It's the Pits!

Recently a pit bull attacked a police officer during a confrontation at the Kapahulu Avenue Safeway. This event has sparked a controversial debate on whether to ban the breeding, owning, and selling certain animal breeds; namely pit bulls. The bill was introduced today in Hawaii’s State Legislature by Senate President, Colleen Hanabusa. While drafted by a high ranking official, it is unlikely the bill will see much floor time or be passed.
The bill comes in response to the infrequent yet serious attacks by pit bulls. Recent attacks against people include the attack on the police officer at Safeway and the death of a baby girl in her Waianae home. Interestingly enough it is not the attacks on people which have prompted this measure. The Honolulu Advertiser reports Hanabusa introduced the measure after attacks on other dogs were reported.
Honestly, spending the time to draft and introduce a bill which would alienate a certain breed of animal on the basis of aggression, is a serious waste of time. Hawaii’s economy is sinking each day and government officials should be spending their time thinking of ways to raise the economy while keeping as many residents employed as possible. Yes, there are some breeds which are prone to aggression however, to single out only pit bulls? Is the legislature going to introduce measures against Rottweilers and Dobermans too?
I feel people should have the right to own and breed whatever kind of animal as long as it is done legally and safely. Those who breed animals for aggression and use those animals in negative ways should be prosecuted however, law abiding citizens who wish to keep these animals as pets should be allowed to do so as long as they follow the rules and keep the public safe.

Dying Dailies

The written word is one of the oldest forms of communication. From cavemen painting on walls to the advent of the printing press, the written word has been a major part of the communication process. One of the most recognizable written forms of communication is the newspaper.
Newspapers are a product of the printing press, invented in 1455 by Johannes Gutenberg. The technology was first used to produce books and later adapted to print papers. Within the United States there are several notable papers including the Washington Post, Chicago Tribute and the New York Times. These cornerstones of American society have long supplied readers with the news of the day. Unfortunately these papers are becoming obsolete.
During the 21st century, many technological advances have been made; the most notable being the internet. Additional advances in wireless technology have allowed consumers to connect whenever and where ever he or she may please. The ease and efficiency of the world wide web has altered public opinion in that, they want instant gratification. If a person can instantaneously transfer hundreds of dollars from one account to another why can’t he or she get the news with the same speed?
This way of thinking has made instant news the new frontier. The internet is the new paper; consumers log on to see the story of the day rather than purchasing a paper with older and less accurate headlines. It is sad to see this iconic media becoming obsolete however, one must remember without the newspaper, the news industry and all that followed probably would not be possible.