War on Drugs Driving HIV Transmission

     While preparing for today's entry I conducted preliminary research regarding the correlation between the war against drugs and the rise of HIV transmission. While I initially believed that the topic may provide enough information to fill half of a regular post, thus allowing a discussion detailing the conference to a greater degree than I have been able to thus far, I now realize that I need to devote the entirety of today's story to the topic. I'm doing this because the amount of information has exploded in the last week and I'd be doing a disservice to the topic by cutting it short. 

News in Photos: July 21, 2012

     Today is the final entry in this week's "News in Photos" template. While I enjoy covering a variety of topics, it isn't the reason that I started Under the Fold. By talking about the news of the day I'm missing the stories that were under reported. It's also difficult to really research and explain the details behind a story when I'm covering three in one post. The "News in Photos" design may be something I tweak for future posts but for right now I'm going to shelf it. Today's post will conclude this template by listing the top news headlines and provide an accompanying image and link. My reason for the short post is so that I can begin research into tomorrow's story.

News in Photos: July 17, 2012

     This week I'm going to do things a little differently by presenting a number of news stories from around the world through the use of images. I'll briefly describe the details of the story and provide a link to the original article for further information. The reason I'm changing my format is twofold; first, I need a breather after the amount of research and writing that went into the youth unemployment series, and second, I feel that by providing a brief summary of some of the events happening around the world you may be more enticed to research the events on your own. Independent research is a vital step to developing your awareness of the world around you and understanding the importance of the news. 

Fighting the Youth Unemployment Crisis

     Today is an extension of the final entry in the five-part series discussing the youth unemployment crisis that has gripped the developed world. I refer to the developed world specifically because my research hasn't involved any statistics or articles reflecting the job levels in developing nations. This is an area that interests me and may be something that I look at in another post. I have also avoided talking about gender or minority differences when discussing the youth unemployment crisis, as this would likely require additional posts as well, something that may also come at a later date.

Youth Unemployment Crisis Ramifications

     Yesterday was the start of a five-part series discussing the youth unemployment crisis. I spent a great deal of time explaining the background of the crisis and offered readers number of important links and statistics to better understand the situation. This discussion tied into a warning given by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD is cautioning policy-makers that youth are at risk of becoming a "lost generation" if the current crisis is not dealt with appropriately. If you missed part one click here to be redirected. Today's installment will examine the ramifications of the youth unemployment crisis on the individual as well as society.

Over 250,000 Computers Infected with DNS Malware

     This Monday will find Internet users across the globe left without a connection. The computers impacted will be those that are still infected with the now five-year-old DNS malware. According to Samantha Murphy from Mashable.com, the FBI is planning to shut down the DNS servers it used last November to keep infected computers connected to the internet. The use of these friendly servers was originally planned to last only four months but it was extended until this Monday because estimates of infected computers around the world is over still 250,000. Luckily there are a number of warnings for those who have the DNS malware on their computers, as well as easy ways to check to see if your system is infected.

Ultrabooks Gain Ground Against the MacBook Air

     Brooke Crothers, editor at CNET News, has reported that sales of the expensive ultrabooks are on the rise at retailers. This is a sign that Apple's popular MacBook line may finally be facing competition as the company has held a monopoly in the high-end laptop market since they launched the MacBook back in May 2006. Intel took steps to enter the market when they announced a fund to support the development of new technologies in line with the company's concept for next generation notebooks. It's been a year since Intel committed $300 million to the fund; which was projected to last for three to four years in related ultrabook developments. Let's take a look at what Intel has accomplished with the introduction of the ultrabook and discuss what's next for the high-end laptops.

Windows 8 Upgrades Will Cost $39.99

     According to Microsoft, consumers looking to upgrade to Windows 8 (working title) will have the opportunity to do so at the reduced rate of $39.99 from Windows.com once it launches to the public. The discounted price is for PC users who have a computer running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 and will be available until January 31 2012. Those looking to purchase a computer between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 will be able to upgrade for $14.99, a cost that Microsoft has traditionally waived in the past for consumers purchasing a PC so close to the release of a new OS. The price of upgrading has been reduced drastically from previous updates such as Windows 7 which cost $119 for the Home Premium version or $199 for Windows 7 Professional. But is Microsoft's new pricing strategy enough to bring their PC users over to the radically different interface?

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

     Google I/O, the company's annual developer-focused conference, was held late last week and introduced a number of innovations for Google's various projects. Some of those that were on display include; the Nexus 7, the Nexus Q, Project Glass, Google Chrome updates, and most significantly, Android 4.1. While early reviews have been positive; the question remains whether the new software is enough to bring consumers to Google's Galaxy Nexus smartphone. Google will also need to contend with Apple's recent injunction, which blocks the sale of the popular handset in the U.S. (for more details on that story click here). Litigation aside, let's take a closer look at Android update 4.1, more popularly referred to as Jelly Bean.

Ultimate Blog Challenge

     Starting in July I'll be participating in the "Ultimate Blog Challenge". The rules are simple. By the end of the month I must have 31 posts written and shared. Adult blogs are not allowed and posts must be of a PG nature. Each of the posts must also contain at least some text (no linking videos or images and counting that as an entry). This challenge is a considerable upgrade from my current posting schedule and is sure to be a cause of great pain during the month of July. 

Blackberry 10 Could Save RIM

     Rapid advancements in mobile and tablet technologies has left Research In Motion (RIM) scrambling to stay afloat in a market dominated mercilessly by Apple and Google. RIM has taken notice of what it's competitors are offering consumers and integrated that into it's newest operating system (OS). The result is software that manages to remain familiar to dedicated blackberry users while still offering something fresh for those looking for a secure OS that is both accessible and attractive. But will it be enough to bring those who have been burned by RIM before back to it's platform and draw in new consumers?

The Spread of 'Baby Boxes' in Europe Concerns the UN

     The United Nations is growing increasingly concerned over the use of baby boxes in Europe, a system which lets parents anonymously abandon their infant to health-care professionals and adoption agencies. The UN has taken offense to the practice because they believe that it contradicts the child's right to be known and cared for by his or her parents. Leaving a child in a safe place to be cared for by others is a controversial topic which draws debate from a number of different organizations such as political groups, religious organizations and pro-life lobbyists. The arguments are valid and raise a number of questions regarding state provision of family planning and counselling practices for women.

Hundreds Gather for Second Annual SlutWalk

     The SlutWalk protest rallies began when Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto police officer, spoke on crime prevention at York University and suggested that in order for women to remain safe they should "avoid dressing like sluts." The first walk took place in Toronto on April 3, 2011, only three months after Const. Sanguinetti inadvertently supported rape-culture through victim blaming and the misrepresentation of assault on women. Over 3,000 people gathered at Queen's Park to listen to various speeches before marching on the Toronto Police Headquarters. While most women dressed in everyday wear (to symbolize ordinary women, sexually assaulted in ordinary life) some came dressed provokingly, representing sluts.

Haiti 'Rape Victim' Testifies in Uruguay

     A 19-year-old Haitian man who accused Uruguayan troops of sexually assaulting him in September 2011 has testified in Montevideo before judge Alejandro Guido. The troops were in Haiti serving as United Nations peacekeepers, an occupation which has raised numerous concerns among both locals and international audiences. A video showing the attack, captured by one of the soldiers cellphones, was heavily circulated  in the southern Haitian town of Port-Salut and caused the already tense situation in Haiti to further devolve as this assault joins the growing list of failures by the UN since they came to the country more than eight years ago.

Gunmen Attack Nigerian Church Services

     Gunmen attacked two church services on the campus of Bayero University in the city of Kano, Nigeria, on Sunday; killing around 20 people and wounding several others. The attackers used homemade bombs in aluminum soda cans, a method identified with the Boko Haram, to drive Christian worshipers from a hall in the university where they were gathered. They preceded this attack by shooting into a second group of Christians who were worshiping outdoors on the campus. The gunmen proceeded to shoot the panicking Christians down as they attempted to escape. A breaking news story written by the Associated Press reported that the terrorists were already disappearing into the neighbourhood by the time the police responded. Full details of that story can be found here.

Killer of Community Activist Gets Life Sentence

     This is a quick follow-up to a story I talked about back in February regarding Kenneth Mark, a soft-spoken man who was executed after speaking out against gun violence in his Toronto neighbourhood. For the full details of that story click here.

    Today it was announced that Lamar Skeete, the man found guilty of first-degree murder, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The story was broadcast on News Talk 1010 and carried in full here. I hope that Mark's family can rest a little easier knowing that justice was done and Mark's heroics had a positive impact on the community.

Teen God Squad Culture Shifters' Miracle Cure Claims

Grant Shaw from the Bridgeman Downs Christian Outreach Centre attempts to heal journalist Anthony Gough. (The Sunday Mail/Peter Wallis)

     Culture Shifters is a Pentecostal group comprised of teenagers and twenty-something adults based in Queensland, Australia. The group has claimed to have healed over 200 people last year through prayer and boast a 95 percent success rate. The injuries and diseases that they have reported to have healed include; restoring a girls hearing, curing both cancer and multiple sclerosis, bringing sight to a girls eye, mending the injuries of an entire football team, as well as various other maladies they encounter while walking the streets of Queensland. For the full story click here. The group is continuing to grow in Australia as the number of members has increased to over 160 youth. Culture Shifters is a dangerous group that preys on the willingness of their inflicted audience to be healed.

Media does Disservice in Ignoring Trial in Shooting of Heroic Kenneth Mark

The scene where Kenneth Mark was murdered on Dec. 29, 2009

     
     Kenneth Mark died a hero. The soft-spoken man stood 6-foot-four-inches tall, weighed about 300 pounds, and died when Lamar Skeete, seeking retaliation, came up behind him, put a gun to the back of his head and pulled the trigger, ending Mark’s life.