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.  

Current Event Posting #4

Fewer Young Women Complete HPV vaccine

By: Nicholas Bakalar

New York Times

Published: 05/07/12

Health

280 page

Based on the insurance records of 271,976 girls and women in the US who received a vaccination from 2006 to 2009 the rate of young women completing the HPV series has decreased. Within a year dropped the rate dropped to less than 22 percent in 2009 from more than 50% in 2006. There was an increased percentage of the completed series from 15% in 2006 to 24% in 2009 within the 2% of women who are older than 27 receiving the shots off-label. Even though the primary time to get these shots is between 11-12 years of age in girls within a 6 month time period. Catch up shots would be next to ideal from 13-26 years of age. Girls who received their vaccinations from clinics were less likely to complete the series compared to getting them done by a pediatrician. They are also more likely to get the whole 3 shot series, if they were to go to a gynecologist. According to Dr. Abbey Berenson, getting only 1 of the shots does not protect, because all of their data is based on three injections. 

To Conclude, the data suggests that women are not taking their HPV shots at the ideal time and place. This absence of completing the series can have dire risks for the women.Without the series of shots, the rate of cervical cancer will also increase, and life spans will desecrate. If there were more information and awareness of the risks of not receiving all three shots, the increase and growth of population would improve. Without this vaccine, the likelihood of getting cervical cancer is much higher.  

Danielle 
Posting #4
Topic: Health
Title of article:F.D.A. Advisory Panel Backs Preventive Use of H.I.V. Drug
Author: Denise Grady
Publication: NY Times
Date of publication: May 10, 2012
Word Count: 1200




Main Idea:

             Recently the Food and Drug Administration also known as the FDA has had talk of backing a drug that will help prevent HIV. Studies have shown that the drug Truvada, which is already used to treat HIV, can also be used to help prevent HIV. After evaluation the FDA recommended people with high risk of infection such as gay men with multiple partners as well as prostitutes. The FDA warned that Truvada is not meant to replace safe sex measures such as condoms but to be used along with them. Experts have said that new preventative measures are needed because there 50,000 new infections a year in the U.S., and that number has not budged in the last 15 - 20 years. An FDA analysis found that people more educated and older are more likely to follow the drug regimen. Although there is no evidence that the drug is preventative against HIV retracted from needle sharing. Because Truvada has already been approved to treat HIV, doctors are also prescribing the drug for prevention, which according to the FDA is not illegal. The voting was not unanimous because some members concluded that there was not enough data to conclusively say if Truvada was safe women or black people. Truvada, which contains two antiviral drugs, is sold by Gilead Sciences, based in Foster City, Calif. Though it is used alone for prevention, it must be taken along with other antivirals to treat H.I.V. Prevention studies of Truvada have been conducted in the past few years, with somewhat mixed results. A recent study in 2010 of 2,499 gay men in six different countries, found an overall risk reduction of 44%. But other studies were halted because the drug was showing no benefit in women

Conclusion:

             In conclusion the drug Truvada which is already on the market for treating HIV is also now being considered to prevent HIV by the FDA. There have been proven studies that HIV is helpful in men, but for women the drug does not seem to be helping. According to Matthew Rose, a membership coordinator for the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, his friends along with himself were very excited for a preventative drug for HIV, Rose being gay himself. Overall the drug does seem to be helping in certain people, mainly being men. 

Michael W

Posting #4

Topic: Politics

Title of Article: Obama, Others’ Views On Gay Marriage Altered By Personal Ties

Author: Lisa Leff and Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Publication Name: huffingtonpost.com

Date of Publication: 5/12/2012

Words: 1132

Main Idea:

           Obama revealed his support for same-sex marriage in San Francisco due to key conversations and experiences. He talked to many members of his staff and gay service members in committed relationships and gained knowledge on their side of the story. In doing so, it became harder for him to justify why they shouldn’t have the right to marry. In addition, he talked to his two daughters, Sasha and Malia, on the topic and they said they have friends with two mothers or two fathers. Obama, being the first sitting president to endorse marriage rights for same-sex couples, had his mind changed by talking to people and constituents about the topic and how it related to them. People have gained hope from this action and have become even more convinced that sharing stories and common experiences will be key to its success of passing. 47% of Americans favor gay marriage, according to a 2011 Public Religion Research Institute poll. Many politicians, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and San Diego Mayor Jerry Saunders, came out for same-sex marriage after learning their daughters were lesbians. Gay rights activists have recognized that having a close friend or family member who is gay was a powerful predictor of how they would feel about gay rights. But just because someone knows, admires or even loves someone who is gay doesn’t mean that they will embrace same-sex marriage.

Conclusion:

            Right off the bat, I noticed that this article has many quotes from people supporting gay marriage, showing that the authors are taking their own advice to share stories. I agree with Obama, when he says that it’s hard to think why gay people shouldn’t receive the same rights as straight people when it comes to marriage. It also does sway your opinion greatly if you have a relative who is gay. Having 47% of the United States population for same-sex marriage is incredible, because it shows that almost half of Americans want equal rights and will vote for it.

Michael W

Posting #3

Topic: Technology

Title of Article: Bing fires at Google with new social search

Author: David Goldman

Publication Name: money.cnn.com

Date of Publication: 5/10/2012

Words: 245

Main Idea:

            Bing, a Microsoft run search engine, is launching a sidebar social search to get an advantage over Google. Currently, Google has a social search feature but notifications bunch up in the middle of the screen, preventing you from being productive while gaining updates. Bing has found a solution; a sidebar that gathers information relevant to your search and neatly stacks it on the side of your browser. An example of this useful tool is if you wanted to search for a restaurant in Palo Alto. If one of your social network friends have previously search something similar, it will pop up in the sidebar. Another reason Bing has the upper hand in this redesign is that Bing includes all social networking sites, while Google only includes Google+. This is a huge factor because there are 100 million users on Google+ while there is roughly 1.6074 billion total users of other main social networking sites. This will give Bing a huge advantage over Google’s sidebar innovation because analysts are questioning how many of the 100 million Google+ users are engaged and active. Google logs about 2 billion searches a day, while Bing only logs 10 million. Maybe this improvement will level the playing field and show people that Bing is a worthy search engine.

Conclusion:

           This article refreshed me on Bing and it’s new look. Whenever I don’t know something or need answers fasts, I Google it. I don’t think I’ve ever actually used Bing, but because of the new features, I might just try it out. This just goes to show that in order to be a successful search engine, you have to impress the users with never before seen features and innovations that will want them to use it. Google was one of the very first websites made in the history of the internet, so there is no doubt that it will have an extreme amount of users, rather than the ‘new born baby’ Bing. Microsoft is a big and growing with many products available so there is no doubt that it will eventually catch up with its competition.

Concussions Linked to Gender and Age

Thomas
Current Event Post #4
Topic: Health
Title of Article: Concussions May Be More Severe in Girls and Young Athletes
Author: Anahad O'Connor
Publication: The New York Times
Date: May 10, 2012
Words: 883

     Research in the most recent issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that younger athletes and those that are female exhibit more frequent symptoms and take longer to recover from a concussion than athletes who are older and male. Over 1.6 million people suffer sports related concussions in America every year. That number is growing, especially in high school and college sports. The study posits that anatomical differences account for greater susceptibility among young and female athletes. Over a period of two years, Dr. Tracey Covassin and her colleagues studied a large group of high school and college athletes from the states of California, Michigan, Louisiana and Tennessee. At the beginning of the study the athletes were given tests to measure memory and other cognitive skills. Those who had suffered concussions, around 300, were given three common post-concussion test used in professional sports. Females showed greater declines in visual memory. The study also determined that cognitive impairments in high school students were likely to last two to three times longer than in college students. Researchers believe symptoms are worse in younger athletes because their bodies are not fully developed.

Conclusion:

     A new study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine finds that young athletes and females have a harder time dealing with the aftereffects of a concussion than older athletes and males. The number of concussions at high schools and colleges is on the rise. A team lead by Dr. Tracey Covassin monitored a pool of high school and college athletes for a period of two years. Results showed that there was a greater impact on memory in females than males. Findings also showed that the effects of a concussion lasted significantly longer in high school athletes as opposed to college athletes. 

Opinion:


    This issue concerns me quite a bit. Many of my friends play sports regularly. One friend got a concussion just the other day. I don't think there is enough awareness about concussions. In general, one only considers outer injuries because they can be seen and internal injuries can't. Common severe sports injuries are well circulated and concussions, though just as severe, don't get mentioned as often. 

Playing to live: Pianist survived Holocaust by performing for Nazis

Yuka S.

Posting #4

Topic: Civil Rights

Author: Moni Basu

Publication Name: CNN
Date of Publication: May 12, 2012

2168 words

Main idea

This Saturday, Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University will honor Zhanna Arshanskaya Dawson with a D.Litt, and Zhanna will march down the aisle along with another honoree, CNN founder Ted Turner.  She was recognized for being a “woman who played the piano in the vein for Vlamidir Horowitz but with the modesty of an unknown” and for “her indomitable spirit, courage, honesty, and sense of purpose.”  Dawson, whose name was engraved on the wall of an underground memorial in Ukraine, was presumed dead, like the 16,000 other Jews from Kharkov who died under the Nazis in the winter of 1941.  Dawson escaped the death march by playing music for the Nazis, and after the war, she made a living as an accomplished pianist in the US, and kept silent on her history until her sons had grown up. 

Dawson began playing when she was 5, and a year later, she performed Bach’s Invention Number 1 in public.  Her father, Dimitri Arshansky, encouraged both his daughters to study music at a local conservatory, where a professor introduced Zhanna to Chopin’s “Fantasy Impromptu.” Zhanna’s peaceful life at the conservatory was ruined in 1941, when the Nazis invaded Kharkov during WWII.  Dawson remembers seeing bodies of Jews hanging from lampposts.  In December, German soldiers shoved her entire family out of their home and into a long line of Jews forced to march 12 miles out of the city in the bitter cold and snow.  The Nazis forced 13,000 Jews into an abandoned tractor factory designed to hold 1,800 people, and without warmth or food, many people died there.  After that, the remaining people were to be sent to Dobritsky Yar, where the Nazis killed 34,000 Jews in two days.  During the transport, Dimitri Arshansky bribed a guard to let Zhanna go, saying to Zhanna, “I don’t care what you do... Just live.”  Obtaining fake identities, Zhanna and her sister, the latter who somehow escaped and was too traumatized to talk about it, got a job with a musical troupe that entertained the Germans.  Her music was the only spot of beauty in that bleak atmosphere, as she constantly had to fear being found out and shot on the spot. 

Conclusion

Dawson is excited to be earning her first degree, at age 85, since war has kept her from high school, and marriage drew her away from attending Julliard.  She has not played piano for over a decade, when she developed carpal tunnel syndrome and decided to give up what she loved most in life.  Since then, she disposed of her baby grand and upright that used to occupy her living room, and filled the space with glass-front cabinets bearing family photographs and memento, none of which gives away the suffering that she endured. 

Obama Gay Marriage: San Francisco Leaders React To President's Historic Support Of Same-Sex Marriage

Leigh
Posting #2 (RE-DO)
Topic: Leaders/Civil Rights
Title: Obama Gay Marriage: San Francisco Leaders React to President's Historic Support Of Same-Sex Marriage
Publication: Huffington Post
Author: Robin Wilkey
Date of Publication: 5/9/12
Length: 2 Pages

Main Ideas
   President Barak Obama announced in a ABC news interview on Wednesday, that he supports same-sex marriage. He is the first president in history to openly say "I support same-sex marriage". After he finished the interview many political leaders in San Francisco applauded Obama's statement. San Francisco governor Jerry Brown said "Equality before the law is a pillar of American democracy". Although many people agree with Obama, the legalization of same-sex marriage is still in the hands of the states. But it is important for states to know that the president fully supports the idea of same-sex marriage. The fact that the president of the United States can go on the record about such an important topic really shows his courage and dedication to important topics. Obama also address the difference  between 'Marriage' and 'Civil Unions'. He points out how when 2 two people are in a civil union they are not properly treated as citizens. They do not receive the same benefits as people who are in marriages. 

Conclusion
   In conclusion someone in politics has decided to take a stand for same-sex marriage. Obama has rallied much support from San Francisco's political leaders such as Jerry Brown, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and so many more. Obama has the power to sway many people options and ideas about important topics. I think that the president will really be able to succeed with this movement for equality.

San Francisco Teacher Strike: Educators Strike Approve 97 Percent At UESF Meeting

Leigh
Posting #4
Topic: Education
Title: San Francisco Teacher Strike: Educators Strike Approve 97 Percent At UESF Meeting
Author: Robin Wilkey
Publication: Huffington Post
Date of Publication: 5/11/12
Length: 1 Page

  Main Idea
    In San Francisco schools have been facing major financial cuts. Now the city has a new plan to cut back even more on the district, they have plans to increase classroom size while cutting back 30 million dollars in teachers salaries and benefits over the next couple of years. The teachers have done everything that they can for the district to keep it working, even though they have few resources. The UESF is trying to save money, but taking it out of the teachers pockets is not the way to save money. The teachers have yet to go on strike, although this Thursday is the first in two votes that will either pass this plan or cancel it. The teachers have agreed to negotiate a new reasonable plan. Instead of cutting back on their salaries the teachers are asking for a 2 percent raise since they class load will increase. All of this also depends on the Governor Jerry Brown's Propose Tax Increase In November. If this plan is rejected then schools will be facing a 5 billion cut back in schools. If this bill is not passed the schools will not only have to cut back on teachers salaries but also on school activities.

Conclusion
   In conclusion the cut backs should no be taken away from teachers. Schools should find a new way to lower cost. Many teachers do not get paid enough already for all the work that they do. My Mom is a teacher and I definitely do not think she gets paid enough for all the work she has done for not only the school but the district where she works. 

Teaching Our Children Not to Follow Romney's Example

Barbara
Posting #4
Topic: Education
Author: Daniel O'Donnell
Publication Name: Huntington Post
Date of Publication: May 13th, 2012 
507 words


Main Idea:


Many were shocked by the news that Romney bullied his classmate back in his prep school, simply because he was gay. Romney had his friends pin the young man down, while he chop off the boy's hair with scissors. Although bullying in schools has always been a problem, many argue that it's been getting worse and measures should be taken to stop bullying. Daniel O'Donnell, a NYC state assembly member, is one of these people and he's taking action. His anti-bullying bill, Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), will be implemented in July. The bill encourages schools to instill tolerant values and prevent any form of discrimination in New York. 


Conclusion: 


DASA's goal is to give students a healthy school environment without the fear of harassment and discrimination present. The bill accomplishes this by prohibiting any discrimination on school property or school functions. In addition, it makes sure that teachers will step in if they see anything like the Romney incident happening in their schools. 


In my opinion, it's great to see action being taken on preventing bullying in schools. I'm hoping California will do the same because it's heartbreaking to see videos on Youtube and stories on the news about kids feeling insecure of their sexuality, of what they look like, or any part of themselves (to the point that they want to take their own lives) because other children feel the need to put them down. The children in this generation will be the future leaders of this world and we should take steps towards making certain they won't turn out to be ignorant bigots. Schools should take steps towards teaching kids tolerance; having them learn to accept others for who they are. A great representation of the bullying problem in our schools is this new movie coming out. It's a great eye opener for all ages. 

What Meditation May do to Your Brain

Emma
posting #4
topic: health
title of article: In Sitting Still, a Bench Press for the Brain
author: John Hanc
publication: New York Times
date of publication: 5/9/12
length: 2 pages
   
        Recently at a UCLA lab, researchers have been studying the extent to which meditation may affect neuroplasticity. For many years people in the medical community have wondered about the possible affects meditation has on the brain and on health in general. During this study researchers studied a group of 28 men and 22 women who had been meditating regularly for an average time of 20 years. The researchers took brain scans of the subjects brains and compared them with scans from nonmeditators. The researchers found that the amount of cortical gyrification increased with the number of years that the person had been meditating. Cortical gyrification is a term used to describe the number of folds of the cerebral cortex. This is interesting because previous studies of the brain have lead to the conclusion that ones brain grows until they are around 20 years old at which time it reaches its peak in size and then it will start to shrink with age. Because of the increased cortical gyrification in meditators researchers are starting to wonder if meditation can truly help neuroplasticity. Other people in the medical field are not so sure. Dr. Josephine P. Briggs does not believe that there is enough evidence to conclude that the increased number of folds in the brains of these people necessarily means they have increased cognitive ability. She does acknowledge the fact that meditation is work for the brain and that exercises for the brain have been shown as a way to maintain cognitive health.  To conclude, though many studies on how meditation affects the brain nothing is conclusive or universally accepted yet. There have been links to meditation increasing cortical gyrification though the scientific community is still unsure about how cortical gyrification may or may not affect cognitive ability. Meditation seems to have some positive affects on the brain and is generally received as a positive mental exercise. 

North Carolina and Gay Marriage

Justine
Posting #4
Civil Rights

Title: In North Carolina, Beliefs Clash on Marriage Law

Author: Campbell Robertson

Publication: The New York Times

Date: 5-11-12

Length: 2 pages

On Tuesday, the eighth of May, North Carolina voted to ban gay marriage by a landslide. This was a bit of surprise, seeing that North Carolina is fairly moderate and the Democratic National convention is going to be there this year. The ban invited much criticism from gay rights supporters all over the country. Residents that supported the ban, though, defended their state loyally. It is a difficult issue in such a state as North Carolina that has such religious influences. People have been taught their whole life that gay marriage is wrong and even though many have switched their thinking, it is difficult to speak against their families and friends. On the other hand, gay men and women have come out more in recent years, creating quite a moral dilemma for those who have always thought of being gay as a horrible thing. One thought is that it will take more than a couple of years for people to completely accept this and change how they think. Although they may have voted to ban gay marriage, they have long been a mix of liberal and conservative thinking and this just goes to show that they can lean either way. Even though this ban goes completely against Obama's support of gay marriage, it is not likely that it will have much of an impact on North Carolina's vote in the fall. 

Conclusion:

North Carolina voted to ban gay marriage on Tuesday and the vote and state have both received lots of criticism. This issue is not supposed to impact the state's support of Obama and many democratic issues, but it has gotten the state a rather unfortunate reputation. Even though 30 other states have voted in similar bans, the moral dilemma it caused in North Carolina is somewhat unique. Religion, history and recent cultural developments all had a large part to play and for many it was too difficult of an issue to speak out against customs. Having a different opinion from friends and family is too difficult for some people.

Sigonee
Current Event Posting #4
Topic: Education
Title of article: No More California Dream?
Author: Inderpal Grewal
 Publication name: Huffington Post
Date of Publication: May 11, 2012
Length of article: 910 words

Main Ideas:
California public universities now have increased their tuition by 6% to 9%, even as demographic changes and economic conditions mean that the number of students are increasing.  The prison system now gets more state funding than universities, meaning that the Corrections lobby is more effective than university leaders in working with the legislature.  Maybe it's because university leaders are okay with increased tuition.  That is why students and faculty continue to protest on campuses, like last week on May Day, rather than at the state capital.  A UC Irvine student states, "We're transforming what is the world's greatest education system, the world's best research institution paid for by the public and by the state by taxpayer money, and we are destroying everything that is making the UC system great."  The Dean of the Business School at UC Irvine, Andrew Policano, wrote an article on May 7 entitled "Universities Must Adapt to Financial Realities" in which he claims the best solution for public universities is to charge what the market will bear, as do business schools.  According to Policano, universities need "market orientation, efficiency and entrepreneurial activities" in order to capture "market share."  Basically what Policano is trying to say is that if students are not willing to pay high prices for some programs, it means that they don't value them enough.  He believes students should pay higher tuition even as student debt is now higher than credit card debt.  At other schools, there is no movement to a market-based utilitarian educations; other schools continue to produce leaders and teach liberal arts, while having great research facilities, whereas this level of education will not be offered to all Californians.    

Conclusion:
California public universities have produced a broad variety of careers for many students.  Limiting these universities to a business school and a corporate market-based model is a disturbing thought to many.  Many professors and students in California know that administrators like Policano are working against a democratic education.  This corporate speak of efficiency, productivity, and perceived value proves corporate leaders revealing themselves to be selfish.  Students and faculty of California public universities will continue to march and protest to fight for a fair and affordable education system.   

Battling Junk Food

Miko
Current event posting #4
health
Battling Junk Food in High Schools
Author: Leslie Wade
Length: 1 page
Date Published: May 11th 2012
CNN.com

Five years ago, California passed legislations that would help combat child obesity in America. One legislation limited the kinds of foods that students are able to buy in school vending machines or snack bars. New studies are showing that high school students in California are eating fewer calories, sugar, and fat during the school day than out of state students. The numbers say it all, the average Californian high school student eats about 160 fewer calories in a day than students in 14 other states. Most of the calories saved came from eating less while in school, and from not overeating when at home. "If teenagers consume 158 fewer calories on average, while maintaining healthy levels of physical activity, it could go a long way toward preventing excess weight gain," says Daniel Taber, lead author of the study and investigator at the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois in Chicago. According to Dr. Barbara Dennison, limiting calories from junk food alone can potentially help a student lose about 7.5 pounds over one school year! That could add up to 30 pounds by the end of one's high school career. Critics argue that just because students don't purchase unhealthy foods, it does not automatically mean they're eating super healthy all of a sudden. These critics want to improve the overall quality of student's diets by promoting fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other alternatives that appeal to students. In 2010 President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which gave the U.S Department of Agriculture the power to regulate foods sold outside meal plans. With this students can buy "competitive foods" as alternatives to junk food in vending machines.

In conclusion, California has taken a big step in the right direction in combating child obesity in America. Hopefully other states will follow in our footsteps so we can fight this growing problem together.

Smartphones, not computers, drive most Facebook use

Matt Vistnes
Posting 4
Topic: Technology

Author: Alexandra Chang

Publication Name: CNN

Date of Publication: May 9, 2012

Length of article: 2 pages

The Mobile Metrix 2.0 report by comScore tells us that more and more people are turning to mobile devices to use Facebook. In fact, a study was performed in March that showed that computers were being outclassed by smartphones in Facebook usage. On average, Facebook users spend around seven hours and twenty-one minutes using social network applications using their phones over a month. Comparatively, people spend about six-and-a-half hours checking their Facebooks on computers. Not only does the data show that people are constantly tweeting and sharing statuses on their phones, but it also highlights the importance of utilizing mobile devices to aid a social network's success. An example of this is how Facebook makes revenue from its ad-less application; however, it included "sponsored posts" in the news feeds of users last year. 

In addition telling us how much time people spend on their smartphones tweeting and texting, the comScore report shows that Facebook is the most used social network, even more so than Twitter or LinkedIn. It is only outclassed by Google, making it the second largest mobile property. 78 million smartphone users access Facebook on a monthly basis, and a staggering 81% use its mobile application.

Facebook has also shed light on mobile struggles in its recent IPO documents. They say, "If users increasingly access mobile products as a substitute for access through personal computers, and if we are unable to successfully implement monetization strategies for our mobile users, our financial performance and ability to grow revenue would be negatively affected." This being said, people speculate about a Facebook Smartphone. With this piece of hardware, the company could make the most out of its dominating position on mobile networking. However, Facebook has not released any plans for a specialized phone. The only thing we can hope for is if the company continues to update and support its mobile apps.

Conclusion: 

A recently released report has revealed that a staggering amount of Facebook users access the site on their smartphones. This study can not only show that people are constantly on their phones, tweeting and Facebooking, but also how useful mobile devices are in expanding a website or network. This level of usage by phone owners has led to some talk among Facebook as well, about how if they don't put ads and such on their apps, then their financial performance would be negatively affected. People wonder about a specialized mobile device designed for Facebook alone, in order to counteract this possible loss of money. A smartphone for Facebook would offer a more in-depth experience in the network, more so than a mobile app, and would be akin to the desktop equivalent.

Harvard and MIT Team Up to Offer Free Online Courses

Yuka S.

Posting #3Topic:  EducationTitle:  Harvard and MIT Team Up to Offer Free Online CoursesAuthor:  Tamar LewinPublication name:  NY TimesDate of publication:  May 2, 2012Length of article:  825 words


Main Ideas


On Wednesday, MIT and Harvard announced their new nonprofit partnership, edX, where free online courses from both universities will be accessible to students all over the world. EdX formed when Harvard got involved in a project that MIT started in December, called MITx. The first course offered by MITx, "Circuits and Electronics," began in March with about 120,000 students enrolled. Both edX and MITx offer certificates and grades, but no official credit. EdX will be overseen by a non-profit organization in Cambridge governed equally by both universities, since both MIT and Harvard committed $30 million to the program. The first president of edX will be Anant Agarwal, who developed the MITx platform and directs MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. From Harvard, Dr. Garver and Michael D. Smith will work with faculty members in order to develop and offer classes.  Eventually, MIT and Harvard will have other universities join in offering classes at edX, and edX will become a global online learning community where teaching and learning methods can be further researched.


MIT and Harvard started this program because massively open online courses (MOOC) are becoming increasingly popular among elite universities.

This month, Stanford, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Michigan announced their partnership with a new for-profit company called Coursera, which will also offer online courses.

Summary

EdX is a new nonprofit partnership between MIT and Harvard, which allows them to offer online courses to students all over the world for free. EdX will be managed by a non-profit organization in Cambridge, where president Anant Agarwal from MIT will work together with Dr. Garver and Michael D. Smith from Harvard, as well as other staff members, in order to develop and deliver classes. Eventually, other universities will join edX, broadening the program into a global online learning community where researchers can look into various teaching and learning methods.

Posting 4

Scientists find 'man's remotest relative' in lake sludge

Author: AFP
April 26, 2012

After two decades of examining a microscopic algae-eater that lives in a lake in Norway, scientists on Thursday declared it to be one of the world's oldest living organisms and man's remotest relative.

The elusive, single-cell creature evolved about a billion years ago and did not fit in any of the known categories of living organisms -- it was not an animal, plant, parasite, fungus or alga.

"We have found an unknown branch of the tree of life that lives in this lake. It is unique!" University of Oslo researcher Kamran Shalchian-Tabrizi said.

"So far we know of no other group of organisms that descends from closer to the roots of the tree of life than this species", which has been declared a new category of organism called Collodictyon.

Scientists believe the discovery may provide insight into what life looked like on earth hundreds of millions of years ago.  

It has four flagella -- tail-like propellers it uses to move around, and can only be seen with a microscope. It is 30 to 50 micrometers (millions of a metre) long.

Opinion

What confounds me is that brilliant scientists like University of Oslo researcher Kamran Shalchian-Tabrizi are dedicating their entire careers to figure out what life was like billions of years ago.  This discovery will have no impact on anyone outside the discipline of the science community that studies this algae-eater.  We live in a world where more pressing problems are presented to us, and researchers should be dedicating their time into these immediate issues.  

http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-mans-remotest-relative-lake-sludge-183424136.html

Posting #3
Danielle L.
Topic: Health
Author: Nicholas Bakalar
Publication name: Teenage Birth Rates Continue to Drop
Date of publication:  April 16, 2012
Word Count: 686


Main Idea:
In recent years the teenage birth rate has continued to drop steadily according to the National Center
for Health Statistics. According to the article from 2009 to 2010 the rates of teenage births dropped 9% which is
equal to 34.9 per 1000. This is lowest rate ever reported in 65 years. This is linked to the data from the surveys
conducted by the CDC. Which says that since 1991 the percentage of teens whio has ever had sex has decreased
by 15%, and the percent of teens using condoms has increased by 32%. Dr. John Santelli a professor of clinical 
population and family health at Columbia university stated that "In the 90's, it was the big increase in condom use;
most recently id looks like it's an increase in the use of oral contraceptives, the and perhaps even the IUD". From 
this said by Dr. Santelli it's clear that there is an amazing drop in the birth rates of teenagers. In 16 states the rates
of teenage pregnancy percentage dropped by at least 20%. Dr. Brady. E. Hamilton, a statistician with the NCHS 
stated that, "You have the fact that teens are the focus of public policies and programs specifically designed to 
reduce births in that age group, so the general decline plus the programs have combined to have the effect."

Conclusion:

In Conclusion within the last 10 years teenage birth rates have continued to fall at a constant rate. Help from

sources such as sex education teaching teens about safe sex, like using condoms and birth control have definitely 

helped. Overall researchers have figured that with help from contraceptives and other factors the rate of teen

births have dropped dramatically since the 90's.