Woman Loses Job After Failing Drug Test for Legal Prescriptions

A New York Times article from this past Sunday gives us the story of Mrs. Sue Bates, a woman who had been working for 22 years at a company that makes car parts, and how she lost her job after failing a drug test...for prescriptions she had legally prescribed to her by her doctor.

The prescription drug in question, Hydrocodone, a pain reliever, was given to her legally for back pain, but when she went to take a drug test required by her company, the narcotic showed up in her system and she was subsequently let go. Apparently there were new rules and regulations regarding the drug tests that listed her medication as "unsafe." Bates is now suing her former employer, Dura Automotive Systems, for discrimination and invasion of privacy.

This brings into question privacy issues because employers such as Dura can see what medications an employee is on, and for what, and deem whether or not it is appropriate in their work environment. This is a scary thought for everyone out there taking legally prescribed prescription medications. Who knows if this new form of drug-testing will hit where you work, and what the outcome may be.

The article can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/us/25drugs.html?ref=health

Woman Drives Around With Corpse in Car for Months

An article stemming from Aol news this past Saturday talks of a California woman who drove around with the mummified remains of an elderly homeless woman for what could be between three to ten months. The woman, a former real estate agent, apparently had befriended the homeless woman in December and let her sleep in her car, but one day found her dead. Instead of telling anyone about the death, the woman drove around with the corpse in the passenger seat until police noticed a smell being emitted from the parked car and broke in, subsequently finding the body of a 50-60 year old woman.

Police are still questioning after an autopsy on the body revealed no signs of foul play, but the cause of death is still a mystery.

This story is just weird, and I think that is why I was drawn to it. Every day I see cause for concern regarding the human race. There is always going to be weird people out there doing crazy things, and I think I just need to accept the fact that the world is just one messed up place if people are driving around with mummified bodies in their car.

For the article, go here: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/police-woman-drove-around-with-mummified-body-for-months/19685921

Boogie Boarder Dies After Shark Attack

Just recently, a 19-year-old surfer was attacked while boogie-boarding at a popular beach in Santa Barbara, CA, and died due to his injuries. The attack is leaving many experts to believe the culprit was none other than a great white shark.

According to the article, the attack seemed to fit the profile of a great white attack, and there are not too many sharks that could inflict the kind of injuries the young surfer had sustained. Witness believe the shark that killed the surfer was somewhere between 14 to 20 feet in length, which is quite common for a great white.

This is leading many in the surrounding area to keep clear of the water, although, experts say the shark wasn't hunting humans, but merely mistook the surfer for a seal.

The article can be found here: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/calif-surfer-bleeds-to-death-after-shark-attack/19685959