Three things that are as awesome as Fridays. Chocolate chip cookies, the bulldogs and vacation. But as far as that last one goes, American workers are taking less of it. The reasons why are minutes away.
First up, this October 24, a man being hailed as a hero.
This is Kevin Vickers. He is the sergeant-at-arms in Canada`s parliament. When a gunman entered that government building Wednesday and started shooting, it was Vickers who stopped the attack by shooting and killing the gunman. Only ten people have been sergeant-at-arms since 1867. It`s a ceremonial position, it`s also a law enforcement position. The 58-year old officer spent 28 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His brother believes this is the first time Vickers ever exchanged fire with anyone.
He extended his condolences to the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a guard whom the gunman killed near the National War Memorial. Canadian officials now say they believe the gunman acted alone, but that he had connections to radical Islamists. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canadians will not be intimated by terrorism.
We will be vigilant, but we will not run scared, we will be prudent but we will not panic. And as for the business of government, well, here we are in our seats, in our chamber, in the very heart of our democracy and our world.
It was an inexcusable betrayal of our values and our mission and our students` trust. The length of time that this behavior went on and the number of people (INAUDIBLE) is really shocking.
It was a wrongdoing that could have and should have been stopped much earlier by individuals who are in positions of influence and oversight. Many could have sounded the alarm more forcefully.
OK, what`s that about? The University of North Carolina, a new report came out this week about alleged academic fraud at the school. This scandal first came to light about five years ago, but Wednesday`s independent report gave new detail saying the fraud lasted for 18 years.