Angelina Jolie works her magic

We all know Angelina Jolie has made huge efforts in third world countries. I didn't realize, until after reading this article, how much people listen to her and how much she has and will do.

The article explains Jolie's visits to Washingtone D.C. to discuss the lack of education for children affected by the war in Iraq. I also did not know that Jolie was cochair of the Council of Foriegn Relations Center for Universal Education and the Education Partnership for children of conflict. Her work with these groups is tremendous.

In the article it sheds some light on Jolie's passion for ensuring education in international countries. It really is a blessing to have her working so hard because in the article it explains how much the other members respect her and how she holds their attention.

With more and more celebrities making an effort to help other countries we can only hope this trend will continue. Especially while some celebrities are promoting a negative image there are some like Jolie who are trying to be role models and make a difference to those who need it.

New book changes what you may think is healthy

In a new book called "Eat this not that" written by the Men's Health editor David Zinczenko, he reveals the actual amount of calories of restaurant foods and other common foods. It also offers healthier options and choices.

The book uses picutres and images which can really show people that healthier options can be deicous as well. I think the book is a great alternative to normal diets.

It's actualy not a normal diet book it just offers alternative choices on food. It's really great for people that are on the go and eat out a lot.

If you have to eat out at least you know what the healthy choice is. This book could really help today's obese problem especially when parents are ordering for their kids.

STD's in teen girls is staggering!

A federal study found that 1 in 4 American teen girls has contracted an STD. The study surveyed 838 girls and found alarming results.

Of these girls studied 26% had an STD. This number translates to 3 million nationwide according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The teens were tested for four different sexually transmitted diseases, 18% has HPV, 2% herpes, 4% chlamydia, and 2.5% has trichomoniasis. The teens were not tested for anything other diseases like AIDS or HIV.

This data is incredibly scary. STD's are taking over the youth and the $1.5 billion programs by the government that teach teens about safe sex and planned parenthood are almost worthless.

The study also found that some teens think that douching with coca-cola will cure STD's and other bizarre ideas of safe sex were found.

Not to even mention that 15% teen birth increase, this could be a national epidemic. Teens are having promiscuous sex and the girls seem to be more affected than males.

It's really sad to think about all the young lives that are dealing with these diseases, some of which are not curable. I really do have some blame towards the media for making sex more common in teen shows and movies. I also think the parents should be drilling safe sex and abstinence into these kids brains. Parents need to have more control on the lives of their vulnerable children.

The government needs to step it up with more programs that like the article said should inform these kids on every stage of their young life, year after year.

This study shows little hope of the future for safe sex. I can't imagine what these numbers could be when I have kids. This effects the nation so much because so many people are having children or do and it is up to them to really play a role in saving their kids from having one of these diseases.

Hormones for menopausal women leads to cancer

It's no suprise that hormones for women who are going through menapause involve health risk. I have seen several of these commercials for women to take certain drugs to help with the side effects of menapause. Each one lists numerous side effects( very quickly) at the end of each commercial.
This article proves that these hormones can cause several types of cancer especially in women who are in their sixties and older. A study is being done to find out what combination of hormones might be best and have the lowest risk factor but they really suggest that women try an alternative option rather then risk the chance of cancer or other symptons.
It feels like so many prescribed drugs have deadly side effects so what is the point of risking it when there are other healthy options out there? Or why do people risk so much for something as simple as menopausal pains?

Florida recovers after huge power outage

3 million Florida residents lost power at 1 p.m. on Tuesday but go it back later that evening according to Florida Power and Light. However,there were still 20,000 people left without power. The power failure was said to be caused by a fire and equipment errors at a Miami power plant also because of the many storms. The mayor of Miami, Carlos Alvarez, said it was nothing criminal and that it was due to the weather conditions. The police and firefighters kept everything under control said one resident. The residents of Florida are more prepared for a power outage with backup generators and such. Luckly the loss of power only lasted hours but that is quite a lot of people without power. I think in some circumstances a power outage like that could be dangerous and I'm glad to see that the communities were able to remain calm and work together. I hope that in the future if anything like that happened to all of Florida and affected Jacksonville that we would be able to get it back as quickly and smoothly.

Pharmacists are forced to put out faster prescriptions but at what cost?

In Nashville a five-year-old boy is given the wrong prescription for two months. He was suppose to get medication for hand tremors and hyperactivity but instead got adult presecribed steriods. He started to show early signs of puberty and woyuld through uncontrolable tantrums.
It took two months for the pharmacy to notice the problem. The parents sued Walgreens and so have many other people with siminalr cases.
With Americans wanting everything fast, pharmacys are forced to put out hundreds of prescriptions daily. Pharmacists have little time for breaks and work long hours. This leaves room for many mistakes.
There have been new safety laws that have cut the error rates to 1%. Even so there is still dangerous errrors that can effect anyone with a sinus infection.
I know I would be furious if I ever recieved a different medication or the wrong dosage. A man from Jacksonville overdosed on Methadone after recieving a wrong dosage. Its errors like these that can have a huge effect on Americans. Its scary to think that we could die or have irraverrisable side-effects if a pharmacist slips up.
I can only hope that safety laws will stop these errors. Also, I thihk pharmacists should be able to focus on the prescription and not getting them to people faster.

Outbreak of new disease in Minnesota

Numerous factory workers at Quality Pork, a meat packing plant in Austin, Minn. have been affected by a painful syndrom. Each worker affected by the symptons suffered from fatigue, nerve damage, tingling in the legs and feet, and "heavy legs".

The disease can be treated but they are not sure if it will cure it. The workers have been given steriods but upon returning to work get sick again.

Doctors found in one man that his spinal cord was inflamed and his immune system was attacking his own nerves. After returning to work he became ill once again. Another worker did the same thing and finally a correlation was found.

Each person works near or at the "head table" where the hogs heads are cut off. The workers wear some protective attire but their arms are normally bare and they do not wear face shields.

Scientist found that an air compressor used at the "head table'' to extract the brains from hogs might have some signifigance. The compressor literally blows the brains out and onto nearby workers. It can enter through the eyes and mouth or even be breathed in.

Quality Pork immediatly stopped using the air compressor and found only two other plants in the country that did as well. Both plants stopped using them and one in Indiana found workers with similar symptons.

The disorder is being carefully investigated and there have not been any other cases so far. The plant still has the "head table" but hopefully without the air compressor no new diseases will be found. But their is still no answer as to exactly how people are beeing affected.

Plant owners should be more careful and have their workers protected. Its disgusting to have such a barbaric process as that, but, if their going to do it at least try and not get brain tissue on your bare arms and in your mouth.

Amy Winehouse may loose fans and supports over her tabloid actions.

Amy Winehouse is an up and coming singer that's being criticized for her drug and alcohol addiction. Recently a video was recorded of Winehouse allegedly smoking crack.

The video and Winehouse's past reputation have put off fans and the grammy voters. Although elections for the Grammy's ended Jan.9, people are still are concerned that her image will have an effect on the outcome.

People who have supported Winehouse in her career fear that all this negative attention will cause her to loose her credibility as a soul singer. Most of these people want her to get help but Winehouse doesn't think she has a problem, according to her father.

Rehab may not be for her but smoking crack is definitly not going to attract fans. It's unfortunate for Winehouse who actually has talent and could perform for years to come.

Winehouse is nominated for four Grammy's and has a good chance of winning. Some think that all the tabloid attention will effect the results in a bad way. The new video has put people in a frenzy and has some grammy voters thinking twice.

I can only hope that she gets help and lays off the drugs and alcohol. Sadly her life is portrayed in the tabloibs and everyone can see her downfall.

I am interested to see how the Grammy's go and if she will even show up. She is talented and could have a fulfilling career if she doesn't mess it up.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-01-28-amy-winehouse_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

No MRSA is not the new AIDS!

A strain of MRSA USA300 has recently been linked to homosexuals. Members of the press have released articles that have not been accurate with the scientific information. Some articles have people believing that this is a sexually transmitted disease and only infecting gay men.
The disease which is a form of a staph infection was disovered in 2003 and has been infecting gay men mainly in San Francisco. The press made the mistake of coining this new disease as "the new HIV".
The disease does not only infect homosexual men but heterosexuals as well. The multidrug- resistant strain is spread by asexual contact mostly from the arm pitts and the groin area. In the article it explains that the reporters did not deliver the science portion and embelished on the idea that this new disease is rapidly spreading in the gay community.
The article aslo says how this misconception has fueled anti-gay groups and people to believe that this is a "gay disease". There is no proof that gay sexual contact or heterosexual contact is the cause of this spreading disease.
While it has been linked to gay men this is not to be considered a sexually transmitted disease or the new AIDS. It is simply a form of a staph infection which is can be contracted without sexual contact. Hospital workers have been infected by the disease as well.
The press emphasized the idea that this disease is rapidly spreading due to homosexuals. Unfortuanlty the error was cleared after the reports had been given and people started to fear an epidemic.
I feel bad for homosexuals males who are targeted with this disease. It is unsure why so many more gay men have contracted it but that is no excuse for the media to pin point them and say that this is there fault or they are the only ones who can contract it.

http://bb.fccj.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_17966_1

High temperatures prove 2007 was a hot one!

The past year was recorded as the having the highest land temperatures thus far. The extreme temperatures caused notable damage to land and sea around the world. Recordings of global temperatures began in the late 1800's and 2007 has been recorded the 5th warmest year.

Since 2001, each year has had increased temperatures. This years intense climate caused heat waves throughout Asia, Russia, the Northern hemisphere and the U.S. The heat waves also started over 130 wildfires.

In the U.S. alone the scorching temperatures reached 2,000 new high daily records. This year the oceans were effected having the lowest sea ice level ever in the artic. It was recorded that the oceans temperature were 9th hottest.

Question: Was 2007 just part of a warming phase or is the green house gas emissions taking a toll on the earth's climate? If so, do you expect 2008 to exceed the high temperatures of 2007?
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2008-01-15-global-temperatures_N.htm

http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/01/14/unofficial-secrets/ this ia a practice link to buzz machine.

Hello, World!!

I'm really excited about writing for mass communications!