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Metrolink Tragedy

There is nothing more disconcerting than a senseless tragedy of this magnitude. The fact that it was all caused by one man intent on killing himself is really very disturbing. What he actually managed to do was kill at least 10 people and hurt hundreds of others. It is always horrible when a person's life is so painful that he or she feel that they must die -- but in this case, why did he leave the car on the tracks. It sounds to me that he was homicidal and not just suicidal, which is sickening. And, he left the scene without a scratch on him. At least, they have him in custody and know what he did to cause the accident.

This tragedy is even more horrific to me because it hit a little too close to home. For two summers, I took the Metrolink from Claremont to Union Station when I worked at the LA Opera during college. I enjoyed developing relationships with all of my fellow commuters, who all relished the stress-free commute by train. I can only imagine what the people on the trains today must have felt during this horrible occurrence. And, I truly feel for all of the individuals who lost their lives -- and pray for their families.

Anti-Smoking Campaigns Work

The following is from today's Los Angeles Times:

Smoking among California middle and high school students has reached record low levels, according to a state survey released today, and officials credit the state's 15-year-old tobacco control program.

"California's youth have grown up enjoying the benefits of living in America's smoke-free zone," said Kim Belshé, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. "Today we celebrate 15 years of reducing adult and youth smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke and tobacco-related diseases and deaths."

Proposition 99, the Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act of 1988, increased the tax on cigarettes by 25 cents a pack. Five cents of that went to programs in schools and local health departments, an anti-tobacco media program and research.

All I have to say is Halleluyah! It is very comforting to think that anti-smoking campaigns actually have an impact on today's youth. I see so many young people smoking everyday -- and I just don't understand it. Its comforting to know that some of this is sinking in. And, health communicators (like I hope to be) have an impact on America's view of disease prevention.

Ban the Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

The following ran in today's Los Angeles times:

A group of Republican lawmakers Monday renewed their push for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, even though hope for its passage appears to have dimmed, even among some of its main supporters.The measure fell far short of the mark in key votes in the House and Senate last year. Those defeats prompted President Bush to question recently whether he should aggressively lobby for it, given his other priorities, such as overhauling Social Security.

And while some religious groups with clout within the Republican Party have made the amendment a top goal, it was not on the list of top 10 legislative priorities unveiled by Senate GOP leaders Monday.

Good news again today! As an American, it is our constitutional right to be treated equally, which surely doesn't happen. Why does the gender composition of a couple matter in the eyes of the law? It doesn't.... Gay couples and straight couples have the same right to marry and be full partners in the eyes of the law. The Republicans should just let this one go....hopefully they will never have their way.

Jen Scheft May Be Insane

Another one of my guilty pleasures is "The Bachelor" or "The Bachelorette -- particarly if I like the man/woman doing the choosing. I liked Jen Scheft immediately when she was first on "The Bachelor." She was ultimately chosen by Andrew Firestone -- and I rooted for them both wholeheartedly. So, this time I feel like I have more invested in her picking the right guy. Many of the men that she has chosen so far seemed to be right on, with the exception of Fabrice. He is an arrogant, French man who cries on cue. And for some reason, Jen likes this. Even when he was incredbily freaky and forward on their one-on-one date -- she still saw past his shtick. This makes me lose respect for Jen -- except that it is a TV show and is edited for drama ( so I know not to take it too seriously). In the end, I know that I (along with thousands of other women) will like who Jen ultimately picks. And I bet that they will make it work...it seems that the women on "The Bachelorette" always choose the right person in the end. Right now, I like Ben and Ryan. I would like John Paul more if he didn't have weird lips -- and if he didn't wear loafers without socks. But, I could always get past that if he is the right guy for her. Its weird -- I feel like I know her.

Pep Rally Excitement

Today the National Champions -- the USC Trojans -- will be celebrating their Orange Bowl win on the University Park Campus at Tommy Trojan. Heisman wimmer Matt Leinart will be honored along with his teammates for their momentous accomplishment.

I plan to be there to root my team on -- with every other Trojan in Los Angeles.

FIGHT ON!

An Execution in California

I may not be popular in my beliefs (especially in comparison to some of my more liberal friends and colleagues) but I have always been a supporter of the dealth penalty. I believe in 99% of the cases it is warranted due to the heinous nature of the crime -- and maybe 1% receive it because of bias or prejudice (which I think is wrong).

Early this morning, Donald Beardslee was executed by lethal injection 24 years after he confessed to the slayings of two Bay Area women. A last minute clemency request was filed with the governor and denied.

In a statement Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "Nothing in his petition or the record of his case convinces me that he did not understand the gravity of his actions or that these heinous murders were wrong."

I have to say that I agree with the governor's decision, even though there were claims that Beardslee suffered from brain damage. A Los Angeles Times article gave more detail about the killer's past -- and it seems that he was on parole for the slaying of a woman in the 1970's. Beardslee had also planned the murders of the two Bay Area woman and killed them in a brutal fashion (one was shot on the face, the other had her throat slit). Gov. Schwarzenegger said that it was clear (based on evidence in his case file) that Beardslee knew the difference between right and wrong. And, even though his co-conspirators in the Bay Area murders did not receive the death penalty, they were not on parole for another murder.

Its interesting that on the front page of the LA Times is the story of the execution. I do understand that it is quite newsworthy since it was the 11th execution since California reinstate the death penalty. But do we really need to know that Beardslee denied a "last meal?" And is it necessary to hear how he spent his last day on earth? What about the three women who he killed? They were not offered a last meal, nor did they have the opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones. No, their lives were cut short...and it was not right. Its only just for someone who committed those heinous crimes to pay with their life too.

Under the Tuscan Sun

I just finished watching a good movie that had a great message...at least in my opinion. "Under the Tuscan Sun" chronicles the life of Frances -- a San Francisco writer who impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany after a bitter divorce. There are many things that I like about this film including the acting, the characters, and the lush scenery that makes me want to go back to Italy immediately. But the best part of it is the central theme.

Frances dreams of filling her Tuscan villa with a family of her own someday -- and a kitchen full of people to cook for. Throughout the film, Frances returns to one analogy over and over again: "they built the tracks from Vienna to Venice before they had the train that could make the trip." I interpreted the meaning to be that each person must build a life for themselves -- and decide to be happy even if everything isn't perfect. Once you do, you can open yourself up to the possibility of love. And throughout the journey, you may find that you've had everything you ever wished for all along.

In the end, Frances realizes all of this....and most importantly that her impromptu decision to change her life in such a drastic way allowed her to be truly happy. I hope that all of us can be as lucky, even though luck has nothing to do with it.