World Today: Jack Lalane

Jack Lalanne

Francois Henri “Jack” Lalane, a very famous nutrition, fitness, and exercise expert, sadly died on Sunday at the ripe old age of 96.  Born September 26, (my birthday!) 1914, to two French immigrants, in San Francisco, California, the first 15 years of Lalane’s life were nothing like the 81 that followed. Growing up he ate very unhealthily and had violent episodes aimed at himself and others. Lalane was even forced to drop out of school for 6 months because of his behavioral problems and the fact that he was 30 pounds underweight. Then something happened that changed his life: Jack attended a talk held by a well-known nutritionist at the time, Paul Bragg. Bragg’s ideas on health and fitness had a great impact on Lalane, who went home and began changing his life around right away by turning to a strict vegetarian diet and focusing on weightlifting and bodybuilding. Having only two meals a day, with snacks. Lalanne usually went to the restaurants that new what he would get.

Lalane finished high school and began going to night class at Oakland Chiropractic College and ended up graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. He later opened his very own health spa/gym and was a big fitness advocate, inventing things such as the first leg extension machine and weight selectors. But what Lalane is probably best known for is “The Jack Lalane Show,” a fitness and exercise program beginning in 1951 that remained on TV for 34 years. Lalane also published several books and videos having to do with nutrition and fitness, he even recorded a song with Connie Hanes and invented different “Power Juices”.  He opened lots of fitness studios, through out the country.

Lalanne went on to marry Elaine Lalanne and have three children: Jon Lalanne, Yvonne Lalanne, and Dan Doyle. He died on January 23, 2011 because of respiratory failure due to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an inflammation, or infection by the lungs. Cased by bacteria, and virus. It can also be caused y inhaling vomit, or other foreign substance. In cases of pneumonia the lung air sacs are filled with mucus, pus, and other liquids. That way the lungs can’t work properly. So air can’t get to cells, and blood. He was in his California house, with his family. They were watching the football game. His daughter said that he was looking good in till a few months ago. He had a surgery in December, stating that some thing was going on. Jack Lalanne once said, “I can’t die. It would ruin my image.” But unfortunate he did die.  Lalanne left his wife, 2 sons, and a daughter. Lalanne was a great athlete. In his life he won many awards.  We will miss him, as well as his work out videos.

World Today #2

Civil Unrest in Tunisia

Leah and Adriana

Recently, violence has erupted in Tunisia, a North African nation bordered by Algeria, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea. Citizens have been protesting all over the country, expressing their anger over the lack of job opportunities and the dishonest and unfair way in which Tunisia is being run. The chaos officially began on December 20, when unemployed, 26-year-old university graduate, Mohammed Bouazizi, tried to commit suicide by setting himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid. Bouazizi had been selling produce, which police had confiscated due to his lack of a permit. This single desperate act caused a spark that has grown into a raging bonfire over the last weeks as people protest and march for their rights and for justice. Dozens of Tunisians have been severely injured beaten, shot and killed, mostly by police who say they act violently for self-defense. But others have also committed suicide, such as Houcine Falhi, who electrocuted himself in the middle of a demonstration over unemployment. The violence has spread all over: towns such as Sidi Bouzid, Menzel Bouzaiene, al-Ragab, Miknassi, Sfax, Kairouan, and Ben Guerdane. All of the country’s schools and universities have been closed, and will remain closed until violence ceases. The protests were lead by college graduates, and were later followed by workers and young professionals. There was a curfew last Friday in the capital. No groups of people bigger than 2 were aloud outside by 5pm, and by 8pm no one was aloud outside. There was some shooting that night in several neighborhoods around the capital. The police threaten if they saw anyone after curfew they would be shot. The airports are closed and the U.K travel agents are taking out tourists from the country. The U.K, USA, and France are among the countries advising to not go to Tunisia unless necessary. Ben Ali, Tunisia’s president for over 23 years and very hated at the moment, has fled amidst the unrest, leaving the prime minister in charge. President Ben Ali is unwanted, because there is no employment in Tunisia. There are cheers and smiles because of the President leaving. People tore down any poster, or massive pictures of the President. Some even several stories high that were on Lamp post, or billboards. The Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi is planning to meet with political leaders to start a new government.

There have been shooting in the past days that have lasted up to 4 hours. A resident said her neighbors saw other armed men break through check points in civilian cars. There was recently a shooting Sunday January 16, 2011 that accrued out side the Tunisia palace. Caused by anger. The prime Minister said numerous groups of armed people have been arrested that Sunday. Leaving out how many. There have been worries on food shortages like milk, fresh fish, and bread, since you can’t go outside like normal; because there might be a shooting. Resident have been told to stay away from windows and keep curtains closed. A resident from Carthage said the saw four men in a taxi speed through a military checkpoint, going toward the Palace. Police shot at the car, but the men threw fire at them. “The coming days will show who is behind them.” Said Ghannouchi. Hoping to find out who is behind everything.

It’s very dangerous in Tunisia right now, and the best thing the residents of Tunisia should do is stay at home. We can only hope for the best.

http://www.theworld.org/2011/01/11/unrest-in-tunisia/

http://http://www.theworld.org/2011/01/11/unrest-in-tunisia/.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/tunisia/2011/01/201114142223827361.html

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20110114/twl-tunisia-see-s-unprecedented-civil-un-41f21e0.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2011/01/16/AR2011011603649.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12198106

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/world/africa/15tunis.html?scp=2&sq=Tunisia&st=cse

World Today

Two weeks ago northeastern Australia was hit by Cyclone Tasha, affecting an area the size of France and Germany combined in a huge flood that has named this spring their wettest ever. Parts of Australia have received huge amounts of rain since November, causing the Fitzroy River of Rockhampton to go 30 feet over its flood average water level and shutting down 40 coal mines, destroying numbers of homes, wiping out fields of crops, and affecting more then 200,000 people. While the river continues to rise, senior forecaster in Brisbane, Gordon Banks, tells us that the water is getting close to record levels. The local Mayor of Rockhampton, a town of 75,000 that’s been hit hardest by the flooding, says, “You can look down a street for a kilometer and see nothing but water.”

At least 10 people have been killed since the terrible weather began in November, around three of the deaths having occurred since Saturday, including a 41 year old woman who drowned while attempting to cross a causeway, and a 38 year old man who was killed after being swept off a small boat along the Boyne River.

To add to the chaos, snakes (some highly venomous such as taipans, brown snakes, and red-bellied blacks) have become a huge problem as they climb trees and hide in houses as a way to escape the floodwater. Crocodiles have also been spotted around the area of Rockhampton.

By Saturday the city had been partially evacuated, and Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard supplied people affected by the floods emergency relief on Monday, assistance including loans for farmer with flooded land. Many residents of Rockhampton and areas close by who may not be able to return to their homes for up to a month are taking refuge in evacuation centers.

Rescue teams have been going into Rock Hampton to help with food supplies and other supplies. Estimates of the damage and lost production go as high as $9 billion. Food, drinking water, and medical supplies have been airlifted into Rockhampton by the military, and the town has been offered aid from both the U.S and New Zealand. Hopefully, water levels will decrease before much more damage is done.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BU09620110102

http://beta.quedit.com/magazin?list_id=680

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Australia+floods+cause+catastrophic+damage/4062053/story.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12111264

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110104/wl_asia_afp/australiaweatherfloods