20 Years in Prison for a Facebook Post?

A teenager from a small town outside Boston has been held without bail for weeks. He faces terrorism charges and 20 years in prison for posting rap lyrics on the internet.

Held without bail? For writing a rap song?

A search of Cam's house found no explosives, weapons, or ANY evidence that he was planning anything other than becoming the next Eminem.

Take a minute to watch the video of one of Cam's songs above, and decide for yourself whether you think he's a threat to public safety, or just a teenager speaking his mind.

After you read this kid's story, you'll think twice about what you post on Facebook. (And that's the problem.)

Meet Cameron D'Ambrosio. He's 18 and lives in a small town outside Boston. He wants to be a rapper and calls himself "Cammy Dee" in his YouTube videos.

Oh, and he's been locked up without bail for weeks -- facing terrorism charges and 20 years in prison -- all for something he posted on Facebook.

On May 1st, Cam was skipping school and messing around on the internet. He posted some lyrics that included a vague reference to the Boston Marathon Bombing and called the Whitehouse a "federal house of horror." Soon after that he was arrested and charged with Communicating a Terrorist Threat, a felony that carries 20 years in prison.

The post contained no specific threat of violence against any person or group of people, and in the context of the rest of the lyrics and Cams' rap persona, it was clearly nothing more than a metaphor. A search of Cam's house found NO evidence that he was planning any violence, but a judge still ordered him held without bail for the next 3 months, pending trial.

Cam should be released immediately unless the D.A. can produce some additional evidence as to why he is a threat to anyone.

Please share this blog with your friends and raise some awareness for Cameron.

The 9 year old who raised $1.2 million for charity

This Video will bring tears to your eyes . . 

The only known living organism that is Immortal

While the humans have been looking for the elixir of life throughout every period of history, it appears that there is one species of jellyfish that are actually immortal. Turritopsis nutricula, or sometimes – Turritopsis dohrnii, is able to transform its cells from mature state back to immaturity, in other words – back to youth. The medusa leads a regular cycle of life, but after maturing and mating, it reverts back to its initial state – a polyp colony. The process is referred to as“transdifferentiation”, and it basically makes the jellyfish unable to die.

If a mature Turritopsis is threatened — injured or starving, for example — it attaches itself to a surface in warm ocean waters and converts into a blob. From that state, its cells undergo transdifferentiation, in which the cells essentially transform into different types of cells. Muscle cells can become sperm or eggs, or nerve cells can change into muscle cells, “revealing a transformation potential unparalleled in the animal kingdom,” according to the original study of the species published in 1996.

But Turritopsis can — and do — die. Their regeneration only occurs after sexual maturation, therefore they can succumb to predators or disease in the polyp stage. But because the jellyfish are the only known animal with this “immortality,” scientists are studying them closely, with the hopes of applying what they learn to issues such as human aging and illness.

The bell-shaped immortal jellyfish measures up to a maximum of bout 4.5 millimeters (0.18 in) and is about the same in its length and width. Originating in the Caribbean, it has now spread worldwide, and the discovery of its unique ability has heated up many discussions among the scientists. Some claim that their mystery is soon to be solved and applied to humans, while others only expect it to improve the quality of life at our final stages. Either way, knowing that something out there goes back and forth from being young to old to young again, blows your mind!

Sources:
http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/nature-blows-my-mind-jellyfish-immortal.html
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/immortal-jellyfish-does-it-really-live-forever

The 50 Most Perfectly Timed Photos Ever

By Internet standards, a perfectly timed photo occurs when two of the following three conditions are met: 1. Perfect Place 2. Perfect Time 3. Perfect Angle. Sometimes the holy trinity of perfectness is achieved and you get an Internet classic like so many of the photographs in the video. There are countless galleries of these images floating around. I tried my best to compile the most representative of this concept.

Incredible video of the Oklahoma tornado

YouTube user "Charlie Cook" captured the moment when the tornado formed and he followed its destructive path through the town of Newcastle, Oklahoma. In a matter of minutes it went from a funnel cloud to a full F4 tornado. We strongly recommend you DO NOT try to film tornadoes. Do seek shelter if you see or hear the sirens.

Symphony of Science - Secret of the Stars

A musical celebration of E=MC squared and Einstein's theory of relativity. Featuring Michio Kaku, Brian Cox, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brian Greene and Lisa Randall. 

Nike Sweatshops: Behind the Swoosh

Nike Sweatshops: Behind the Swoosh is the ultimate video for exploring the sweatshop issue. Using Nike as a case study, the film documents first hand the widespread and oppressive and exploitative labor practices in the developing world.

Used as a resource by faculty members and community leaders across the country, Behind the Swoosh is appropriate for use in classrooms, libraries, conferences, churches, community centers and union halls.