The
Associated Press reports that the
number of children left to die in hot cars during the summer is rising. Research shows that July is the month when the most children die. A main
reason for the deaths seems to be car-seat laws that require children to be in the back seat.
It is an "out of sight, out of mind" issue.
The AP article says police and courts treat parents and
other caretakers differently when deciding how to prosecute them for these types of deaths:
Since
the mid-1990s, the number of children who died of heat exhaustion while trapped
inside vehicles has risen dramatically, totaling around 340 in the past 10
years. Ironically, one reason was a change parent-drivers made to protect their
kids after juvenile air-bag deaths peaked in 1995, they put them in the back seat, where they are more easily forgotten.
An
Associated Press analysis of more than 310 fatal incidents in the past 10 years
found that prosecutions and penalties vary widely, depending in many cases on
where the death occurred and who left the child to die -- parent or caregiver,
mother or father:
- Mothers
are treated much more harshly than fathers. While mothers and fathers are
charged and convicted at about the same rates, moms are 26 percent more likely
to do time. And their median sentence is two years longer than the terms
received by dads.
- Day
care workers and other paid baby sitters are more likely than parents to be
charged and convicted. But they are jailed less frequently than parents, and
for less than half the time.
The
San Francisco Chronicle recently reported on a case involving a child
left to die in a hot car. One of the main ingredients in such cases, the story
says, is stress followed by a change in routine that makes adults forget the child is in the backseat.
Ankle Snappers are Summer's New ShoeThere have been
plenty of bad ideas in Hollywood.
This is one of them that is spreading to a women's shoe store near you. Victoria Beckham is
among those who are fond of the 6-inch-heeled ankle snappers
that celebrity mags say are sweeping Hollywood
this summer.
Look
at what About.com lists as the hottest summer shoes
this year. Anyone who wants to find out what lies ahead in the shoe fashion industry should visit
this site.
The high-heeled shoes that appear on these sites can cause a lot of damage, especially
when worn for long periods of time.
Read
this:
Thirty-three joints, over one
hundred muscles, a network of blood vessels and nerves, and one quarter of all
the bones in the human body make up the intricate structure of the foot and the
ankle. Moreover, the foot, pelvis, and spine are structurally and
neurologically linked, providing balance, support, and mobility. Women who wear
high heels on a daily basis not only increase their risk for developing foot
deformities and arthritis, but may also be adversely affecting their posture
and musculoskeletal system.
Who knew that, according to researchers, women who wear high heels should consider a specific
exercise program to avoid injury?
Injury from high heels is a process that develops over time.
Short-term pain or discomfort might be a forewarning of future injuries. Minor injuries
are blisters that can develop into calluses or bunions that might even require
surgery. Foot or knee pain can be minor at first but can later lead to hammertoe or arthritis
given that long-term injuries occur because of daily high heels use. However,
most heel-related injuries can be avoided if proper preventative measures are
taken.
To start, it is recommended to limit high heel usage to a maximum
of four hours no more than three times a week. Find proper fitting shoes that
do not compress the toes.
Also, try to find shoes that are made of stretchy material to
prevent soft tissue injury.
New shoes should be slowly worn in.
Longer-term injuries to the lower body can be avoided with daily
exercise.
Strength-training for the leg muscles, i.e., squats and calf
raises will help the body maintain posture while walking in heels. Hyper
extension of the lower back should also be included in the strength-training
program.
Here
is another link that may tell you more than you want to know
about the biomechanics of high-heeled and platform shoes.
It is so much easier to be a guy.
Behind the Scenes of a Miami Herald Investigation
Watch this PBS video for an inside look at The Miami Herald's investigation of the Miami-Dade Housing Agency.
The video, titled "Money for Nothing," features interviews with Miami Herald reporter Debbie Cenziper, who won a 2007 Pulitzer Prize for her series of investigative stories about the agency.
The video details the mismanagement and back scratching within the agency, which was spending millions of dollars
and not building enough affordable housing.
There
have also been problems with a number of other city housing agencies in San Francisco, Cleveland and Oakland, Calif. You can't help but wonder what you would find in your own town if you looked.
We are always looking for your great ideas. Send Al a few sentences and hot links.
Editor's
Note: Al's Morning Meeting is a compendium of ideas, edited story
excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as
original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly
from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided
whenever possible. The column is fact-checked, but depends on the
accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. Errors and
inaccuracies found will be corrected.
