A 9-year-old girl back home after six – orga...

A 9-year-oldMainegirl is back home from Children’s Hospital Boston, three month after a receiving multiple organs transplant. 

Last fall the doctors gave Alannah Shevenell six new organs in a transplant operation: a new stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, pancreas, and part of an esophagus, which were been attacked by an extremely complicated tumor. 

“They come together sort of as a cluster, so it’s almost like transplanting one big organ,” said Dr. Heung Bae Kim, the director of the Children’s Pediatric Transplant Center. 

According to hospital officials, “it was the world's first known esophageal transplant and the most organs transplanted at one time inNew England.” 

Even though Alannah is now home healthy and active her grandparents have to check her blood sugar and make sure that she takes all her medications each day according to doctors’ prescriptions. 

Part 1: Charter schools expand slowly in Maryland;...

This was National School Choice Week in America, marked by over 400 events around the country to celebrate public charter schools. But there was only one small event announced in Maryland, a dinner discussion set for next week in Baltimore, and no recognition of the week at the State House.

Public charter schools are increasing as an alternative educational option throughout the nation. But advocates say Maryland’s laws and the scrutiny given to new charter applicants are slowing progress toward more school choice.

Maryland’s charter school law was passed in 2003, one of the last states in the nation to allow charter schools. Right now, the state has 51 charter schools, with a 52nd starting classes in the fall. All but 14 of these schools are in Baltimore.

Charter schools are publicly funded non-religious schools that are organized differently than a traditional public school. While boards of education set the standards and curriculum for public schools belonging to a school district, charter schools set out the way they are organized – as well as educational philosophies and curriculum – in a charter document.

These schools receive public funds and have to comply with numerous state standards, ...

The Doomed Costa Concordia – A Maritime Disa...

The Costa Concordia disaster, which has claimed at least 13 lives, has shocked the world. But maritime experts say such a catastrophe was just a matter of time. In recent years, the cruise industry has been building ever-bigger ships in pursuit of profit -- and disregarding the dangers the giant vessels pose. This article was written by Spiegel journalists whose names are provided at the end of the article.

On the Tuscan island of Giglio, the night sky is clear and the stars are out. Three men are sitting among the cacti and lemon trees near the cliffs behind the harbor. When the weather is nice, couples come here at sunset to make out. 

It's Thursday night of last week. Seven days have now passed since the Costa Concordia ran aground off the coast of Italy.

The moon is shining as the men stare at the wreckage of the capsized cruise ship, not far from the harbor entrance. Two of the men are local Italians from the island, who have spent the last few days in a desperate struggle, and who have saved many lives in the process. They are comforting the third man, an Indian from Mumbai, who ...

Brad Pitt’s bodyguard questioned by police o...

It appeared that the Bronson Canyon Park near a hiking trail below the Hollywood sign where a human head in a plastic bag and severed hands were found is not far from Brad Pitt's home.

Investigators combed the Canyon Drive neighborhood looking for clues and speaking to neighbors, including Brad Pitt's personal bodyguard, X17 reports.

The head was first discovered at 2:30 pm Tuesday, Jan 17. The first hand was found Wednesday morning. The second was found in the afternoon, all in the same general location in the shadow of the Hollywood sign.

Many celebrities, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, take their kids to play at Bronson Canyon Park.

The search is ongoing for the remaining parts of the male body. As for the severed head, police believe it belongs to a man of Armenian descent in his 40s with salt and pepper hair.

Police believe the man's identity will be uncovered using fingerprints and dental records.

"We're hoping we can find more remains," said LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith.

Source : http://www.panarmenian.net

Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day...

This week US citizens observed National Human Trafficking Awareness Day through acts of education, legislation, and enforcement; whilst, around the world, other people highlighted or tackled this global problem in their own countries.

According to an annual report on human trafficking released by the US State Department in June last year, 27 million men, women and children are exploited through human trafficking. Worldwide, at least two million children are estimated to be trafficked victims of the sex trade; and, in military conflicts, it is not uncommon for children to be forced to bear arms. In releasing the report last year, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing trafficking, and cultural issues associated with it.

Under the United Nations' Palermo Protocols, human trafficking encompasses cases where victims are born into slavery, forcibly transported for exploitation, consented to work with a trafficker, and/or were forced to participate in criminal activities. The Protocols also recognize the unique status and rights of children.

Reports from across the United States show a number of communities taking local action to solve, or otherwise highlight, this global problem.

In Southern California, Sister Caritas Foster is an advocate for the area's victims of human trafficking. Commenting ...

Should Businesses Do Social Media or Social Media ...

What’s in a word?  A lot has happened in the Social Web and yet, one may have to consider: To do Social Media or Social Media Marketing?  The first term is for newbies and the latter, for businesses who are serious in using social media for their marketing.  Understand This: The impact of social media has made it easier for people to share information online and yet, it is one of the most overlooked marketing tool because of one thing: You must understand how to use it for your business needs, how your customers are interacting on it, and what goals you have to make your campaign truly effective.

 It’s simply a no-brainer!  Social Media is NOT About the Media, It’s About Building Relationships With People You Do Business With… and it doesn’t really matter if you’d like to call it ‘social media’ or ‘social media marketing’.

Relationships… are the ultimate key to understanding how people perceive your brand these days and it only makes sense to know how to manage these bonds better.  As our world has become more digital and in some ways, less personal, the importance of these relationships has increased.  With ...