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Oklahoma trooper on leave after altercation with ambulance personnel

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Oklahoma trooper on leave after altercation with ambulance personnel
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

An Oklahoma police officer is on paid administrative leave, following an altercation with ambulance personnel while they were transporting a patient to the hospital. Trooper Daniel Martin, a member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), was caught on video by his police vehicle’s dashboard-camera in a physical struggle with paramedic Maurice White, Jr. after Martin pulled the ambulance over. Martin had previously passed the ambulance while en route to another call, but came back and pulled over the ambulance. The incident occurred on May 24, and footage from the police dash-cam was released following a tort claim filed by paramedic White.

It has also been suggested that the previous call had in-fact been to pick up his wife from a police station who was then present in the car during the incident between Martin and the ambulance.

Footage by the OHP released Friday shows the ambulance personnel repeatedly informing Trooper Martin that they have a patient in the back of the ambulance that they are in the midst of transporting to the hospital. Martin yells at the ambulance driver for making what he claims was an obscene gesture – the ambulance driver asserts he raised both hands signalling confusion at the police officer’s actions. Trooper Martin can be heard telling the ambulance driver “I’m going to give you a ticket for failure to yield, and when I go by you saying ‘What’s going on?’ you don’t need to give me no hand gestures now, I ain’t going to put up with that [expletive], do you understand me?”

The video from the police dash-cam is eight minutes long, and paramedic White can be seen twice being pushed up against his ambulance by Trooper Martin. In one instance, Martin shoves White up against the ambulance while gripping his neck tightly with his other hand. In a written statement, paramedic White described the hold placed on him by the Trooper, stating “he engaged my trachea in a claw-like grip digging his nail into my neck while partially shutting off my air supply.”

[Paramedic Maurice White, Jr.] never once became aggressive to that trooper.

The sister of the patient in the ambulance, Clara Harper, was following the ambulance and witnessed the incident. Harper later viewed the footage from the police dash-cam, and she stated to Tulsa World paramedic White “never once became aggressive to that trooper.” She asserted that “He did nothing wrong.” After the ambulance was allowed to continue transporting the patient to the hospital, Harper got into the ambulance to be with her sister. “She was scared, and I was trying to calm her down and telling her everything was going to be all right,” said Harper.

My biggest concern was for the patient. If there’s any nightmare from this, it’s because of what that mother, that patient, had to go through.

Paramedic White was interviewed by KOKI-TV, and recounted his thoughts as the incident was taking place. He stated his main concern was for his ambulance patient: “It was surrealistic because I’ve never had such an experience. My biggest concern was for the patient. If there’s any nightmare from this, it’s because of what that mother, that patient, had to go through.” White’s attorney told KOKI-TV that if White deemed the arrest to be unlawful, he had the right to resist it. White is a paramedic for Creek Nation Emergency Medical Services in Oklahoma. He told FOX News he was surprised at the actions of the police trooper. “He’s taken an oath, just as I have, to protect and serve. I could not believe that this was happening,” said White.

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety decided to release the police dash-cam video publicly after amateur video of the incident was posted to the video-sharing website YouTube. Captain Chris West, spokesman for the OHP, explained why the video was not released earlier. “We’ve been well aware of the fact that this incident has drawn enormous attention, but made the decision to protect the integrity of the investigation, any and all relevant evidence, as well as the rights of the department employees,” said West. Prior to the release of the dash-cam video, a relative of the patient had posted video of the incident to YouTube. The son of the ambulance patient can be seen in a video stating to the camera “Highway patrolman pulled over my mom’s ambulance because he’s mad we didn’t pull over, and he tried to arrest … the EMT from taking my mother to the hospital.”

One man is there protecting a patient and one man is there abusing his authority and throwing his weight around.

Richard O’Carroll, the lawyer for paramedic White, said that Trooper Martin abused his authority as a police officer. “Everything on this needs to relate back to why are we here? One man is there protecting a patient and one man is there abusing his authority and throwing his weight around,” said O’Carroll. White’s attorney filed a tort claim on behalf of his client in order to get the video of the police vehicle’s dash-cam released. Trooper Martin’s lawyer says he did not realize a patient was in the ambulance at the time of the incident.

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O’Carroll explained the decision of paramedic White not to use sirens while transporting his patient to the hospital: “There was a reason he wasn’t running sirens. There was a suggestion of chest pains and a heart condition and sirens aggravate these conditions by increasing the blood pressure.” However the attorney for Trooper Martin, Gary James, said that the ambulance was not exempt from regulations because it did not have its sirens on. “If they’re not running their sirens or lights, they don’t get afforded any emergency vehicle exemptions,” said James. The OHP chief is handling an internal review into the incident. As of June 1, Trooper Martin has been on paid administrative leave.

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April

5

Wikinews Shorts: April 9, 2007

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Wikinews Shorts: April 9, 2007
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A compilation of brief news reports for Monday, April 9, 2007.

The New Zealand Police has reported that a three-year-old boy choked to death on Saturday afternoon, due to what they believe was a piece of candy at his birthday party.

The parents did call New Zealand’s emergency number, 1-1-1, after their son alerted his parents to the fact that he was choking. The paramedics were unable to revive the Napier boy when they arrived at the scene.

The case has been referred to a coroner.

Sources

  • Nzpa. “Three year old dies after choking on candy” — Fairfax New Zealand, April 9, 2007
  • “Three-year-old birthday boy chokes to death” — New Zealand Herald, April 9, 2007

Relatively unknown golfer Zach Johnson won the 71st Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Johnson shot 3-under-par 69 in Sunday’s fourth round, to win by 2 strokes over Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, and Rory Sabbattini.

Johnson won a purse worth US$1,305,000 and a lifetime qualification to the Masters Tournament, held annually at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Sources

  • Press Release: Vartan Kupelian. “Johnson Proves His Mettle In Masters Victory” — The Masters Tournament, April 9, 2007
  • Gene Wojciechowski. “Johnson beats Tiger at his own game” — ESPN.com, April 9, 2007
  • “A strange week ends with a green jacket for Johnson” — CBS Sportsline, April 8, 2007

A couple living in New York City have decided to take a taxi all the way to Arizona. Betty and Bob Matas are retiring and leaving the city for good. What started as joke, has become reality, in part to spare their cats from traveling in a jetliner cargo-hold. They have negotiated a US$3,000 flat fee instead of the metered rate, which was estimated at US$5,000.

Sources

  • “New York couple taking cab to Arizona retirement” — CNN, April 8, 2007
  • “New York City Couple Hails Cab to Arizona” — Fox News, April 8, 2007

A vocational nurse working for Dr. John Capriotti, a plastic surgeon, was accused of setting the fire that wounded several and killed three people in Houston, Texas on March 28. She was allegedly trying to cover up the fact that she hadn’t completed the paperwork for an upcoming audit.

The fire began in Dr. Capriotti’s office on the fifth floor and quickly spread to the sixth. Arson investigators from the Houston Fire Department, the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been working to determine the source of the fire.

Sources

  • Anne Marie Kilday. “Bond set at $330,000 for nurse in fatal fire” — Houston Chronicle, April 8, 2007
  • Associated Press. “Woman afraid of losing job confesses to fatal fire” — The Dallas Morning News, April 8, 2007
  • Kimberly Pina. “Area fire departments evaluate high-rise strategy” — Houston Chronicle, April 6, 2007
  • Joe Stinebaker. “3 dead in Houston office building fire” — Lexington Herald-Leader, March 29, 2007

Iran announced that it has started industrial scale production of nuclear fuel involving hundreds of centrifuges. The announcement comes as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reasserts his nation’s nuclear rights in the face of two rounds of sanctions by the UN Security Council, which is seeking a halt to such work.

The United States denounced the declaration, saying it showed Iran was defying the international community.

Sources

  • Parisa Hafezi. “Iran announces “industrial” nuclear fuel work” — Reuters, April 9, 2007
  • Marc Wolfensberger and Patrick Donahue. “Iran Says Nuclear Enrichment Reaches Industrial Scale” — Bloomberg L.P., April 9, 2007
  • “President: Iran to generate nuclear power on schedule” — Islamic Republic News Agency, April 9, 2007








 


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 This page is archived, and is no longer publicly editable.


Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication.


Got a correction? Add the template {{editprotected}} to the talk page along with your corrections, and it will be brought to the attention of the administrators.


Please note that due to our archival policy, we will not alter or update the content of articles that are archived, but will only accept requests to make grammatical and formatting corrections.


Note that some listed sources or external links may no longer be available online due to age. 











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              A Lesser Known Mineral, But Potassium Is Vital For Every Single Cell              

            
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By Steve P Smith


Potassium is one of the most important minerals for human health, playing an essential role in maintaining the correct electro-chemical balance in cells and the proper functioning of cell membranes. This role makes potassium vital for muscle contraction (including the heart muscle), the transmission of nerve impulses, the regulation of blood sugar levels and the synthesis of vital proteins and acids. The maintenance of proper potassium levels within cells, particularly in relation to the corresponding levels of sodium, is consequently crucial for the well-being of the organism.


Clinical potassium deficiency (hypokalemia) is therefore a serious and even potentially fatal medical problem. Fortunately it is hardly ever seen in the generally healthy population, but has been encountered in alcoholics, anorexics and bulimics, those taking certain types of diuretic drug, those suffering from illnesses causing vomiting or diarrhea, and, believe it or not, those given to consuming large quantities of licorice.


But although outright hypokalemia is thankfully very rare, there’s evidence that many people obtain insufficient dietary potassium for optimum health; and that this insufficiency may expose them to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, osteoarthritis and even cancer.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKc3mDYAgDY[/youtube]


Ample evidence of the importance of potassium is provided by the fact that around a third of the body’s at rest energy expenditure is used in maintaing the potassium/ sodium balance in cells Most people are now familiar with idea that a high sodium (salt) intake is one of the main risk factors for the development of high blood pressure, a serious condition if left untreated, but known as the ‘silent killer’ because of lack of obvious symptoms.


Many nutritionists now believe, however, that it is not so much high sodium, but low potassium which may be the real culprit and a substantial body of research evidence supports the idea that a diet rich in potassium will indeed help prevent high blood pressure. The importance of this should not be underestimated, as high blood pressure is strongly associated with an increased risk of stroke – still one of the biggest killers in the West.


It almost goes without saying the that profile of the modern Western diet is far from helpful in this regard. A diet high in processed foods is one likely also to be very high in sodium; and a relatively low consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is also likely to mean a relatively low intake of dietary potassium. It follows, therefore, that the proportion of sodium to potassium consumed by the typical modern Westerner is almost certainly far higher than ever before in human history; and it is not unreasonable to suppose that that this new imbalance may be a causative factor in some of the degenerative ‘diseases of affluence’, sadly so characteristic of modern urban societies.


By far the best way to ensure an adequate intake of dietary potassium is to consume a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables; particularly good sources being bananas and potatoes (in their jackets). Fresh fruit juices, including tomato and orange, also provide a good supply, as do green vegetables such as spinach and dried fruits such as raisins. Soil depletion, however, means that even these foods are poorer in minerals, potassium included, than they used to be; and research suggests that most adults eating a typical Western diet obtain only around 2,000- 3,000 mg of potassium a day.


This figure needs to be set against the adequate intake established by the US Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board of 4,700 mg. And it should also be noted that for those consuming a typical modern diet, high in refined and processed foods, the potassium requirement will be even higher because of the very high sodium content of such a diet. For athletes, and those undertaking strenuous physical work, or intensive exercise programmes, the requirements may be still higher because of greater losses of potassium from the body during these activities.


Nevertheless, nutritional therapists do not generally recommend commercially available potassium supplements, as these normally contain quantities too low to be effective. But high dose supplements are in any case potentially dangerous, as they may have profound effects on the body’s biochemical balance, and should therefore not be taken except under medical supervision. Where the diet is inadequate in potassium, however, this may be simply remedied by using as a food seasoning a low sodium/high potassium salt substitute available from any good supermarket.


As always, however, the body’s holistic functioning means that potassium works best in the presence of a good supply of every other vital nutrient and so it is always worth taking a good quality and comprehensive multi-vitamin/multi-vitamin preparation.


About the Author: Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in direct marketing and with a particular interest in health products. Find out more at 


sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/Potassium.htm


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isnare.com


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Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota seriously injured in testing accident
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Marussia F1 test driver Maria de Villota seriously injured in testing accident
              
            
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Tuesday, July 3, 2012


The Marussia F1 team’s test driver, Spaniard María de Villota, was taken to hospital by air ambulance today after a collision in testing at Duxford Aerodrome.


At the end of her first installation run, the car she was driving had a low-speed collision with the loading ramp of the team’s support truck. According to BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, the car “suddenly accelerated” into the rear of the vehicle. The Marussia team released a statement an hour and a half after the accident, stating that she had been transferred to hospital, and a further statement would be issued once her condition had been assessed.


A spokesman for the East of England ambulance service, Gary Sanderson, said de Villota had “[…] sustained life-threatening injuries and following treatment at the scene by paramedics, she has been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for further care.” According to witnesses, she was motionless for about fifteen minutes as medical teams attended to her, but did move her hands before being taken away from the test track. Medical charity Magpas, whose volunteer paramedics attended the accident, reported she had sustained injuries to her head and face, and was in a ‘stable condition’ when she reached the hospital.


Marussia reported her as conscious later in the afternoon: “Since Maria’s arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45am this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region’s major trauma centre. Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment. The team’s first priority at this time is Maria and her family.”


De Villota was announced as Marussia’s test driver in March, having prior experience driving for Alan Docking Racing in Superleague Formula in Spain.








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American Indian Movement spokesperson dies, age 75
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American Indian Movement spokesperson dies, age 75
              
            
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007


Vernon Bellecourt, once the primary spokesperson for the American Indian Movement, died recently at age 75. Bellecourt, an Ojibwa who fought for Native rights, was perhaps best known for his opposition to Native names and mascots for sports teams.


First in the headlines in 1972, Bellecourt organized a cross-country caravan of the Movement, to Washington. Once there, members of the group occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices. His goal of international recognition for Aboriginal nations and their treaties found him meeting with figures like Libyan Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi, and Palestine’s Yasir Arafat. In 1977 Leonard Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the murder of two FBI Agents during a 1975 shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; Bellecourt led the campaign to free him.


Most recently, he visited Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, to discuss getting free or cheap heating oil for reservations.


His work as president of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media made a much wider known mark, though. Bellecourt emphasized that he believed such names perpetuated racial stereotypes, clouding the real identities and problems facing natives.


Teams with native-related names could almost guarantee on Bellecourt showing up at major games. He twice burned an effigy of Chief Wahoo, the Cleveland Indians baseball team mascot, and both times was arrested. When the Washington Redskins of the National Football League made the Super Bowl, Vernon was there to protest. The United States Commission on Civil Rights was critical of such names by 2001, calling them “insensitive in light of the long history of forced assimilation”. Some newspapers have stopped using the names of teams with Native origins.


None of his “big four” targets have shown any indication of changing: the Washington Redskins, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Indians or the Atlanta Braves.


Post-season use of American Indian mascots were banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 2005, suggesting the names are “hostile or abusive”. Bellecourt was pleased with the NCAA sanctions, but suggested such actions were only going “half way”.


The Florida State Seminole and the Illinois Illini were among the 18 colleges affected by the ban. Florida president T.K. Wetherell threatened legal action in response. The Florida Seminole tribes have endorsed the University’s usage of the name, but some out-of-state tribes were “not supportive”, according to the NCAA vice president for diversity and inclusion.


Born WaBun-Inini, Bellecourt died from complications of pneumonia on October 13, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.








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ACLU President Strossen on religion, drugs, guns and impeaching George Bush
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ACLU President Strossen on religion, drugs, guns and impeaching George Bush
              
            
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007File:Nadine Strossen 5 by David Shankbone.jpg


There are few organizations in the United States that elicit a stronger emotional response than the American Civil Liberties Union, whose stated goal is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States”.  Those people include gays, Nazis, women seeking abortion, gun owners, SPAM mailers and drug users.  People who are often not popular with various segments of the public.  The ACLU’s philosophy is not that it agrees or disagrees with any of these people and the choices that they make, but that they have personal liberties that must not be trampled upon.  


In Wikinews reporter David Shankbone’s interview with the President of the ACLU, Nadine Strossen, he wanted to cover some basic ground on the ACLU’s beliefs.  Perhaps the area where they are most misunderstood or have their beliefs most misrepresented is their feelings about religion in the public sphere.  The ACLU categorically does not want to see religion disappear from schools or in the public forum; but they do not want to see government advocacy of any particular religion.  Thus, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s placement of a ten ton monument to the Ten Commandments outside the courthouse is strenuously opposed; but “Lone Ranger of the Manger” Rita Warren’s placement of nativity scenes in public parks is vigorously defended.  In the interview, Strossen talks about how certain politicians and televangelists purposefully misstate the law and the ACLU’s work in order to raise funds for their campaigns.


David Shankbone’s discussion with Strossen touches upon many of the ACLU’s hot button issues:  religion, Second Amendment rights, drug liberalization, “partial-birth abortion” and whether or not George W. Bush should be impeached.  It may surprise the reader that many ideas people have about the most visible of America’s civil libertarian organizations are not factually correct and that the ACLU often works closely with many of the organizations people think despise its existence.





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              Should I Get A Nose Job And Chin Implants At The Same Time?              

            
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By Dr Ahnsup Kim


In the world of cosmetic surgery, one of the dominating procedures is rhinoplasty or commonly known as nose surgery. Having your nose enhanced can either make a marked improvement or provide an awkward appearance depending on the skill of your surgeon. But there is one procedure that further enhances the result of a nose job, and that is a chin augmentation. 


These two actually make a good pair in creating a more attractive profile.


Rhinoplasty is the surgical enhancement of the nose which requires two approaches, the closed and open, to manipulate the structures of the nose. Only with proper technique and a careful eye for aesthetics will a surgeon be able to come up with a nose shape and size most appropriate for the patient.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5stTDUdr2g[/youtube]


On another plane, the chin is also one facial feature that some people have some cosmetic enhancement done on. The common reason is because theirs are not properly shaped or are maybe jutting out in an awkward fashion making it less proportionate to the entire profile. With chin enhancement surgery one can enjoy a more defined chin that suits the face more appropriately.


It is inarguable that these two protruding features are the prominent ones that most defines the face. Some doctors even consider these two to be the ying and the yang of a person’s facial profile. Striking a balance between both these points creates what you would call facial symmetry or what is seen to the common eye as beauty.


Most of the time the nose becomes too large and the chin so drawn back that it results to the face becoming concave in appearance. But also the same, when the size, shape and orientation of the nose are too subtle in relation to the chin, it can result to the latter becoming too prominent.


That is why it is most ideal to have some enhancement done to both the nose and the chin, to result in what is called a facial duet. And this is what most patients fail to recognize resulting to a rather unbalanced appearance, sometimes even with an excellent nose job. A nose job that reshapes the nose either to lessen or lengthen its size with a chin shape that brings it forward creates a classic facial balance.


However, having the nose and chin done doesn’t always apply for all patients. That is why it is very important to have a thorough consultation with a reputable surgeon. If you want to create and overall balance on your face, be open to the possibility that having both done can actually make a ton of difference and improvement.


In some clinics, they even offer computerized imaging to show how the surgical outcome could turn out. But basically the success of your surgery is on the competence of your surgeon. You should find one whose work history is inclined towards the results that you are aiming for. But most of all, if you are aiming to strike a balance between your nose and your chin, your doctor should be highly competent on performing both these procedures.


About the Author: For either chin augmentation or 


rhinoplasty in Melbourne


 or Sydney, you can trust the Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Ahnsup Kim  and his highly competent surgical team strive to constantly provide their patient with quality results. Ask for a free consultation as well as their easy-to-pay financial plans or add 


+Dr Ahnsup Kim


.


Source: 


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‘Top Model’ winner Jaslene Gonzalez on her career and being a Latina role model
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‘Top Model’ winner Jaslene Gonzalez on her career and being a Latina role model
              
            
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008


Jaslene Gonzalez is not your typical model. She rose to fame after winning Cycle 8 of America’s Next Top Model, and since then, has been aggressively tapping into the fashion industry.  As a result of her  Latin background, Gonzalez has been successful at marketing herself both in the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking worlds. However, Gonzalez is much much more – a fighter, a humanitarian, and a good Latin granddaughter. 


Born in Chicago to a Latina mother, and a Puerto Rican-born father, Gonzalez had, in many ways, a typical U.S. Latino experience – her tight knit family, grandparents, and spirituality played an intrinsic part in her upbringing.  


“I went to an all-girl Catholic school and grew up with tons of family…..My family was very close knit and supportive. They were involved in my life everyday. So there was so much joy in every little occasion…..Every Sunday we would go to my grandmother’s house where we [the family] would hang out together….We enjoyed being around each other and being together,” states Gonzalez. 


Her grandfather was the director of a local dance group, Viva La Gente, which Gonzalez credits with impacting her life positively. 


“I was a dancer for 12 years and life revolved around dancing. I was a very active girl, and was always involved  with my grandfather’s dance studio. The whole family was. My aunts, my cousins – everyone took part in performances and were involved in the group…That’s how we spent our summers, and we looked forward to being outside, dancing salsa, hip hop, merengue,” states Gonzalez. Through her involvement in the dance studio, Gonzalez’s horizon was broadened significantly, and her humanitarian streak began to deepen. 


“We were always constantly traveling. We traveled to Mexico to poor villages where we gave performances to give back to the community,” said Gonzalez. 


Ironically, ANTM gave her the opportunity to overcome her own difficulties and to further help those in need. “I went in there, without knowing that I was in an abusive relationship. They were the ones that brought that up to me…they felt I was emotionally destroyed, they wanted me to get support,” commented Gonzalez. While the ANTM staff was supportive, she also credits her life long dream for helping her get out of the abusive relationship. 


“Having a dream and having a goal in life, is the most important thing I did in my life. Because of that I maneuvered  my way to that dream. I knew I was better than that, I wanted to be happier,” stated Gonzalez. 


Soon after winning ANTM, Gonzalez became a spokesperson for Liz Claiborne and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and began traveling the country reaching out to women. 


“We had several meetings, and they asked me to be a spokesperson. I was so happy and blessed to help women, to have that title. It’s something I want to do, besides modelling….I enjoy sharing my personal experiences because I can educate them, but I can also save someone’s life. It’s something precious, it’s a gift,” stated Gonzalez. 


Abuse is not the only obstacle Jaslene has had to face. Growing up Latina had its own set of difficulties. “Being a minority is a challenge no matter what,” states Gonzalez. 


However, Gonzalez also states that being a Latina has many positive aspects in regards to her profession. “As a Latina, you have the advantage of being a Latina. Not only do you have this corporate job, but you can relate to many groups as a person.”


When asked if the fashion industry forces Latina models to change certain aspects about themselves, she remarks that she focuses on always staying true to herself. “Modeling is a difficult job because of what you go through. 80% of the time it’s a no…When I go in, I go in like me, I don’t have to change anything. Any time I get a chance to show who I am, I do. I am a Spanish girl, trying to pursue my dreams. I try to be the best I can be,” remarked Gonzalez. 


It is that same confidence and will to succeed that she seems to appreciate in other woman. “I find women beautiful. I find a girl with no makeup, not worrying about her style and appearance, I find that sexy. I find confidence beautiful…Its so simple. It’s being natural and confident,” said Gonzalez.  


As a role model, she has two key pieces advice that she offers women: nurture your mind with positive thoughts, and identify and foster the principles in life you value. 


It is not surprising to see why Gonzalez’s family is proud of her. “My family is so funny. They are so happy. I’ve never seen them so full of life. My mom acts like she won. My grandmother screams ‘mi flaca‘ every time she sees me. They are so proud. Especially my grandparents. I was practically raised by them. To see them see you so happy and successful, there couldn’t be a better feeling,” said Gonzalez. 


She adds that her grandparents would be extremely happy if she appeared on Cristina, the Spanish-language talk show whose host is referred to as “the Spanish Oprah Winfrey.”


In the coming years, Gonzalez plans to continue on the path she is on. She wants to continue gracing magazine covers, as well as dedicating herself to helping young teens develop self growth and esteem. “Every time I wake up, God gives me the opportunity to be a better me…Life gets better as it goes by.”


This is the third in a series of articles with America’s Next Top Model contestants.








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Bank of England governor warns housing market is biggest threat to UK economy
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Sunday, May 18, 2014


The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has warned that the state of the housing market in the United Kingdom is the current biggest domestic threat to the country’s economy, due to lack of house building, and regulatory issues.


In an interview to be aired on Sky News today, he said the housing market is the “biggest risk” to the economy and has “deep, deep structural problems”. Of house building he said: “There are not sufficient houses built in the UK. To go back to Canada, there are half as many people in Canada as in the UK, twice as many houses are built every year in Canada as in the UK and we can’t influence that.”


“We’re not going to build a single house at the Bank of England. We can’t influence that. What we can influence […] is whether the banks are strong enough. Do they have enough capital against risk in the housing market?”


Carney also said the Bank of England would look into the procedures used to issue loans and mortgages to see if they were being granted appropriately: “We’d be concerned if there was a rapid increase in high loan-to-value mortgages across the banks. We’ve seen that creeping up and it’s something we’re watching closely.”


Kris Hopkins responded to Carney on behalf of the government, saying the government “inherited a broken housing market, but our efforts to fix it are working”. “We’ve scrapped the failed top-down planning system, built over 170,000 affordable homes and released more surplus brownfield sites for new housing. We’ve also helped homebuyers get on the housing ladder, because if people can buy homes builders will build them. Housebuilding is now at its highest level since 2007 and climbing. Last year councils gave permission for almost 200,000 new homes under the locally-led planning system and more than 1,000 communities have swiftly taken up neighbourhood planning. It’s clear evidence the government’s long-term economic plan is working.”


Earlier this month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development called on the UK government to “tighten” access to the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme introduced by George Osborne and the coalition government in 2013. ‘Help to Buy’ has also recently been criticised by three former Chancellors of the Exchequer — the Conservatives Norman Lamont and Nigel Lawson, and former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling. Darling said: “Unless supply can be increased substantially, we will exacerbate that situation with schemes like Help to Buy.”








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Annan invites Iraqis to exercise democratic rights
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Saturday, January 29, 2005With just days to go before Sunday’s historic poll to choose a new government in Iraq, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has invited the people of Iraq to exercise their democratic rights.


The poll, the first free elections in a generation, faces disruption from insurgents who are totally opposed to democracy. Annan warned them not to interfere and promised continuing help from the UN for the country in the future.


Annan made his appeal in a pre-recorded message, broadcast on TV inside Iraq. “Elections are the best way to determine any country’s future; please exercise your democratic rights on Sunday,” he said. “Whatever your feelings about how the country reached this point, this election offers an opportunity to move away from violence and uncertainty toward peace and representative government.”


The UN has been providing advice and technical help to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI), as well as $100m funding for the poll and co-ordination of international assistance. A team of 40 experts has overseen the delivery of three million tonnes of election materials and helped the IECI and Iraqi officials prepare and maintain the voters register.




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