The "Lunatic Line"

About a century ago, Indian communities were sent in ships and dhows across the Indian Ocean to Kenya in order to become the working labor for, what is believed to be, one of the continent's greatest railways. The descendants of these travelers owe the success they have today, because of the economic and cultural roots the Indian community set in building the railroad a hundred years ago.

The lunatic line received its name by the misfortunes and chaos that surrounded it. The railroad was very costly to build, and also the Indian people worked on the railroads in the wide open, wild animals, like lions would very easily attack them. Reportedly, 30,000 identified men were sent on the journey to Africa. Each had begun the difficult construction of the railroad system between Kisumu, and Mombasa; roughly about 625 miles away from each other. About 2,500 men had died by the time the railroad was completed, that is four people for every mile.

One cause for the high death rate was the lions. These man eaters are said to have eaten 28-100 people. Another reason for the mortality rate was the diseases that were spread. Many died of malaria and black fever when they built the terrains, and had no medical assistance.



One of the lions that was stalking and killing the workers.

Missing Mom Found Dead in Trunk of a Car

The dead body to the Californian mom of four boys was recovered from the back of a car early Thursday morning. Erica Perez's body was abandoned inside a vehicle parked outside a hospital near her home. The death is considered a homicide and there are no suspects detained yet.

Daniel Perez, her husband, was enraged and unstable after hearing about his wife; he was allegedly ready to jump from a highway overpass, after having a standoff with the SWAT team. They arrested him for the endangering his sons, he had them in his vehicle near the scene, and could possibly face abduction charges. The kids were on their way home Thursday evening, uninjured and safe with their grandparents. Family members have stated that the Perezes' marriage was rocky and had some issues with domestic violence. The entire scene is still under investigation.

From Left to Right: Erica Perez's four sons, then a picture of Erica
Perez herself and the last picture is of Daniel Perez, the father.

Indonesian Maid Tortured

The Indonesian domestic helper, Erwaiana Sulistyaningsih, a 23-year-old maid, had reported that for six months she has been tortured by her former employee. Law Wan-Tung, who resides in Hong Kong, and is 44-years-old, faces at least 21 charges. The charges include grievous bodily harm, assault, and criminal intimidation.

The maid confessed in her two-day testimony, that she endured many beatings; she had been punched, slapped, and kicked. One time, Erwiana claimed that Tung was angry that her helper had dozed off on the job. There are many other occurrences of humiliating things Tung made Erwiana do, one includes striping down naked. Erwiana said she was forced to work 20 hour days and only slept between 1 and 5 P.M.

Several migrant rights activist groups have rallied outside of the courthouse, protesting for justice for Erwiana.

Flocks of people, protesting outside the courthouse.

Orion Test Flight Launch Set for Friday Morning

In 3...2...1, Let the countdown begin for NASA and the eager Americans viewing the launch.

NASA has been designing a spacecraft to withstand deep space travel, and the treacherous conditions that come with it. The new spacecraft's name is Orion. Many are saying that this marks the beginning to a new era; also bring back memories to Apollo missions. Even though Orion is designed to go far beyond the moon and is much roomier than all of Apollo's space-crafts. Orion can carry four astronauts on a 21-day mission, and six astronauts on shorter missions. While Apollo only carried three astronauts for a mission that lasted up to 12 days.

Originally Orion was set to launch Thursday, but there was a series of delays. These delays range from wind gusts to strong, a boat docked to close to the launch area and the drain valves failing to open. This Friday morning in Florida, the test launch should take place. During this test flight, Orion will reach an altitude of 3,600 miles and will orbit Earth twice. Four and half hours later, it will splash down in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles off the coast of Baja California. Two U.S. Navy ships will help NASA recover the capsule.

Although there are no human beings to actual are set to be in the spacecraft Friday, it is reported that by 2021 America will have had a crew on Mars.



Scientists working on Orion.

 

Doctor Removed After Using Bicycle Pump on Patient

A doctor in Odisha State, India, used a bicycle pump to inflate a woman's abdomens during surgery. With disgusted comments, and worried health officials, there has been a launch on an investigation. 
Last Friday, reportedly, a 56-year-old woman was undergoing sterilization surgery at a government-run community health center. The doctor operating on her though used an unsanitary bicycle pump for inflation of her abdomens. Dr. Mahesh Chandra Rout, who is a retired surgeon, has been carrying out required surgeries for the clinic for the past years. The proper equipment that should have been used during this specific operation is a carbon dioxide insufflator. This allows a doctor to measure the amount of pressure that is required on a person's abdomen to prevent it from bursting. Allegedly, Health Officials have searched and searched for this insufflator and it is missing.

This is not uncommonly seen in India, last month, a surgeon was arrested for homicide. He was connected to the death of dozens of women who had undergone sterilization operations improperly.  



Professional Soccer Player Undergoes Brain Surgery

Roma's defender, Leandro Castan in September, had complained about dizziness during halftime of one of his matches in the Italian Serie A. After being sidelined for the rest of the remaining games he attended, the 28-year-old was incapable to playing to his fullest potential due to a brain problem. To be more specific a cavernous, or a cluster of abnormal blood vessels, located in his brain. During his neurosurgery, which was successful, the neurosurgeon had completely removed the cavernous that was three centimeters in length.

Roma is a part of one of Europe's Champions League, and Castan had been a key player that joined the team. It will take eight months to recover, or until Castan is seen on the soccer field ready for action.

Leandro Castan

Emergency Repair for Ukraine Nuclear Powerplant

Ukraine's power plant since 1984, needs repairs.

In Southeastern Ukraine new repairs had to be reinstalled into the nuclear power plant after one of the circuits shorted out and destroyed the power output of the system. There has been no threat of any leak of radiation, and is considered under control. Some reasons for the recent issues can be because of the low temperatures and increase in power throughout Ukraine. Also, an imbalance of emergency repair energy units has been the major reason why there was power in these areas. This caused an inadequate amount of the coal supply in the power plants warehouse was issued. The repairs should be completed by December fifth, latest.

This territory of Ukraine is controlled by the government in Kiev. Only125 miles away is the major city of Donetsk, which have been experiencing month’s long battles between Pro-Russian forces  and Ukrainians. Also, 325 miles away from Zaporizhya is the uninhabited area of Chernobyl's power plant. In the 1980's had its nuclear reactor explode. This set off radiation in the atmosphere and ultimately affected nine million people, and killed 4,000 clean-up workers.