out by Fox News, they claim the most important matter confronting us now is that we need to unveil and analyze what Major Nadal Hasan's real motives were in committing these acts.  The real question, they say, is when did Hasan become radicalized, and who indoctrinated him?  If we had these questions answered, it might allow authorities to detect other potential terror acts that could be in the making.

Apparently, there was a plot dismantled in 2006, in Fort Dix, NJ, in which military personnel were to be killed.  Other terror cells have also been discovered in the United States in recent years; in Georgia, New York, and North Carolina.  These also involved plots for attacking military installations on U.S. soil.  However, there have also been several, what the article calls "lone wolves", who have expressed their intentions to attack military personnel.  In fact, there was a person by the name Abdulhakin Mujahid Muhammad, who shot two members of the U.S. Military in Little Rock, AR, which resulted in one of them being killed.  And according to investigators, incidents such as these are continual, ongoing situations.

Hasan was reported as making several statements indicating his ideological beliefs. Such as, commenting that the killing of the soldier in Arkansas, and any other attack against the U.S. Military inside the homeland is legitimate because of American Military involvement in the Middle East.  He also allegedly made remarks in support of potential suicide attacks inside the country.  These comments were reported by retired Col. Terry Lee, who was interviewed by Fox News, and the article does state that these and other comments reported need to be analyzed and verified.

After reading and hearing about all the comments made, and the fact that Hasan was dressing in complete muslim attire, which he had reportedly not done until recently, it is just so unfortunate that all these warning signs were not taken seriously by top military officials, or fellow comrades for that matter.

Considering what has happened since 2006, and especially 9/11, all U.S. Military officials from the lowest rank to the highest should be cautious themselves about who is around them, but all should be reevaluated.  This way we can be very cautious about who we are putting in charge of fighting for our country.

When American workplaces hire individuals, several do an extensive background check.  To some degree, they also do some kind of psychological evaluation, whether it be just asking questions, or a kind of written evaluation.  Are we not putting the same kind of standards out there for our military?

It sounds like the jihadi groups are very strict about stating how they feel when it comes to their radical beliefs; that they cannot state in any way that they support Americans.  If there are psychological evaluations to determine if someone can handle fighting for our country, can't there be some sort of evaluation created to see how devoted our military personnel are to the U.S.?

Also, it would be very helpful to suspend or give an automatic dismissal to anyone in the military  who makes comments or does anything supporting jihad behavior.  There is going to have to be a "cleansing" done in the military, or this could be the fall of our country.  If we can't trust our military, the ones who are supposed to be there to fight for our freedom, who can we trust?

"Sleepers" Raise Money for Homeless

A homeless shelter in Britain takes a new approach to providing for young people. For the past 40 years, a British homeless shelter, named Centrepoint, has provided approximately 70,000 young people with not only housing, but health care and education. The shelter sets out to prepare young people, ages 16-25 for life on their own.

Centrepoint will host a "sleep out" on November 12, 2009, in which participants, better known as "sleepers", give up the comforts of home, and their beds, to sleep outside for one night in order to raise money for the shelter. This event allows the fundraisers to experience what it feels like to be a homeless person, to get the awareness out there. Sleepers are encouraged to raise at least $800 (500 pounds), that goes directly to the center. The annual event raised about $145,000 last year alone. This year, they expect around 350 sleepers, which makes it possible for the center to raise approximately $400,000.

One man, by the last name of Batten, who will be a returning sleeper this year, works with a property management company, titled, King Sturge, located in London. He commented about working with Centrepoint throughout the years. Batten stated, King Sturge will offer mentoring resources and even jobs to the homeless at Centrepoint this year.

Another man, Jon Milward, who works for a commercial property consultancy, will be participating in the event for the first time this year. He has visited the shelter and has realized, these aren't just old men who have gone out and gotten drunk one two many times and have been thrown out, these are young people who come from dysfunctional families, who really have nowhere else to go, and who want to try to make something of their lives. They just need a boost.

The article also speaks of one success story, a young girl named Stephanie, who was 17 when she came to the shelter two years ago. Stephanie had been in an abusive relationship for two years prior to coming to the shelter. She was on drugs, and was not in good shape physically or emotionally. Centrepoint provided her with shelter and a caseworker, who acted as a counselor and a parent. They guided her through personal problems and helped her to start a stable, healthy lifestyle. Stephanie was quoted as saying, "When I entered Centrepoint, I didn't have the support of my family....the extra emotional support really helped." She claims Centrepoint has turned her life around completely. She is now settled in a flat (like an apartment), and she is working as a youth adviser for her local council. Stephanie is also planning on attending a local university next year, where she will study interior design.

It is so important to help raise money and give to charities during these tough economic times. Hopefully, local shelters can follow suit with this great charity event from Britain, or at least something similar, to help our local homeless people and families.

World's Largest Cave Found In Vietnam

In the dense jungles of Vietnam, in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a local farmer came across what is now known as the world's largest cave. The cave has been named the Son Doong Cave. It measures at 80 x 80 meters, or 262 x 262 feet, and at least 2.8 miles long.

The cave was first explored by a British-Vietnamese research team earlier this year. They were able to bring in some very high-tech laser measuring devices so that the measurements could be very precise, even to the millimeter. This cave also has an underground river flowing through it that is over 1 1/2 miles long. It also has giant stalagmites that measure more than 230 feet high. One member of the research team was able to confirm that in one area of the cave, it measured 460 feet high.

Apparently, until now, the world record holder for the largest cave, went to Deer Cave, which is located in the Malaysian area of the island of Borneo. There was nothing stated as to whether the size of that cave was even comparable to this newly found cave.

The expedition team that was brought in to explore the cave were told by some locals that they had known about the cave for quite some time, there was just no one brave enough to check it out. Adam Spillane, one member of the British Cave Research Association Expedition stated, "It has a very loud draft, and you can hear the river from the cave entrance, so it is very noisy and intimidating." According to the enormous size of the cave, and the fact that it has a river running through it, it was probably very smart of the local people to bring in professional researchers to explore the cave for the first time.

The pictures from this article are amazing. I don' t think we realize how small we really are until we come up against something as enormous as this. I remember going in to the first cave I had ever been in, probably like most of us living in southwest Missouri, the famous Silver Dollar City cave. I was completely mesmerized by it all. Since then, I've been in several tourist-type caves, but I am blown away every time.

My Dad grew up close to Tiff City, Mo., and he used to tell me stories about finding small caves around Buffalo Creek, where he played around as a child. I was always fascinated to hear him talk about finding indian arrowheads in the caves. Then I grew up and married a man who is fascinated with caves the way I am. He has explored several caves in southwest Missouri over the years also. However, I have to say, I just stick to the caves that are open to the public. The ones that actually have ramps to walk down, equipped with handrails and all. Not to mention, lighting throughout the cave, so you don't have to wear all that headgear.

Maybe the Son Doong Cave will be open to the public in the near future, so people can see this nautural creation in person. I'm sure as beautiful as the pictures are, they don't really do it justice.

Saving Israel's Dead Sea

Experts believe that the Dead Sea is evaporating faster than ever before, according to an article posted by CBN News.  They claim the level of the Dead Sea has dropped by more than four feet and some parts of the shoreline have retreated close to a mile in the last 25 years.

The Dead Sea is considered a natural wonder of the Earth, not to mention a biblical landmark, and it contains a treasure trove of minerals that are used worldwide.

Geologist Eli Raz, claims the quickly depleting sea is due to human interference as opposed to nature.  Raz stated that Israel and Jordan have been diverting the waters of the Jordan River, only allowing a trickle to flow into the Dead Sea.  He also blames big industries for harvesting rich minerals from the Sea.  Companies such as Israel's Dead Sea Works and its counterpart, mine minerals like potash, magnesium, and bromine, which produces 10% of the world's potash.  It is used as a main ingredient in fertilizer, and is used here in the United States.

Tourism will also suffer as a result, if the Dead Sea is not saved.  The Dead Sea is 10 times saltier than the ocean water.  It allows swimmers to experience an effect of bobbing in the water like a cork.  It is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea, which is why it is so popular among tourists.

There is also a spa that attracts visitors, named Ein Gedi Spa, that pulls in approximately 250,000 tourists each year.  This spa is also recommended by doctors, to their patients needing treatments for skin and breathing problems.  Therefore, it would be very beneficial to save these waters.

Several options have been discussed to save the Dead Sea, including, pumping water from the Med-Dead canal 45 miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea.  This would create electricity for Israel.  Another alternative is a project named Red-Dead, that would send water uphill approximately 140 miles from the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba in Jordan before running it down to the Dead Sea, which some claim is politically motived and is supposed to be a joint peace project between Israel, Jordan, and Palestine.  And finally, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Professor, Avner Adin, claims that interdependence between countries, when it pertains to water, should be a last resort.  He states that the Jordan River should be allowed to flow down to the Dead Sea as it did before the settlements, and the agriculture areas took over the sea waters.  The Ein Gedi Springs should provide enough water for agriculture and survival.

It appears that the minerals they are extracting from the Dead Sea are the same minerals they could extract from the surrounding ocean waters, it is just easier to gather them from the Dead Sea because of the greater amount in such a small area.  However, the benefits of saving the Dead Sea seem to outweigh the negative consequences.

The Dead Sea has so many good qualities I never realized before.  Hopefully, they will find solutions quickly so the sea can be saved.  If it's not, it could be detrimental for the economy in that area.  If nothing else, because of the dependence on tourism alone.