A Decline In Entrepreneurship

A decline for new businesses occurred in 2011. Instead of hiring employees, new entrepreneurs are more likely to just go it alone. A 5.9 percent drop from 2010 to 2011 is show in an annual survey that was released by nonpartisan Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Approximately 543,000 new businesses were created in the U.S. each month last year. During the past 16 years, 2011 was recorded to have the highest level of entrepreneurship, even with the drop.

I think that our economy isn't doing too well, and that right now may not be the greatest time to start up a new business.

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iPad is Putting Laptops Out of Business

Steve Jobs had unveiled the iPad at a conference in San Francisco in early 2010. A few people were holding the device and he asked them what they thought of it. A reporter thought that people would start to forget about needing laptops. Steve only said, "We'll see." Jobs was determined that if laptops and desktop computers did fall out of business, that Apple would reap the benefits. Apparently, the day has come for that to occur. March 19 was the day that Tim Cook announced that Apple would disburse some of its $98 billion cash stockpile as dividends. In the first week of the iPad 3 release, Apple sold 3 million of them. Apple is now the biggest PC maker in the world.

I think that Apple is definitely doing well. Their products are well made, but personally, I still like my desktop computer.

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Apple iPad

The new mantra in businesses is the thinner the better. That is, until Apple's new iPad was released. This iPad is thicker and heavier than the last one. People are wondering what is going on inside Apple's heads? This new iPad runs at a much hotter temperature than the previous ones. Users are reporting that the iPad has also been shutting down when exposed to hotter than normal temperatures. So far, Apple has only responded saying “operating well within our thermal specifications.”

I think that Apple probably should have tested their product a bit longer before releasing it for purchase.

Full Story HERE

Girl Dies After Fight

In Long Beach, California, 11-year-old Joanna Ramos met a classmate after school in an alley. According to Maggie Martinez, Joanna's friend, "They took off their backpacks, and they put their hair in a bun, and then that's when they said 'go' and that's when they started hitting each other." Maggie and other friends tried to stop the fight, but they were held back by boys who wanted it to keep going. The girls were fighting over a boy. After the fight, Joanna went back to the after school program and vomited a while later. The school called Joanna's mother afterward. "My daughter started complaining, saying she doesn't feel good, let's go home, so we went to home and I changed her clothes, and she go to sleep, that's the only thing that I know," said Joanna's mother. "We took her to the hospital but it was too late. She was in a coma." Joanna died in the hospital Friday at 9pm, 6 hours after the fight occurred.

This is insane! They are 11 years old, and fighting over some boy?! They shouldn't even be thinking about boys at that age.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/27/10516286-girl-11-dies-within-hours-of-after-school-fight

Girl Found Naked and Wandering

In Temecula, California, a 12-year-old girl was found naked wandering around digging through garbage cans looking for food. The police were alerted about her by Dominique Prado. She had been pulling weeds with her husband when they saw the girl looking through a neighbor's garbage can for food. She was completely naked, but was trying to cover herself up with a car floor mat. They say that she was holding a piece of  bread in her hand when she ran around the corner and out of their sight. They then called the police, and officers came and began searching the neighborhood. Prado found the girl around the corner sitting in a BMW. The officers took the girl to get treatment at a hospital and also put her in protective custody. Her mother, Tracy Betts (40), was at Vail Elementary for her teaching assistant job. She was arrested for suspicion of felony child endangerment.

What in the world?! This lady should have been taking care of her kid! She's only 12!

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/20/10457661-girl-12-found-naked-and-rummaging-in-trash-for-food-in-calif

Bomb Threat

Monday morning, 5:40 a.m., KPTV Fox 12 alerted the police that they received a phone call from a woman stating that a bomb would go off at the college. Police officials decided to close off all campuses, because the woman did not specify where the bomb would explode. Officers took every precaution as if the threat was real, in case it happened to be. They search all over the campus, but found no such bomb. Students were able to go to school by 11:00 a.m. because officials reopened the campuses. The woman's identification was not able to be proved.

This is ridiculous! Why would you call in a bomb threat if it wasn't real? To be funny? A prank? Well, it's just idiotic if you ask me. They should find that woman and put her in jail!

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120214/NEWS/202140324/Bomb-threat-shuts-Chemeketa-campuses?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|s

Body Found

In Stayton, Oregon, police responded to a call made by the Santiam Water Control District about a body possibly being toward the east end of Pioneer park, in the river. The call was made Monday at 8:50 a.m. When officers arrived, they did indeed discover a body near the fish ladder. Investigators identified him as 29-year-old Jason Bodda. He is suspected to have drowned, and investigators do not think that foul play was involved.

This is so sad! That poor guy was probably going out fishing and fell and hit his head and drowned. Accidents happen all of the time. You really have to be careful because that accident could be like this man's, your last.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120214/NEWS/202140327/Man-s-body-found-North-Santiam-River?odyssey=obinsite

Abusive Teacher

Michael Bert Polk, a former police officer that is now a teacher, was accused of abusing a 6-year-old girl. He has been charged with criminal mistreatment and third-degree assault. He pleaded not guilty, but decided to change his plea and a new hearing has been scheduled for March 20th. Polk teaches social studies and science at Parrish Middle School. The girl he hit several times in the face with his hand, had several bruises and a black eye. This incident did not occur at the school. He has been on paid leave since he abused the 6-year-old girl and has been working at the school since 2010.

This is awful! Your supposed to be able to trust teachers to take care of your children, not abuse them. When I have children, I will be a bit worried to send them to school, because of people like this.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120214/NEWS/202140323/Parrish-teacher-accused-hitting-6-year-old-girl-will-resign?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p

Toby Goes Home

http://www.polkio.com/ns/news/22384/toby-finally-finds-his-way-homeToby, an 8 year old yellow Labrador retriever went missing in 2010. His family had moved to New York because one of the owners had been stationed there. Mark Coleman had left Toby in Dallas with his mother. A few months after that, Toby disappeared and never went back. Mark's mother eventually decided to move to New York as well. "I thought he was long gone," Coleman said. "We thought the worst. We thought he had died, gotten hit by a car. We didn't know what was going on." Toby was found sitting on a woman's porch, and he wouldn't leave. The woman's family had fallen in love with Toby, but she wanted to make sure that someone wasn't looking for him. She took him into the Dallas Animal Clinic January 12 to have him scanned for a microchip. The vet technician scanned and found a chip. They called and found out that he had been missing for a year and a half. The Dallas Animal Clinic helped fly Toby home, where he reunited with his family.

This is such a great story! It's amazing that nothing bad happened to Toby! I'm glad he got to go home to his family.

http://www.polkio.com/ns/news/22384/toby-finally-finds-his-way-home

Boy Shoots Himself in Face

In New Hampshire, a 14-year-old boy shot himself in the face. At the time, he was standing in the cafeteria with about 70 other students present. He did this at Walpole Elementary School in Walpole where he goes to school. He shot himself around 11:00 am. He was put in the hospital, but his name was not released to the public. He didn't hurt anyone else, just himself. On Friday, it was released that he was in the intensive care unit and that he was in serious condition. An eighth grader that is in homeroom with the boy told the police that he had been passing him notes saying he was depressed.

This is terrible! That poor boy needed help, but I don't think he knew how to get it.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/10/10374117-report-boy-shoots-himself-in-front-of-70-students

Serial Killer's Victims Found

Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine were dubbed the "Speed Freak Killers" because of their methamphetamine fueled violence. Shermantine killed 4 people dating back to 1984 and was given the death sentence in 2001. These two childhood friends were believed by prosecutors to have been linked to at least two dozen murders. Herzog was paroled to a trailer in 2010. Shermantine decided to tell the police where they buried the bodies in three burial site of the people that they murdered, and he drew a map so that they could find it. Herzog found out about this last month and committed suicide outside of his trailer. Investigators discovered over 300 bones. These human remains could bring an end to many unsolved cases.

I think these two guys are disgusting and have serious issues. They felt the need to murder innocent people, and that just isn't right. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46364526/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#.TzrU7_mHhdg

Teen Kills Young Girl

In Jefferson City, Missouri, Alyssa Bustamante wanted to know what it was like to kill someone. She attacked her neighbor, 9 year old Elizabeth Olten. She stabbed her repeatedly in the chest, strangled her, and sliced her throat. Alyssa pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed criminal action in October 2009 after she murdered Elizabeth at 15. She had taken the police to where she had dug a shallow grave where she put Elizabeth's body and covered her with a blanket and leaves from the woods. The court charged her with first degree murder She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. After the judge finished the ruling, Alyssa looked at Elizabeth's family and told them, "I just want you guys to know that I really am sorry for everything," Bustamante said. "I know that words can never be enough and they can never adequately describe how horrible I feel." Alyssa's attorney's had argued that taking Prozac had made her more prone to violence. They told the court that she had tried to commit suicide by painkillers due to having depression issues for years. A hand writing expert read parts from Alyssa's diary to the court. "I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead," Bustamante wrote in her diary. "I don't know how to feel atm. It was ahmazing. As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I'm kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now ... lol."

This girl is completely psychotic! I doubt that she is sorry about doing anything! She murdered an innocent little child because she wanted to know what it felt like. According to her diary, she found it pretty enjoyable too. She needs to be in prison for the rest of her life.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/08/10351097-teen-gets-life-for-strangling-stabbing-girl-9-in-thrill-kill

Child Abuse

In 2006, nearly 4,600 children were hospitalized due to physical abuse. They had traumatic brain injury, broken bones and other serious injuries. The most common of the victims were children younger than a year old. There were 58 cases per 100,000 infants. These statistics now make SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) a smaller threat than serious physical child abuse. In 2006, there were six out of every 100,000 children hospitalized due to burns, wounds, brain injuries and bone fractures. These children were all under 18. Three hundred of them died, after they all spent an average of a week in the hospital. If children under one were covered by Medicaid, they were particularly of the abused. Due to being mistreated, 1 out of every 752 infants were hospitalized. "Medicaid is just a marker of poverty, and poverty leads to stress," said Leventhal, who is the medical director of the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital Child Abuse Program. Four U.S. states did a study and discovered that due to the financial crash in 2007, abusive brain injuries hit a spike. The researchers said that it was because of the added pressure on parents. Toddlers were found to be at a higher risk in this study.

I think that this is terrible! It shouldn't matter what happens in this world, or what stress is added. Parents are supposed to be responsible and caring! They should not be abusing their children just because they are a little extra stressed!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46281207/ns/health-childrens_health/#.TzAy2nIniSo

Putting Daughter In Cage

James Tapke bound his 12-year-old daughters hands and feet with duct tape and locker her in a dog cage. He then dropped water on her face while she was in the cage. She was kept in the cage for about 20 minutes until her 13-year-old brother let her out. Then she went and dropped water on her fathers face and in his ear. He then performed the entire process over again and stuck her back in the cage. He told his son to go and get an electrical jump pack that was in their garage so that he could electrify the cage. The son brought it and set it in front of the cage so that she could see it. Although James never actually electrified the cage, he threatened many times. During the time that she was in the cage, James and his son took pictures of the scene. His son posted them on Facebook, but they were deleted. In court, James's attorney told authorities that it was a joke. "We believe the evidence will eventually show that this was simply some horseplay that ended up, you know, taking pictures." Jackson said. "It just doesn't look that funny when you see it in pictures ... Maybe not the best joke in the world, but I believe that's what is going to come out later at trial." "Judge, if this is a joke, it's about the most unfunny joke I've ever heard," said assistant prosecutor Matt Broo. James was charged with child endangering.

This man is completely insane. That is not a JOKE! It's TORTURE!!! He's psychotic, and obviously he passed that to his son.

usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/22/10208773-threat-to-electrify-dog-cage-with-girl-inside-just-horseplay 

Stranded Whales

On Farewell Spit on the South Island (a beach in New Zealand), 99 pilot whales stranded themselves on Monday. 36 of the whales died by Tuesday, and 40 remain stranded and in danger. John Mason, area manager of the country's Department of Conservation said that the staff and volunteers had successfully refloated 17 of the whales. They swam out to deeper water, but 6 whales are still unaccounted for. The whales had been swimming in shallow water when the tide went out and stranded them. The volunteers and staff are trying to keep the whales wet and cool until nightfall comes. After that, they can only hope that the whales swim out to sea on the next high tide. These whales grow to be about 20 feet. Large strandings are a common occurrence during the New Zealand summer. Farewell Spit shallow waters confuse whales and diminishes their ability to navigate. Rescuers are planning on donning wetsuits and forming a human wall to try to keep the whales from coming back in case of them getting stranded again.

This is really sad! Those poor whales can get back to sea, and more may die before the next high tide comes.

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10222791-dozens-of-whales-die-in-mass-stranding-on-new-zealand-beach

6 Year Old Swept Away

In Estacada, Oregon, Vinesa, a 6 year-old girl, was driven up to play in the snow by her parents, Igor and Marina Snegur. They had parked near Austin Hot Springs in the Mount Hood National Forest where a road is close to the stream. The family are from southeast Portland, so they decided to drive 60 miles away. While Vinesa was playing, she must have fallen and was swept into the stream and started flowing down river. Igor ran along the river trying to keep up with his daughter, but he was unable to. The river was cold and running fast from the winter storm. There wasn't any cell phone service where they were, so Vinesa's parents couldn't call and ask for help until they arrived at a Ranger station an hour away. Monday, the waters temperature was just above freezing. The rescue workers were imperiled because the river was carrying a heavy load of trees and roots. The rescue workers, about 50 ground searchers and divers, had to suspend the search at nightfall on Monday. They also had the help of a helicopter with thermal imaging that scanned the river looking for the little girl.

This is a horrible story! That little girl probably could not have survived that rivers temperature, strength, or speed.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10222696-a-second-of-inattention-icy-river-sweeps-girl-6-away-from-father

Killed By A Miniature Cannon

In Tremonton, Utah, Robby Ostberg, a 14-year-old boy was playing with a miniature cannon at about 7:30 a.m. He picked up the cannon while he and his brother were in the living room playing video games. The cannon accidentally fired, fatally shooting Robby in the face. He died of severe head injuries at the scene. At the time, Robby's father was in the back bedroom. "No charges have been filed in the accident," Nance told msnbc.com, "and I do not anticipate that any will be." "We're waiting for the medical examiner's report to help us determine what type of object may have been in the cannon," Tremonton Police Chief David Nance told msnbc.com, saying authorities don't know yet what caused the injury. "We're still investigating and trying to determine what happened." This cannon is only a replica, and it's based on an 18th century naval cannon. Robby's friend told the authorities that he played with the cannon, but never used real ammunition. "He doesn't put a bullet in there. He puts little tin foil balls in there," Cameron Kunsman said. 

This is a terrible accident! In my opinion, his dad should have never let him play around with something that could be this dangerous. 

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10224767-boy-dies-after-shooting-himself-with-replica-cannon 

7 Against 1

A teen of Asian decent was brutally attacked in Chicago. One seventeen year old male, 2 sixteen year old boys, three fifteen year old boys, and a fifteen year old girl were all charged as juveniles with one count of robbery and one count of aggravated battery, except Raymond Palomino, the seventeen year old. He was charged as an adult with robbery and aggravated battery. The attackers took a video of them punching and kicking the victim and taunting him with racial slurs and posted it on YouTube. The victim was eventually able to run away and was taken to a local hospital, treated and released to go home. Police say that the attack did not appear to be racially motivated.

This is incredibly awful. The video that those psychotic kids took was horrible to watch! It was seven against one! How is that fair at all?! Those kids need to be put away, because this was ridiculous!

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/18/10182130-7-teens-charged-in-beating-posted-on-youtube

Attacked By Pitbulls

Joseph Finley, a 62 year old Chicago man, was taking an early morning jog near Lake Michigan, when he was brutally attacked by two pitbulls. Finley was about to the third lap of his run when he noticed the dogs. Finley tried to maneuver around them, but the dogs attacked them. These were not just regular dogs. No. These dogs attacked in a way of dogs that have been trained to kill," he said, describing how the pair of dogs had grabbed each foot and seemed to work in a coordinated effort to take down their victim. Finley described the dogs attacking like they were "yanking and biting and tearing and pulling and gnawing at my body like I was a hamburger." The attack toward Finley went on for several more minutes. It was said by doctors that Finley did survive, but barely. "It was a rough go for several days. He was on a breathing machine. He was very sick. He lost a lot of blood. I mean, his injury was nearly equivalent to stepping on a landmine," Dr. Andrew Dennis said. Finley's left foot was so damaged that doctors couldn't save it, and it affected his kidneys due to all of the damage to the soft tissue. Although the attack created much damage, Finley was recovering immensely in the two weeks since the attack occurred. The doctors decided to move Finley from the trauma unit to their rehabilitation center.

I think that this is a terrible event that occurred. I do not think that it was the dogs fault though, because Dennis Finley is probably correct about them being trained to kill. Pitbulls get a bad rap, because they have awful owners.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/18/10182112-jogger-dogs-gnawing-at-my-body-like-i-was-hamburger

Cat Survives Death Twice

In West Valley City, Utah a stray cat name Andrea survived death twice. After 30 days of not being adopted by anyone, the animal shelter where she was staying decided to put her to death in October. Though they tried by gassing her, she survived. They decided to try again, and when they found no vital signs, they put her in a plastic bag in the cooler. When they went back to check the bag, they found that she was still alive. She had vomited on herself and she had hypothermia. They stopped making attempts at trying to kill Andrea. They thought that "it was just one of those things where they thought this cat obviously really wants to live, so let's give it a chance to find a permanent home." Andrea has been adopted and the shelter is trying to find out why the gassing failed.

I think that this is awful but amazing at the same time. These people relentlessly tried killing this innocent cat, and failed. I am incredibly glad that they did, so that Andrea could have exactly what she needed; a permanent home with people who love her.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45862769/ns/us_news-life/#.TwSqjnIg9HI

Teen Killed By Jumping In Front of Bus

Amanda Diane Cummings was 15 years old when a witness saw her jumping in front of a bus at around 7:30 pm. The Staten Island Police found her with a suicide note. Keith, Amanda's uncle, said that she was being bullied at school and that they stole her phone and other belongings. Amanda was distraught because she was the target and victim of bullying at her school. Amanda asked someone to pick her up from school because she was afraid of being beat up. Amanda received an email from her boyfriend saying that he was breaking up with her the day before the accident occurred. Her uncle believed that the email was what pushed her over the edge. While Amanda lay injured in the hospital, Keith found out that her tormenters were posting cruel comments on her Facebook page. Keith plans to seek criminal redress against these bullies.

I think that someone should put a stop to bullying because it has taken many lives. Those horrible people were tormenting that poor girl even when she was dying in the hospital. What kind of people do that?!

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/03/9921637-ny-teen-killed-by-bus-had-suicide-note-police-say-family-alleges-bullying