Newslog #28

Penny offense: Man fined for paying fee in pennies

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110606/od_yblog_upshot/penny-offense-man-fined-for-paying-fee-in-pennies

Jason West from Vernal, Utah was charged by police because he paid a $25 medical bill completely with pennies. Even though he didn't think he owed the money, he decided to pay the bill in person anyway. The clinic accepted cash, so West didn't think paying in pennies was a problem. But he was fined $140. Other instances include a man in Frederick, Maryland who tried to pay his tax bill with $966.86 in change and 29 students at a New Jersey school got in trouble for paying their $2 lunches entirely in pennies. The school gave them two day of detention because paying with "small change slowed down the lunch line."

Even though paying entirely in change is obnoxious, in my opinion, it is completely legal. West should have never gotten arrested and the students shouldn't have gotten detention because they paid with legitimate money. If companies have problems with people paying entirely with change, then they should post something for the public before the person pays.

Newslog #27

Experts say cellphones are possibly carcinogenic

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/eu_med_cellphones_and_cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancert in France found that cell phones might be linked with cancer. Some experts say that this is only a possibility and that people should continue to use their phones as just like usual, including Donald Berry, who is a professor of biostatistics at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. "This is not something I worry about and it will not in any way change how I use my cellphone," he explains. The World Health Organization had a week-long meeting to discuss the risks and found minimal evidence that cell phones were linked to two types of brain tumors. This study arose over a decade ago when cancer patients were asked how often they used their cellphones. Additionally, many cancerous tumors take decades to form, yet this study has only been going on for a little over one decade.

Obviously hearing that cell phones can cause cancer makes me nervous, but not enough to make me stop using my phone in general. There have been so many scares and rumors that things like drinking coffee and from plastic water bottles left in hot cars can cause cancer, but sometimes I feel like that is just all talk. This study, along with the other two I mentioned, need to be studied more in depth before scientists reveal how these things can risk my life.

Newslog #26

 Speaking Up in Class, Silently, Using Social Media

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/education/13social.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&hp

 
Many classes, including an English class in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, are now using technology as a way to have class discussions. They use social networking websites, like Twitter, to communicate with one another in the classroom during many lessons. Many students like this style of learning because they feel like they have a voice; if the class was having a verbal discussion, they would not feel comfortable talking and therefore would not have their voices heard. Teachers like this approach too because their students are doing their work and are participating more. Many classes claim that because they are allowed to use social networking websites for assignments, they are not distracted. Whereas, if these websites were not allowed, then they feel as if students would not pay attention to lessons.

I like how our school uses Blogger and Wikispaces to communicate during lessons once in a while, but I don't think that using these websites for the majority of discussions and assignments would be a positive thing. More students might participate more if they type their answers, but they're also losing their social skills. Students won't become any more confident speaking up in front of others if all they do is hide behind a computer screen.

Newslog #25

Live the High Life in a Converted Airplane

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/live-the-high-life-in-a-converted-airplane.html 

Airplane and designing companies have hooked up to create the ultimate places to "chill". The new idea entails turning old/no longer working airplanes into hotels, hostels, and houses. Both the outside and the interior of the plane are used, but re-organized and refurbished so it can be lived in. One hostel in Stockholm, Sweden has a "first-class" option, which allows guests to stay in the upper cabin, get served by waiters who are dressed in flight attendant apparel, and get high-class airplane style food. There are also airplane homes in Costa Rica.

I really like this idea. I personally would not want to permanently live in this type of environment, but would love to stay there for a few nights. These hostels/hotels have such a unique charm to them, which I feel would make my entire trip alone. I also feel that this is very environmentally friendly because they are re-using parts of planes instead of relying on new materials.

Newslog #24

Co-op Canyon Demonstrates How Food Can Be Integrated Into Architecture

 
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/co-op-canyon-integrates-food-into-architecture.php

The Re:Vision Dallas competition was set up by a New York/Los Angeles architecture firm called Standard. The purpose was to create a way for people to "live cooperatively, produce their own food and work together to build a community." This has not happened....yet. The winner was Co-op Canyon, which would overlooks a canyon and would be worked on by 1,000 people. These individuals would all gain equity by building the area, growing food, keeping up with maintenance, providing education, and creating conservation programs. The group would create the Community Farm, which would be located throughout backyards. Small cookouts would take place in the terraces of some of the workers. There would be a farmer's market in the area, as well as a Community Kitchen, where produce from the Community Farm would be eaten. There would be great communication amongst the people, in which healthy diet tips and cooking ideas would be exchanged in the Kitchen. Additionally, there would be a day care center, a fitness center, and food nutrition/taste testing classes in the Co-op Canyon.


I really like the idea of the Co-op Canyon because I think it would be great for the environment. These 1,000 people would want to be a part of the group because of their passion for helping the Earth. However, this article did not mention if outsiders were allowed in for a visit or to join. It also did not say how long these people would be living in this type of environment and if the buildings and resources were environmentally friendly. With the descriptions given, Co-op Canyon almost seems like a cult, in my opinion.

Newslog #23

8 Best Supermarket Sweets

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/8-best-supermarket-sweets

Each year, the average American consumes over 130 pounds of sugar. Thirteen percent of calories taken in every day by women were added sugars, while men have fifteen percent, found by the University of Minnesota. Also there, they found that increasing added sugar intake has paralleled to increased BMIs, which has been linked to obesity. But the American Heart Association does not think that people should cut out added sugar entirely. They say that women can have 100 calories per day and men can have 150 per day. Without going on a diet, there are ways to still eat junk food and still lose weight. Such foods, like Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Werther's Original, and Hershey's Take 5 Bars, are actually the best kinds of junk food to eat out of their types.

I was surprised by the percentages of added sugar intake everyday because I know that I don't eat well all the time. This percentage was actually somewhat low in my opinion. But it was comforting to know that I don't have to completely cut out foods with added sugar. I was also shocked to find out that the types of food mentioned were not the worst of their kind.

Newslog #22

Grammys Cutting More Than 30 Categories

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/grammys-to-cut-more-than-30-categories/?ref=music

 

For the next Grammy Awards in February 2012, over thirty awards will be cut. There has been a lot of criticism that the current 109 categories were taking away from the award show's impact. However, on the show, only a dozen are given out. The rest are given out before the show airs at a separate ceremony. For the next show, there will only be 78 awards. Such genres, like R&B, pop, and country, have had around eight categories for each, but for next year, will only have four. Bill Werde, the editorial director of Billboard thinks, "Too many categories can confuse consumers and reduce the overall value of the prize."

I like the idea that the Grammys are reducing the number of awards. So many of the categories are alike, so by cutting down the number of awards, there will be less confusion. Also, there is a constant list of award winners on the bottom of the screen during the show. These winners are awarded before the show airs. I obviously don't expect to have all of the awards presented during the show. But in my opinion, because these awards are not televised, they don't have as much significance as those that are televised.