Kidney Transplant x2

Erwin Gomez (Left), Ray Fearing (Center), and Cera Fearing (Right)

After waiting 10 years, 27 year old Ray Fearing was finally able to receive a kidney transplant from his sister, Cera. The transplant was in June 2011, and soon after, a biopsy showed that the transplanted organ was doing more harm than good. He then agreed to donate his transplanted kidney to Doctor Erwin Gomez, age 67. The kidney that had been failing in Ray, immediately began thriving in Erwin. Before the second surgery, the question of ethics was brought up, and when asked if he'd be willing to give up the failing organ, he answered without hesitation. "There are thousands of people waiting for organs, I couldn't see myself just discarding one." said Fearing. Ray must now face another long wait before he can attempt getting another kidney. This was the first time such an operation was performed.

• http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/25/health/kidney-transplanted-twice/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 

Let Fish Walk!

Austin and Teresa Fisher

Teresa Fisher of Carrollton, Ohio has battled breast cancer for six years. Knowing that her days are numbered, it’s been one of her goals to live to see her son Austin get his high school diploma. Now that her cancer is in remission, this goal seems reachable, except for one large obstacle. Carrollton High School, where Austin is a senior, only allows students to graduate if they have 14 or less unexcused absences. Austin has had to work two jobs, bring his mother to her cancer treatments, and care for her at home; and in doing so, has accumulated 16 unexcused absences. The school will not make an exception for Austin, so his classmates and community members have made a Facebook page, and petition for the Board of Education arguing that Austin should be allowed to graduate. So far, they have over 107,400 signatures on their petition and are optimistic about getting the rule changed for Austin.

•        http://now.msn.com/living/0416-ohio-hs-grad-ban.aspx
•        http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/us/2012/04/16/wjw-cancer-student-graduation.cnn

Below is the link to the petition, which you can sign if you feel so inclined(:

•        http://www.change.org/petitions/allow-austin-fisher-to-walk-and-graduate-with-his-2012-class-after-caring-for-his-sick-mom?

More Brilliant Ideas From Nokia

The Nokia Lumia 900

The geniuses at Nokia worked hard to promote the new Nokia Lumia 900. And by worked hard to promote, I mean spent a lot of money in useless ways and basically set the phone up for failure. They hired Nicki Minaj to perform at the promotional event in Time's Square and ran promotions giving away free song downloads and 'other goodies'. The sale began on Easter Sunday, a day on which the majority of the stores are closed. The automated message machines at the many closed stores played ads for the iPone and didn't so much as mention the Lumia. The few stores that were open on Easter didn't even have the phone in stock. However, the Lumia was at the top of Amazon’s “best sellers” list for cell phones ordered in advance.

• http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/handheld/232800481

April Fools!

Popular Swedish recording artist, Robyn is sweeping the nation. Is it her amazing dance moves? Her gorgeous clothes? He beautiful bowl-cut? Her lovely voice? Whatever it is, it's sent this pop star to the top of the charts. Now that her song, Call Your Girlfriend, reached number one on the charts, she has announced that she is quitting singing to become a plumber. She is moving to Gary, Indiana where she will spend the rest of her days wearing overalls and unclogging drains. Singing, dancing, plumbing, what can't this amazing 32 year old do?!


(But seriously though, guys. She is legitimately popular in Sweden. Like she performs at huge events and has won tons of awards.)

Zimmerman Still Not Arrested

George Zimmernan

Treyvon Martin

As you’ve no doubt heard, 17 year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed last month by 28 year old neighborhood watch leader, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman shot at the unarmed teen in what he says was an act of self defense. And because it is legal in Florida to use deadly force if one is facing a deadly threat, Zimmerman has not been arrested and his case has been turned over to the State Attorney’s Office. However, college and high school students are rallying demanding that Zimmerman be arrested. They protest that Zimmerman’s act of racism in shooting the African American teen should result in his arrest. 

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fla-students-rally-to-demand-arrest-of-neighborhood-watch-leader-who-shot-unarmed-black-teen/2012/03/19/gIQAZFN7MS_story.html 

Madonna vs. Malawi

Madonna is under fire by Malawi’s Ministry of Education. The pop icon had planned to build a girls academy, but didn’t notify the authorities when said plans fell through due to ‘mismanagement of funds’. Now, she has decided to build 10 new schools in some of the impoverished villages of Malawi that are without schools. But she has failed to get permission from the Malawi Authorities. Lindiwe Chide, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education said, "She has no mandate to decide where she wants to build a school because she doesn't know our needs and where we want new schools. She first needed to consult us, get permission from us before doing anything." She also believes that Madonna’s intentions are not truly to help the people of Malawi but merely to make her global image better. Madonna's spokesperson claims that "This is simply not true."

• http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/malawi-officials-blast-madonnas-school-plans-20120314  

A Bomb in Disneyland?

On Saturday, March 3, 2012, Disneyland in California was temporarily shut down when a suspicious object was spotted in a tree. Employees saw that object and called the local police, who then called in the bomb squad. The park was put on lockdown while the bomb squad investigated. The guests already in the park were not evacuated, and were able to enjoy no lines when getting on the rides, for the park was nearly empty because no more guests were allowed inside. It turns out that the 'bomb' was just part of a geocaching game, in which GPS's help children to find hidden packages and prizes.

• http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/03/disneyland-reopens-after-probe-into-suspicious-package/