Proposed Law Against Football

Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who's mission is to prove that NFL players develop the brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) as a direct result of football, has suggested that there be a law passed requiring children to reach the legal age of consent before they can play football. "We have a legal age for drinking alcohol; for joining the military; for voting; for smoking; for driving; and for consenting to have sex," he wrote. "We must have the same when it comes to protecting the organ that defines who we are as human beings." Omalu argues that by setting a legal age, these adults would be allowed to decide themselves whether or not they want to play, instead of being pressured as kids. CTE can only be detected in the dead, so it is difficult to decide just how dangerous playing football at a young age is, compared to later in life. However, two studies this year have shown that NFL players who played football before age 12 had an increased risk of mental issues later in life. Neurosurgeon Robert Cantu has recommended that children should avoid tackle football at least until the age of fourteen, and others have agreed, but Omalu's idea to make football illegal to high school students as well as younger children is almost crazy. However, it is likely more and more people begin to agree with Omalu, since at least eleven high school football players have died this year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bennet-omalu-football_5665d244e4b072e9d1c6e10b

Mycoplasma Genitalium

A new STD has been discovered -- Mycoplasma Genitalium -- the predecessor to pelvic inflammatory disease. Researchers at University College London examined urine samples of about 4,500 men and women (ages 18-44) and found that 72 people who were sexually active with at least one partner tested positive with MG, while those who have never been sexually active's results all came back negative. It is hard to catch MG, because it often doesn't show symptoms; 50-90% of people diagnosed with the STD didn't report any symptoms. For those that do have symptoms, painful urination and bleeding after sex are common for women, and watery discharge is normal for men. MG is treatable with the antibiotic azithromycin, AKA a "z-pack." 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/health/what-to-know-std-mg/index.html

Trump Attacks Muslims

After Obama's most recent national address regarding Americans' actions towards Muslims in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, CA, Donald Trump has made his view clear that he believes the United States should keep all Muslims from entering the country. “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” Trump declared. Nancy Morawetz, a professor at New York University School of Law who is specializing in immigration, was shocked by Trump's statement. Morawetz said “It’s unbelievable to have a religious test for admission into the country,” which does, in fact, go against the Constitution. While it makes sense to keep an eye out for suspected terrorists and keep Syrian refugees from entering the United States, Mr. Trump basically wants anyone associated with the Muslim religion to be kept out, and maybe even kicked out for that matter. 

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/

Military Combat Positions Now Offered To Women

This past Thursday, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that all U.S. military combat positions have become available to women. This will allow women to fill about 220,000 jobs including infantry, armor, reconnaissance and special operations units. "This means that women [...] will be able to drive tanks, give orders, lead infantry soldiers into combat," Carter said. Obviously, there are "physical differences" between men and women, and to keep our military strong and skilled, positions won't just be handed out to women who ask. They must have the same skill expectations and requirements as the men. So far, only two women have completed the Army's Ranger School, and now they can finally apply to join the 75th Ranger Regiment. Hillary Clinton has fully supported and applauded the move. She stated: "We've seen women in our armed forces prove their heroism and abilities, now our official policy is catching up and women who are qualified for these positions should be able to compete and win them." The policy be implemented in 30 days.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/03/politics/u-s-military-women-combat-positions/index.html

Trump In Need Of Fact Check

In recent campaign rallies and interviews, Donald Trump seems to have a hard time remembering facts about the events on 9/11. Last week, Trump made remarks that, in fact, do not correspond with the actual events. The first instance was during a CBS interview when Trump only recognized three of four plane crashes: “And those wives went home to watch their husbands knock down the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and wherever the third plane was going.” Then, Trump acknowledged the terrorist attacks to have happened around lunch time, when they actually occurred around 8-10 a.m. The next day, Trump interrupted a question about World War II and once again brought up 9/11. Mr. Trump said the only thing that was worse than Pearl Harbor was the 9/11 attacks, which "killed innocent civilians having dinner,” but as previously stated, the plane crashes actually occurred in the morning. Apparently Trump takes pride in not using a teleprompter when he speaks, but I think it's about time he rethinks that. 

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/04/