Spring Break (33)

As you can see I'm back, after a prolonged period of silence from a lack of blogging assignments. Spring Break was great; while my fellow classmates were sweltering down in Nicaragua I was enjoying the balmy spring-time climate of Southern California with Corey. During the week I was down there we rode horses and bikes, stayed up late, and even got an airplane ride with a man we met at the local airport. It was over all too soon, and I found myself back home. The following week I puttered around the house, finally starting a project I'd been eyeing for a while - dismantling the LEGO collection in my cupboard and packing away each set in individual Zip-loc bags. This gave me opportunity to relive the many happy hours I spent with those toys. Yes I am getting old.

Speaking of getting old, I observed my birthday this year by going to the IMAX with Maria and a couple friends. I have never seen such an amazing representation (it was 3D) of astronauts on the Moon. The film Magnificent Desolation is truly a must-see for anyone who'd enjoy an adventure. I think it would be appropriate for me to say that I had a blast.

I go an extra day of unanticipated freedom when the mission trip people got delayed on their way back from Central America. When break finally ended I visited the WeiBlog sight to see what was happening in the world of blogospheres and found out I must tell my readers several lessons I learned on break. Here are two that I can recall: (1) Prevent the horse from eating on the trail or else both you and him won't go anywhere, and (2) Sleep deprivation during break defeats the whole purpose of vacation. That's all the wisdom I can pull off my tired brain right now. So with that I sign off again; you'll be hearing from me after my English research paper is finished.

Heads, You Win - Tails, I Lose (34)

An article in the Sacramento Bee brought up a case in which a compulsive gambler has filed suit against several casinos, claiming they should have recognized her addiction and barred her from the casinos. Arelia Taveras, a former lawyer and TV commentator, was staying up for days at a time without eating or sleeping so she could gamble. Now, having lost her practice, apartment, parents' home, and being $58,000 in debt to the IRS, Taveras is suing for $20 million.

Naturally, questions arise regarding cases like this. Who's to blame for Taveras' addiction and her resulting financial ruin? That's a difficult one because both parties are at fault to a large degree. The gambling business' single purpose is to make losing seem attractive and exciting. (See Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation) It's really a criminal enterprise, yet it will remain in society along with alchohol and tobacco. That's where responsibility for the individual comes in. At some point, a person realizes they have become addicted to something; then it is their choice to seek help or face the consequences.

Should Taveras be suing? It's a dicey situation lacking an evident answer. Taveras should have sought help before reaching that critical helpless state. The casinos should have noticed her passing out at the tables and intervened. However, I believe Taveras lacks the grounds to file suit. As the saying goes, "If you play with the fire, you're going to get burned," likewise if you play the gambling game and end up losing, you really only have yourself to blame.

$20 million in compensation would definitely sort out financial problems for Taveras, but she shouldn't count on winning the case. Probably her best way out is to direct her determination into hard work instead of court battles. Sometimes the choices we make affect us for years. This is an excellent example of why gambling isn't worth it. But sometimes the only way people will realize the fire is hot, is to first burn themselves with it.