How Could You 


By Jim Willis 

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I
took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. 

She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might
hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please
don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who
might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As
is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down
sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different
from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was you, my beloved master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

Westboro Baptist Church

The Westboro Baptist Church as been the hype of the media for over a decade now. This corrupt hate group has hurt so many innocent families at the extent of their nonsensical beliefs. The churches most preferred target is homosexuals. Most Americans don’t even know to what extent this church has done to disrespect our country, and as to why our government has not put a stop to it. Not only does this hate group give a bad name to baptists, but also to other christians as well.
Fred Phelps is the Pastor of Westboro and members are primarily part of his large family. In 2011 the church reported it had about 40 members. The church is located in a suburban neighborhood on the west side of Topeka, Kansas. Its first public service was held November 27, 1955. Westboro is not associated with any other baptist organization, such as the two largest, The Southern Baptist Convention and The Baptist World Alliance. Both organizations have released statements disapproving the churches beliefs. Westboro describes itself as following Primitive Baptists and Calvinism (branch of western christianity that follows the theological tradition and forms of christian practice of John Calvin and other Reformation-era theologians) principals. The Westboro Baptist Church originated as a branch of the East Side Baptist Church in Topeka in 1931. In 1954 East Side hired Phelps as an associate pastor, then promoted him to pastor of their new church, Westboro Baptist, in 1956. Soon after Westboro was established Phelps cut all ties with East side Baptist. When Phelps took over the church he began to alter the beliefs of the church. Westboro now considers membership in most religious groups, such as Roman Catholic and Islam, analogous to devil worship. Westboro also states that other churches are “ satanic frauds preaching barbaric lies” . All non-christian groups, non-protestant christian churches, and all protestant christian churches that don’t strongly deprecate homosexuality, or coordinate their beliefs exactly that of Westboro are said to be sending their members to Hell.
Westboro Baptist Church has been actively bashing homosexuality since 1991, when the church tried to stop homosexual acts from happening in Gage Park. The park is located  6 blocks northwest of the church. The church also pickets anti gay protest at military funerals, and have also been reported to protest at some celebrity funerals to try and gain media attention. Westboro also protest against Jews, and have been known to stomp on the American flag. Phelps and his family picket at approximately 6 locations everyday. On sundays you can find Westboro members picketing at up to almost 50 different churches. By their own count Westboro have picketed in all 50 states. Westboro carries out daily picketing in Topeka as well as traveling.  The church pickets at funerals of homosexuals, people who have died due to complications from Aids, or other events related to homosexuality. They have also done protest at the Kansas City Chiefs football games and live pop concerts. As of march 2009 the church claims to  have picketed over 41,000 protest in over 650 cities since 1991. One of the Westboro members estimated that the church spends over $250,000 a year on picketing.
On January 15, 2006 Westboro members protested at a memorial for the Sago Mine disaster. They claimed that the mining accident was God’s revenge against America for its benevolence of homosexuality. The group came into national spotlight in 1998. Westboro was featured on CNN for picketing at the funeral of Matthew Shepard. Matthew was a young man from Wyoming. He was beaten to death by 2 men due to his homosexuality. Since then Westboro have attracted more attention for planned funeral pickets.
Matthew Snyder was a United States Marine, who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq. Westboro decided to picket his funeral holding signs that said “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God For Dead Soldiers”. Phelps released a statement saying “ Our attitude toward what’s happening with the war is simply the Lord is punishing the evil nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime.” Albert Snyder, Matthew’s father, filed a lawsuit against Westboro for protesting at his son’s funeral. The United States Supreme Court disgracefully ruled 8-1 saying that Westboro’s actions were compliant to free speech. In 2009 Westboro protested at Michael Jackson’s funeral. Members of the church also recorded a song  titled “God Hates The World” a variation to Jackson’s song for charity “ We Are The World” .  In January 2011 Westboro released an announcement stating they would be picketing the funeral of Christina Green, a 9yr old victim of the 2011 Tucson, Arizona shooting. In response the Arizona Legislature passed an emergency bill to ban protest within 300 feet of a funeral service. After Arizona residents heard about Westboro’s intentions they made plans to shield the funeral from protesters. On January 26, 2008 Maria Lauterbach, a U.S. Marine that was murdered, was laid to rest. Five women of the Westboro cult was there holding signs that said “ 1.2.3.4. God Hates the Marine Corps”. A group of over 40 counter-protestors and one spat in Shirley-Phelps-Roper’s face.  Another counter-protest was held across town where over 150 people arrived to shut down the cruel acts of Westboro Baptist Church. Margie Phelps made a statement to the media in reference to the book of Revelation saying that all the nations of the world soon will march onto Israel. They would be led by President Barack Obama, whom she called the Antichrist. On May 14, 2008 2 days after the massive Sichuan Earthquake, Westboro issued a press release thanking God for the extensive amount of death in China, and prayed for many more earthquakes to kill more “contemptuous and ungrateful” chinese.
There is a group of people whose main purpose is to follow these Westboro protesters to funerals and try to block them. They are known as the Patriot Guard Riders. They are a motorcyclist group mainly composed of veterans. They attend funerals of people in the U.S. Armed Forces at the invitation of the deceased’s family. The group was formed to shelter and protect the funerals from protesters of the Westboro Baptist Church.
These pickets and several others have resulted in lawsuits. Phelps Sr. was convicted of assault and disorderly conduct after spitting in someone’s face. In June 2007 Shirley-Phelps-Roper was arrested ,and charged in Nebraska. She was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The arrest resulted from her allowing her 8yr old son to stomp on the American flag during a picket, which is illegal under Nebraska law. The defense stated the child’s actions were protected speech, and the state law was unconstitutional. The prosecutors later dropped all charges.
The Westboro Baptist church well exceeds $200,000 a year in picketing expenses. This hate group is not federally funded, but is a non-profit organization therefore is not required to pay taxes.

The Stem Cell Controversy

The Stem Cell Controversy

Most people don’t even know exactly what a stem cell is and what it does. There are many different views on stem cell research. Embryonic stem cells are very delicate cells that have the potential to grow in a lab and metamorphose into almost all types of tissue, which in contrast treat certain diseases. The ethical debate of stem cell research primarily concerns the creation,treatment, and destruction of a human embryo.
Not all stem cell research involves creation,use, or destruction of a human embryo. Adult stem cells, amniotic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells don’t involve human embryos at all. Although embryonic stem cells are the best of the best in treating physical trauma, degenerative conditions, genetic diseases, and some cancers. Further treatments using stem cells could potentially be developed thanks to their ability to repair extensive tissue damage.
In 1995 United States Congress passed the Dickey-Wicker Amendment. The bill was signed by president Bill Clinton. This amendment prohibited the Department of Health and Human Services to federally fund research in which human embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to death or injury. In March 2009 president Obama issued an order which removed the restriction against federal funding of stem cell research.
In early 2009 the FDA approved the first human clinical trials using embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent.  Pluripotent means the stem cell is able to differentiate into any of the 3 germ layers: endoderm( interior stomach lining, gastrointestinal tract, lungs) mesoderm ( muscle, blood, bone, urogenitial) ectoderm( epidermal tissue and nervous tissue). Pluripotent stem cells can help any fetal or adult cells that are damaged or diseased. However alone they can’t become a fetal or adult organism because they lack potential to contribute to extraembryonic tissue such as the placenta.
Induced pluripotent stem cells are a type of cell that is artificially formed from a non-pluripotent cell typically an adult somatic cell by inducing genes. An adult somatic cell is a biological cell forming the body of an organism that is in a multicellular organism. An example of an adult somatic cell are skin cells. Induced pluripotent cells are obtained by genetically reprogramming the adult somatic cells. This process can cause significant risk depending on which methods are used. Hypothetically speaking if viruses are induced into an adult somatic cell to genetically alter the cell it can trigger “oncogenes” which are cancer causing genes. If this was to happen and oncogenes became present in the cell this would activate the persons natural killers cells which would kill the cancer, but in the process also destroy the whole organ. Everyone has natural killer cells. They are a type of cytoxic lymphocyte critical to the immune system. Natural killer cells provide rapid responses to viral infected cells and respond to tumor formation.

Adult stem cells are very limited into differentiating into different cell types of their tissue origin. However some evidence suggests that the plasticity in an adult stem cell may increase the number of cell types it can become. To break this information down think of it this way. An embryo stem cell is very young . It hasn’t decided what role its going to play in the body yet when it grows up. On the other hand an adult stem cell are older and usually have already chosen what role they will play in the body. This is why scientists have used embryo stem cells to treat certain diseases because they can genetically pick what role they want the embryo stem cell to play in the body. Suppose a mother chose to freeze her babies umbilical cord blood at birth, and later in life that child got leukemia. Doctors could perform a stem cell transplant from stem cells in the childs very own cord blood. Then new stem cells could create new healthy blood cells while the cancerous blood cells usually die off.

Some stem cell researchers are working to develop techniques of isolating stem cells that are as useful as embryonic stem cells, but don’t require a human embryo. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University said “ The fluid surrounding the fetus has been found to contain stem cells that when utilized correctly, can be metamorphosed towards cell types such as fat, bone, muscle, blood vessel, nerve, and liver cells. The extraction of this fluid is thought not to harm the fetus in anyway.” He hopes that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well.

Embryonic stem cell research is by far a controversial debate. With present day technology, the creation of a human embryonic stem cell line requires the destruction of a human embryo. Current stem cell issues have motivated the pro-life movement, whose members believe that human life begins at conception. A portion of stem cell researchers use embryos that were created and not used in invitro fertilization treatments to create new stem cell lines. Most of the embryos are to be destroyed, or stored long past their viable storage life anyway. In the U.S. alone, there have been at least 400,000 embryos that have gone to waste.

Medical researchers agree that stem cell research has the potential to dramatically alter ways of understanding and treating diseases. In August 2000, The U.S National Institute of Health’s Guidelines Stated: “ Research involving human pluripotent stem cells promises new treatments and possible cures for many debilitating diseases and injuries, including Parkinson’s Disease, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, burns, and spinal cord injuries. The National Institute of Health believes the potential medical benefits of human pluripotent stem cell technology are compelling and worthy of pursuit in accordance with appropriate ethical standards”

In 2006 researchers at Advanced Cell Technology of Worcester, MA accomplished obtaining stem cells from mouse embryos without destroying them. If this technique and its reliability are improved, it could alleviate some of the ethical concerns. In 2005 The National Institute of Health funded $6.7 million dollars worth of stem cell research. In 2005 the state of California also took out 3 billion dollars in bond loans to fund embryonic stem cell research. Since president Barack Obama removed the restriction of government funding for stem cell research they are now being funded federally.

If you look at both sides to this debate each side has very good reasoning. Although embryonic stem cells are the best approach in finding a cure for certain diseases it does involve risk, injury ,or even death to an unborn fetus.

Forgiving The Green River Serial Killer

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone so that your father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses

Mark 11:25

Forgiveness, its something we all struggle with. How can we let go of pain and hurt caused by others? Forgiveness is not just something you do for others it’s more something you do for yourself. Holding on to pain and anger only hurts you. Even though letting go of things from your past is hard its in your best interest. Forgiveness is the first step in the healing process to get on with your life. I would like to share a cold but heartwarming story with you about an act of forgiveness like no other.

February 18, 1949 Gary Leon Ridgway was born. He lived a life of inconceivable cruelty. His crimes started when he was in highschool and didn’t stop until he was captured in 2001. He murdered numerous women and girls in Washington state during the 1980’s and 90’s. Most of his victims were alleged to be prostitutes. He strangled women with his bare hands or used ligatures. After strangling his victims he would often dump their bodies in a wooded area near the Green River in Washington. This gave him the name “The Green River Killer”. He would often come back to the dump site to have sexual intercourse with the dead bodies. On November 30, 2001 Ridgway was leaving the Renton, Washington Kenworth Truck Factory where he worked. He was arrested for the murders of 4 women whose cases were linked to him through DNA evidence. As a part of a plea bargain he disclosed the whereabouts of the still missing women. He was spared the death penalty, and received life in prison without parole. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s Ridgway is believed to have murdered over 71 women near seattle and Tacoma Washington. His court statement later reported that he had killed so many women he had lost count. Victims were believed to be prostitutes or runaways picked up along the highway. After dumping his victims he often left them posed naked. He dumped 2 confirmed and 2 suspected victims in Portland, Oregon to try to confuse police. Most victims weren’t found until their bodies were only skeletons. Three victims still remained unidentified. Ridgway occasionally left chewed gum, cigarettes,and letters from other people linking is DNA to the crime scene. Ridgway didn’t become a suspect of the Green River killings until 1983. In 1984 he was required by law to take a polygraph test. Surprisingly he passed. It wasn’t until April of 87 police took hair and saliva samples which linked him to the murders. On Dec 18, 2003 Judge Richard Jones  sentenced Ridgway to 48 life sentences without parole. Ridgway led prosecutors to 3 more bodies in 2003.

On August 16, 2003 a young 16 year old girl was found strangled,raped, and beaten. Her name was Linda Jane Rule. Her father stood in court and listened to the victims parents say how much they hated him for what he had done. One mother said “ Gary Ridgway does not deserve our mercy. He does not deserve to live. He deserves to rot in hell for the rest of his life” When it was time for Mr. Rule to speak on behalf of his daughter what he said was remarkable. “Mr. Ridgway, there are people here that hate you. I am not one of them. Even though you have made it difficult to live up to what i believe and that is what God says to do. That is Forgive. You are forgiven sir.” After Mr. Rule said what he had to say to the man who brutally murdered his daughter he quietly sat back down. The other victim’s family look astounded that he could forgive someone for killing his daughter, but Mr. Rule was at peace he wasn’t letting the pain of being angry hurt him anymore. He chose to not let Gary Ridgway to keep taking his happiness from him.

Forgiveness is what Jesus did for us on the cross. Even though we beat him, denied him, and crucified him he forgave us. Even if you’re not a christian forgiveness should still be apart of your life to help you let go of what is hurting you. Me personally i believe we are made in the image of God and he forgives us everyday therefore forgiveness dwells in our spirit. God’s love and forgiveness can penetrate even the blackest heart. Ridgway confessed to more confirmed murders than any other American serial killer , and Jesus died on the cross for him to forgive him just as much as he died for us.

"The Devil's Breath" Worlds Scariest Drug

“The Devil’s Breath” Worlds Scariest Drug


Its hard to believe that one of the world’s most dangerous drugs comes from a beautiful tree. The tree’s beauty camouflages its ability to kill. The Borrachero (drunken binge) is one of South America’s most beautiful trees. The Borrachero can be found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The tree has beautiful white flowers and fruit that look like miniature coconuts. Within the seeds of the Borrachero’s fruit is the main ingredient to make one of the worlds most deadliest drug, scopolamine. The street name in South America for this drug is Burundanga also known as “The Devil’s Breath”.  
Our journey starts in Colombia the cocaine capital of the world. 1 in every 3 kidnappings in the world happens in Colombia. From all the homicides, drug trafficking, and kidnaping everyone in Colombia is more afraid of falling under the spell of the Borrachero Tree. When under the influence of scopolamine you are awake and articulate, but have completely lost control of your own actions. “scopolamine is a drug like no other. Nothing can compare to it. Someone can be walking beside you, and blow a small amount of white powder in your face. causing you to be completely drugged losing all free will. You wait a couple of seconds for the drug to kick in. Then you can guide them wherever you want. It’s like there a child. You can tell them to take you to their house and give you whatever you want sex money whatever. The great thing for a criminal about this drug is the victim will have no recollection of what happened” Said Demencia Black, one of Colombia’s notorious drug dealers.

One gram of scopolamine is like 1 gram of cocaine. Scopolamine has the same density, weight and look as cocaine, but with 1 gram of scopolamine you can kill up to 10-15 people. Thats why it’s so extremely delicate. The powder is extracted from the Caco Savanero fruit which is grown on the Borrachero. People also use the root from this tree to make tea which gives a psychedelic high similar to LSD. The seeds from the Caco Savanero have to be treated chemically. They grind it, bleach it, and heat it much like the process of making cocaine. This drug is not used recreationally it is distinctly used as a criminal element. You can usually by this drug of the street for 40-50 pesos. That would be around $3.94 in American dollars. Scopolamine is the transmitter of all poisons.

From the medical point of view scopolamine is the perfect substance for criminals. The victim won’t remember anything, and therefore can’t report the crime. Their memory is completely gone of the act. When the drug wears off the victim tries to recollect the event, but they don’t realize that they themselves collaborated in the crime. This type of reaction is the property of the drug thought to be exploited causing the ability to hypnotize the victim. Scopolamine is also used in America as a medical drug. Scopolamine is used as adjunct anesthetic in trauma surgery. Light anesthesia is required to keep the patient hemodynamically stable, and this increases risk of awareness. Scopolamine decreases awareness and recall. In very low doses it is also used for nausea and vomiting from post-operative surgery.

Scopolamine is by no means a modern revelation. The Aztecs in Colombia used this drug to lure women to their death. When a chief of died all his assorted females were required by tradition to die with him. They used scopolamine on the women to lure them to the grave then buried them alive. In the 1930’s Joseph Mengal had the drug imported from Colombia to Germany to use in some of his criminal interrogations. More recently the CIA tried to use the drug in the 60’s a sort of truth serum. The only problem with this is it also demonstrated some hallucinogenic effects.

“ I was on my way to catch the bus. A man stopped me and asked for directions. He asked me if i knew the address and showed me a piece of paper. I think thats when he drugged me. You just have to smell a small amount then they have complete control over you. Its not like you’re drugged at all. You can walk and talk normally, but with no recollection of what is going on. You lose your will power and the ability to say “hey somethings wrong here” I was taken to my house. I grabbed a few things then ransacked the entire house. I knew my boyfriend had some savings put up in an envelope. Unfortunately, I found it. The envelope was full of dollars and euros. This was money he had been saving for a long time. He was also a photographer so I gave away his cameras too. I gave them as much of our stuff as they wanted. When I had realized what had happened I began to cry and went straight to the police. I was screaming in panic. Fortunately, I only received a small dose, and they only took material things. Its painful to lose money and all your things,but i was actually quite lucky. If they had been worse people I might have been raped.”Said Carolina, a scopolamine victim.

Just like the beauty from the flower of the Borrachero tree so are the women who use scopolamine on men. When men go out to nightclubs or brothels they start drinking and the beautiful women of Colombia drop the deadly drug in their liquor. The women will then take them to their banks or ATM, and make them take all their money out. This crime is organized by gangs. Men allow themselves to be fooled by the beauty of these women, and fall under the deadly spell of scopolamine.

“When we need money, and see a guy walk in with it we give him scopolamine. We sit him down and start touching him,or we swipe his nose with scopolamine. Just as we use it to rob men they use it to rape us. Everything about scopolamine has to do with hurting people. You can kill a person in 5-20 minutes without realizing it. I remember the first time I ever used scopolamine. I knocked on an old lady’s door. She opened a window for me. I told her we were looking for food. She said she had some leftovers she could give us. I don’t know what came over me, but I just took the paper and swiped the lady’s nose with it. She had a heart attack and fell to the ground. I was scared, but just like that we took everything she had. Then walked out the door. From then on I used it with my clients in the room or while drinking with them. There is a way to do anything in this world. I give it to them rob them then take off. You can learn how to do anything on the streets. I have been doing this since I was 15 I am 21 now. If I had to write down everyone I had given scopolamine to it would be impossible. You just think about hurting others because you have already been hurt. You think my life is useless I’ll just do whatever I want. I never imagined having a life like this. I can’t believe I did all these bad things, and I am still here completely relaxed “ Said Jessica Maria, a prostitute.

Colombia is one of the most beautiful places in the world with its luscious rainforest to the exotic animals, but just like the Borrachero tree fools people with its beauty so does Colombia. Scopolamine has hurt so many innocent people and as long as the devil keeps breathing it will continue.

Feral child Genie Wiley

I recently wrote a blog about Oxana Malaya. She was a feral child raised by dogs. I would like to share a chilling story of a feral child named Genie Wiley. Although Genie was not raised by animals she was kept in total isolation until she was 13 years old. Her story is remarkable and unimaginable all in itself.
November 4th 1970 a 13 year old girl was taken by a social worker in the Los Angeles, Arcadia area. Her parents were charged with child abuse. Her mother was weak and legally blind and was later acquitted of the charges. The girl was locked in a small room that contained only a small crib and a potty chair which she was tied to most of her life. She was small and malnourished and could barely walk. She was still wearing diapers when the social worker found her. She was beat by her dad for making noise. Her dad later killed himself awaiting trial for the charges brought against him.
The girl was taken to the Los Angeles Children Center. They named the girl Genie. Her parents never even gave the girl a name. A group of different people were hired by the National Institute for Mental Health from scientist and psychologist to therapist and teachers. The government awarded a grant to help fund research of Genie.
Susan Curtis was a part of Genie’s team. She was a recent grad student from UCLA. She studied language acquisition. When Susan first saw Genie she could barely walk, she spat, sniffed, clawed at herself, and couldn’t talk. She only made quiet little noises. She learned not to vocalize due to being beaten for making noise. James Kent was also apart of the team. He was Genie’s psychologist. He describes how much desire Genie had to explore her new environment. Jay Shirley was Genie’s psychiatrist an expert in social isolation. He describes Genie’s case being the worst he has ever seen.
Genie’s team was puzzled if Genie was mentally deficient from birth or if her isolation caused her brain damage. Jay Shirley did a test of her brain waves. The results were abnormal. Scientists and Psychologists didn’t know which path to take to treat Genie. James Kent her therapist, decided if Genie was allowed to form bonds and personal relationships she could get better. Kent noticed when he would spend time with Genie she would get upset and sad when he had to leave. His hypothesis was as long as she had the capacity to form attachments then she had the capacity to learn. On May 21st 1971 Genie learned the meaning of her first word. She would learn over 100 words by the end of that summer. The question could a teenager still learn to talk puzzled scientist.
Noam Chomsky was a famous cognitive scientist. He made a famous theory about language. “We acquire language. People are not just taught it. We are all born with the principles of language its our genes. This is because of nature not just nurture.”He said. Eric H. Lenneberg had a different theory known as the The Critical Period Hypothesis. He agreed we are born with the principles of language. He believed if language wasn’t applied by the age puberty began it might be too late. Genie’s team wanted to test these theories and see if it was still possible to teach a girl who was in total isolation for 13 years to learn how to talk.
James Kent described Genie’s fascination with balloons. “She loved them. It made her laugh so hard to hold a string and watch the balloon float in the air. Every field trip was like being in magic kingdom to her.” He said. Kent and her teacher Gene butler sat out to be Genie’s foster parents. They felt all the scientist coming and going was exhausting Genie. Gene Butler thought Genie was being experimented with too much. They were denied custody by  the National Institute of Mental Health and the rest of Genie’s medical team. Butler described in the short time she had Genie how she loved to hoard things. Butler would find cans of food and numerous glasses of water beside Genie’s bed. After being denied a new home Genie was sent back to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

David Rigler was awarded custody of Genie. He took over James Kent’s role has Genie’s therapist. Genie moved in with Rigler his wife Marilyn Rigler and their children. Marilyn Kent was also a new grad student. She became Genie’s new teacher. She noticed when teaching Genie she would get mad and start tugging and scratching herself. Marilyn taught Genie how to have a fit by stomping her feet and slamming doors rather than hurting herself. She later taught Genie how to turn her anger into words. When Genie would get upset she learned to shake if finger indicating she was mad. Marilyn began to let Genie run her own bathwater. She noticed Genie would make her water cold. This was later perceived by her being left cold in diapers in her childhood. Genie began to start learning more words. She also began to start speaking words. This questioned the fact if Genie was mentally deficient from birth. According to Jay Shirley her psychiatrist that ran the studies of her brain waves she was. Her language teacher Susan Curtis thought differently. “We would give Genie an exam every year. They showed a mental increase by one year every time she would take an exam. That is not something that happens in people who are mentally deficient.” She said. Genie started to learn sign language her team thought that would be the best way for her to communicate right now. She could look at a picture say a tree log for example and say log. She could also look at 5 different pictures and pick which one you said. Example if you had a picture of an apple,dog,shoe,cat,and car and you told her to pick which one was the shoe she could. Genie could say over a 100 different words but never learned how to put them together to form a sentence. Example, she would say  “applesauce store buy”. When she was trying to say “Lets buy some applesauce at the store”.

The Mental Institute of Mental Health was looking for concluded research which they had not gotten. In the fall of 1974 they decided to quit funding Genie’s case. They claimed the team was unable to collect proper data in a scientifically stated way. In 1975 The Rigler family decided to end foster care for Genie. She had lived with them for 4 years. Genie was sent back to her mother who wanted to try to resume care. She later decided it was too difficult. Genie was sent to a foster home. The 1st foster home she was at she was punished for vomiting this was so traumatic for her she ended back at the Children’s Hospital. Genie was so afraid to open her mouth she quickly progressed back to the way she was completely silent.

Genie’s mother placed a lawsuit against Kent,Curtis,Rigler and the Children’s Hospital. Genie’s mother stated the team put science and research before the well being of Genie. They made her learn things beyond her limits of endurance. Genie now lives in an adult home in California. This is the 6th home she has lived in since she left the Riglers.  

When you look at the case of Oxana Malaya and Genie Wileys case Eric Lenneberg’s theory holds true. Oxana was close to 4 years old when she was rescued Genie was 13. I personally believe in Lenneberg’s theory, but who is to say if the Rigler family had kept Genie she might have gotten better. I hope these are theories we never find the answer to because the amount of pain and suffering this girl went through is unimaginable.

The Good Vs. Bad of your child playing video games

The Good Vs. Bad of your child playing video games

Video games have always been given a bad name by parents,media,and our overall society. Most parents think their children playing video games is a waste of valuable time. Certainly parents would rather have their children up doing math homework than playing on the xbox. Our society has always put a stigma on violent video games causing aggressive and antisocial behaviors in young people. Can these video games even benefit our kids anyway, according to recent research from scientists and psychologist yes.
Video games are a complete workout for your brain much like jogging is a good workout for people’s muscles and heart. Scientists believe video games can change the structure of the brain just the same as learning to read and write can. Modern video games are a lot different from the super mario we use to play. Video games now require a higher level of thinking and skills to progress to further levels. Some of these skills aren’t even taught much in our schools anymore such as planning, resource management, quick analysis of different variables, and fine motor skill.
Call of Duty is a very popular shooting game among kids today. In this game the character is put in different levels of war scenarios. This game is very violent but according to scientists this game may have some benefits for our youth. Call of Duty requires you to run,shoot,aim your gun,and look out for enemies all at the same time. The brain has to process all this and then react in an extensive amount of time. When the brain takes in the information being received by the video game it has to give a quick output with movements of the hands and fingertips. The good results of being exposed to a video game like Call of Duty is fine motor skills,hand and eye coordination and spatial skills. The bad is there is a lot of violence and blood in this game some parents may take the good over the bad while others want. Fighter pilots have come back from war and suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. Scientists have used shooting games to help cure soldiers PSD and it has been reported that their fine motor skills are more precise than some of the world’s top surgeons.
Now we have all seen those weird birds that kill the pigs, yes Angry Birds. Video games like Angry Birds, Cut The Rope, and Words With Friends help kids brain build problem solving and logic. The brain must come up with unique ways to solve different puzzles. The result of playing strategy games is it increase your ability to solve problems in the real world. Studies suggest that playing video games primes the brain to make quick decisions. From fine motor skills to quick thinking research also suggest video games can reduce stress in children. The powerful combination of concentration can trigger neurotransmitters to fire releasing chemicals like dopamine which help reduces our stress level.
Most of the bad effects from video games are blamed on the violence they contain. Your child may show signs of aggressive behavior if he/she is over exposed to violent video games. Also spending a lot of time playing video games can socially isolate child causing unwanted outbursts in public situations. Playing to many video games can take time away from your child doing homework, extracurricular activities, and spending time with family and friends. Also video games may teach your children some violent behavior and crude acts may be rewarded.
Overall its a matter of parenting whether you allow your child to play video games or not. There are benefits as well as negative effects caused by video games. The strategy games seem to be overall beneficial in moderation than the shooting and action games.