Dating violence has seen the emergence of a new weapon known as “textual harassment” with mobile phones and unlimited text message plans easily available among the youth.

Kacey Kirkland, a victim services specialist with the Fairfax County Police Department, disclosed to the Washington Post that he has seen textual harassment in many forms such as lies, late-night questions, and threats.

From in.news.yahoo.com:

“It’s gotten astonishingly worse in the last two years,” the Washington Post quoted Jill Murray, who has written several books on dating violence and speaks on the topic nationally, as saying.

“Especially for those who have grown up in digital times, it’s part and parcel of every abusive dating relationship now,” she said.

According to the paper, the harassed often feel compelled to answer the messages, whether they are one-word insults or 3 a.m. demands.

For some, 100 or more texts arrive in a day in class, at the dinner table, or in movie theatres.

“Harassment is just easier now, and it’s even more persistent and constant, with no letting up,” the post quoted Claire Kaplan, director of sexual and domestic violence services at the University of Virginia, as saying.

Cindy Southworth, founder of the Safety Net Project on technology at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, said “What technology offers is irrefutable evidence of the abuse,”.

Plans for establishing new targets on waiting times and treatment in the Lothians have been scrapped by health chiefs after admitting that they would not be able to meet it without extra funding.

The locally-established targets included persuading more people to quit smoking, reducing heart-related deaths, and improving waiting times across a variety of fields.

From News.scotsman.com:

Labour’s health spokeswoman in Edinburgh, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “In the end it can actually cost more money because if people’s health gets worse, that will be more expensive to treat in the long run.”

TOOTH DECAY FIGURES RAISE A SMILE

RECORD numbers of Scots schoolchildren are free from dental decay, new figures revealed today.

A report on children’s dental health showed the Scottish Government has surpassed the target of having 60 per cent of primary seven pupils without any obvious sign of tooth decay.

Across the country, 64 per cent of youngsters leaving primary school were found to have healthy teeth.

Five years ago, the figure was just 52.9 per cent.

Minister for public health Shona Robison announced the findings and said: “Dental health in Scotland is improving and this is a trend that we want to continue.”

Labour’s health spokeswoman in Edinburgh, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said expenses will be more in the long run if health of people gets worse.

During our strenuous life schedules, we tend to ignore the usefulness and care of important body organs such as eyes. This is the reason why the number of people affected by health conditions such as loss of vision and blindness is increasing with each passing day.

Let us learn how we can take the best care of eyes to perform routine and complex tasks without any issues.

From in.news.yahoo.com:

1. If you experience constant headaches while reading or working, get an eye examination.

A persistent headache is a common sign of an increase in eye power.

2. Even if you’ve perfect 6/6 vision, run regular checks at home. Try to read the time on a clock from a distance of five to six feet, first with both eyes, and then with one eye at a time.

If there’s a problem in either, you’ll be able to spot the difference.

3. Always read in good light and never while lying down. If you feel the need to hold the book a little farther away in order to read the words better, get an eye checkup done.

You may require reading glasses.

4. If your work requires you to be in front of a computer screen for long periods, make a conscious effort to blink often. Also, take a break from looking at the screen every 15 minutes.

By following these easy yet highly effective tips, you can take best care of eyes and stay away from eye diseases.

Many parents and so-called owners of society feel that exam stress is one of the biggest reasons behind more and more young students committing suicides. However, recent incidents of students suicides have suggested that teachers must draw the line as far as punishment goes.

Since the mind and heart of a student is too soft to take any punishment, teachers and fellow students must be taught lessons to respect students and fellow students, respectively.

From in.yfittopostblog.com:

On February 12 this year, a 13-year-old Class VII student, Rouvanjit Rawla, was told to bring his parents along to meet the school principal; and on that very afternoon, he was found hanging. In the run-up to the fateful day, Rouvanjit was slapped by his teacher, caned by the principal and was made to stand in the sun for several days. Now, haven’t we seen this in schools here, either a victim or as the classmate of one?

As the media focus slowly fades, this incident too would gather dust along with other incidents of student deaths due to humiliation and harassment. Personally, I don’t have much of an opinion about the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as every time such an incident takes place, all we hear is the registering of a complaint and some probing. Shouldn’t NCPCR be more proactive, use probe results to come-up with concrete steps – like having regular sessions with students along with sensitization drives with parents and teachers?

While it’s a pity that such dastardly steps are taken, it’s criminal if a child feels he/she has nowhere to go for a grievance redressal. It’s also the inaction by government agencies coupled with the archaic laws that don’t bring to light repeated offenders.

Until we all, as society members, take the onus of encouraging future of the nation, things cannot change and we will be doing nothing but playing the blame games.

Casper Youth Baseball is looking for members of the youth community to play the important role of umpires for the 2010 season.

This opportunity is considered by many as a great chance for youngsters with a bent for baseball to make money besides having a lot of fun.

From Casperjournal.com:

Most of the umpires are ages 14-16 and play baseball. More umpires in that age group are needed, as well as adults to fill the shortage. Former umpires are encouraged to return to the game.

An umpire school on Tuesday and Thursday evenings begins March 16 at 7 p.m. in room 158 at Swede Erickson Thunderbird Gym at Casper College. The school teaches baseball rules, field mechanics and handling game situations. Cost is $30.

If you are interested in umpiring, contact Kirk Nelson at Bush-Wells Sporting Goods, 235-6671, or Tammy at the Casper Youth Baseball office, 234-7087

Do not waste this wonderful opportunity to explore your umpiring skills. After all, life beyond the normal stuff can be experienced only when you make unique moves and career decisions. Who knows, you could be the next professional baseball umpire!