NOTE: THE ACID ATTACK IN OREGON TURNED OUT TO BE A SELF-INFLICTED HOAX. In recent days there have been two brutal acid attacks against women in the United States, one in Oregon and one in Arizona. Many of you have read the story I wrote about a courageous acid attack victim from Kampala, Uganda named Juliette on this blog. HDNet’s World Report aired an “in her own … Continue reading Acid Attacks Hit Home
I received a call this afternoon from a young man named Thomas Kramer from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. I could tell that he was very young. In a most tentative voice he said “Is this Ms. Collins?” I answered yes in the skeptical voice I use for phone solicitors. Then he told me the most amazing story. Turns out he is just 14 and was in Uganda … Continue reading Fallout from a Bombing
I had hardly stopped fist pumping in the air over Spain’s victory in the World Cup when I heard the news about the simultaneous bombings in Kampala, Uganda. What caught my eye immediately, besides the death toll in the senseless attack, was that one of the locations of carnage was the Ethiopian Village restaurant in Kabalagala. When we were in Uganda in June we stayed … Continue reading Kampala World Cup Massacre
Many of you came to this blog to see the story of Juliette’s acid attack. Former model Katie Piper recently spoke to CNN in Great Britain about the brutal attack that changed her life. She is incredibly courageous and is now working to help others through her Katie Piper Foundation (http://www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/.) http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/12/uk.katie.piper.acid.attack/index.html For more information on Vicky Collins visit http://teletrendstv.com. Continue reading Acid Attack Survivor Katie Piper on CNN
This morning, NBC’s Today Show had an exclusive interview with the Balloon Boy’s dad, Richard Heene. As he prepares for a 90 day jail sentence, Heene, had some choice words about the authorities who he believes have wronged him and his family. NBC’s Matt Lauer grilled him during a fairly contentious interview in which Heene maintains the Balloon Boy incident was absolutely not a hoax. This … Continue reading Richard Heene: Balloon Boy Incident Not a Hoax
Many of you have come to this blog to watch the story about Juliette and read about her brutal acid attack in Kampala, Uganda (http://vimeo.com/5703299.) I had always considered the violence against Juliette and other women like her as personal. Jealous men destroy the lives of women who threaten them in some way. Nicholos Kristof of the New York Times writes widely on this subject as … Continue reading Acid Attacks: Personal and Political
Dave Dahl sits in the living room playing guitar and singing songs about justice and the lack of it. He was in the slammer off and on for 15 years for dealing meth and assorted other felonies. Now he is working and relishing his second chance. Four years ago, Dave Dahl returned to the family bakery in Portland, Oregon and is the face and story … Continue reading Cons Cashing In
My 11 year old son, Blair, wanted to go to Cirque du Soleil this year, but because our schedules were so busy, we missed it. Instead he went to the Balloon Boy media circus. Because my husband was traveling and I was a single mom over the weekend I didn’t want to leave him at home while I was working 24/7 for NBC News. Instead … Continue reading Blair and the Balloon Boy
Acid attacks are a brutal form of domestic violence in the developing world. Juliette tells the story of her attack in Kampala, Uganda and how the man who maimed her walked away. Despite devastating injuries she inspires with courage and optimism. HDNet World Report: Acid Attacks/Juliette’s Story from Vicky Collins on Vimeo. For more information on Vicky Collins visit http://teletrendstv.com. Continue reading Juliette’s Acid Attack
They were sitting in the living room playing guitars and singing songs about justice and the lack of it. They had taught themselves to play in prison and they were good. Dave was in the slammer off and on for 15 years for dealing meth and assorted other felonies. Ladd served 20 years for being an accessory to murder. They met in prison and stayed … Continue reading What I Learned from Ex-Cons
