Most people’s initial response to the bizarre case of the woman in Ness City who was stuck to her toilet seat is to make a joke. Understandable.
But the details emerging point more to tragedy. Both the woman and man involved appear to have some kind of mental disabilities, according to Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple.
It’s unclear how long the woman actually sat on the toilet — it might have been a month rather than two years — but the physical damage to her legs could require her to use a wheelchair.
The case raises troubling questions about the network of help available to people with mental illness, phobias or disabilities, especially in rural areas. It’s easy for them to become isolated and forgotten until their health problems scream out for attention.
How is it possible that the woman sat there for so long without getting help? We should be asking ourselves that question.
Stopping global warming may be an even greater challenge than we realize. The scientific and political consensus has been that nations must reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 to 80 percent by 2050 to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures.
Now a group of scientists has released sobering findings that put the bar even higher: Nations must bring their carbon output to near zero by mid-century to avoid a 3.6 degree Fahrenheit rise — the threshold beyond which, scientists say, there would be serious, unstoppable consequences for our planet and human life.
One of the authors, Andreas Schmittner of Oregon State University, said, “Our actions right now will have consequences for many, many generations. Not just for a hundred years, but thousands of years.â€
When will our leaders act with a sense of urgency equal to this daunting challenge?
Good for the Kansas State High School Activities Association for approving two proposals this week to prevent discrimination against sports officials. The proposals were in response to the recent refusal of St. Mary’s Academy near Topeka to allow a female official to work a boys’ basketball game, because the school didn’t want a woman to be in a position of authority over boys. Member schools are now required to accept qualified officials regardless of race, gender or any other factor that could be construed as discriminatory, Associated Press reported.
Most people’s initial response to the bizarre case of the woman in Ness City who was stuck to her toilet seat is to make a joke. Understandable.
