#12

Recently in the Twin Cities questions have been raised about the salary of Joe Dowling, director of the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis. This information has become public during the recession where other nonprofit theater and arts groups are struggling. Dowling recieves $682,229 in salary and benefits each year, and Kate Barr (Executive Director of the NonProfit Assistance Fund) is wondering, "What basis of comparison are they using for setting this compensation?"
Although Minneapolis is a great city for the arts, many of its organizations are struggling to bring in enough funds, and the extremity of one man's pay seems a little over the top. In fact, he is earning more than some of his peers in New York.
Another argument is that he works for a top tier organization, so to keep top tier employees, they must pay top tier salaries.
I don't know how legitamate that is; Joe Dowling is overpaid.



http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/36945579.html?elr=KArksUUUU

# 11

Today ( Sunday, January 3) At 4:35 AM, an earthquake struck Indonesia. It had a magnitude of 7.6 and stretched about 95 miles.
It occurred near the north coast of West Papua and killed at least 2 people. 35 are injured, and a sweep of the rubble revealed nobody else trapped inside. Four large buildings and many, many houses collapsed, leaving destruction and homelessness. Initially a tsunami warning was issued, but lifted soon afterwards. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in one day where everything turns to nothing so quickly. I'm not sure that Indonesia has as many resources for disasters like we do in the US, and I hope they get some foreign aid for the victims of this tragedy.

A poem from a child in the middle of it would sound something like this:

Earth shaking legs quaking
get in the doorway.
broken glass
from pictures I won't see again
mom holding dad's hand
crumbling plaster
mumbling prayers
neighbors screaming
thunder from the ground
squinting my eyes
clenching my fists
and sudden silence
and eerie calm.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/03/indonesia.earthquake/index.html

#10

A woman in Burnsville was just sentenced to almost 25 years in jail for drowning her first daughter. She claims that her boyfriend at the time, Erik Ryan Matlock, threatened to kill her if she didn't get rid of the baby after she had it, but sources claim that the two planned to drown it together. This is actually the first case in Minnesota where the murderer was convicted without the body being found. "It was a complicated case," said Dakota County Attorney General Backstrom, but it was easy to solve, because during her pregnancy Ms. Heiges told friends she planned to kill the baby, and after it was born she confirmed that she had indeed ended its life. The conviction was basically determined when a brave witness came forward part way through the trial with a crucial testimony. I don't understand what would drive this woman to drown her baby and then throw it down a garbage chute. I understand that she was desperate and couldn't handle a baby, but she was aware of the fact that newborn babies can be left at the hospital up to 72 hours after birth. This is really sad, but I'm glad she's behind bars now, and not free to procreate:)

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/37474799.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

#9

Nigeria has recently missed its re-extended deadline to stop the natural gas flares from a production plant near the delta of a river and lots of farmland. The flares produce extreme heat, smoke, light 24 hours a day, and noise like a jet plane. Nigerians are getting very angry about the constant disruptions to daily life, as well as the farmland-their income. Social activist Vivian Bellonwu is frustrated with the constant deadline extensions, and the Nigerian government should be as well. "Everyone agrees the flares are wasting billions of dollars in valuable gas," says Bellonwu. She also mentions some of the consequences for humans. Consequences include cancer, children with asthma, and a suggestion that the gasses may be making women infertile. I can't believe that the flares haven't stopped yet, with their gas accounting for 40% of that produced in Nigeria.
The government and the oil industry both agree that the flares need to stop, but everyone is noticing their lack of action. Hopefully some focus can come to this issue and resolve the flares before the human consequences turn more severe.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7820384.stm

#8

In Miami, Florida, an investigation is beginning at an old reform school for boys. Four ex-students found each other online and decided to band together and take legal action. They described in graphic detail some of the punishments, such as being beaten with a metal whip, sexual abuse, murder, and even putting some black students in a tumble dryer. These men have been haunted for their entire lives with both physical and emotional scars, and are hoping that evidence can be found and the murderers apprehended. At least one of the alum claims that the punishments were justified, but that the beatings were in fact very harsh--but the four men who call themselves The White House Boys won't back down. The punishments should be considered abuse, maybe even torture. "The investigations should begin soon," says Gov. Charlie Crist, who the men came to for their assistance.
I hope that the florida government makes progress with this case, because they need to solve what did happen, and prevent it from ever happening again.




http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/09/reform.school.graves/index.html

#7

Today I read an article on CNN.com about a woman who is advertising her resume on her shirt! Her situation has worsened to the point of desperation, and she needs to get an interview now. Kelly Kinley is her name, and she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons. Every day Kelly stands on street corners and in coffee shops around town, hoping that a business executive will notice her and take advantage of all she has to offer. The worsening economy is obviously driving people to do crazy things-Kinley has applied to approximatly 40 jobs per day, and has slowly been dipping into her and her husband's savings to pay for things like her son's gymnastics training. "Eventually, she says, We will have to sit down with our son and tell him that he can no longer participate in his life dream--because we don't have the money."
Even in Los Angeles its surprising the amount of unemployed people. The jobless rate there is 8.2 percent, and unbelievably, multiple times when applying for a job, Kinley has been told that she is 1 of 500 other applicants.
If this is a woman desperate in LOS ANGELES, imagine how bad it can be other places for other people.




http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/10/job.seeker/index.html

#6

In the morning during breakfast, I usually read the "Dear Carolyn" advice column next to the crossword puzzles. A lot of times they are about failing marriages, weddings, or etiquette, but a few weeks ago, I came across a very unique call for help. A woman wrote in about how she had been married and divorced, put her kids through college, and now is in a relationship with another woman. Since she has been previously married, co-workers may have a hard time coming to terms with her sexual orientation, and she is struggling to come out, or if she should say anything at all. Another issue at hand is the upcoming vacation with her workplace. She says she's been on vacations with her partner's company and wants to return the favor, but can't figure out how to tell her co-workers. I can't decide if it would be better to just bring her along and let them figure out what is going on between them, or just to introduce her as "my partner".
The fact that this is a problem for her is kind of frustrating to me, because if she were straight, it would be easy to figure out. This woman is counting on the prejudice of others and it's stressing her out. I think that she needs to feel comfortable with the way she is, and I hope that other employees around her are respectful of that.


http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/family/29944534.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EkP7K_V_GD7EaPc:iLP8iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU