Fifa alarmed at widespread 'abuse' of painkillers

Dr Jiri Dvorak found that prior to every game almost 40% of players at the 2010 World Cup were taking pain medication.Dr Dvorak told the BBC that younger players are imitating the seniors and taking painkillers far too frequently.  "I think we can use the word abuse - because the dimension is just too much," He believes that the growing use of painkillers in football is the pressure on team doctors to get injured players back on the pitch quickly. "What we have seen from the Fifa studies is that often athletes take the pain killers as a preventive. The NFL players say that sometimes they were lined up in what they termed a 'cattle call' and injected with the drug whether they were injured or not. Dr Tanya Hagen: the easy availability of powerful pain medications contributes to the problem of abuse.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18064904

My Opinion

My opinion about this is that it is ridiculous that sportsmen are taking so much drugs. I thought sportsmen were diehards, tough and could handle some pain. After reading this, my dream was shattered. I’m not just mad I’m also concerned. This is a big deal! I think there has to be more information about use of those painkillers and how and when to use it.  

Woman murdered in Bolton in a 'targeted attack'

Woman murdered in Bolton in a ‘targeted attack’

A 31 year old woman was murdered in a “targeted attack”. This tragedy happened in Bolton, Greater Manchester. The police got the call around 13:00 on Monday. The woman has not been identified yet. Many officers and detectives are set on the case. Supt Steve Nibloe said that first the thoughts are with the woman’s family. Also finding the killer is important. He said: "Our inquiry is now focused on trying to locate the person or persons responsible and I would also appeal to anyone who has information to come forward". 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18327700

My Opinion

I was really shocked when I read this article. First of all, she was 31. Second, she isn’t identified yet, why? Is it so bad that you can’t even recognize her? Because in the article they are speaking about the family, so they must know something right? Third of all, why should anyone do this?! There are so many sick people in the world and if they find the killer, lock it up and keep it there the rest of its life.

( I say ‘it’ because this is just inhumane. No killer is human.)

'Let victims track crimes online'

Let crime victims track cases online, says IPPR

Being able to track the progress of your case when being a victim should be the future in England and Wales. Victim Support found that 50 % of victims did not get updates. The website ‘TrackMyCrime’http://www.trackmycrime.police.uk/ ,set up last year, allows people to follow the progress of their cases. Rob Beckley, deputy chief, said they introduced the site to keep victims informed about the status of their crime in a more streamlined and efficient way. When police enters information on their computers, it is automatically updated. Police hope the system would save officers time by reducing the need to call the public back.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18327642

My Opinion

I think that it is a very good idea for people to be able to follow their cases. I do think that they system needs to be sure that no one else can see personal information about cases. I think this site does reduce time that officers need to call people back. It does get a little impersonal I think, you’re not talking to your lawyer or whatever on the case but just looking it up on the internet. But this might be handy for some people.

Joey Barton bailed over street fight in Liverpool

Joey Barton bailed over street fight in Liverpool

Queens Park Rangers midfielder, Joey Barton, has been bailed after participating in a fight in Liverpool. Joey got arrested at about 05:30 near a club in Eberle Street. According to Mr Barton’s club, two men were singing offensive chants at the midfielder and then they punched Mr Barton in the face. The two men who were also held over were also bailed. The player is now banned for 12 matches after the game against Manchester City on the final day of the season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-18321310

My Opinion

I’m really satisfied with the 12 match ban. I think if you are a professional soccer player, you should act like it. Don’t cry when someone is calling you names or whatever. Be clad they sung and didn’t shout it or something? I think this is just a risk you need to take when becoming well known. I do think it is too bad that he bailed out. It would be better for everyone is he just had to spent the night in jail. That would make him harder!

Reducing alcohol to half a unit a day saves lives

Reducing alcohol to half a unit a day saves lives

Expert say that by reducing alcohol intake to half a unit a day, about 4,600 lives in England could be saved a year. Melanie Nichols, lead author of the paper, said: "Over 4,000 deaths from cancer, heart disease, stroke and liver disease in England could be prevented if drinkers reduced their average level of alcohol consumption to half a unit per person per day - a level much lower than current UK government recommendations. The Oxford University has done the research, they looked at weekly drinking patterns of 15,000 adults in England. According to the government men should not drink more than three – 4 units a day and women two or three.

Henry Ashworth said: "Drastically cutting everyone's consumption to half a unit a day (ie one large glass of wine a week) is not the way to reduce harms in the smaller groups who are misusing alcohol and need specific and targeted help".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18262608

My Opinion

I’m not so much a drinker myself and it really bothers me that some of my friends are. I am diagnosed diabetes (type 1 MODY, this means it is genetic) so for me it was highly recommended not to drink too much. I think this should count for everyone. There are so many diseases linked to alcohol consumption that I think this needs a lot of attention. I don’t think making alcohol more expensive would solve this, I think everybody has to know the consequences from alcohol consumption. 

Trial of "touchless" gaming technology in surgery

Trial of "touchless" gaming technology in surgery

 Surgeons are increasingly reliant on 3D images to carry out complex and delicate procedures. Surgeons at St Thomas' hospital in London are trialing gesture-based gaming technology to access and manipulate images.

 "Until recently I was shouting out across the operating theatre to tell someone to go up, down, left right. "But with the Kinect I'm able to get the position that I want quickly - and also without me having to handle non-sterile things like a keyboard or mouse during the procedure." Tom Carrell said.

The refinements from gaming technology to complex surgery have been developed by Microsoft Research, with support from Lancaster University. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18238356

My Opinion

I think it is great that there are so many smart people in the world who can think of such a thing. Wouldn’t it be great that indeed surgeons don’t have to use keyboards or mousses that are non-sterile. That (probably) surgery would go a lot faster thanks to Kinect. What I do wonder is how will future surgeons be taught to do this. With Kinect everything is becoming a bit more unreal I guess, like it is just a game. You will have to realize that you are in the real world with real people. 

Ireland votes in favor of EU fiscal pact

Ireland votes in favor of EU fiscal pact

955,091 Irishmen voted ”Yes”, compared with 629,088 against the agreement.

 A "No" would cause Ireland not being able to get the emergency EU funding when the bailout package ends in 2013.

The “Yes” camp had the dominant parties in the parliament. Sinn Fein and the Socialist led the “No” camp, they have far fewer seats.

Voting “Yes” would enable investment and create jobs, Mr Kenny said.

Those who are against the treaty say that austerity is not working and suggest that the country should instead default on debts at five nationalized banks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18290987

My Opinion

I think that the EU could really help Ireland. Every country should get a chance to be helped. I really do hope that Ireland is not a country like Greece. Just getting money and not doing anything for the country but just put it in the richest pockets and ask for more. Ireland is a beautiful country and I think we could  help them. I really don’t like defaulting debts. If you made the debt, pay it! Politics and economic aren’t really my thing, but this is what I think.