Article on the many dangers migrants face on their journey north, as they cross through Mexico to get to the U.S. "A study by Mexico's National Human Rights Commission released this year found 9,758 migrants who had been kidnapped as they tried to cross the border into the United States between September 2008 and February 2009." And they estimate the number of victims is probably much higher, as people are often too afraid to report it. (Full Story)
Interesting and sad article about end-of-life programs in correctional facilities. Some facilities have started using programs where inmates volunteer to spend time with a fellow inmate in the last six months of their life. "More than 3,000 prisoners a year die of natural causes in correctional facilities...American prisons are home to a growing geriatric population, with one-third of all inmates expected to be over 50 by next year. As courts have handed down longer sentences and tightened parole, about 75 prisons have started hospice programs, half of them using inmate volunteers." (Full Story)
In Germany a crazy conflict occurred between a kebab salesman and a customer. The customer wanted a napkin and the salesman, for some reason, refused to give him one. So the customer wiped his soiled hands on the kebab stand. The salesman then flung a ladle of chili sauce in the man's face. The police are investigating the chili sauce to see if it's spicy enough to cause grievous bodily harm. I bet they are...'Yeah, we're going to need to keep "testing" the kebabs and its sauce...for investigative purposes, of course.' (Full Story)
Producers of The Simpsons announced this week that they will be holding a contest in which people are asked to submit a new character for the show. Contestants need to come up with a name, a catchphrase, and a brief description for the character. The winner will get to fly out to L.A. and work with the show's creative team for an episode scheduled January 31st. The creative team behind the show said, jokingly, that they need some inspiration from the public because after 20 years of working on the show they are "tired and frankly too rich to care anymore." (Full Story)
An interesting article on how solar-powered cellphones are helping people in Africa and Asia that have little or no connection to electricity grids. "With proper positioning and pricing, solar-powered cellphones could reach about two billion people across the globe who have no access to electricity." These phones can be a very helpful resource in providing timely information. Farmers can check market prices before deciding which crop seeds to sow, doctors can be reached for health advice, they can get weather information. An economics professor from Bangladesh says these mobile phones can have a positive impact on developing economies. He estimates that GDP increases one or two percent for every ten percent increase in mobile phone access. (Full Story)
Interesting case study on Hawaii's health care system. Since 1974, Hawaii has required all employers to provide health insurance to any employee that works 20 hours a week or more. (Full Story)
Target is selling an "Illegal Alien" Halloween costume on their website. The costume consists of a space alien mask, an orange jumpsuit with the words "Illegal Alien" scrawled across the chest, and a green card. A Southern California immigrant rights group has asked Target to stop selling the offensive costume. A Target spokesman says they have received several complaints and they will remove the costume. He also says the store never intended to sell the costume but it was offered online by mistake. (Full Story)
By mistake? How do you accidentally purchase a costume, assign it a price, create a webpage for it, take a picture of it, and type out its features? And, as a side note, if the costume comes with a green card, then the "alien" is no longer "illegal".
Update: The website has been taken down. But here's a picture of the costume.
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