Feb 17
Pacific Garbage Patch Grows to Size of Texas
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 in Green, Health, Sustainability
Earth’s largest landfill isn’t a former junkyard, farm, or barren wasteland. It’s not leaking into neighborhood schools or suburban backyards, and it doesn’t produce mutated alley cats when strays wander in to eat something interesting. It isn’t even on land. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive buildup of trash that’s floating in the Pacific Ocean. How massive? It has currently grown to be the size of Texas. (more…)
Feb 6
Ancient Bo Tribe Becomes Extinct
Posted on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Culture, Sustainability
For 65,000 years, ten Great Andamanese tribes have lived in the Andaman island chain 750 miles off the country’s eastern coast. Last week, one of these tribes, the Bo tribe became extinct with the death of its last member, Boa Sr, age 85. She was the last living speaker of the tribe’s language, also called Bo, as well. The language was considered one of India’s most endangered languages. (more…)
Apr 24
Wii Injury – The Wii Fit Backlash
Wii-lovers have found a new game associated with the program: injury. From doctors to children, many have inflicted injury upon themselves by playing the physical video game. (more…)
Apr 22
Graduation Rates: City Folk v. Country Bumpkins
Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 in Culture
Studies show that those living in large cities have a higher high school dropout rate versus those living and attending schools in more suburban and rural areas. (more…)
Apr 17
The State of Stress
If you’re from the state of rolling green hills, red barns, and foot-stompin’ bluegrass (Kentucky), count your southern roots unlucky. Kentucky was reported the state with the highest rate of mental stress, according to CNN article, “Feeling stressed? It’s more likely in some U.S. states than others.” Residents of the beautiful beaches of Hawaii report the lowest rates of stress, at 6.6 percent. Kentucky ranks 14.4 percent. (more…)
Apr 17
Stem Cell Restrictions Slackened
In April 2009, the Obama Administration announced its plan to lift financial restrictions on stem cell researched. Not all restrictions will be lifted, but they will alleviate some implemented during the Bush era. (more…)
Apr 17
Fighting the Stigma of the “Stupid” American Tourist
Like it or not, Americans have made a reputation for themselves overseas. Stupid, ignorant, or downright lazy are descriptions applied to American travelers from overseas citizens. The stereotype has become so prevalent that even President Obama addressed the issue in a early-2009 visit to Istanbul. CNN article “Tourists have to try to combat the ‘ugly American’” reports Obama as saying, (more…)
Apr 16
Perfect Smiles Triumph Despite Economy
Though many households are budgeting and cutting-back on expenditures, the industry for dental braces hasn’t faltered. Parents still insist on paying the $4,500 to $7,000 required to straighten-out their children’s teeth. (more…)
Apr 15
Green v. Pink, Yellow, and Blue: Sweetener Packets Face-Off
Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Food
Watch out Sweet ‘N Low (pink), Splenda (yellow), and Equal (blue), there’s a new sugar packet in town. A new packet sweetener Truvia(scientifically named rebaudioside A), extracted from the leaves of a Stevia plant, will be dressed in green and will compete for sugar-caddy dominance in restaurants and coffee shops nationwide. (more…)