Euthanasia: The Controversy Continues

            Euthanasia can be almost thoroughly defined as physician-assisted suicide. It is the practice in which a medically employed individual aids in the purposeful death of a patient. In several locations, euthanasia is illegal, but it is highly controversial in other areas. Today’s society presents the positives and negatives of this practice, with some supporting it and many opposing it. Because this topic literally deals with the fine line between life and death, it is important that the public realize what euthanasia actually entails.

            For over 700 years, suicide and physician-assisted suicide have been disapproved of. The controversy began with the Greek physician, Hippocrates, also known as the “Father of Medicine”. Since then, the issue has only worsened. In 1997, Oregon passed the “Death with Dignity Act” stating that assisted suicide was legal. Furthermore, cases of euthanasia were voted upon in 2006, asking whether citizens of Maine agreed or disagreed with the matter. As the issue has been debated over for years, it unfortunately will continue to be in the future.

            Considering the fact that suicide is illegal, it is evident why opponents of euthanasia do not agree with it. Many believe that the process is not only suicide, but also an indirect method of murder. I agree with this aspect of the practice. Euthanasia, in my opinion, should be illegal without question. Others, however, do not feel the same. Some believe it allows a patient to die with dignity and compassion, and that he/she has the right to live or die. Again, I consider this route to death morally wrong. When a patient is in such a position that he/she needs the aid of a physician, that individual is giving the doctor permission to take care of him/her; therefore, the physician should do what is in the patient’s best interest to aid him/her back to health. For a physician, death should never be intentional.

          According to the Research Diagnostic Criteria of the University of Manitoba, 44.5% of patients that were studied with terminal illnesses said they knew death would come soon, but only 8.5% of these patients actually stated the desire to die. Jack Kevorkian, known as Dr. Death, is one of the most well-known euthanasia supporters. He served eight years in prison after admitting to assisting at least 130 suicides. You also have to remember the possibility of mental illnesses. A patient suffering depression may say they wish to die. Depression is an illness that can be treated, thus changing the thoughts of the patient.

          Many believe that there are positive aspects having to do with euthanasia and continue to support it. Patients feel as though they are dying with dignity and compassion. They know they have the right to make the choice between life and death, and they take advantage of that option. The negative aspects of euthanasia are clear and should lead everyone to believing that it is wrong. It can be considered suicide for the patient. People may say a patient has free will, can make decisions about his/her life, and the government shouldn’t dictate one’s desires to die, but these all correlate to suicide which is illegal. There shouldn’t be a difference between a patient killing him/herself and asking a doctor to do it. Purposeful death should never be OK. The physician is not doing his/her job by allowing a patient to take his/her own life. Death is intentional for both the physician and patient and can sometimes even be considered murder on behalf of the doctor.

          In the famous case of Theresa ‘Terri’ Schiavo, court rulings overruled family decisions to take the patient’s life. Terri suffered in a 15-year vegetative state after being diagnosed with irreversible brain damage. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, told doctors she wished to be taken off of life support, but her parents disagreed. They wished for Terri to remain alive, which sparked a huge controversy, resulting in several court cases. Eventually, court rulings forced Terri to be taken off of life support. She died of malnutrition and dehydration 13 days after this action.

          The devastating nature of euthanasia should never be accepted. It will never be acceptable for a patient to take his/her life or for a physician to help one do so. Although euthanasia is indicative of a compassionate nature, it also is representative of intended suicide by physicians and should be addressed by society.

The following chart represents the popularity of the practice:

Junior Gerard Bingham disagrees with euthanasia and states his opinion on the practice.

Junior Joi Louviere believes euthanasia should be practiced and gives her supporting reasons.

Are you a coffee drinker?

I am definitely a coffee drinker. Hot, iced…all of it. My liking started not too long ago, and I must get it from my grandma because everyone else in my family hates it! But anyways, coffee has recently been showing some positive effects for drinkers. It’s rich in antioxidants, reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease, and has the potential to protect against type 2 diabetes. It has also been said that coffee improves mental performance and reduces the risk of liver cirrhosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. This makes me feel better about my cup-per-day.

However, it is still controversial whether coffee plays a part in heart disease and high cholesterol. Unfortunately, it can cause high blood pressure, dehydration, and affect healthy sleep habits. And don’t forget about caffeine. Although it was proven safe in 1958, caffeine causes addiction to coffee.

Just keep all of these things in mind before you pour your next cup!

Ice Cold…Popsicles!

Popsicles are definitely favorite warm-weather treats. They’re sweet and cool and juicy all in one. There have been so many variations growing up, but I LOVED the Flintstones push-pops…they were so good. But there were also the ice-pops that came in the long plastic tubes (you know the ones that the juice melted out of the ice by the time you were done and you sucked the juice from the botton of the tube). And then there’s the fruity popsicles on a stick that are yummy, too. I’ve always wanted to make my own popsicles, actually. There are so many variations…and all you need is a popsicle mold and a freezer. Check out http://www.mormonchic.com/recipe/recipebox/pages/summer_treats.asp for some homemade recipes!

P.S. You could never forget the red, white & blue popsicles from the ice cream truck. Those were winners, too.

Aries Babies

We’ve got a couple very special birthdays approaching this week! We all know how I love birthdays because that means…birthday cake! I’m so excited to bake my fave person a cake this week, but I want to use fondant & I don’t know where to get any! #problem. If you know of any places where I can get some please let me know, and I’ll love you for a long time.

Speaking of icing, a friend and I were discussing how yummy it is. We were saying how it might actually be better than the actual cake…the cake just adds to it. I’ve actually been known for eating straight icing and sprinkles on a regular basis — don’t judge me.

The past weekend was also very exciting because my friend and I baked a family of cupcakes. We made tiny ones, standard sized ones, and one huge one! It was a dream come true. I’m opening a bakery soon, please stand by.

Cool Down

So…it’s hot outside. This heat wave is really something. When I’m hot I think of ice cream, naturally. But think outside of the box this year with some different ice cream varieties. Check it out: crunchy cookie ice cream sandwiches, sundaes with exotic fruits and toppings, ice cream floats using flavored espresso, parfaits with your favorite flavors and fillings, and scoops of sorbet with fruit toppings. These are great variations to the regular cone!

As far as ice cream shops, which one is on top? I love all of them — Coldstone, Ben & Jerry’s, Maggie Moo’s, Kilwin’s, Dairy Queen…all of them. When you’re having a bad day, good day, hot day, blah day…going out for ice cream is always the answer!

Spring has Sprung!

Spring is here! How are you starting off the season? I always think of light, colorful things during springtime, including my food. Here are 5 easy spring meals to put on your dinner table:

1. Spring Chicken Salad: lettuce and chopped spring vegetables with shredded rotisserie chicken, herb potatoes, and herb-yogurt vinaigrette

2. Grilled Shrimp and Noodle Salad: grilled sweet & spicy shrimp, asparagus and mushrooms, served with rice noodles and cilantro

3. Chile-Rubbed Pork Chops: chile powder, cumin, cloves, oregano, and grilled onions on top of boneless pork chops; fry then serve with Mexican rice

4. Tilapia with Green Beans: coat fish with flour and herb mixture and fry in butter until crispy; serve with green beans and grape tomatoes

5. Spinach Ravioli with Tomato Sauce: dress ravioli with tomato sauce and Italian salami and basil; garnish with grated Parmesan or ricotta cheese

Try these recipes for a greeat springy meal! Let me know how it goes.

For more info http://www.foodnetwork.com/5-weeknight-meals-spring/package/index.html

Guess what you’re eating!

Some of the best foods have some of the most hidden secret ingredients that no one would ever guess! Mayonnaise is in some of the most moist chocolate cakes and sauerkraut can be found in some of the yummiest German chocolate cupcakes. Who knew?! But then again, if it’s good, that’s fine with me!

Easter E-g-g-stravaganza

Sunday was Easter, as we all know. And most people look forward to that bomb Easter dinner at the end of the day. Well, 129B was at it again. We had some wonderful chefs in the house who made chicken wings, macaroni & cheese, biscuits, green beans, and stuffing. SO GOOD..I ate my life away. And of course I had to make cupcakes. What would the world be if I didn’t make colored cupcakes with marshmallow peeps on top for Easter? Needless to say, dinner (& dessert) was FABO.

And I have to tell you about these cookies my mom sent! They’re like heaven. Both kinds were chocolate chip, but one had chocolate filling and the other had caramel filling. TO DIE FOR! With a nice scoop of ice cream on the side? We’re in business. Hope your Easter was poppin’ too!

Are muffins really just ugly cupcakes?

Either way, I love both. If you’re a muffin lover, here are 3 steps to making the perfect muffins!

1. Don’t overmix! Mix wet and dry ingredients only until flour is sufficiently moistened.

2. Fill it up just enough! Be generous, but not too generous. Fill the 3/4 of the cups with batter. Remember the appearance of the top of the muffin is important (it’s not a cupcake, so there’s no icing to cover unsightly tops).

3. Let the batter sit? Yes, when using baking powder. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before baking. No, when using baking soda. Bake muffins right away, so there are no reactions between the baking soda’s acids and the dairy in the batter.

Follow these simple steps along with your recipe & enjoy your FABO muffins!

I Digress!

So I listened to Tanya Blount’s radio blog show on cheating spouses. Dr. Ahmad Royalty hosted the show and brought up examples like Sandra Bullock & Jesse James, Tiger Woods & Elin, and even governors & mayors that have stepped out on spouses. Royalty tried to find the common denominator and wanted to figure out if cheating is always the man’s fault. He said that many men complain that their wives hold out on them. Should they just deal with it? He then brought up the Tiger situation: Would things be different if he had cheated with a black woman? Or if Elin traveled with him?  When he discussed Sandra Bullock and her cheating husband, he brought up the valid point that beauty, brains, and money do not always satisfy the spouse.

Unfortunately, cheating does happen. But should it be forgiven?