Daytona Times, August 2, 2012, #31

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JULIANNE MALVEAUX: What’s God got to do with Trayvon Martin’s death? PAGE 4

ENGINEERING INDUSTRY STRIVING TO LURE MORE FEMALE STUDENTS SEE PAGE 7

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www.daytonatimes.com

AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

Local teacher and coach Glenn Barnes laid to rest BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Residents of Volusia County attend a candidates forum sponsored by the Volusia NAACP Tuesday night. Candidates for mayoral, county council, sheriff, judge, clerk of court, school board and various other races addressed the standing room-only crowd.

Community turns out for election forum Volusia residents pack center to hear candidates in primary races

Father figure In addition, he was involved in youth football with the Daytona Beach Buccaneers Pop Warner club. “He was excellent with the kids. He always put the kids first. He was a father figure to many. Coach Barnes created the Bucs’ Pop Warner program in 1990, I believe, and he also created a tutoring program to help the kids keep their grades up, said Tommy Rowland. “He put in so many hours with kids while coaching youth football and heading the JV program at Mainland. He still had to go home and take care of his family.’’ Rowland had coached with Barnes for about 20 years in youth football. He is currently the commissioner for the Daytona Beach Buccaneers, taking over for Barnes.

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

It was standing room only at the John H. Dickerson Center in Daytona Beach Tuesday night as hundreds of residents turned out to listen to some of the candidates who will appear on the Aug. 14 primary ballot in Volusia County. The open forum was sponsored by the Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP and the Daytona Beach Area Alumnae Pan-Hellenic Association. The forum was an indication that the Black vote in Volusia County could make a difference in some key races, particularly in the Daytona Beach mayoral, county council District 2, supervisor of elections, county clerk of the court, and county chair competitions. NAACP President Cynthia Slater kicked off the event informing candidates and residents that her organization is a frontline advocate responsible for raising awareness about the democratic process. Slater, who was pleasantly

Funeral services for Mainland High School teacher and coach Glenn Gordon Barnes were held at Allen Chapel AME Church in Daytona Beach on July 28. Barnes died July 20 at age 62. Elder Robert L. Fuller, pastor of Greater New Zion Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, conducted the eulogy. Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery in Daytona. “He always had a smile on his face. He loved his family. He would do anything for them. He also loved kids and always helped them too,” said his wife, Glenn Francene Barnes. Barnes Barnes was a history teacher at Mainland High School and an assistant football coach there. He headed the junior varsity program and was the steward for the Volunteer Teacher Organization (VTO) at the school. “He always looked for ways to teach his kids different things. He stayed watching the History Channel,” his wife recalled.

PHOTOS BY ASHLEY THOMAS / DAYTONA TIMES

Residents listen closely to candidates’ platforms at the forum. The primary election will be held Aug. 14; early voting begins Aug. 4. surprised by the number of residents who attended and candidates who participated, said it is her hope that everyone left the forum familiar with the candidates who each spoke for two minutes and hung around the center later to personally greet residents.

No guaranteed votes Pat Heard, a member of the Midtown Redevelopment Area Board, said she attended the forum to learn if any of the candidates knew anything about Midtown, which is a predominantly Black populated area of Daytona Beach.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Heard acknowledged. Bethune Cookman University Administrator Al Bouie, who is also a member of the Pan-Hellenic Association, said he did learn something Tuesday night and cautioned Black

Tallahassee native, FAMU graduate Barnes enjoyed traveling, music and having gatherings with his family. “If he visited a town and had 10 cousins living there, he would visit each and every one of them,” Francene Barnes related. In 1967, Barnes graduated from Lincoln High in his hometown of Tallahassee, where he played football and was a member of the ROTC.

Please see FORUM, Page 2

Please see BARNES, Page 2

Backpack giveaway continues to help kids get ready for school BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Youngsters expressed their approval after receiving their free backpacks and school supplies at a previous giveaway event sponsored by the City of Daytona Beach.

School is right around the corner as Volusia County schools are scheduled to begin a new academic year on Aug. 20. It’s also time for the Mayor’s Backpack Give-A-Way in Daytona Beach.. “We quickly recognized the need for more assistance. Kids often disconnect because they don’t have adequate school supplies. Having the right supplies could make the difference between a successful school year

and a failure,” said Mayor Glenn Ritchey during a press conference last week.

Sites for supplies There are several sites where local children can receive free backpacks and school supplies. The first event is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 4 at Derbyshire Park, 849 Derbyshire Road. Another will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 6 at Lennox Park, 825 S. Grandview Ave. The last event is Aug. 11 at the John H. Dickerson Community Center, 308 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. The time is from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The supplies are for youngsters 5 through 18. The backpacks will contain supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, erasers, socks and underwear. High school and middle school backpacks also will include a composition book and a calculator. Free hot dogs and water will be given away too to patrons at the giveaway events.

From 240 to 3,050 given This is the sixth year of the giveaway. During the inception, a toPlease see BACKPACKS, Page 2

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FOCUS

AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

Stetson partners with Boston Reed College to offer pharmacy, veterinary assistant programs SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

As demand for skilled health care workers increases, Stetson University is launching a new, affordable health care training program. The short-term training opportunity will provide interested, motivated individuals seeking a job in health care the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a job in allied health fields.

Classes in the pharmacy technician and veterinary assistant programs will begin in September, and registration is now open. “We take great pride in offering this training for the first time to provide access for local adults to affordable training that can lead to sustainable job opportunities in the health care industry. It’s estimated that 20 percent of new jobs through 2014 will be located in the medical in-

dustry, and the majority of these positions will be filled by individuals with four years or less of training,” said Emily Richardson, associate vice president for Boundless Learning at Stetson.

Classes in DeLand and Celebration Through a partnership with Boston Reed, a national education provider, Stetson now provides

health care training programs that prepare students for job opportunities in the growing allied health industry. Stetson will offer Boston Reed’s health care training programs in the areas of pharmacy technician (at the Stetson University Center at Celebration) and veterinary assistant (at the DeLand campus). “We are pleased to partner with Stetson University to offer this high-demand, science-based curriculum for local residents seeking a career change or additional skill set for today’s fast-growing health care industry,” said Grant Wells, program manager of Boston Reed. “Boston Reed commits

to offering a high-quality education option for schools that do not have immediate resources or expertise to offer this type of coursework. All courses are taught by seasoned experts including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.”

Program fees As part of its partnership model, Boston Reed provides all materials, instructors and helps place students in externships upon completion of classroom instruction. Upon completion of the partnership program, many students are immediately eligible for employment and often pursue higher education, working toward nursing or other healthcare pathways.

FORUM from Page 1 candidates they shouldn’t assume they are guaranteed the Black vote. “All candidates are going to have to let the people know what they are going to do to improve the quality of life for everyone,” Bouie said.

DAYTONA BEACH MAYOR All four candidates for mayor of Daytona Beach came ready to address the crowd. Realtor and hotel owner Fred Hoffman said he was running to help change peoples lives in Daytona Beach for the better. He also said he will work to bring business owners to the city. Former Daytona Beach commissioner Derrick Henry remembered playing basketball in the gym where the forum was being held. “I will listen before I ask to be heard. Daytona Beach has been a divided city. I am the right candidate to bridge the gap,” said Henry. “Zip code 32114 needs some special attention. I am a tireless fighter for Daytona Beach,” he concluded. Edith Shelley, a current Daytona Beach commissioner, said if elected she will hold City Manager Jim Chisholm accountable. She added that she would be accessible. Shelley said the reconstruction of Orange Avenue, which runs through Midtown, will remain one of her top priorities. She is currently working to put a jobs network on the city’s website. Gwen Azama-Edwards, a former Daytona commissioner and city clerk, challenged her opponents to match her credentials. Azama-Edwards reminded the crowd she was city clerk for 16 years and was elected to the commission for two years from Zone 4. “They can talk it. I can walk it, Win with Gwen,” she concluded.

VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 Volusia County Council District 2 candidates also addressed the crowd. Nancy Epps, former mayor of Ponce Inlet, said she has 14 years as a volunteer for various organizations and, if elected, to the

BARNES from Page 1 Barnes received his bachelor’s degree in history from Florida A&M University where he also played football and was the editor of the school’s newsletter. The Barneses married in 1971 moved to Daytona Beach in 1972. Glenn Barnes also was a member of Greater New Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. He was also affiliated with the NAACP and FAMU

ASHLEY THOMAS / DAYTONA TIMES

Kenneth Scott (left) is pictured with District 2 County Councilman Joshua Wagner and Zone 5 Commissioner Patrick Henry. Wagner is seeking reelection in the Aug. 14 primary. council she will take the time to talk to residents. Business owner Ken Ali said the county council is out of control and “we need to change the people sitting on the county council.” “I want to represent you, not the special interest,” Ali said. District 2 incumbent Josh Wagner reminded the heavily Black audience it was he along with Councilwoman Joyce Cusack who pushed for a county civil rights ordinance. Wagner said if someone believes they are a victim of racism, they can now, in addition to going through the federal government, file a complaint with the county. Wagner also didn’t shy away from noting there weren’t enough minorities working for the county. “We don’t have a lot of diversity in Volusia County Government,” adding that is why he is proud of the internship program the county now has in which a number of Bethune-Cookman students are participating.

STATE ATTORNEY Both candidates for State Attorney spoke. Both are Republicans and the only candidates vying for the seat. Incumbent R.J. Larizza has held the seat since 2009 and says under his watch the conviction rate is the highest it has ever been in the four counties he represents. Larizza also noted he is proud of the 220 people he supervises, calling them “good people who care.” “Prosecuting isn’t just about putting people in jail,” he said.

Alumni Association. In the past, Barnes ran for Daytona Beach City Commission Zone 5 seat. “So much will be missed about him. He was just a well-rounded person,” added Rowland.

Scholarship to help kids play sports Family and friends have set up the Glenn G. Barnes Athletic Scholarship Fund in his honor. “The fund is designed to help kids in school cover the $75 fee required now to play sports. Many kids cannot afford it and this is something

Program fees are approximately $2,995 for pharmacy technician and $1,199 for veterinary assistant and include textbooks, classroom materials, externships and certificates of completion. The pharmacy technician program will run Sept. 11 through Feb. 14, 2013 at the Stetson University Center at Celebration, 800 Celebration Ave Suite 104. The Veterinary Assistant program will run Sept. 15 through Oct. 20 at the DeLand campus, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. Course registration is open and interested attendees can learn more and register at www.bostonreed.com.

ney Beaulah Blanks and community activist Theresa Apgar. McFall reminded the audience that she has been one of the most vocal supervisors of elections opposing voter suppression laws enacted by the state legislators and signed by Gov. Rick Scott. “The governor wasn’t listening. Legislators weren’t listening. I went to the public,” said McFall, who was a guest on several national TV shows. Kelly reminded the audience of McFall’s role in the unseating of former Black Daytona Beach Commissioner Derrick Henry whom she reported to the State Attorney’s office for alleged voter fraud involving absentee ballots. “I’m here for you. I want to make sure everyone of your votes count,” said Kelly. Blanks arrived late to the forum and was unable to address the audience. Apgar was not there.

JUDGES, SHERIFF, SCHOOL BOARD, CONGRESS, CITY COMMISSION

KAREN CLARK / SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Midtown Redevelopment Area Board member Pat Heard, Supervisor of Elections candidate Beaulah Blanks and Daytona Beach Area Alumnae Pan-Hellenic Association president Johnnie Moore attended Tuesday night’s forum. His opponent, Stasia Warren, who stepped down from being a judge the past 21 years to challenge Larizza, said she is running because she cares about the victims of crimes. “I want to stand on my record,” declared Warren.

CLERK OF THE COURT All three Volusia County Clerk of the Court candidates were present at the forum. Diane Matousek has been the Clerk of the Court since 1992 and faces a challenge for the first time in 16 years from two opponents. Matousek, of Orange City, is running against Republican challenger Steve deLaroche, 48, of Ormond Beach, a former county judge, and Christine Sanders, 42, of Ormond Beach, who once worked for the clerk’s office.

Sanders said if elected she would reduce spending and increase customer service. DeLaroche said he could do a better job running the office and would modernize the computer and digital system. Matousek took issue with charges against her that her office was not up to date with the latest technology. “We are modernized, more automatic than most. We have good customer service. You’re hearing falsehoods,” said Matousek concluding, “We run a tight ship. I am a public servant.”

to being a county councilman he was a former teacher and principal. “I’m all about dedicating my life to helping people. It’s about what I can do to help you,” he said. Jason Davis said voters need someone who will sit on the council and listen to them. “You want a true voice running to be your county chair,” he said. Attorney Ted Doran started out saying “He knows the community.” “I am here to stay. I am here to help you. In this county, you have been left behind. I’m here for you and I will deliver for you,” he concluded.

VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIR

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

The three county council chair candidates said why they should be elected. Carl Persis reminded the audience that in addition

Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Ann McFall faces three challengers – current Volusia County Councilman Andy Kelly, attor-

that my husband wanted to do. He always wanted to help kid and instill positive qualities in them in both the classroom and athletics,” Mrs. Barnes said. Along with his wife of 42 years, he is survived by his son Thomas Barnes of Los Angeles; two daughters, Lindsey Barnes and Rossi Williams, both of Daytona Beach; and 12 grandchildren. For information on the Glenn G. Barnes Athletic scholarship fund, contact S. Fletcher at 386-299-3587.

BACKPACKS from Page 1 tal of 240 backpacks were given away. Now, a total of 3,050 are being distributed with $25 worth of school supplies inside each backpack. “It actually started with us just giving those backpacks to kids in our after-school program but the mayor and other officials decided to branch it out. Since then, it has really grown and expanded citywide,” said Percy Williamson, Daytona Beach’s Leisure Services director. Sponsors for the event include Walmart, Pepsi Bottling Company and Frito Lay.

Also participating in the forum were county court judge candidates: Group 7 - Steven Burk, Dustin Havens, Alan Holt, Chris Kelly and Adam Warren; Group 8 – Bryan Feigenbaum and Michael McDermott. Congressional candidate for District 6 Vipin Verma also attended. Volusia School Board District 2 candidate Ida “Lucy Duncan” Wright spoke. Her opponent, incumbent Al Williams, was not present. Sheriff candidate Wendell Bradford addressed the crowd. His opponent, incumbent Ben Johnson, did not show up. District 4 county council candidates Shannon McLeish and Damien Richards asked for support. Doug Daniels and Jay M. Young were not in attendance. District 4 school board candidates Walter Fordham, incumbent Judy Conte and Charles King were present. Linda Costello did not attend. Ruth Trager, the Daytona Beach commission candidate for Zone 1 also spoke to residents at the forum. Candidates Dale Heuermann and Carl Lentz were not present. Daytona Beach Zone 6 candidates Paula Reed and Cathy Washington both addressed the audience. Their race is not on the ballot until Nov. 6.

Big help for local parents “Parents have come to depend upon it. It really helps out a lot of people especially with today’s economic situation. This helps parents with not having to buy so many and sometimes no school supplies,” Williamson explained. Vendors also will be at the giveaway sites. “It’s just so much more going on. So many other vendors will be on hand providing much-needed services. The people really get a lot,” added Williamson. Parents are required to accompany their children and have a valid ID at the event. For more information, contact Leisure Services at 386-671-8337.

AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Flagler NAACP to host golf tourney on Aug. 11 NAACP Golf Chairman Harry Davis has plotted his course for the 11th Annual Jacqueline A. Browne Memorial Golf Tournament slated for Aug. 11 at Pine Lakes. In addition, he is set to receive sponsorships of $500, $350, $100 and $50 from organizations and individuals for the local branch’s efforts of promoting educational, social and economic development through community programs. Each sponsorship level has benefits that may afford the opportunity to play in the tournament without cost. Davis has been on the move and was recorded as the Low Gross Champion for the recent 2012 Eagles Club Championship. His title was a result of a 36-holestroke-play tournament (with handicap) over a twoday challenge at Halifax Plantation and Palm Har-

Palm Coast

Community news

By Jeroline D. Mccarthy | Daytona Times

Harry Davis

Jacqueline A. Browne

bor Golf Club. He entered the gross scores of 74 and 72 for a total of 146. This was his third consecutive defense of his title and eight overall. Davis managed to win the 2011 Grand Club Men’s Championship for

Community Calendar To list your event FREE, e-mail us at news@daytonatimes.com. No phone calls or faxes, please. Events are listed on a space-available basis, and in the sole discretion of the Daytona Times staff. For guaranteed placement, contact Lynnette Garcia, lgarcia@flcourier.org, phone 954-882-2946, for ad rates.

Compiled by the Daytona Times Mentor training scheduled Sept. 18 Community Partnership for Children is recruiting mentors for teenage children in foster care. The next orientation will be held Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at the Community Partnership for Children, 160 North Beach St. To register or for more information: Susan Hiltz, 386-547-2293 or Susan.Hiltz@cbcvf.org. Music workshop meets at New Hope The Volusia/Flagler Chapter of Gospel Music Workshop of America will meet Aug. 4

and Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meetings are held the first and third Saturdays of each month at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 633 Roy Ave. Aug. 11 event helps sick kids Daytona Lagoon will be serving ice cream and toppings for donations on Aug. 11 from noon to two during an “Ice Cream Breakfast,” annual campaign raising funds and awareness for Give Kids the World. The cost of the event is $2 and $5 donations for a scoop. Location: 601 Earl St. More information: Contact Trish Mucciolo at

GOSPEL HALLELUJAH WORLD WIDE RADIO MINISTRIES Hosted by: Bro. Harold Ford and Prophetess Deborah Ford LISTEN TO WPUL 1590 Saturdays 10 am -noon Sundays 5am- 7am & 1pm-3pm Listen online at: www.wpul1590.com website: www.gospelhallelujah.com

Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!

11 of the past 13 years. The North Carolina native relocated to Palm Coast from Maryland. He explained that contributing organizations and individuals signed up for the memorial tournament will be listed at the luncheon on a sponsorship banner and/ or a sign in the teeing area of the course.

Tribute to Browne The Jacqueline A. Browne Memorial Golf Tournament is a tribute to Browne, who, in 2000, revitalized the then dor-

mant branch after being approached by individuals having experience bias. Browne passed away in 2001. She was a New York City educator, Democratic Women’s Club president, board chairman of the African American Cultural Society, a member of the Palm Coast Service District Advisory, and president of the advisory’s Public Works Committee. Registration begins 7 a.m., followed by the shotgun start at 8 a.m. The fee for the four-person scramble is $75, which includes greens and cart fees, awards, breakfast and lunch. For more information, call Davis at 386-437-5082 or Willard Anderson at 386586-4053.

mer African American Cultural Society (AACS) president, conjured up a luncheon for those seeking a delicious fare in afternoon, mid-summer fashion. Land yourself a spot on the runway, wearing your favorite afternoon apparel. The fashion craze abounds in prizes. It will partly be sponsored by Kohl’s Department Store and will benefit the AACS Scholarship Fund. Groups are welcome and RSVPs are encouraged. It happens Aug. 10, 1-4 p.m., at the AACS, 4422 North U.S. 1 in Palm Coast. Tickets are $10 per person. For tickets, call Vivian Richardson at 386-4466935, or call the AACS office at 386-447-7030.

AACS hosting Aug. 10 luncheon

Church’s monthly giveaway is Aug. 11

Vivian Richardson, for-

The Women’s Mission-

ary Society of First Church - the Rev. Gillard S. Glover, Pastor - has scheduled its monthly food giveaway for Aug. 11, 1-3 p.m., at 91 Old Kings Road North in Palm Coast. For more information, call 386-446-5759 rrr As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

Happy Birthday to You! Birthday wishes to: Birthday wishes to Twins Alexis and Alana Williams, Ernest G. Robinson Jr., Bob Brooks, Aug. 2; Clarence Mauge’, Aug. 3; Gloria Major, Shirley Horne, Aug. 4; Rudy Forbes, Aug. 5; Ivor Dehaney, Taylor Pincham, Aug. 7.

trish@daytonafunparks.com. Free workshop on Alzheimer’s Learn 10 strategies that may surprise you and five strategies that may protect your children and grandchildren at a free informational workshop on Alzheimer’s disease with guest speaker Dr. Diane B. Tellier, The event will be held Aug. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Port Orange Regional Library auditorium, 1005 City Center Circle. More information and to RSVP: 386-267-1204.

MEEK MILL

Rapper Meek Mill and Tyga will be in concert on Sept. 2 at the UCF Arena in Orlando. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Tutoring help available Partnering with St. James Academy, Elect Ladies Mentoring is offering tutoring services, school supplies, study spaces and encouragement for students 17 and up seeking a high school diploma. More information: 386-258-7199 or Electladiesmin@aol.com. Elect Ladies hosting workshop A discussion on how to overcome limitations in order to achieve the impossible will be hosted by Elect Ladies Ministry titled “From ESE to PHD,” on Aug. 4. Registration and a continental breakfast begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by the workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Halifax Medical Center, France Tower Classroom E. Cost: $5. More information: 386-258-7199.

Meeting to focus on land-use change near DeLand SunRail station Volusia County staff members will conduct a public workshop to provide an

overview of the proposed large-scale comprehensive plan amendment (CPA 12-1-1) to change the future land use designations from urban low intensity and industrial designations to the activity center designation for the area next to the DeLand area SunRail commuter rail station. The workshop will begin at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 7 in the first-floor training room of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand. More information: Becky Mendez, 386736-5959, ext. 12943.

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EDITORIAL

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AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

What’s God got to do with Trayvon’s death? George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin, told Fox News personality Sean Hannity that the events that occurred on February 26, 2012 were “God’s will.” What a cynical manipulation of our Creator. Zimmerman has proven himself to be a multiple liar. He called himself destitute, while collecting tens of thousands of dollars from a website that was formed to fund his defense. He declined medical attention the night he killed Trayvon, and then showed up the next day with bumps on his head, but no evidence of who put them there. This is the equivalent of a drunk driver fleeing the scene of an accident and turning himself in sober the next day.

Zimmerman’s will

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICE EDNEY WIRE

had a weapon, he might have justifiably used it on Zimmerman, since he had the same right to be on the streets as Zimmerman. But does anyone have any doubt that if the shoe were on the other foot, Trayvon would have been allowed to leave jail without being charged? Zimmerman says this case has divided our nation. Perhaps he is right. How else could an admitted killer garner more than $150,000 via the Internet unless some rabid souls choose to support the wanton massacre of young AfricanAmerican men? At the same time, this admitted killer has had hubris enough to provoke the New Black Panther Party, a small organization that is more bark than bite, to make him the target of incendiary rhetoric. The New Black Panther Party may have offered a death threat. Zimmerman actually committed one. Were it not for the national attention this case has garnered, he might have never been charged.

Trayvon’s death is not God’s will, but Zimmerman’s, and the will of those legislative vigilantes who have passed “Stand Your Ground” laws in many states. Note that “Stand Your Ground” laws are different from the “castle laws” that allows residents to use force against those who unlawfully enter their property. These laws have their own downside – witness the case of a man who shot Halloween trickor-treaters. But these laws allow folks to shoot people (as opposed to formerly held laws where one Pain into passion I met Sybrina Hudson, Traywas required to retreat) if they are in a place where a defendant is al- von’s mother, at the most recent Rainbow/PUSH annual conferlowed to be. Using such laws, had Trayvon ence. Sybrina is soft-spoken but

determined, a woman who would not have sought the limelight but for her commitment that her son, and other young Black men targeted by racists, should have justice. She has started a website, www.justicetm.org, that will promote justice for Trayvon and others whose lives are placed in jeopardy by “Stand Your Ground” laws. She is turning her pain into passion and power. The rest of us who love young hoodie-wearing Black men must tell them the racist rules of the game. One friend told me that she instructs her sons never to look a White policeman or a threatening-looking White man in the eye. Another has banned evening excursions, choosing to drive her sons to get snacks rather than to have them walk. Still another has instructed her son to turn on the microphone embedded in his phone so that, in case of confrontation, she has a record of what happened. George Zimmerman knows another God than most of us do. But then this gross manipulation of our Savior’s Word is not the first manipulation Zimmerman has attempted. Shame on him, and shame on those ministers who do not immediately denounce this blasphemy.

Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Lax gun laws allow terrorism at home We are shocked and saddened by the massacre in Aurora, Colo. But Aurora is part of a pattern, not an isolated incident. Two days earlier, 17 were hurt outside a bar in Tuscaloosa, Ala., when a gunman opened fire. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others were shot in a Tucson, Ariz., shopping center. Virginia Tech students were mowed down on campus. In Chicago, 228 people have already lost their lives to gun violence as of mid-June. Nationwide, there have been 60 mass shootings since the Tucson horror, according to the Brady Campaign. Every year, about 100,000 Americans are victims of gun violence, with about 30,000 killed.

Established routine Aurora is shocking, but the shock has become routine. We fixate on the details of the killer, James Holmes. Our leaders offer condolences and prayers. But we need both prayer and policy to provide for domestic tranquility. Depression isn’t isolated. Mass depression and mass access to guns is a recipe for massacre. We must do more than mourn. We must act to limit domestic terrorism. Holmes purchased the four guns he carried in local Colorado gun shops along with 6,000 rounds of ammunition in the last 60 days. How could he arm himself with

REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, SR. TRICE EDNEY WIRE

an assault rifle that is useful only to hunt humans? It was easy because in Colorado, it was perfectly legal. According to the Brady Campaign, in Colorado, there is no ban on assault weapons or on high-capacity ammunition magazines, no registration requirements, no gun owner licensing requirements, no background checks for Internet sales, no “good cause” required for a concealed carry permit, or no limit on the number of handguns you can buy in one purchase.

Drastic decline Our police chiefs campaigned hard for a ban on assault weapons that put them at risk. A weak federal assault weapons ban existed from 1994, until George Bush let it lapse in 2004. During that time, the number of crimes committed with assault weapons declined dramatically. But the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby, campaigned hard against the ban and intimidated politicians in both parties. Now the gun lobby has won. People have begun arming them-

selves, as if that would protect them. In 1959, 60 percent of Americans supported a law to ban possession of handguns except by police and other authorized persons. Last year, nearly half (47 percent) of Americans said they have a gun in their home. By 2011, only 26 percent supported it. Last year for the first time, a majority of Americans said they were opposed to a law to make it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess assault weapons.

‘Passionate intensity’ In “The Second Coming,” the poet William Butler Yeats captured our time when he warned “the ceremony of innocence is drowned; the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” How many must die before “the best” stand and speak? We must revive the ban on assault weapons in America. Creating chaos through violence is not a joke. Arming ourselves is not a solution; it is a defeat. We must demand action to defend the domestic tranquility against a gun industry, lobby and culture that now pose a clear and present danger.

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is president and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Blacks, Latinos strongest supporters of financial reform Blacks and Latinos support financial reform more than any other group, according to a new poll released by Lake Research Partners. When consumers were asked if Wall Street caused the financial crisis, eight out of 10 African-Americans agreed. Sixty-five percent of Latinos agreed, compared to an overall rate of 64 percent. The telephone poll, conducted in July by Lake Research Partners, was jointly commissioned by the Center for Responsible Living (CRL), AARP, and Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) and the National Council of La Raza.

Investment in homes In general, people of color tend to invest more in their personal residences than in stocks or bonds. Unfortunately, many times our communities are also the unfortunate targets of predatory lenders offering a range of high-cost products that often leave consumers in worse financial shape than before. For example, in a recent guest commentary in The Hill, Congresswoman Maxine Waters [DCalif.] said, “Many of us on Capitol Hill who feel strongly about the

What consumers want CHARLENE CROWELL NNPA COLUMNIST

need for reform have been struggling with the sometimes-subtle, sometimes-overt, but always tenacious, attempts to undermine financial reform over the last two years. And because we’re sensitive to making sure that the law we passed works in practice, even some allies of financial reform are often too quick to believe the industry when they cry wolf about the unintended consequences of Dodd-Frank.” The 2010 Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform law was enacted in the wake of the economic meltdown to overhaul of the financial regulatory system. The law created the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, which consolidates the consumer finance protection authority previously scattered among seven different agencies into a single entity whose mission is to protect consumers from deceptive practices by banks, credit card companies and other institutions.

Consumers of color polled favor a strong CFPB and also called for the Bureau to require clearer explanations of lending rates, terms and fees; oversee non-bank lenders; write tough rules matched by CFPB enforcement; create a searchable database where consumers can report unfair practices and/or view complaints; and protect military service members who have been deployed from mortgage and foreclosures. In the aftermath of devastating financial losses, followed by a string of lawsuit settlements against many of the nation’s largest banks to resolve charges of discriminatory lending practices and lack of maintenance of foreclosed homes, many people of color are not just hoping for – but expecting redress.

Charlene Crowell is the Communications Manager for State Policy & Outreach with the Center for Responsible Lending. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: CONGRESS 2012

RJ MATSON, ROLL CALL

Buried in a sea of government regulations We African-Americans must get more involved in making policy. As one of my mentors taught me, “You can be one of two things: a political activist or a political victim.” We must get into the game and ensure our needs will be met. And we have plenty of needs. As businesses work to overcome staggering obstacles – many of which are imposed by Washington – each step forward leads to two steps backward. Few would argue that the anemic growth the country has experienced over the last four years is enough to rebound from the trough we find ourselves in, yet policymakers continue to revert to the same failed policies that have wielded little in the way of results.

Surrendered to government In the wake of the 2008 economic downturn, the American public unwittingly surrendered innovation and individualism for the promise of federal rescue. Now the sober realization that further government intervention has failed is setting in. Recently, the rate of small business startups hit a record low, businesses lowered their hiring expectations, and government spending peaked – all at the expense of taxpayers. Instead of empowering the private sector, the Obama administration has targeted it. The president’s own comments in July underscored how aloof he is from business owners. He said, “If you’ve got a small business – you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” Before that he assessed that the private sector is “doing fine.” All came after an Environmental Protection Agency official’s comments became public where he explained the organization’s policy of “crucifying” businesses. Each year, small businesses create two-third of new jobs, and they produce half the U.S. gross domestic product. Unlike their larger competitors, these companies often can’t afford to hire specialists to navigate the burdens federal requirements put on them. It takes valuable time and resources keeping up with all that’s asked of them. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that small businesses recently downgraded their hiring expectations or that earlier this year, nearly half of those surveyed said that government regula-

HARRY C. ALFORD NNPA COLUMNIST

tion was their biggest deterrent to creating new jobs.

Limits competition But the impact of government overreach is much broader. In private markets, Washington is limiting competition. Regulators in favor of less tested, possibly insufficient, alternatives have targeted once-proven safe chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency’s de facto regulatory program, Design for the Environment, needlessly promotes compounds that haven’t been sufficiently tested over those already approved. In the telecommunications world, lawmakers seem intent on slow-walking important development. Current regulations are still designed for mid20th century technology, which makes no sense in today’s digital age. Developments in domestic energy resources, which have already cut prices at the pump and lowered heating and utility costs for homeowners, continue to be stymied by strict federal and state regulation. The administration has cut offshore drilling permits by a third. Federal and state agencies have acutely hamstrung developers through excessive regulation, in spite of proven safety measures.

Real solutions Regulators should strive for more efficiency. By partnering with small businesses, policymakers can create rules that protect our communities, the environment, and the economy. It’s time to repower private industry. America is a country built on individualism, opportunity, and innovation. Now is not the time to abandon those values.

Harry C. Alford is the cofounder and president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

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AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

5

Simpson writes about Black America’s ‘dirty little secret’ Pioneer Black journalist updates ‘NewsLady’ memoir; recounts racism, sexism endured during career BY JACKIE JONES BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM

Former ABC News Weekend anchor Carole Simpson has had a wide range of obstacles and victories throughout her illustrious career, many of which she recounted in her memoir “NewsLady.” But Simpson felt compelled to update the book after hearing that many young Black journalists are running into many of the same racist and sexists incidents she faced in her four decade-long career in broadcast journalism. One of the more devastating revelations, previously unpublished, was that White men were not always the source of her problems. She faced animosity, sexism and racism from women and Black colleagues as well.

“There are some controversial aspects to this new version,” Simpson said in a news release announcing the updated memoir. “I talk about the ‘dirty little secret’ in Black America. We are prejudiced against each other.”

Covered range of topics for TV Simpson was the first Black woman to work in NBC’s Washington bureau and was an Emmy-winning correspondent for ABC News. She covered a wide range of topics from natural disasters, foreign affairs and political reporting, including presidential nominating conventions and covering candidates, as well as anchoring the weekend newscasts. In 1992, she was the first Black journal-

ist to moderate a presidential debate. Right up to the end of her daily broadcasting career, Simpson wrote, she had to fend off racist and Carole sexist remarks. Simpson But she continued to encourage aspiring young Black journalists, funding several scholarships with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTNDA).

Now Boston professor, writing coach Her honors include induction into the NABJ Hall of Fame,

a lifetime achievement award from the New York Association of Black Journalists and the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award in recognition of Simpson’s work to protect First Amendment freedoms. In 2006, Simpson retired from ABC News and joined the School of Communications at Emerson College in Boston as a Leaderin-Residence, where she is a fulltime journalism faculty member and writing coach. Simpson also maintains a blog and website, called Think About It at www.carolesimpson.com.

Writes about Max Robinson The re-release of “NewsLady’’ expands on the behind-thescenes look at Simpson’s life. In

addition to painting a portrait of the race and gender difficulties she faced while building her career, she also reflects on the rise and fall of the late Max Robinson, the first African-American to anchor a major nightly newscast, and an ABC colleague. “This really may be one of the few things written about Max Robinson since his death,” of AIDS at age 49, Simpson said in the news release. “I recount events in this book that show how many tried and how many succeeded in doing me harm,” Simpson said. “But before, during and after my television career, I was able to overcome and prospered. I was blessed.”

New Showtime documentary to focus on Richard Pryor BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) – Showtime says it’s launching a new documentary showcase, with Dick Cheney and the late Richard Pryor among the first to be profiled. The cable channel told the Television Critics Association on MonRichard day that the series Pryor titled “Closeup” will offer provocative studies of culturally significant people. Among the first films will be “The World According to Dick

Cheney,” which Showtime described as a measured, complex look at President George W. Bush’s vice president. Other documentaries include “Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic” and “Suge Knight: American Dream-American Knightmare.” Filmmaker Brett Ratner (“Rush Hour”) will profile music mogul Tommy Mottola, who has worked with stars including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Mariah Carey. Mottola and Carey divorced after five years of marriage. Air dates for the “Closeup” documentaries were not immediately announced.

3 productions in the works about Sammy Davis Jr. EURWEB.COM

Sammy Davis Jr. is getting covered on all angles, it seems. Currently, there are three productions in the works commemorating the life and career of the late great entertainer. First is a feature Sammy film out of ByDavis Jr. ron Allen’s Entertainment Studios. The storyline is based on the life story as told by his daughter Tracey Davis, re-

ports Shadow and Act. “On his deathbed, one of the last things my father told me as he put my face in his hands was: ‘Tracy, tell my story. Warts and all’.” Also in the making are two stage productions, one currently entitled “I Will, I Can.” Sammy’s life was quite an adventure, from being an onstage performer to husband and father, to religious transformations and life-changing events, there won’t be a dull moment in the re-telling of his life. No casting announcements have been made yet.

LUIS SINCO/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

Snoop Dogg smokes a blunt onstage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13 in Indo, Calif.

‘Born again’ Snoop Dogg releasing ‘Reincarnation’ FROM WIRE REPORTS

NEW YORK (AP) – Snoop Dogg says he was “born again” during a visit to Jamaica in February, is changing his name to Snoop Lion and is ready to make music

that his “kids and grandparents can listen to.” The artist known for gangster rap is releasing a reggae album called “Reincarnated” in the fall. The West Coast rapper held a news conference in New York

on Monday. Later he played five songs for a small crowd, including one called “No Guns Allowed.” It features his daughter. The album will be followed with a documentary of the same name. It features him making music and will include some personal elements of his life, a producer of the film said. It will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Holmes tweets about recent experience of being stopped by cops FROM WIRE REPORTS

Former CNN host T.J. Holmes was pulled over on Monday, and documented the experience over Twitter. Holmes did not indicate where he was driving, but tweeted that he was pulled over one mile from his house with two cop cars behind him. He snapped a photograph of a police car in his rear view mirror with the caption “Driving while black ain’t no joke!” He tweeted updates from the side of the road over the course of 10 minutes. He wrote that the officer was “stumbling over his words trying to explain” why he

was pulled over. “This is a damn shame,” Holmes wrote. Holmes later added that the officer said he “wanted to make sure [Holmes] had insurance on the car.” Holmes commented, “I kid you not.” He then mocked the experience, tweeting that he “managed to avoid jail time” but his “relationship with _____ County police may have been soured a bit.” Holmes, who left CNN for BET Networks in December 2011, will debut his new show later this year. His show is expected to be a late night, comedic news show titled, “Don’t Sleep With T.J. Holmes.”

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT

John Legend performs during a climate rally on The National Mall to celebrate Earth Day in Washington on April 25, 2010. He has signed a pod deal with Universal Cable Productions.

Beyond ‘Duets’: More projects in the works for Legends FROM WIRE REPORTS

T.J. Holmes left CNN for BET to star in his own show titled “Don’t Sleep With T.J. Holmes.”

John Legend got his feet wet as a judge on TV’s “Duets,” and now he wants more. The nine-time Grammy winner has signed an exclusive pod deal with NBC’s studio counterpart Universal Cable Productions, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Under the deal Legend and his Get Lifted Film Company, with partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius will work alongside UCP senior vice presidents Richard Rothstein, Chris Sanagustin and Maira Suro to develop series for cable and broadcast networks.

“We’re thrilled to have the creative talents of John, Mike and Ty to help us in our efforts to create imaginative and signature television. Already, they’ve proven their passion and commitment to TV by bringing unique talent to the studio. We look forward to a fun and productive partnership,” Rothstein, Sanagustin and Suro said in a joint statement.

Excited about ‘next step forward’ The pact marks Legends’ first step into the TV series arena. At UCP, he joins a studio roster that includes “The Walking Dead”

executive producer Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment; Hypnotic, which produces “Covert Affairs” and “Suits” at USA; and Tagline, the shingle behind USA’s “Psych.” “Ty, Mike and I are really excited about working with Maira, Richard and Chris and the entire UCP family as we take this next step forward in building Get Lifted. I believe we can do something really special,” Legend said in a statement. In addition to his role on ABC’s “Duets,” Legend most recently fronted a Showtime special and will be heading out on tour in the fall.

CLASSIFIEDS

6

AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

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99% of Americans have seen combat on TV. 1% of Americans have seen combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.

We know where you’re coming from. We’ve got your back. Join the online community at IAVA.org

TECHNOLOGY

7

AUGUST 2 - AUGUST

8, 2012

Engineering industry works to gain female students BY KEVIN COLLISON MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Thirty years after the first wave of women began pursuing engineering careers, it’s still mostly a man’s world – despite an earnest effort to encourage girls to pursue a profession with good opportunities. Take Taya Upkes, who graduated summa cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She had nine job offers before receiving her diploma and accepted an offer from Cummins to work at its plant in suburban Minneapolis. Her starting salary? Somewhere in the “mid60s.� And Cummins also is paying her graduate school tuition. She helps design generator sets for yachts, she said, and she’s the only woman working in a department of 15 or 20. “I actually enjoy it,� she said. “It was intimidating at first, but I got used to it. It’s not in the back of my mind to think about it anymore.�

Nationwide pattern Engineering schools around the region report Upkes isn’t alone. “The demand for engineers in general is high,� said Gary Mirka, an associate dean at Iowa State University. “Ninety-five percent of our students have jobs within six months, and recruiters are keen on women.� Despite those opportunities, the enrollment at Iowa State reflects a nationwide pattern. The share of women in its undergraduate engineering program peaked at 16.5 percent in 1995. This year, 15.2 percent of the engineering students are female. Nationally, 17.9 percent of undergraduate engineering students were women in 2009, according the most recent data from the National Science Foundation. Ten years before, 19.8 percent of engineering students were female. And even when a woman obtains a degree in en-

ALLISON LONG/KANSAS CITY STAR/MCT

Destnee Walton, 12, from left, Martayllia Copes, 10, and Jordan Miller, 11, all of Kansas City, assemble a robot on July 20 at Science City in Kansas City’s Union Station. The KC STEM Alliance (science, technology, engineering and medicine) summer camp hosted a field trip to Science City where campers demonstrated robots they designed, programmed and built using the engineering skills they learned during camp. gineering, it’s no guarantee she’ll enter or stay in the profession.

Reasons for leaving The foundation reported that 12.9 percent of the almost 1.6 million engineers in the nation were women in 2008, significantly lower than the graduation rate. Betty Shanahan, the executive director and CEO of the Society of Women Engineers, said a study last year called “Stemming the Tide: Why Women Leave Engineering� found onethird of female engineering graduates didn’t enter the profession because they thought the workplace culture was inflexible and not supportive of women.

The report also found nearly half of the female engineers who left the profession did so because of poor working conditions, too much travel and lack of advancement or low salary. One-third said they didn’t like the workplace, their boss or the culture. “When women leave a company, they leave the profession,� Shanahan said. “When men leave a company, it’s generally to go to another company.�

Engineering to health As for the continuing low number of women going to engineering school, Shanahan and others said

Is exploring Mars worth the investment? NASA laboratory heading toward Red Planet has many wondering about costly endeavor BY ERYN BROWN LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

Saturn has its famous rings and Jupiter is the granddaddy of the solar system, but no planet has entranced earthlings quite like Mars. Humans have launched 40 spacecraft to the Red Planet, lured by the prospect that life might once have existed in what is now dry rocks and sand. The latest machine to make the journey is NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory, a hulking, souped-up lab-on-wheels that will plunge toward the Martian surface next week. But even as excitement builds, some wonder: Is Mars exploration a good investment? It certainly doesn’t come cheap. It’s hard to calculate a total price tag, but over the 48 years that NASA has been launching missions to Mars, Americans have spent a significant sum. The Viking missions alone cost nearly $1 billion – in 1970s dollars. The twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity cost a total of about $1 billion to build and operate as well.

Over budget Curiosity, as the Mars Science Laboratory rover is known, is over budget at $2.5 billion. Some in the federal government have suggested it’s time to roll back the spending. President Barack Obama’s fiscal plan for 2013 would cut NASA’s funds for Mars exploration from $587 million to $360 million. Proponents insist Mars science is vital for the U.S. More visits to our nextdoor neighbor could answer lingering questions about Earth’s history, reinforce U.S. prestige and get more children interested in science. It also could bring humanity closer to answering the ultimate question: Are we alone in the universe? “It’s the search for the meaning of life,� said Alden Munson, a senior fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a science and technology think tank based in Arlington, Va.

Science fiction mainstay America’s love affair with Mars can be traced to astronomer Percival Lowell, who turned his telescope to the Red Planet in the 1890s and thought he saw an intricate system of canals that must have been built by intelligent beings. He never found them, of course, but Martians

became a science fiction mainstay. Earthlings got their first up-close view of Mars’ rocky surface in 1965, when Mariner 4 flew by and photographed a surface that appeared as dead as the moon’s — lacking water or active geology, two prerequisites for life. But later missions, from the Mariner 9 orbiter to Spirit and Opportunity, helped establish Mars as a useful comparative laboratory for studying climate and geophysics on Earth. They demonstrated that the planet was once warmer and wetter than it is now. Long ago, it may have been a hospitable cradle for life.

Life on Mars? When planetary scientists assembled recently at the behest of the National Academies to set research priorities for the next decade, the search for conditions that would allow life to emerge on Mars topped the list. “If there’s life or past life on Mars, it means the chances that life exists somewhere else are much higher,� said David Paige, who studies the moon and terrestrial planets at UCLA. If Mars is barren, “it might make Earth more unique than we thought.� Some experts question the wisdom of focusing so intently on a single planet. Jupiter’s moon Europa,

one of the bigger reasons why capable girls didn’t choose the profession was their impression that engineers generally were loners working on abstract projects that didn’t directly help people. Many choose health care fields instead. “Girls don’t see the opportunities in engineering as opposed to other fields where you can see how you make a contribution,� Shanahan said. “The stereotype is you work alone and the social relevance isn’t understood. Girls don’t see the opportunities in engineering.� The subtle messages sometimes conveyed by teachers and parents that engineering is a man’s

world also helps continue that pattern, she added. “It is a male-dominated field, and those implicit biases are often carried over,� Shanahan said.

‘Weird’ reaction Upkes, who graduated from high school in Sioux Falls, S.D., and attended UM-Kansas City on a softball scholarship, remembers the reaction she often got when people learned about her degree. “Every time someone said you were an engineer and people said, ‘OK, that’s weird,’ it got ingrained in my mind,� she said. In all her mechanical engineering classes, there was only one other female.

“Everybody noticed it, but after a while, when they knew you could do the work, people could accept it.� Bette Grauer, an assistant dean at the Kansas State University engineering school, said about 15 percent of the undergraduates there are women. That low figure comes despite an active Society of Women Engineers chapter that offers after-school programs for middle school students and outreach efforts to high schools around the state. “I can’t explain it,� she said. “I’ve been a high school science teacher and physics teacher. Fifty percent were girls and they do really well. I’m not sure why we don’t attract them.�

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which is covered with an ice-encrusted ocean, could have the potential to harbor life; Saturn’s moon Titan, rich in organic chemistry, might as well. “It’s like the person who loses their keys and only looks for them below the streetlight,� said David Jewitt, a planetary scientist at UCLA who studies comets.

Ultimate status symbol Regardless of whether life can be found beyond Earth, Mars exploration boosts U.S. prestige. “A lot of the warmest feelings people have had around the world have had to do with the space program,� Munson said. “It’s hard to put a value on that.� Space exploration is the ultimate status symbol. China and India have sig-

naled their technological aspirations by establishing space programs. So have Iran, Pakistan, Venezuela, Israel, Mexico and dozens of other countries. “I’m afraid if we step back, it will be decades before we get back to Mars,� said Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., whose district includes NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, where Mars missions are based. “We have the expertise now. No other countries have been able to do this.�

Hubble successor NASA has outperformed other space agencies by a wide margin, completing 13 successful missions (against five failures) since 1964. The Russians have had particularly bad luck, with 15 failed missions and only four partial successes. The amount of money

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Americans devote to Mars is tiny compared to annual expenditures on other NASA projects, said Munson, who noted that in 2011 alone, the agency spent more than $4 billion on the International Space Station and the fleet of space shuttles. The James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope that is designed to help scientists study the very early universe, is costing NASA $8.8 billion. Even that price tag is dwarfed by the more than $600 billion the Defense Department will spend in 2012. Jewitt put it like this: Americans spend more than $7 billion a year on potato chips. “We’re talking about a small amount of money in the grand scheme of things,� Paige said.

HEALTH

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AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2012

Experts warn against self-diagnosing via Web BY CANDACE BAGWELL BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM

Many Americans are turning to the web to self-diagnose their symptoms without consulting a doctor. Medical experts are now saying this can do more harm than good. A new study found that most people who use the Web to research their symptoms make their conditions appear worse than it may be. “This is particularly true when the disease is rare,� said study coauthor Dengfeng Yan, a doctoral student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “That is, given the same set of symptoms, people will overestimate their own likelihood of getting such rare (often serious) diseases than that of other people.�

Six experiments Yan and co-researcher Jaideep Sengupta conducted a total of six experiments by distributing information to nearly 250 college students about the flu, HIV, osteoporosis, and breast cancer. In one experiment, researchers provided students information about the flu and asked them to imagine if they were experiencing symptoms like a cough, fever, running nose, and headache. They then asked the students to identify whether their symptoms matched a “regular� flu or were related to the feared epidemic of the time, H1N1 also known as the swine flu. Following this exercise, researchers continued by asking how the students would diagnose someone else with the same symptoms.

Fearing the worst Researchers found that students were more likely to diagnose themselves with the worst case, the H1N1 flu in comparison to when they diagnosed others. Yan accounted the difference in the diagnosis perspective to psychological distance. He suggested that when diagnosing others, people tend to rely on broader statistics rather than the specific symptoms the individual may be experiencing. “Consumers often fear the worst

Study researchers recommended that people should primarily see a doctor for their symptoms. when it comes to their own health, while maintaining a calm objectivity with regard to others,� Yan said.

Risky undertaking Researchers believe that people who self-diagnosis are likely to mistaken their symptoms for worstcase scenarios which can have dangerous effects. They said it can lead to unnecessary stress and medical expenses. Yan and Sengupta aren’t the only ones who find self-diagnosis via the Web risky. Dr. Peter Galier, an internal medicine specialist at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center believes it’s a part of human nature for people to overestimate the health issues for themselves and family members. Galier explained that many people who rely on the Web rather than a doctor about their symptoms don’t realize the risk of erroneous information. “When people are able to access a lot of information that isn’t filtered, and they don’t have expertise in the field, they don’t know how to priori-

tize the information,� Galier said.

See a doctor Galier provided an example of a healthy young man who may experience chest pain after drinking a cold soda. He believes that the man could easily turn to the Internet and identify his symptom as a sign of a heart attack. However, he does not recognize the essentials of missing information such as his age and medical history. “Chest pain in a 55-year-old guy is looked at much differently than in a 25-year-old guy,� he said. Study researchers recommended that people should primarily see a doctor for their symptoms. ‘’The advantage of seeing a real doctor isn’t just because he or she is an expert,� he said. “It’s also that they aren’t you.� They believe that an objective diagnosis from a doctor eliminates the emotional stress that often comes with self-diagnosis. Yan suggested disclosing the situation to colleagues to ease the panic and stress surrounding their symptoms.

Pharmacy group sues over network restrictions NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Saying their members have been locked out and patients are suffering, the Florida Pharmacy Association joined others in a suit filed last week in Leon County circuit court to stop the Agency for Health Care Administration from restricting which pharmacies are allowed to serve Medicaid and Florida Healthy Kids patients. A coalition of pharmacy groups, individual pharmacies, chains and patients called on the court to immediately stop restricting where Medicaid patients can get their med-

ications filled. The suit comes after many pharmacies received letters in May from managed care provider Amerigroup Florida saying they would no longer be allowed to fill Medicaid prescriptions after July 9. Plaintiffs in the case say the restriction violates state and federal Medicaid rules that require patients to be given a choice on where they pick up their medications. Responding to complaints, AHCA officials in June defended the restrictions, saying Amerigroup remained in compliance with state and federal law. The lawsuit followed.

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