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.