Last day for "missing" work - January 7, 2011

Hand in those "missing" assignments by or before January 7 - Friday.  "Missing" = posters, postings, Harlem Renaissance work.

Inside one boy's anorexia: 'How can I burn the most calories?'

Name: Cat

Posting Number: 2

Topic: Health

Title: Inside one boy's anorexia: 'How can I burn the most calories?'

Writer: Madison Park

Publication: CNN

Date: December 3rd, 2010

Words: 1138 words

Main Idea:

Eric Ostendorf was in class when he would ask to go to the bathroom and there he would do 45 chin ups. He was 10 then. Children under the age of 12 are now experiencing more hospitalizations because of eating disorders. The reason? Teasing. The growth of the idea that you have to have a certain body image is affecting children as young as eight or nine. There is also scientific evidence of growing dissatisfaction with body image in preschool children. It is not just girls who are experiencing these problems. Younger kids just in general are experiencing eating disorders. They think that by eating less they will become less obese, but they misinterpret what that means. They just need to eat healthier.

Conclusion:

Child obesity rates have soared. Children think that in order to not become obese they should eat less until they are just always hungry, but that is not the case. More younger girls and boys are becoming anorexic and bulimic. Younger children are being hospitalized because society has created the perfect body image. If you don't fit in that category from a young age, you are teased and made fun of. Kids don't realize how many lives they are damaging.

Linking Pockets of Europe to High-Speed Internet

First Name: Stephen

Current Event Posting Number: 2

Topic: Technology and Science

Title: Linking Pockets of Europe to High-Speed Internet

Writer: Eric Pfanner

Publication Name: New York Times

Date of Publication: November 28^th 2010

Words: 2 pages

A. All over Europe, the Middle East and Asia, more than 30 million households have limited or even no internet connection. Even Ablis, a small town outside of Paris does not have internet connection fast enough to watch YouTube videos. To fix this problem, several European companies began launching satellites into orbit so that it can deliver broadband to European customers. These satellites have the capability to offer service quality that can match cable and DSL. The drawback for this new internet connection is that for households to receive Wi-Fi from the satellites, they would need to install satellite dishes and modems which can cost up to a few hundred dollars. Companies that sent these satellites into space like Avanti and Eutelsat, have decided to work through Internet service providers instead of selling directly to consumers so that the consumers will not have to be charged with additional fees. Although this new way of offering internet connection is revolutionary, it will be a last resort and will remain that way. This is because in the next generation, cellular networks used by phones can be used to fill the existing gaps in broadband.

B. In conclusion, companies like Avanti and Eutelsat have begun sending satellites into space so that they can provide internet connection to places like Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The main problem with this is in order for the consumers to receive this new connection; they will need to install satellite dishes in their homes which can cost even more than normal cable or DSL connection. In response to that, Avanti and Eutelsat will work with other Internet service providers so that the cost for internet connection will remain the same. Avanti and Eutelsat say that internet connection from satellites can be revolutionary but others believe it to be just a last resort since most cable and DSL connections are at least 10 times stronger.

Isha
Posting #2

Topic: Health
Title: Child Nutrition Bill Clears Congress
Author: Robert Pear
Publication: New York Times
Date of Publication: December 2nd, 2010
Length: 997 words



Child obesity has been a major concern in the United States for the past few years. Michelle Obama is a strong advocate for solving this issue and she had been lobbying continuously for a bill to try and prevent both obesity and hunger. Finally, on Thursday, December 2nd, 2010, Congress approved the bill. In the House of Representatives, the bill received a majority vote of 264 (to 157). In the Senate, the bill received a unanimous vote. Now the bill just needs to be approved by President Obama, and he plans on signing it.
The bill is going to be funded by cutting $4.5 billion dollars from food stamps. Some people protested against it because they felt it was unreasonable and wrong to use money meant to support to the poor to fund the bill. However, Obama reassured them that he would first attempt to find other sources of money for the bill before he used the food stamp funds.
According to representative Rosa De Lauro, “The bill sets national nutrition standards that will finally get all of the junk food infiltrating our classrooms and our cafeterias out the door.” It will help reduce child obesity and feed 31 million children every day. Some people still oppose the bill because they feel it that is uneccesary and a waste of money because families should decide what their kids do (and don’t) eat. However, Michelle Obama has good intentions. There will be new nutrition standards that would make schools sell only healthy food, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat products. Since these types of food cost more, the government is also planning on covering the extra cost and giving free meals to more than 100,000 kids.
Child obesity has been a growing problem in America, but now, hopefully, the new child nutrition bill will improve conditions. Schools will soon only have healthy meals and the government will cover the extra costs. No child will be forced to live off of junk food and no child will be left without food because of the amount of money they have. It is an expensive proposition, but even though some are against that part of it, in the long run, it will promote healthy eating habits and create a healthier generation of people.

Arsenic-Feeding Bacteria Find Expands Traditional Notions of Life

Gavin

Posting Number 2

Topic: Science/Technology

Title: Arsenic-Feeding Bacteria Find Expands Traditional Notions of Life

Writer: the CNN Wire Staff

Publication Name: CNN

Date of Publication: 12/3/10

Length: 339 Words

Main Idea:

Scientists from the Bay Area have discovered a new form of life that instead of containing phosphorus, an element once thought to be essential for life, contains arsenic instead which is generally a poison. The discovery happened in Mono Lake, CA a prehistoric lakebed with notoriously harsh conditions for life to thrive in. Scientists found that the bacteria, strain GFAJ-1 of the Halomonadaceae family of Gammaproteobacteria, has replaced phosphorus in its DNA with arsenic which was previously thought impossible. Scientists were able to recreate the bacteria and grow them in colonies in a lab setting. This opens up a world of opportunity and possibility as to what it means to be a form of life and what conditions are needed to support life. Now there are a lot more stars with solar systems that are able to support life which is very exciting.

Conclusion:

The new bacteria strain that was discovered is no doubt a scientific breakthrough and a huge surprise to the entire world. What was once thought to have been absolute fact and necessary for life to exist has been proven wrong as the bacteria has been able to switch one element for another in its DNA. This has broadened the possibilities of there being extraterrestrial life vastly and shows us that there may be a whole other world of organisms right under our noses

New Discoveries in Cell Processes

Jackson

Posting Number: 2

Topic: Science/Technology

Title: When Good Cells Go Bad: K-State Scientist Researches Cellular Structure

Writer: Clark Johnson

Publication Name: M2PressWIRE

Date of Publication: August 13, 2010

Length: 389 words

Some scientific research experiments do not involve any effort to cure a disease but rather seek understanding of the biological function of a particular complex or organism. Jeroen Roelofs is a researcher at Kansas State University, originally from the Netherlands, getting his postdoctoral at Harvard Medical School. Proteasome 26S is a complex being studied by Roelofs that controls the disposal of defective proteins. A dearth of this complex can cause many diseases if defective proteins build up in cells and cause problems with biochemical processes. Roelofs has landed two grants in which he will study proteasome 26S in more depth hoping to find answers to how it works. He claims that he is trying to find out how a cell will work normally and naturally, looking to uncover details about cellular functions rather than dysfunctions. This technique usually leads to many new pathways being opened for other scientists to discover new facts and possibly new cures for related diseases in the long run. Though he does not intend to personally cure any diseases with his discoveries, he intends to expand our scientific knowledge so that future researchers can cure these diseases.

In conclusion, Roelofs is attempting to enter a cell for the purpose of documenting the process that proteasome 26S naturally goes through. Because he does not intend to cure any diseases with his findings, perhaps he is being generous to the scientific community by doing the hard, long work and leaving the more significant discoveries for other scientists. Otherwise, he could still make significant findings when he is observing the normal process of proteasome 26S, and those findings may end up creating cures. Roelofs work could prove to be unsuccessful, or it could turn out to be very significant and helpful to those affected by dysfunctional protein disorders.

Senate Passes Sweeping Law on Food Safety

Name: Gregg

Posting Number: 2

Topic: Health

Title: Senate Passes Sweeping Law on Food Safety

Writer: Gardiner Harris and William Neuman

Publisher: New York Times

Date of Publication: November 30, 2010

About 1147 words

Legislation recently passed a vote of 73 to 25 that would help ensure that the food we consume is safe. This is important especially after the breakout of tainted eggs, peanut butter and spinach sickened many people in the last few years. The bill allows the F.D.A. new powers to recall tainted foods, increase inspections of food items, demand accountability from food companies, and also oversee farming. The legislation greatly increases the number of inspections of food processing plants that the F.D.A. will be in charge of conducting, especially on foods that are considered most high risk, although it's hard for instance peanut butter, a few years ago probably wouldn't have made it onto the list. As Food suppliers grow in size, problems at a single facility can sicken thousands of people all over the country, and stronger bills are on the way to being passed that would make food consumption safer for the public. The bill will allow the F.D.A. to demand immediate food recalls as well. An important part of the bill gives agency more control over food imports, including inspection of foreign processing plants, and the ability to set standards for how much fruits and vegetables are grown outside of the country.

Conclusion: In the last few years the United States had many civilians food poisoned simply because of the slow recall of tainted foods and the little amount of protection from the F.D.A. More bills are still in the process of being passed to ensure a good amount of safety, but this bill is the start of more government control over food agencies. Consumer advocates were jubilant over the Senate's action and it allows for safer consumption of foods that could have a chance of being tainted.

Opinion: I think that more government control over our food is a good thing as long as the F.D.A. doesn't overstep their power and start causing harm to smaller farmers and businesses. I think that the bill is necessary seeing how individual private corporations failed to protect the people from consuming tainted foods many times. Another good thing about the bill is it allows for the F.D.A. to be able to protect us from foods that are imported which is about one fifth of our food.

Congress Approves Child Nutrition Bill

NAME: helen ^.^
TOPIC: Health/Leaders
POSTING #: 2
TITLE: Congress Approves Child Nutrition Bill
AUTHOR: robert pear
PUBLICATION NAME: NY times
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Dec 2nd

Main topic:
Congress Approved the nutrition bill to set the standard of school lunches/food. The bill passed with the vote of 264 to 157. Although the bill was passed many are having debates on where to get the money in order to pay the bill. Michelle Obama lobbied the bill because she believed that childhood obesity should be dealt with by the schools. Rosa DeLauro (the democrat of Connecticut) supports the bill because it will replace the unhealthy food with nutritious food. But the Co-chairmen for the house hunger congress (Mr. McGovern) states that hunger and obesity are one in the same because high calorie foods are cheaper than healthy food. (which equals people eating empty calories and more people have hunger and obesity problems). Also The republican of Georgia ( Paul Bron) says that overall it not about the health of the children but it is about how Washington is taking more control and in doing so spending more money which leads the children into greater debt.

Conclusion:
In conclusion congress passed a bill to raise the standards of nutrition in schools. some people say it is good because it will get rid of a lot of problems facing schools like childhood obesity but others are saying it wont help because the government has no money to put into this bill and therefore they are putting all the future generations in debt.

Arsenic and Old Space: A Key to Life on Other Planets?

Jeffrey

Posting Number: 2

Topic: Science/Technology

Title: Arsenic and Old Space: A Key to Life on Other Planets?

Writer: Allie Townsend

Publication Name: Time

Date of Publication: Dec. 2nd, 2010

Length: 458 words

This Thursday NASA announced its discovery of one of the oddest bacteria on Earth. Found in Mono Lake, California, these bacteria thrive on arsenic, which is usually toxic to all other organisms. Not only do these bacteria live in arsenic, but they also seem to consume or eat it, as well. When scientists cultivated the bacteria in very low levels of phosphorous, they seemed to live just as well. However, in all known organisms on Earth, phosphorous acts as an essential backbone to DNA, the life's genetic material. The new findings in this bacteria suggest that other forms of life may exist, not just the familiar carbon and phosphorous-based life forms. NASA's findings suggest that this new type of bacteria seems to substitute phosphorous with arsenic in their DNA, which, if true, would alter our concept of biochemistry and broaden our view of possible life forms. NASA is still probing with experiments and hopes to apply their findings to research in space, where life may exist without phosphorous.

In conclusion, NASA has discovered extremely unusual bacteria which thrives on arsenic, a toxic material, and also can survive on very low levels of phosphorous, an essential ingredient to life. NASA has interpreted the findings as a possible substitution of phosphorous for arsenic in the bacteria's DNA. Although research still continues, these findings go to show that a variety of different forms of life may exist, not just the carbon-based organisms we commonly call life. NASA is applying their new findings in the search for life in space, where other trace elements could prove to support other kinds of life.

Personally, I find that this discovery goes to show how much diversity we have on Earth. Although it would be very interesting for scientists to discover life in outer space, it is interesting enough just to find these bizarre life forms on our own planet. We definitely have not discovered all there is to discover in our own world, and I feel that it is absurd to start looking on other planets when we are just beginning to see and appreciate the diversity of nature on Earth.

Researchers One Step Closer to Potential Autism Test

Ashka

Blog Post #2

Topic: Health

Title: Researchers One Step Closer to Potential Autism Tes

Writer: Miriam Falco

Publication: CNN

Date: Dec 2, 2010

650 words

Main Idea: Until this recent study there has not been a test to verify if a child or adult has autism. Doctors have used the “milestone method” to gauge if someone has autism. This means measuring when they learn to crawl, speak walk, etc. A child with autism would develop these skills much later than expected. However a new test has emerged that can identify autism through a 10 minute MRI scan of the brain. In the study 30 males with autism and 30 males without from ages 7-28 were scanned and the results show that brains with autism have a disorganized nervous system compared to normal brains.They researched males first because they are more likely to carry the disease. They looked at the water flow in the brain along nerves and axons to determine irregular patterns in autistic brains. Nicholas Range, an associate professor at Harvard University, throws caution to the fact that the test is not perfect yet and that much more research and lab work on other subject will have to be carried out before any assumptions can be made. He also added that the test should expand to encompass autistic babies and women.

Conclusion: This is another advancement in health that is sure to have an eventual impact on people and families that deal with autism. This has never been done before, which is why it’s such a break through. However this is not a cure to autism, it is only a means to identify it and an imperfect method at that. This test will have its greatest impact in helping develop other tools to identify autism even more accurately and quickly. It is also added that there are many different types of autism and it is not right to assume that every brain functions like the ones in the research.

Florida Keys Declare Open Season on the Invasive Lionfish

First Name: Cindy
Current Event Posting Number: 2
Topic: Scince
Tile: Florida Keys Declare Open Season on the Invasive Lionfish
Writer: ERIK OLSEN
Publication Name: New York Times
Date of Publication: November 22, 2010
Length: 859 Words

Main Ideas:
On November 13, 18 teams consisted of spear fisherman brought nets and spears and competed to kill as many lionfish as they could with the hope of winning $3350. Lionfish is an invasive native species of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea. It is believed that it has been released by aquarists around the 1990s and it has since spread to North Carolina and through the Carribean. According to scientists, one female lionfish can produce annually approximately two million eggs. Scientists have examed that among 1000 lionfish’s stomaches, there are more than 50 species of prey fish involved. Lionfish also prey on parrotfish, which feed on algae and keep them from overgrowing and killing corals. Once, a single female lionfish was found in September 2009 at Dry Tortugas National Park, site managers were terrified because lionfish continue to grow its population rapidly and damaging the reef system on the Carribean, which serves as a guide to the site mangers. National OCeanic and Atmospheric Administration once said that it is impossible to eradicate the fish and the only hope is from local control. So, the 18 teams were competeing with one anothoer, but only 109 fishes were killed. One lion hunters explained another potential solution to eradicate the lionfish is to promote the fish as food for man. He commented that lionfish are considered excellent eating and peopl feasted on fried lionfish nuggets.

Conclusion: According to the news, lionfish grow in size rapidly, they can prey on more than 50 different kind of fish, and they are destroying reef system. Currently, particular reef in areas like Bahamas are filled almost completely with lionfish. If the reef system were damaged and depleted, this impact could affect the region’s economy, because they rely heavily on fishing. Locals have offered two possible solutions to this problem, one is promoting lionfish as food for human and the other one is organizing teams to compete with one another by killing as many lionfish as they possibly could.

Teen Brain More Prone to Drug, Alcohol Damage

Sarah

Posting #2

Topic: Health

Title: Teen Brain More Prone to Drug, Alcohol Damage

Writer: Elizabeth Landau

Publication Name: CNN

Date of Publication: 11/15/10

Length: 468 words

Main Idea:

Plenty of teens seem to enjoy the free and rebellious feelings that drugs and alcohol offer. These teens however, do not understand the long-term damage they're inflicting upon their brains and bodies. The brain is still developing through teenage years therefor, abusing drugs and alcohol can cause a terrible change in the path of development. Research has shown that the teenage brain is even more susceptible than the adult brain because it contains more receptors for the drug to latch onto. Teen brains have longer-lasting effects of getting high which can result in damage to parts involving learning and memory and a decrease in IQ. Teens are also much more vulnerable to drug addiction. Addiction for teens is usually much faster, stronger, and longer. The same consequences exist for alcohol abuse. Alcohol also has a greater impact on the teen brain because it binds to the multitude of receptors and creates larger problems for the developing brain. Researchers found that alcohol can interfere with connections in the brain related to the production of stress hormones. This interference can damage one's ability to handle stress, causing long term issues such as depression and anxiety.

Conclusion:

Teenagers all over the world use drugs and alcohol without fully understanding the impacts they have on them. Because the teen brain is still developing, it is much more susceptible to damage from drugs and alcohol than the adult brain. Teens that abuse these substances are very vulnerable and at risk for long term impairment to their brains and bodies.

Let Me Sleep On It: Creative Problem Solving Enhanced by REM Sleep

Kieran Gallagher

Posting #2

Topic: Health

Title: Let Me Sleep On It: Creative Problem Solving Enhanced by REM Sleep

Author: Science Daily Staff

Publication: Science Daily

Date: 9 June 2009

Length: 534 words

Though psychologists believe that all problems can be worked through with the passage of time, REM sleep has been proven to enhance the creativity with which we attempt to solve these problems. The study was done by Sara Mednick, PhD and assistant professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego, the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Denise Cai, graduate student in the UC San Diego Department of Psychology. It was published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). These experts hypothesized that REM sleep would help stimulate different systems in the brain, which allows the decision maker to draw parallels between seemingly unrelated situations. As part of the study, subjects were given a creativity test called a RAT or Remote Association Test. In this test they were given three words and asked to find a word that all three words could be associated with. In one instance, the participants were given the words cookie, heart and sixteen and expected to respond with the word “sweet.” The test subjects were given this test once in the morning and again in the afternoon after either a nap with REM sleep, a nap without REM sleep or a quiet rest period. Both of the groups that did not experience REM sleep showed no improvement, but the group that experienced REM sleep improved by 40%. This suggests that REM sleep does indeed aid in problem solving by uniting different parts of the brain.

In conclusion, REM sleep is not only necessary for our physical and mental wellbeing, but it can be incredibly beneficial in solving complex problems that require more creative solutions. Though experts still do not know exactly what goes on in our brains during REM sleep, they are constantly discovering more about how it enhances our health. As REM sleep occurs more frequently later in sleeping, this study once again stresses the importance of getting many hours of sleep every night. This correlates with many previous studies linking REM sleep and grades or REM sleep and health.

War Machines: Recruiting Robots for Combat

War Machines: Recruiting Robots for Combat

Keenan

Posting #2
Topic: Technology/Science
Title: War Machines: Recruiting Robots for Combat

Publication: New York Times
Date of Publication: 11/27/10
Posting Length: 240 words

My article is about a new war machine that is being developed by marines called Mars. The article is written by John Markoff and describes the war machine and its functions. This all takes place in a fake town created by marines. The fort is Fort Benning, GA. This article was published on November 27, 2010 during an event called the Robot Rodeo. The Robot will not be put into use for another few years but still robot warfare is not as distant as it was a few years ago. The robot itself has a deadly design, it contains a camera for identifying hostiles, a assault rifle stock and firing mechanism, four grenade launchers and an antennae for distant control. This could revolutionize warfare and possibly create a concept of cheap warfare, where anyone can start a war without losing civilians or too much money. If America can utilize this technology, wars may start sooner between any countries.

In conclusion, it’s clear today that robots are being used for many new things. Five years ago, robots could be thought of for assembly lines and construction but not much else. Now robots can be vacuum cleaners, gutter cleaners or even pets. The military saw this as an opening for new weaponry that would not endanger lives. However if wars become cheap, and many countries can start them without causing damage to themselves, what will happen to the citizens of other countries?

New Source of Natural Energy, or Conflict?

Takashi
Posting #2
Topic: Technology/Science
Title; "Power Line Project Faces Challenges in California Valley"
Publication: New York Times
Date of Publication: 11/28/10
Length: 1248 words

Summery
In El Centro, California, the sunlight scorches the earth in the summer that the temperature easily exceeds 113 F. The West of the town has powerful wind blowing that are dangerous to the drivers. To the North of the town, near the San Andreas fault, water hot enough to create steam flows nearly to the surface. this cluster of geological resources lies a little over a 100 miles from San Diego. These resources can provide wind, solar, and geothermal energy by setting up a large utility near the area. Recently, San Diego Gas & Electric has spent $100 million and seven years to start working on 117 mile power-line to reach the resources of El Centro.
But this giant project also faces conflicts from the land they are about to use.The company already acquired approval from United Forest Service, Federal Bureau of Land Management, and The State of California by submitting 11,000 page (about 16 Harry Potter book stacked) environmental impact statement. However the neighbors of the area and the wild-life advocates have filled lawsuits challenging those decisions. The power line also have to avoid the complex border lines of Anza-Borrego Desert national Park and the Mexican border, making the power line project even harder to accomplish. When the project is completed, the good part is that the place can produce thousands of mega watts of energy to nearby cities and towns. but the down side is that the entire area will be turned into a giant industrial park.
Opinion
The nation needs a new source of renewable energy. The energy source in El Centro can produce large amount of energy from geothermal, wind, and solar energy. But the people (and animals) who live there will not like having an industrial factory built right in front of them. it is also very difficult to connect El Centro and San Diego with power line that stretches over 100 miles in a harsh climate. Should the company continue the building of the power line and the factory, even with many opposition and harsh conditions? This conflict will take more years to be completely solved.

Eating Disorders Strike Younger and Younger

Kieran Gallagher

Posting #1

Topic: Health

Title: Eating Disorders Strike Younger and Younger

Author: Courtney Hutchison

Publication: ABC News

Date: 29 November 2010

Length:

Doctors have noticed that over recent years the number of cases of anorexia and bulimia in children under the age of 12 has skyrocketed. Many people have an image in their mind as to what kind of person should look like, and are shocked to discover eating disorder in someone that doesn’t fit this profile, such as a young child. This increase may be attributed to the fact that children are psychologically maturing at a much faster rate and have been taught to put more emphasis on their appearance at an earlier age. Some specialists also think that the push for educating the public about childhood obesity has backfired and helped to feed the increasing rate of eating disorders in younger children. Either way, pediatricians are being trained in the symptoms of childhood eating disorders, which differ from the symptoms of eating disorders in adolescents or adults. First of all, children may not actually lose any weight as they should be rapidly gaining weight at their age, but can still do extreme harm to their bodies. Also, a child may not be psychologically mature enough to articulate exactly what they are doing and why, which means that pediatricians need to watch for the symptoms: anxiety, perfectionism, obsession and (obviously) restricting food intake and binging. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests screening children for eating disorders during their regular checkups. Parents are also encouraged to prevent their children from developing an eating disorder by refraining from using food as a punishment or reward, not labeling certain foods as “good” or “bad” and eating a healthy, balanced diet themselves.

In conclusion, eating disorders cannot distinguish age, gender, race or class and all people are at risk for developing these issues. Eating disorders in children may even be considered more dangerous than eating disorders in adults, as children are still psychologically immature and it will be more difficult for them to overcome this behavior. American pediatricians and parents are making an effort to take the necessary measures to overcome this developing issue. Experts attempt to walk a fine line, as they do not want to overplay either the issue of obesity or eating disorders, as both present prevalent issues in our society. However, the issue is being examined thoroughly, and hopefully the strategies developed to decrease the number of eating disorders in children will be successful.

Scientists Trick Cells Into Switching Identities

Name: Michael

Current Event Posting #: 2

Topic: Health

Title: "Scientists Trick Cells Into Switching Identities"

Writer: Malcolm Ritter

Publication Name: The Huffington Post

Date of Publication: 11/29/10

Length: 772 words

Scientific researchers such as John Gearhart of the University of Pennsylvania have accomplished an amazing feat which is a stepping stone in the world of cell research. They have learned how to take a specific type of cell in the body, and convert it into an entirely new type. In 2007 researchers first discovered how to take fully specialized and developed cells, such as skin cells, and were able to reverse the cell-aging process and make it into a state resembling embryonic stem cells. Because all cells contain the same DNA, the difference between which cells they become is in what parts of the DNA become activated. The scientists inserted chemicals which turned a certain portion of DNA on or off to create a different cell.

This research, although thus far only tried in mice, has great promise for healing the human body where it was previously thought to be permanently damaged. Although a long way from being proved to be safe, the door is definitely wide open for the future according to George Daley of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Hopefully this new science is refined and mastered soon, and will be able to help ailing people around the world.

In Cybertherapy, Avatars Assist With Healing

Stephanie
Posting #2
Topic: Technology/Science

Title:"In Cybertherapy, Avatars Assist With Healing"
Author: Benedict Carey
Publication: The New York Times
Date of publication: November 22, 2010
Length: 2,600 words


At the University of Quebec in Ottawa, Canada, there is a new type of therapy coming about. It is one that involves the subjects acting with virtual figures called avatars. It is being used to try and treat many problems, such as social anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. An example given is a man making a speech in front of a crowded room, and having to get over his social anxiety to finish his speech. This is a process that many are investing a lot into. For example, the United States Army has been spending about $4 million a year on virtual programs that train officers or help treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers have shown that these virtual experiences have been able to carry them into their every day life. This form of therapy lets the subjects experiences certain things without them having to face the real consequences. That, in turn, helps them overcome many phobias.

In conclusion, this form of therapy, cybertherapy, has been a good addition to a therapist's tool kit. It has and will be able to help more people in the future, especially when there is not much else that can be done by different means. Therapists can help the subject while they are actually going through the experience, and not just before or afterward. Scientists and researchers are still looking to improve on this technology as well. In the future, this technology will be able to do more for people and help them overcome their problems.

Free Market Effect on Food Safety

Name: Adrienne

Posting #2

Topic: Health

Title: Leverage the Free Market Writer: Tom Coburn

Publication Name: USA Today Date of Publication: 11/23/2010

Length: 373 Words

Main Ideas:

Currently in the Senate there is a FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 that the Senate is going to be voting on. The Government Accountability Office calls the act "high risk due to it's greater vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement." The bill has 250 more pages of laws and regulations to be added. The bill would make changes that they installed after the salmonella outbreak last summer but did nothing to make it better. Opposers to the bill say that it's high cost will drive food prices up and run small businesses out of business. Proponents of the bill argue that food safety has not been modernized in the past 100 years and that it needs to be up to date. Senator Tom Coburn introduced a new bill as a replacement that wants to improve outdated technologies as well as have private inspections on businesses by the FDA without raising the price of food. He wants to let the free market to do all the work to fix the modern problems we have with food safety.

Conclusion:

There are currently two options facing the country. One is the democratic bill the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 that is about to be voted on in the Senate. This bill is supposed to ensure food safety for the health of the country's citizens and ensure that many regulations are put on businesses. The proponents of this bill want to modernize the food safety regulations that have not been modernized in 100 years. People oppose this bill because they say it just wastes all our money and shuts out small businesses. The other republican bill is for letting the free market be with no government interference saying that when the regulations were enacted during the salmonella outbreak, they did nothing to stop it. They propose small private investigations of businesses to asses what needs to be done.

Opinion:

I would agree more with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 because it makes sense to me that the food safety regulations would have to be updated since the past 100 years. Also, private investigations seem like they would take up more money than just adding regulations to the market. And lastly, since the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 is a democratic bill, I do not think it would allow small businesses to be hurt by this act because democrats in general are proponents of allowing small businesses to flourish.

Food safety restrictions hindering farming, says free range advocate

JuliaL
Current Event Posting #2
Topic: Public Health
Title: Food safety restrictions hindering farming, says free range advocate
Writer: ABC Rural News
Publisher: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Date: 11/26/2010
Length: 256 words

Free range farmer Joel Salatin claims that the food safety red tape destroys local food production. Tony Coote also agrees with Salatin and produces free range foods on his farm as well. The industrial foods systems that are expanding in agriculture cause filth and unnatural production with meat. It causes harmful things like campylobacter, listeria, e-coli, salmonella, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and avian influenza, to affect and slow down food production and sells. These pathogens were never even heard of 30 years ago to farmers. Industries and businesses use these unnatural ways of production because it is faster and supposedly more effective in sells. However, due to the anti-natural production models of the industrial systems, such pathogens are common and reduce the quality of foods. The only option is to wait for regulations to catch up and realize that farming is about producing and selling locally. But because of large industries, this is no longer a promising way of farming. Joel Salatin is on a speaking tour in Australia to let people know that industrial-scale agriculture is deleterious. It harms public health and farmers' businesses as well. He owns free range Polyface Farms in Virginia, but cannot slaughter on farm and sell locally because of the industrial systems. Tony Coote, who models his farms on Joel Salatin's, owns free range Mulloon Creek farm in Shenandoah Valley.

In conclusion, large industries have ruined agricultural production and minimizes quality of foods. The industrial systems have created unnatural and filthy pathogens that are now common in production of foods, while 30 years ago farmers were able to sell natural high-quality products. Joel Salatin is beginning to spread awareness of the downsides of industrial agriculture.

In California, Carports That Can Generate Electricity

First Name: Elias

Current Event Posting Number: 2

Topic: Technology/Science

Title: In California, Carports That Can Generate Electricity

Writer:  Felicity Barringer

Publication Name: New York Times

Date of Publication: November 25, 2010

Length; about 700 words

In California, Carports That Can Generate Electricity

Walter Hood, a designer from Oakland, sees the “seeds of new urban aesthetic“ in Photovoltaics.The state government and various banks have teamed up to forme solar panel arreys for innstallation on public school sites.Solar carports can be found on 75 elementry, high schools and community college campuses in California.But schools were not the first to have solar carports; Google was first, installing photovoltaic panels on top of their parking lot in Mountain View, California, three years ago.Brad Parker, a consultant on a solar carport project for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District in central California, remarked that “Schoolchildren are growing up with it, so it becomes ingrained in their perception of how a society functions.”John Cimino, the director of maintenance, operations and transportation for the Milpitas Unified School District, said that 75% of his electricity needs are fulfilled by solar panels.A spokesman for Pacific Gas and Electric said that the overall solar energy capacity grew from 327 kilowatt to 15.5 megawatts from 2008 to 2009.

Although the system seems great, many people claim to dislike the “visual blight“.Walter Hood announced that designer will be able to change the look of solar panels into a “beguiling surface treatment“.  They might become as familiar as fire hydrants one day.

Conclusion:

Solar carports seem to be a good way to get cheap and non-polluting energy, for schools and colleges. In particular, schoolchildren learn to take care of the environment. Although the panels do not look great, designers are actively working on making them less obvious.

My opinion:

I think solar carports will take over a big part of the energy production. They produce clean energy and do not need an extra place. Even though they might not look very interesting yet.

Health care provisions taking effect

JuliaL
Current Event Posting Number: 1
Topic: Health
Title: Health care provisions taking effect
Writer: Jennifer Gordon
Publication Name: St. Joseph News-Press (MO)
Date of Publication: 9/27/2010
Length: 251 words

Anthony Drummond of Anthony G. Drummond Insurance Brokerage Services in St. Joseph says "Insurance companies are moving as quickly as they can. The health care reform bill is complicated. They have a lot of changes to make." The federal health care reform bill that was signed into law in the spring made many changes. Insurance companies will now allow coverage for children under the age of 19 despite pre-existing conditions and will also give emergency services to a patient without requiring approval and without charging the patient with higher fees. Coverage also cannot be cancelled due to an employer's mistake on a health insurance application. Adults under the age of 26 are now allowed to stay on their parents' insurance until they find another carrier through an employer. Patients can also file an appeal for procedures that their health insurance refuses to cover for them. For most essential insurance benefits, patients will not have lifetime cap. Throughout this month (September), the Affordable Care Act has become effective nationwide. Those who plan to file for health insurance who are now permitted to do so under the changes can apply on the first day that the plan begins.

In conclusion, the federal health care reform bill has been changed to provide health insurance for a wider range of patients. Younger people are now allowed to be covered by their health insurance companies despite medical history, and also can stay on their parents' plan until they settle and make enough money to become independent with their own health insurance.

A Finding on Malaria Comes From Humble Origins

Raj
Post No. 1
Topic Health
Title A Finding on Malaria Comes From Humble Origins
Author Donald G. McNeil Jr.
Publication Name NYTimes
Date of Publication September 27th, 2010
Words 952


Main Ideas: Dr. Beatrice H. Hahn of the University of Alabama has discovered after studying primate fecal samples over the years the the most deadly form of Malaria, the falciparum strain, originated from gorillas not chimps. It had been previously thought that Malaria came from the chimpanzees of Africa, not the gorillas. Though the discovery doesn't do anything to directly stop Malaria, it does however show that the virus could not be reintroducted back into the population if it were to ever be stamped out because it was from a mutated parasite in one gorilla from many many years ago. In 1932 Rockefeller Foundation campaign to end yellow fever that had lasted for 17 years because their scientists found out reintroduction of the disease couldn't be stopped, so this information is invaluable. Dr. Hahn studied 2,700 fecal samples from all over Africa to come to this realization. Ape Malaria has been studied to try to help with Malaria in humans since 1907. Dr. Hahn's finding was published last Thursday in the science journal, Nature.

Conclusion: Scientists are making progress in the fight against Malaria in Africa. Dr. Beatrice H. Hahn has been finding out more about this virus by studying its origins in apes. And through this study she has found that Malaria started in gorillas, not chimps and that reintroduction of Malaria would be highly unlikely if it was ever wiped of the face of the Earth.

U.S. Tries to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet

Atticus

Posting Num. 1

Topic Science and Technology

Title U.S. Tries to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet

Author Charlie Savage

Publication The New York Times

Date September 27, 2010

Length 1,320 words

Main Idea

According to Charlie Savage of the New York Times, the Obama administration plans next year to release a bill that will force internet communication companies to allow government wiretapping. This bill, which should be unleashed sometime next year, is similar to the 1994 Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act, which allowed government surveillance of home and cell phones. The new bill, however, targets non-voice methods of communication, such as social networking sites (watch what you say on facebook chat!), email, IM, and other "peer-to-peer" communication services. It would force service providers to open up a "back door" to the government such that, if ever it was deemed necessary, the network could be accessed by the authorities. The idea stems from the failed interception of a drug cartel, because they used internet communication to stay off the radar and avoid detection. As general communication continues to move farther away from traditional phone networks and closer to the ever magical internet, government officials say they're "going dark" in terms of electronic surveillance. Criticisms have arisen both about the controversial breech of privacy and about the security risks involved in essentially cutting holes into encryption that could be potentially exploited by hackers, which happened to the prime minister in Greece. However government officials responded that the services in question don't have to remain unencrypted, so long as they can "...figure out how they can provide us plain text." Companies that refused to comply would be fined and penalized until they found a workaround.

Conclusion

The US government may soon pass laws forcing internet communication service providers to allow government surveillance. The law would force unscrambling, unencryption, and interception of numerous means of communication, including email, IM and social networking. This act is a controversial one, as it is arguably a breech of privacy and the potential security risks are unclear.

What do I think?

This issue is quite controversial. I can understand the necessity and definite advantages of this degree of surveillance, these interception techniques could prove invaluable in the face of crime. It seems also to be quite a step in the direction of big brother, perhaps too much an uncomfortable intrusion of the privacy of the average citizen. If done correctly and on a low enough scale, perhaps this could be a step in the direction of Jack Bauer efficiency counter-terrorism rather than 1984 totalitarian government, however, there's certainly a ways left to go before I feel comfortable with the FBI reading my text messages.

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