The Florida Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill prohibit cell phone use by teens holding a user permit to drive. It’s not a bad idea given the fact that these young drivers are learning how to drive and don’t need added distractions. However, why focus on this one group of drivers? We’ve all had the frustrating, sometimes scary experience of driving alongside someone engrossed in a phone call. The driver switches lanes without a signal, speeds up and slows down erratically, and is generally not paying attention. What about these drivers? As is often the case in Tallahassee, there’s more light than heat in this bill.
Accidente de Trafico. . .Que Debe Hacer Ahora?
Usted acaba de tener un accidente de trafico. Usted esta tratando de salir de su vehiculo y al mismo tiempo se percata que ninguna persona parece estar seriamente herida en el otro vehiculo. Que debe hacer ahora?
Llamar a la unidad de emergencia. Si es posible tome notas del lugar exacto y la posición de los vehiculos involucrados en el accidente. Intercambie numeros de polizas de seguro asi como información personal de cada conductor. Debe dar toda la información necesaria al policia (s) encargado de la investigación. Por ningun motivo discuta detalles con el otro conductor. Nunca discuta con el otro conductor las causas del accidente. Nunca admita culpabilidad, aunque Ud. piense que es culpable. Esto sera determinado por la via legal a su debido tiempo, cuando se conozcan las causas. Si Ud. admite culpa en el escenario de los hechos, se puede llegar a falsas conclusiones y por ende a misconsiderar u omitir otros factores. Si Ud, presenta heridas visibles tome fotografias de estas. Solicite atención medica lo mas pronto posible, aunque aparentemente se sienta bien., pues muchas veces toma cierto tiempo para sentir heridas internas y las consecuencias se presentan después. Contacte un buen abogado para ayuda legal.
Estado de Ineptitud para Conducir
Conducir en estado de ineptitud afectará a uno de cada tres estadounidenses en algún momento de su vida (NHTSA 2003a).
Incidencia y consecuencias
Los accidentes automovilísticos relacionados con el alcohol provocan la muerte de una persona cada 30 minutos y lesiones no mortales en una persona cada dos minutos (NHTS 2003a).
En 2002 fueron 17,419 las personas que perdieron la vida en Estados Unidos en accidentes automovilísticos relacionados con el alcohol, lo cual representa el 41% de todas las muertes relacionadas con accidentes de tráfico (NHTSA 2003a).
En 2001, fueron arrestadas más de 1.4 millones de personas por conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol o sustancias sicotrópicas (FBI 2001). Esto es poco más del 1% de los 120 millones de casos anuales, reportados por las mismas personas involucradas, de personas adultas que conducen bajo los efectos del alcohol en Estados Unidos (Dellinger 1999).
Cómo prevenir las lesiones de espalda y otras lesiones por cargar objetos
No cargue manualmente si su tarea la puede hacer con una grúa, un montecargas u otro equipo mecánico.
Si usted necesariamente tiene que cargar algo con las manos, pídale ayuda a otros empleados, si es posible.
Consejos para cargar manualmente adecuadamente:
Verifique la ruta para asegurarse que no tenga obstrucciones, agua ni algún otro elemento con el que se pueda resbalar y caer.
Coloque los pies cerca del objeto, doble las rodillas y sosténgalo firmemente con las manos. Levante con suavidad, principalmente usando los músculos de las piernas.
Levántese con una posición recta, manteniendo la carga cerca de su cuerpo sin girar ni darse la vuelta.
Gire su cuerpo cambiando la posición de los pies al empezar a caminar, en lugar de torcerse.
Baje la carga despacio, doblando las rodillas. No la deje caer hasta que esté segura en el piso.
Transporte los carritos, empujándolos no jalándolos.
Sex Abuse Scandal Not Fading Away
Sadly, the sexual abuse scandal that has so plagued the Catholic Church in the United States shows no real signs of abating. According to statistics compiled by a commission sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, there were 783 credible charges against Catholic clergy last year. Of the 783, 9 of those charges concerned abuse that occurred last year. The remainder of the charges stem from abuse that happened in the 1960’s or 1970’s. The report also notes that 4,827 priests have been accused of sexual abuse by 12,537 youths-most of whom were boys or young men at the time.
The scandal has touched every diocese and every state in the country. It can not be said to have affected only a certain demographic of the Catholic population. It’s a systemic problem that requires a systemic solution. I don’t see such an approach anywhere on the horizon.
NJ Appeals Court Upholds Vioxx Class Action Status
A New Jersey appellate court upheld the national class action status of the Vioxx lawsuits. This is significant for plaintiffs who’ve brought suit against Merck, the manufacturer of the once popular arthritis drug. The lawsuit, which seeks reimbursement for as much as $9.6 billion of Vioxx purchases, could significantly complicate Merck’s defense efforts as it battles thousands of cases brought by individuals. If it goes to trial, the stakes will be large and the plaintiffs will face a lower bar to prove their case than in the personal-injury cases that have been seen so far. A loss in the case would trigger triple damages under state law. That could increase pressure on Merck to consider a settlement, at least for some cases, which it so far has resisted, experts said.
Archdiocese of Chicago in Full Compliance with Sex Abuse Review Board in Spite of Failure
According to the National Review Board set up by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Archdiocese of Chicago was in full compliance with its sexual abuse charter. The charter, designed to protect young children, was implemented in 2002 after the bishops’ meeting in Dallas. In spite of this declaration of “full compliance” the Archdiocese of Chicago failed to act in the case of Fr. Daniel McCormack who supposedly had a checkered past dating back to his days in the seminary.
How effective is the Review Board if it misses such obvious cases as McCormack who’s been indicted on sexual abuse charges as recent as a few years ago? Full compliance is meaningless if it doesn’t protect children.
Episcopal Diocese in Florida Hit with Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Episcopal Church in Florida is now facing a $5 million lawsuit stemming from the sexual abuse of a young girl by deceased Episcopal priest Fr. Joseph Noll. The abuse occurred at St. Stephen’s Church in Jacksonville in 1969. The victim says it started when she was 11 and that the priest locked the door, showed pictures of naked men, undressed and fondled her. She even alleges that the priest made inappropriate use of ceremonial candle.
Kansas School Consultant Urges Prudence and Public Notification of Taser Use
A consultant for Wichita Kansas public schools is urging school officials to use prudence when deploying taser stun guns on students. It’s just as important to inform the parents of tased students as well as the local community of such use. In Hillsborough County Florida, letters are sent home to school parents when a taser is deployed, even by accident.
The NIMBY Approach to Justice and Compassion
NIMBY stands for Not in My Backyard. William Cardinal Keeler was in town to speak at Sunday night’s Eternal Light Awards dinner in St. Petersburg. The Cardinal had just been presented with the award for his work on behalf of interreligious dialogue among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Keeler spoke about the importance of bridging the gap between these faith communities. However, his passion for building bridges with other faiths only made the contradiction clearer. Why would a churchman such as Keeler dedicate his life to building bridges and neglect the most important bridge of all-the bridge to victims of sexual abuse?
I have no reason nor intention to impugn the Cardinal’s character. But my question remains-why show so much concern for building bridges between faiths when there is so much repair to be done in your own faith? Why would a man like Keeler lobby the Maryland legislature to drop a proposal that could bring justice and perhaps healing to victims of sexual abuse?
My only answer is NIMBY-Not in My Backyard; let Justice and Compassion spring forth in far off lands-just not in my backyard.
Let peace and reconciliation grow among Jews, Muslims, and Christians-just not in my backyard where some of my flock have been abused by my shepherds.