Space Shuttle 'Enterprise,' and Replica 'Explorer' Move In NYC/Houston Sunday, June 3

Jason C.

Posting #2

Tech/Science
Space Shuttle 'Enterprise,' Shuttle Replica 'Explorer' Move In NYC And Houston Sunday, by Tariq Malik

Huffington Post, 2 June 2012

727 words

Two NASA shuttles are being moved to musuems on Sunday, June 3 – the “Enterprise” and “Explorer”; the former is the actual shuttle while Explorer is a replica of Space Shuttles in general. The Enterprise will be transported via barge from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in Manhattan. The shuttle will be replaced by the veteran orbiter “Discovery.” This last Friday, Explorer was transported via barge from the JFK Space Center in Florida to Clear Lake, Houston. From there, it will be sent to the Space Center Houston, and will be replaced by the Atlantis at the JFK Space Center. NASA's youngest shuttle, Endeavour, will be brought to the California Science Center for public display

In conclusion, three NASA shuttles, Enterprise, Explorer and Endeavour are being transported to three different musuems for display this year: the Intrepid, SCH, and CSC. Two of them, Enterprise and Endeavour, are retired shuttles that had been in service for decades while Explorer is just a replica of all of the orbiters. The Enterprise and Explorer will be replaced by the Discovery, at the Smithsonian; and the Atlantis, at the JFK Center.

I can't wait to be able to see them because I'm interested in astronomy. My chances of seeing any of them as soon as they're open for display are unlikely, but Endeavour would be the easiest (as it will be located in California while the others are across the country). The shuttles are definitely feats for humanity that will inspire lots of people, including me.

Mitt Romney's big green flop

Jason C.

Posting #1

Politics

“Mitt Romney's big green flop,” by Greg Turner
Boston Herald, 2 June 12

436 words

Konkarka, a solar-panel production company located in Massachusetts, has filed bankruptcy, ceased production and laid off all of its workers. At the time of bankruptcy, the company had $113,541 left; they gave more than $700,000 to their former employees. The company was supported by Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, during his term as Massachusetts governor. Romney loaned the company $1.5 million, but he criticized Obama's $500,000 investment in Solyndra, another solar-panel company – an action he described as “crony capitalism.” MA Senator Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) described the affair as “fair” and that Romney should have been prepared for criticisms of his own actions.

In conclusion, Konkarka filed bankruptcy because they didn't have enough funds to continue operations, and had to pay severance to its laid off employees. The company had been supported by Mitt Romney during his time as MA governer with a $1.5 loan. The candidate had castigated Obama for his $500,000 investment in Solyndra, while, ironically, he was also guilty of the same action.

In my opinion, it was stupid of Romney to criticize Obama for a thing he had also done. It's sad that the company had become bankrupt, especially because they advocated the use of green-energy that really benefits the planet. I hope Obama's investment won't be a waste as well.

F.D.A may Approve Take-home HIV test (Posting #4)

Article Title: FDA Panel backs first rapid, take home HIV test
By: Author not stated on website (Site says: By The Associated Press)
Length: 2 pages
Date Published: may 15 2012
From: NY times.com
Category: health

Main Ideas:
Orasure, a Pennsylvania based company, has developed one of the first over-the-counter HIV tests, called the OraQuick HIV test. The test can be done entirely in one's home and delivers results in about 20 minutes. OraQuick is the first test of its kind; there ate other take-home HIV tests available, but they require a blood sample and must be sent to a lab for testing. The results may not be as accurate as the HIV tests administered by doctors, but experts agreed that OraQuick is a great advance in HIV testing.  Because of this, a panel of experts recommended to the FDA to approve this test. In clinical trials, the Ora Quick test accurately identified infected individuals 93% of the time, and it could stop about 4,000 new HIV infections each year. Because of this and because of its low risks to consumers, the panel of experts urged the FDA to approve this product.

Conclusions:

The OraQuick test is a great advance in HIV testing. Many people in the US who are infected with HIV are completely unaware that they have it. This test could provide people with reasonably accurate results in the comfort f their own homes. Additionally, the OraQuick test is painless (it involves a cheek swab) and fast, so it appeals to modern consumers' desire for convenience. Therefore, the FDA is likely to approve this product for commercial use.

Opinions:

I believe that  fast, accurate testing is the key to stopping the spread of HIV. People who don't know they have HIV are the most likely to spread it, and the OraQuick test will greatly reduce this number. I think that more people will be inclined to ge HIV tests now that they can be done at home, since many people are too busy to get tested at a doctor or clinic. Since the OraQuick test has almost no side effects, I will be very surprised if the FDA doesn't approve it for sales.

Jasper Ko
Posting 4
Politics
John Edwards depicted as manipulative, controlling politician
Msnbc news
May 14 2012
2 pages

    After 2 weeks of testimonies about how John Edward's elaborate cover up affect his closest workers, prosecutors have changed their focus into painting Edward's as a corrupt and manipulative man, devoid of morals. Edward's charges are due to him accepting around 1 millions dollars of unreported campaign donations from wealthy supporters. However, this money was involved in an elaborate cover up to hide an affair Edwards was having campaign videographer Rielle Hunter. Andrew Young claimed false paternity over Edward's and Hunter's child, and the money was used to support him and the child. Edward's was John Kerry's running mate in the 2004 presidential election, and he also ran for president in 20008. Prosecutors are currently attempting to show the corruption behind Edwards' appalling actions, as a poor public opinion of Edwards' will help them achieve a guilty verdict regarding his crimes. Though the charges are based purely on illegal money obtained by Edwards', the trial has mainly focused on the affair itself. Cheri Young, wife of Andrew Young, testified on how the cover up took an emotional toll on her and her husband, while fleshing out the details behind the plot. Josh Brumberger, a campaign aide, talked about how he approached Edwards' about the affair, and was subsequently fired.
  In conclusion, the article is recounting what is happening in one of the biggest public trials in recent memory. Considering that Edwards' was one state away from being vice president and also ran for president, this is corruption at the highest level. Because of the shocking deeds Edwards' committed during his campaign, prosecutors have used it to their advantage to help paint Edwards as the sinister puppeteer of the cover up, and the measures taken that made it happen.

iPad gives voice to kids with autism

Julia Sun
Posting #4
Technology
iPad Gives Voice to Kids With Autism
Supraja Seshadri
CNN News
May 14, 2012
4 pages

MAIN IDEAS

     Sharia Siddiqui, a young girl, has autism.  Her only form of communication for most of her life was crying to get what she wanted, and she struggled with communicating.  She was non-verbal and couldn't express what she wanted or how she was feeling.
     Sharia's parents say that the iPad has given Sharia a sense of control that she didn't have before.  She knows that she need only point to gesture to something she wants, and if she touches something on the screen, she knows that something is supposed to happen.  At first, Sharia only played games and watched movies, but eventually she was introduced to apps like Proloquo2Go, First Words, ABCs and Me and Puzzle Me.  This helped Sharia learn to put together short sentences to express what she wanted, such as, "I want Dora".  
     Sharia isn't the only autistic child who has successfully used the iPad to communicate.  142 apps were released this year specifically designed to help kids with autism.  Parents who have children with autism have also designed their own apps in an attempt to help their children and other children communicate.  For example, Tricia Estrada of San Diego has developed apps for her son, Evan.  Her app is called Wonkido, and it is also a website.  It consists of a series of animations, 4-5 minutes in length, depicting social skills such as "asking to play" and "going potty".  By watching, kids are able to acquire a database of episodes to draw from for future social situations, according to Tricia.
     The iPad has become a more common tool for communicating due to its lower cost compared to other equipment that was previously used to help autistic kids communicate.  iPads are now available for as long as $399, while alternative equipment cost between $9000 and $15000.

     "Steve Job did not realize he was giving a voice to the voiceless," Phoebe Tucker, a speech language pathologist states.  

CONCLUSION

     Overall, it seems that the iPad has been a growing tool in helping autistic children learn to communicate, opening doors for them that they did not previously have.  Now children who had problems communicating have a voice and are able to learn through video episodes and games on the iPad.  The inexpensive iPad compared to previous communicating equipment makes the iPad an ideal tool for communication with autistic children.

OPINION

     I think it's wonderful that autistic children and their parents have been using the iPad to communicate with each other and it's also wonderful that parents have been creating apps to help autistic children learn.  Steve Jobs may not have known that by creating the iPad he was "giving a voice to the voiceless", but the iPad is now such a big tool in helping autistic children.  I think it's wonderful that people are using technology for beneficial things, not just to play games on.  

Andrew Snyder
Cnn.com
Science
Title: Family watches 'miraculous survival' of woman fighting flesh eating bacteria
 24 year old Aimee Copeland was diagnosed with nercotizing fasciitis, after getting in a zip-line accident in Georgia. She had contracted the flesh devouring Aeromonas hydrophilia. The bacteria is remarkably common in water and in the environment. The bacteria is usually contracted by being swallowed, but this was a different case. Aimee's family says everytime she wakes up she forgets what happened, due to the medicine they give her. Aimee has lost a leg and part of her abdomen, and may lose more, including her fingers. Her father said, 'despite these things, she is staying strong.' 

"We really don't see the suffering side of it. We see the miraculous survival," Andy Copeland said. "I think that's the story that's inspired us, that's the story that's inspired, I think, the nation at this point."

Doctors have said her recovery is "astonishing", and "mind boggling". 

 This story is significant because I never knew there was flesh eating bacteria, and that it is really common too. This is important because we need to be more aware of diseases to protect our health.

Texting While Walking Ban

Posting #4
Caroline
Source: Huffington Post
Author: Sara Gates
Pages: One

Main Idea:

Many states have baned texting while driving, even in California. But a new law has just been passed that has upped the ante in Fort Lee New Jersey. Those who are caught texting while walking will have an $85 fine placed upon them. Fort Lee police saw over 74 collisions last year from those who were texting while walking and three of those people were killed. The band was supported by Stock University who found that over 60% of people who were walking and texting could not walk in a straight line. This helped get the legislation to pass. The law went into effect around late March after a warning period to those who were texting and walking. To date there have been a total of 117 citations handed out. Some disagree with the studies and call them "absolutely not [true]" “[The study] is just to raise an awareness to this issue, that it does disrupt your ability to walk naturally," Lamburg told Long Island Business News. But this is no new idea, New York Senator Carl Kurger to try to get the same legislation passed since 2007 but to date he has been unsuccessful (although he wanted to ban iPods being used as well.)  

Conclusion: 

The ban seems very extreme to me. The government is trying to protect people which is good but honestly those who are texting while walking are posing only a threat to themselves. If they were going to keep this ban then they should only charge about $20 for the first offense or something because $85 is very steep for such a small infraction of the law.