Ella's Universe: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Rare Diagnosis Saves Girl Thought to Have Brain Tumor - Yahoo! News

The brain stem sits right smack dab in the middle of your head, and you've got to get into that area," he said. "The brain stem is sort of like an octopus with arms and nerves that provide movement to the face, eyes, mouth and lips, so you have to be able to work in between the nerves to get in to the substance of the brain itself and move it and pull it out of there.

"She's absolutely a real fire plug and the clearly the darling of her parents," said Rasmussen, who was happily surprised with Keira's quick bounce-back. "She's an absolute gem."

Keira had been a healthy child, so when she first started complaining about a headache, her parents thought it was just nerves.

"She had never complained about one before and we blew it off," said her mother. "But the next day, she came home from school and complained about the same thing."

via news.yahoo.com

Monday, January 28, 2013

Grand Jury Wanted to Indict JonBenet Ramsey's Parents - Yahoo!

A grand jury believed there was enough evidence in 1999 to indict John and Patsy Ramsey on charges relating to the still-unsolved killing of their beauty queen daughter JonBenet Ramsey, ABC News sources say.

Six-year-old JonBenet was found dead in the basement of her family's upscale Boulder, Colo., home Christmas Day 1996. Suspicion fell on her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, but they insisted an intruder was to blame and they were never prosecuted.

In an interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters after her death, both of the girl's parents denied that they had killed her. They were eventually cleared by prosecutors.

After meeting for more than a year, a grand jury found sufficient evidence to indict the couple on charges of child abuse resulting in death, as first reported Sunday by the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper and confirmed by two separate sources by ABC News.

"This grand jury, in effect, came up with a compromise finding, 'No, it's not murder,' but, 'Yes, we think they were responsible' for the death based on abuse," ABC News legal analyst Dan Abrams said.

PHOTOS: JonBenet Ramsey: Never-Before-Seen Photos

But District Attorney Alex Hunter refused to sign off on the grand jury's decision, saying there was too little proof.

"I and my prosecution task force believe we do not have sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of charges against anyone who has been investigated at this time," Hunter said then.

Hunter believed a conviction would be impossible. Abrams said that he agrees with the decision.

"I've seen the majority of the case files and I think Alex Hunter made the right call," he said. "I think there simply was not enough evidence to move forward."

Patsy Ramsey died in 2006 after a battle with ovarian cancer. John Ramsey remarried. His attorney told ABC News that Hunter is "a hero who wisely avoided a miscarriage of justice."

The case is still officially open but, as in 1996, investigators seem no closer to solving the crime this year, when JonBenet would have turned 23.
Also Read

via gma.yahoo.com

Thursday, January 17, 2013

'Sworn Virgins' of Albania | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News

girl, perhaps with aspirations of marriage and becoming a mother is asked by her family to take a vow of celibacy and foreswear sexual relations for life. She is not being encouraged to join a convent. She is taking on the responsibility and honor of protecting her home, her family and socially becoming a man. In the solidly patriarchal and tribal areas plagued by blood feuds and honor killings of Albania's rural mountain villages many such women who have "become" men act as the heads of their households. For sacrificing their innate natures, they are afforded considerable masculine privileges. Skirts and blouses are traded for trousers and button downs, long hair cropped to a manly stubble. They smoke, work and swagger about town with the other men. They are referred to as "he" and "uncle". Their absolute transition is accepted, posited and taken without question by the people among whom they live. They are called Sworn Virgins of Albania, or ‘burneshas’. There are only a handful left.” --Jill

via news.yahoo.com

Monday, January 14, 2013

Jodie Foster stuns with confessional Golden Globes speech | Yahoo! Movies Golden Globes Blog - Yahoo! Movies

I still am, and I want to be seen to be understood, deeply and to not be so very lonely.”

After her confessional speech, celebrities took to Twitter to show support. Kathy Griffin gave her a “well done Lady” commendation. Rosie O’Donnell, who came out in 2002, wrote: “jodie foster – rather amazing speech.” Jesse Tyler Ferguson, of “Modern Family,” wrote: “Jodie Foster. You are perfection. I love you.” Ricky Martin wrote: “Jody Foster On your terms. Its your time! Not before nor after. Its when it feels right!” Even the hosts showed their love, via a joke (naturally). “We’re going home with Jodie Foster,” Amy Poehler said as she and Tina Fey signed off for the night.

Watch the entire speech from Jodie Foster:

via movies.yahoo.com