The Dahmer Tapes

The Milwaukee Police Department released the transcript of a 911 call today of an alleged incident involving what appeared to be an incoherent and beat up child two officers unknowingly brought back to a serial killer the boy was trying to get away from.

The child in question, Konerak Sinthasomphone, a 14-year-old Laotian who was later found to be one of the 17 victims Jeffrey L. Dahmer, 31, confessed to murdering, was a victim some witnesses say should have been saved by the officers. Police have found 11 bodies so far. The unidentified officers were suspended a week ago with pay.

The transcript released today was a call from Milwaukee resident, Glenda Cleveland, 37, on May 27.

Initially, Cleveland called police to report a beaten up, naked young man at the corner of 25th and State. The officer calling back to the dispatcher reported, "Intoxicated Asian, naked male. Was returned to his sober boyfriend."

Cleveland later called back the Milwaukee Emergency concerned that information had not been taken by the officers for what she described as a "male child being raped and molested by an adult," that was witnessed by her daughter and a niece. "Their names or nothing was taken down and I wonder if this situation was being handled," she said to the dispatcher.

Milwaukee police car number 68, the squad Cleveland had first spoken to about this incident, told her they didn't need her information. That the young male (Sinthasomphone) was just an "intoxicated boyfriend of another boyfriend."

Cleveland asked if the officer was positive and that she thought this person was a child because her daughter had dealt with the boy before and knew that he didn't speak any English. The officer said that it been taken care of and that the boy in question was not a child.

Family Guy And Windows 7

Microsoft first announced that it would be teaming up with Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy to do a spot promoting Windows 7.

This idea has since been axed after Microsoft had seconds thoughts about Family Guy's raunchy humor promoting their new operating system. Microsoft has now decided to release the nixed spots by posting the Windows 7 Family Guy "endorsements" on its YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-daXbYL4hY

-Huffingtonpost

Eighth Story: Survey Poll; Workload

Taking on too much during a student's first years in college can be stressful for many. This is usually the first time a student has experienced juggling so many things at once in life including; school, work, family, etc.

According to this survey, most people attending ARCC online or on campus are in their first or second year. Out of these eighteen people surveyed; 38.9% are sophomores; 33.3% are freshman; 16.7% are juniors; and 11.1% identify themselves as seniors. Out of these 18, when asked how many credits they are taking this fall semester, 44.4% replied 11-15; 27.8% said 6-10; 22.2% said 15+; and 5.6% replied 1-5 credits.

When asking these student's how many hours per week they study and do homework; 33.3% said they spent 11-15 hours per week; 22.2% said 16-20 hours; 22.2% said 1-5 hours; 16.7% said 26+ hours; and 5.6% said 21-25 hours.

When asking how many hours these students spent working each week, 33.3% said 0-5 hours ; 27.8% said 30+ hours; 16.7% said 15-20 hours; 11.1% said 11-15 hours; 5.6% said 25-30 hours; and 5.6% said 5-10 hours.

The feedback this poll received when asking students what is one thing they've learned to do, to help themselves do well in college when having so many things to juggle at once, the anonymous replied with these responses; don't sleep; Sometimes it can be really hard, but usually it helps me to write everything I need to do out and be organized about when I do what; An equal balance is essential. Focusing too much on one aspect of your responsibilities or activities can be exhausting; Manage my time.

When polling students about what stresses them the most during a semester in college, whether online or on campus, twelve people replied. Over 58% said money and getting homework done on time was stressful to them. Half of these students said exams, while 41.7% said work. When asking these same students what they do to relieve stress, 45.5% of them said they go out with friends while 27.3% said they listened to music to relieve some of the stress. When asking how many had sought professional help in or out of school to help manage their stress better, 75% said they had not. Over half of these students believe the college should offer students more help in managing their workload better.

Students were then asked what were some of the challenges they faced when trying to do well in school their first year in college. Carrissa Parker said, "Juggling several things at once: working 35 hours a week, full time school, leading a small group at church, somewhat of a social life, homework, sleep - doing too much just stressed me out and I ended up doing poorly." Rebekah Phillips replied, "Time management and procrastination on assignments and homework," were some of her challenges.

When asking the students what program from school or what specific example on how a professor contributed to them doing well in a class or in college overall, Meagan Wold said, "The math skills and advising center is usually really great -they helped me with a lot of math homework." Hannah Schott shared, "In my English class, the professor mandated that all her students needed to go see a writing tutor twice in the semester. I went and the tutors were really helpful."

Relieving Stress

What I usually do to relieve stress is work out, take a bike ride or something physical that will keep my mind off of things for at least a little while. I think these activities clear the mind and helps you get back into the swing of things again.

Solar Powered Airplane

An aircraft named the Solar Impulse, that has ambitions to be the first solar-powered aircraft to fly around the world, completed its first runway tests in Switzerland recently.

According to Wired.com, "With the four electric motors running on sunlight, these first tests were slow, only getting up to about 10 knots. [...] Next up, according to the team, is taxi tests up to takeoff speed of about 20 knots for some short "flea hops" into the air. First flights beyond the airport runway are expected early next year."

The team hopes the Solar Impulse will be the first aircraft to circle the globe in 36 hours nonstop, without fuel.

-Huffingtonpost.com

Link for runway test video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O3IfVC8eLo&feature=player_embedded

Seventh Story: Parking Lot Walk

Students brave the cold weather among other things when making the walk from their vehicles into the college here at ARCC and then on to their class.

On some days the walk may feel like no big deal to certain students. On other days, the college seems to be miles away for others. There are even times when students who arrive a little late are forced to park across the street before making their way in. So then arrives this question: Are you ever frustrated with the walking distance between your car and class?

Of the 20 students surveyed at ARCC, 63.2% say they are frustrated with the walking distance between their car and to their class. While 31.6% say it doesn't bother them and 5.3% say maybe.

What factors besides distance, annoys/affects students the most when walking to class? When asking this question, with the ability to answer more than one, 78.9% say that weather is the biggest annoyance. While being tired comes second at 42.1%, then laziness and stress come in at 21.1% and 5.3% respectively. Of those students that don't mind the walk at all, 36.8% answered in that way.

Students were then asked to elaborate some more while answering this question: No matter the idea, what suggestion would you give to the college itself to help shorten this walking distance? One student noted that "I don't mind walking, which is good for stress. But, walking in the bitter cold is horrible and makes me not even want to go to class. Also, I usually have heavy textbooks and a lot of stuff to carry inside, so the distance can be a challenge," they said. Other students don't think there's a need for additional help in cutting down the walking distance. "I say suck it up, bundle up, and be prepared to walk," one student said. "Make more parking around the sides of the college," another student suggested.

Most of the students participating in this survey suggested that weather is the biggest reason for irritating them when walking the distance from their car and onto class. Another student suggested that it becomes a little easier to park nearer to school as the semester goes on. "Its kind of hard in the beginning of the semester- but by the end of the semester when people drop or stop coming to class its not so bad!"

A Casualty Of Insurance Regulations

Benjamin French is a normal 12-year-old who was born without his right arm below his elbow. As of today, French's insurance company has said he is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has reached his lifetime maximum benefit.

In his 12 years, French has been through seven prosthesis fittings with the last one costing $30,000. His family happens to live in Michigan which is one of the 33 states where insurance companies are allowed to set annual and lifetime caps on prosthetic coverage. In states such as Colorado and Maryland, the law says there can be no caps on prosthetics.

"It seems really unfair," said Benjamin's mother, Kristen French. "The insurance company can do this in one state, but not in another? It's ridiculous."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/16/insurance-runs-out-for-12_n_359920.html

Driving Through The Country Side

I've been to California a lot. But the part that sticks out the most is when I drove there from Minnesota.

There is nothing like driving cross country as apposed to flying. At the time, the only places that I've been to in the states were California, Wisconsin, Iowa and of course, Minnesota.

We headed down south through Iowa then on through Missouri and over through Kansas. I have nothing against Kansas, but driving through nothing but 10 hours of corn fields gets a little boring after a while.

Arriving in Denver for the first time was cool. It's neat to see the Rockies just beyond the downtown area. It then took a few hours to get through the mountains and over to Utah. We then headed down through the Las Vegas, Nevada area, where we stopped and had some fun at an outdoor water park, and then on to California.

I think the entire trip took around 35+ hours of driving. Although it is great to see the country side for the first time, I've stuck to airplanes ever since.

The Lip-Sync Tour?

Last Friday evening, at the Burswood Dome in the Western Australian city of Perth, about 100 displeased fans walked out of a Britney Spears' Circus concert. These fans were reportedly angry with Spears' lip-syncing as well as her impersonal performance during her two-hour show.

As a result from this debacle, politicians from three Australian states have called for new laws that would force music promoters to disclose whether a concert would be live or lip-synced. Britney Spears' website was flooded with messages in support of the singer for putting on a "great" show.

People.com- http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20318419,00.html

Halloween Costume Memories

My funnest memories during Halloween are when my dad use to make me and my two brothers costumes. I remember one particular year when I was younger, he somehow took older clothes, made them into cool looking costumes, and helped paint my face as a clown. He had a knack for painting cool looking things, so I remember getting a lot of compliments in school during that Halloween. I also remember being tired from carrying my big sack of candy later that evening as well. It must have been heavier than I was. Fun times.

Sixth Story: Music Aspirations

"I always wanted to do it for a living. I never had that 'I don't know what I wanted to do thing in college'. I went into college, and I went to that college to study with the guitar teacher that was there. So I knew kinda where I wanted to go. But the idea of doing it for a living was always sort of tenuous...and that's what I knew how to do," said Anoka-Ramsey Professor Jason Vanselow.

That was some of the thinking of Jason Vanselow before heading to the Cleveland Institute of Music. "I auditioned at a bunch of different places, that was the place that I got in and I liked the teacher enough and just decided what the hell: try it," he said. Vanselow started his music career there immediately after high school.

Today, Vanselow is a musician, music teacher and music student. He's in second full-year here at ARCC. Vanselow teaches about 175 kids in classrooms and 20-25 for private guitar lessons. "Here I teach guitar and rock history, and I teach classic guitar at the U of M (Minneapolis campus)," he continued, "And I teach piano at St. Paul Academy in Summit School in St. Paul, and I teach guitar at a little place called Grace Academy over near Round Lake Blvd and Bunker Hills drive."

Among his credentials that helped him receive a job here at ARCC, Vanselow received a Bachelors degree from the University of St. Thomas. "I got a Masters Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music which is in the arm of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and right now I'm studying for my DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) at the U of M," Vanselow said.

Vanselow first started playing the piano at the age of four and the guitar at the age of twelve. "My parents were musicians and we always had music in the house like Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills and Nash. So there was always a sense of sound in the house," he said.

Vanselow used this early inspiration to play in several different bands while growing up and attending college. He played in church bands at first. "I played in wedding bands where you play 'Brown Eyed Girl' and all of the standard cheesy stuff and I played in bands where you played some guy's original material and seven people show up and you just play for rehearsal money basically," he said.

"It can be really, really nerve racking when your up there by yourself and you don't know anyone and there's a lot of people out there," he said when explaining what it was like playing before an audience. "When your with a group of people..when your with a band..or a couple of other guitar players than it is somewhat comfortable and the sound you can make with each other is really amazing." This type of love for playing music translated to the classroom for Vanselow.

"I love talking about rock and roll because it's what I grew up listening too and I'm a geek so I love all the you know, the stupid urban legends and stuff like that. Playing guitar has been a great thing in my life so sharing that with other people is a great thing too," Vanselow shared.

Being 'Let Go'

Mika Brzezinski learned a valuable lesson after being 'let go' at a high point in her career at CBS on her 39th birthday; she learned how to be a better parent.

Huffington Post- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mika-brzezinski/getting-fired-and-how-it_b_342298.html