Carol Buckley trained her own elephant and traveled with circuses until realizing captivity is cruel to elephants. In 1995 she co-founded the Elephant Sanctuary - 112 acres in rural Tennessee. Operating on private donations and corporate sponsorships, it’s now 2,700 acres – the largest natural refuge of its kind in the U.S. It’s home to Tara, who lived in the back of a truck at a tire store; Shirley, who performed in a circus until a broken leg put her in the freak show; and 13 other rescue elephants. The Elephant Sanctuary doesn’t allow visitors – hoping these elephants can forget.
Jose Hernandez, 47, worked with his family every summer in the California fields. In the 1960’s and 1970’s he picked beets, cucumbers and tomatoes 7 days a week. At the end of the day his father would tell him to remember how he felt because if he didn’t do well in school, that was his future. Although Hernandez didn’t learn English until age 12, he went on to get a master’s degree in electrical engineering. However, as an astronaut aboard the space shuttle Discovery on its 2009 STS-128 mission, ex-migrant worker Jose Hernandez surpassed his parents’ highest expectations.
Faith Coleman, nurse practitioner and mother of 6, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2003. Because she didn’t have health insurance, she had to mortgage her house to pay $35,000 in medical bills. After recovering in 2004 she partnered with a doctor treating the indigent and established Flagler County Free Clinic – Flagler County having the highest unemployment rate in Florida. The clinic opened in 2005. By 2009 more than 6,700 patients had been treated. Contributions help fund the clinic. Doctors donate their building to the clinic on weekends and volunteer to see patients. For the uninsured to be treated it helps to have “Faith”.
Joe Hunter became a trucker 4 days after he returned from serving in Vietnam. Frustrated by not finding churches where he could park an 18-wheeler when on the road, he decided to take church to the truckers. Inside a white trailer with a red neon cross on top, there’s prayer, hymns and a short sermon – no collection plate. Rev. Hunter has been a truck stop chaplain since 1981 and now has offices at 74 truck stops in 29 states with about 500 chaplains working with him – many who are volunteers from local churches. For truckers Hunter is a godsend.
According to 2 studies published in the journal “Pediatrics”, Americans don’t get enough vitamin D; and that deficiency could cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers. One study looked at federal health statistics for children 1 to 21 and found nearly 8 million children deficient and 50.8 million insufficient in vitamin D, increasing their risk of osteoporosis. The second study found teenagers with the lowest levels of vitamin D had 2 times the risk of high blood pressure and hypoglycemia and 4 times the risk of cardiovascular disease. Doctors recommend children eat vitamin-D-fortified cereals, milk and orange juice because there’s and even higher risk they won’t eat vitamin-D-rich sardines.
According to dentists, however, we shouldn’t drink citric fruit juices – including orange juice –or sports drinks, carbonated beverages and teas because they erode teeth. The acid in these drinks strips teeth of enamel, causing hypersensitivity, discoloration and cracks. Sports drinks are the worst, especially if citric acid has been added. Soft drinks are second worst because of carbonation and fruit juices are third. Teas cause the least erosion. Teeth soaked in black tea didn’t completely erode for 16 weeks. It’s true saliva reduces acid’s effects, but it is not the spitting image of a cure.
According to a Swedish study, girls in more educated families are at higher risk for eating disorders. The study followed more than 13,000 females born between 1952 and 1989, tracking their hospitalizations for eating disorders through 2002. Overall, girls whose parents went to college had about twice the risk as those whose parents had elementary-school educations. The risk was 6 times greater if the maternal grandmother went to college. Similarly, girls with the highest grades at age 15 had twice the risk as girls with the lowest grades. It seems anorexia and bulimia are educated mistakes.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, tanning beds have a high risk for cancer. Most tanning bed lights primarily give off ultraviolet radiation – causing both skin and eye cancer. A new analysis of approximately 20 studies concludes that the risk of skin cancer jumps 75% when used by people under age 30. When younger people use tanning beds regularly, they are 8 times more likely to develop melanoma, which is the deadliest skin cancer. In Britain melanoma is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in their twenties. When will we learn beauty isn’t just skin deep?
A “Bikestation” for 130 bikes, lockers and a small repair shop opened outside Washington, D.C. in October 2009. It is conveniently located next to the Metro subway exit at Union Station for use by commuters who want to cycle in the city. For an annual membership or a daily usage fee, the system provides secure storage for bicycles, reduces traffic and encourages exercise. An annual survey of Bikestation users in California showed that 30% previously commuted by car. Comparable facilities in Germany and Japan handle 3,000-4,000 bicycles. Obviously, the idea of Bikestations has been “peddled” better outside the U.S.
Not every good idea, however, involves new technology. California winemakers have tried a variety of ways to scare off grape-loving starlings at harvest time. Because shotguns and propane cannons scared the birds away only temporarily and netting rows of grapes is expensive, winemakers are turning to falconry. Falcons can spot starlings half a mile away and can fly 150 mph in pursuit of their prey. Many prominent vineyards – including E&J Gallo – have hired falconers. Releasing 1 falcon twice a day keeps the starlings away from the grapes. Solving this problem just needed a bird’s-eye view.
Many states are looking for ideas to prevent prison inmates from using cell phones to participate in illegal activities. A maximum sentence of 5 years and a $15,000 fine isn’t enough to stop them and under current law the FCC allows only federal agencies to jam cell phone signals. As a result, New Jersey and Virginia are using specially trained dogs to sniff out phones. Phones have been found in light fixtures, Bibles and body cavities. Some phones have been hidden in jars of peanut butter to fool the dogs, but these dogs have a nose for their job.
Nutrition and economic experts are promoting the idea of a 1 cent tax on every ounce of sweetened beverages. This “soda tax” would discourage people from consuming extra calories while generating needed revenue. Thirty-three states tax soft drinks, but the average tax is 5.2% - only 5 cents on a 12 ounce can costing $1. The proposed soda tax would be 12 cents. A national soda tax would generate almost $15 billion its first year and an average 2-pound weight loss for soda drinkers. Because many people aren’t aware that sugared beverages are a major cause of weight problems, the soda tax would help them “pay” attention.
In 1994 MIT researchers built their first robotic fish. However, the 2009 version is a new species. It’s made of a single, soft polymer and modeled after both bass and trout. At 5 to 18 inches long, the new robofish is much smaller, with only 10 moving parts instead of thousands. It’s able to mimic the motions of real fish, be released in oceans and costs only a few hundred dollars. Plans for these fish include mapping the ocean floor, detecting pollution, surveying submerged pipelines and surveillance. When used in groups, robofish provide a new school of thought.
In 2009 Florida researchers are still using doughnuts to bait traps for black bears. However, after the bears are caught and tranquilized, they are fitted with GPS collars that use cell phone technology to text messages regarding their location every 15 minutes. To stay healthy bears need to travel to different locations and to different bear populations. As development has increased, the bears’ habitat has decreased and become fragmented by roads. The isolation causes inbreeding, which causes unhealthy bears. The GPS collars allow the researchers to know what habitat needs protecting and then land conservation decisions can be made using those “bearings”.
In 2009 the federal Cash for Clunkers program took 690,000 gas-guzzling cars off the road. Because only their engines had to be destroyed, everything else was available for recycling. Functioning car parts are stripped and reused in other cars. What's left of the car becomes reincarnated into different things. For example, tires become asphalt, mud flaps or fuel. Windshields become drinking glasses, lamps or counter tops. Oil filters become cans, refrigerators or structural beams. The remaining scrap metal is melted down and could become part of another car in 30 days. It seems that recycling devours almost 100% of the “car-cus”.
In 2011 NASA’s new office building, “Sustainability Base”, is expected to be finished. It will be the federal government’s greenest building. Costing $20.6 million, it will utilize solar panels, fuel cells and water recycling systems to power itself. A computer based on spacecraft technology will connect to local weather forecasts for environment control. It will access employees’ electronic calendars to adjust heating and cooling appropriately. Instead of air conditioning, water from geothermal wells will be piped to the building’s cooling panels. The computer will also control windows to take advantage of cool nighttime breezes. Obviously, this is cool technology.
Scientists have discovered that nitrous oxide, produced mainly in agriculture, is harming the ozone layer more than synthetic chemicals are. Synthetic chemicals are being phased out by the Montreal Protocol treaty, but nitrous oxide is a natural part of the atmosphere. It is produced by microbes in soil; and when fed nitrogen fertilizer, the microbes produce even more of it. Although it’s estimated that nitrous oxide will reduce the stratosphere’s ozone 4% by the end of the century, nitrogen is an essential part of protein and a source of our food. Nitrous oxide can’t be phased out – unless we phase out eating too.
However, the World Agroforestry Center in Nairobi wants to phase in Faidherbia trees. These trees capture nitrogen from the air through their roots and incorporate it into their leaves. Because these trees grow during the dry season, they drop their leaves in the rainy season, when nitrogen-needing plants start to grow. When a crop of corn was grown under Faidherbia trees, the yield was 3-4 times larger. These trees could help poor farmers throughout Africa, South America and much of south and Southeast Asia by providing free, organic fertilizer as a renewable “treetment” for soil.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, 163 new species were discovered in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia in 2008. Among the 100 plants, 28 fish, 18 reptiles, 14 amphibians, 2 mammals and 1 bird was the Limnonectes megastomias, a fanged frog that eats birds and the Nonggang babbler, a bird that prefers walking to flying. The good news is that these new species were found in regions no longer involved in decades of war and political unrest. The bad news is that their diverse habitats are threatened by droughts and floods caused by climate change – which must change.
According to an editorial in the highly esteemed British medical journal “Lancet”, making contraceptives available in developing countries could help fight climate change by reducing population growth. More than 200 million women worldwide do not have access to contraceptives and that results in approximately 76 million unintended pregnancies a year. The world population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 – with more than 90% of the increase coming from developing countries. Increased need for food and shelter will increase carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. It’s hard to believe that there was a time when climate change just meant a vacation.
Colorado researchers have found high levels of micro-organisms capable of causing disease growing in mats called biofilms inside showerheads. The most worrisome of these pathogens are the non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. Unfortunately, chlorinated water doesn’t kill these bacteria. In tests of 45 showerheads in 6 locations across the United States, 20% contained mycobacterium avium. Because these bacteria can attach themselves to the aerosol droplets in shower spray, they can get deep into peoples’ lungs. This especially affects people with weak immune systems, which includes pregnant women. When it comes to staying healthy, this is a showerhead – ache.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have found that living near noisy traffic can raise blood pressure. Among 24,238 people interviewed, exposure above 60 decibels was associated with high blood pressure in the young and middle-aged. Middle-aged adults exposed to 64 decibels - just louder than ordinary conversation – were twice as likely to have high blood pressure. Of those adults 40 to 59, 28% had high blood pressure compared with 17% who lived in quieter areas. However, a similar pattern wasn’t seen among the elderly. The elderly have multiple risk factors for high blood pressure – and many can turn a deaf ear to noise.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have found that palmitic acid – a saturated fatty acid found in beef, butter, cheese and milk - suppresses appetite control signals. Palmitic acid molecules cause the brain to send messages to the body’s cells to ignore signals from both leptin and insulin – hormones involved in weight control. As a result, the brain won’t say to stop eating for up to 3 days. Because palmitic acid is very high in foods rich in saturated fat and because 67% of Americans are supposedly overweight, saturated fat seems to have us “in-fat-uated”.
Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Department of Medicine have discovered that not getting enough sleep causes metabolic changes in the body, which can lead to weight gain. Volunteers who slept only 4 hours for 2 nights had an 18% decrease in leptin – a hormone that signals the brain that the body has had enough to eat – and a 28% increase in ghrelin – a hormone that triggers hunger. As a result, the sleep-deprived volunteers experienced a 24% increase in appetite. Sleep experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep nightly in a dark, quiet bedroom that is used only as a bedroom – but maybe they’re dreaming.
Men’s underwear sales supposedly predict the state of the economy. Usually sales are stable, with men buying an average of 3.4 pairs yearly; but during bad economic times, men put off buying new underwear. Sales began to slow in 2008 when the recession took hold. From 2004 to 2008 the number of men buying one pair at a time increased from 5% to 8%. Sales are expected to fall another 2.3% in 2009. However, in 2010 sales are expected to fall only 0.5%, showing the economy is moving in the right direction – in boxers and in briefs.
Alligators enjoy the recession because there’s less conspicuous consumption by people who can afford expensive accessories. The demand for alligator handbags and boots dropped approximately 40% worldwide between 2008’s first quarter and 2009’s first quarter. The demand for alligator watchbands dropped approximately 80%. Although alligator farmers previously took 500,000 eggs from swamps and marshes, in 2009 they’re expected to take only 30,000. Harvesting adult alligators is expected to be a fraction of 2008’s 35,500. In 2007 Louisiana alligator farmers and hunters made $71 million. In 2009 they’re expected to make $10 million. It’s their turn to be skinned.
Angela Logan was studying nursing when her house went into foreclosure. That’s when the 55-year-old, divorced, mother of 3 turned to her hobby of baking. She resolved to sell 100 Mortgage Apple cakes at $40 each in 10 days to meet her mortgage payment, pay bills and qualify for a federal program to lower mortgage payments. When the Hilton Hotel offered use of its 4 ovens, Logan baked 200 cakes. Now Internet retailer “Bake Me A Wish!” is developing a line of Angela Logan cakes, but Logan isn’t giving up nursing. She’s not putting all her eggs in one … cake.
The United States is no longer the world’s most competitive economy, a position it held from 2006 to 2008. The U.S. was ranked second by a 2009 survey of 131 countries by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. The survey combined opinions of more than 13,000 business executives with economic statistics and government regulations. Switzerland, because its economic performance has been basically stable, is now the most competitive economy. Singapore ranked third, followed by Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Canada and the Netherlands. Of course, with the U.S. pressuring Switzerland for the names of Americans having secret bank accounts, Switzerland can’t bank on staying #1.
According to research done at Copenhagen University Hospital, which included more than 2,800 middle-aged men and women, people with skinny thighs had a 50%-100% higher risk of heart disease or premature death during the 12-year study. Those with thighs measuring less than 23.6 inches were at risk. Those with thighs measuring less than 18 inches were at the greatest risk. It’s thought skinny thighs mean a lack of muscle mass and lower body bulk, which are necessary for proper glucose and lipid metabolism, which are key factors for maintaining health. For those without super model bodies this research brings “thighs” of relief.
According to research published in the journal “Science”, it may be possible to erase fearful memories from the brain – a procedure that could help thousands with post-traumatic stress disorder. Fear comes from the amygdala - part of the brain that isn’t logical. It just reacts. When the molecular sheath protecting the amygdada in rats was chemically dissolved, the rats forgot fear of a sound they’d been conditioned to associate with being electrically shocked. Because human brain cells have similar sheaths, similar results could be expected. For those suffering with PTSD, panic disorders or phobias, finding a cure is a rat race.
According to a study done at Catholic University in Campobasso Italy, the polyphenols and tannins in red wine limit the toxic effects of radiation for women after breast cancer surgery. The protective effects of varying levels of self-reported, red wine consumption by 348 women were evaluated. The incidence of radiation-induced skin toxicity was 38.4% with non-drinkers, 31.8% with half a glass daily and 13.6% with 1 glass daily. The good news is red wine may be beneficial with other types of radiated tumors. The bad news is 2 glasses of red wine provided little benefit – not twice the benefit.
According to a study done at Stamford University School of Medicine, fat cells removed by liposuction can be turned into induced pluripotent stem cells. Like stem cells from embryos, iPS cells can be turned into cells to regenerate organ tissue and repair damage – but without controversy. The first iPS cells were developed in 2007 from skin, but making stem cells from fat takes 2 weeks instead of 8 and less than 6 ounces is needed. Among other things, iPS cells could be used to help heart attack patients and repair skeletal defects – putting new love in love handles.
General Motors Co. made a change in August 2009. It removed the “Mark of Excellence” logo from its vehicles. Doing that is meant to put less emphasis on GM and more emphasis on its 4 remaining brands. Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC will have just their own logos. GM started putting its logo on all its North American vehicles in 2005, usually putting it on the lower door panel. Supposedly removing it will save GM only a nominal amount of money; but after all the bad publicity the company has received, maybe it will save face.
L.L. Bean, the iconic outdoor equipment and apparel company, has slowly adapted to the change in American lifestyles for 98 years. However, in 2009 L.L. Bean hired 40-year-old designer Alex Carleton to create an updated fit and style for the signature clothing line launching in 2010. Apparel, footwear and accessories will provide a new look for men and women that can be dressed up or down. From its humble beginnings in Maine as a small, mail order business for hunting shoes, L.L. Bean has grown to have annual sales of $1.5 billion. Obviously, if the shoe fits, wear it.
A study published in the leading, general medical journal, “The Lancet”, found that online therapy via instant messaging with a psychotherapist is a successful change in treating depression. Of the 113 people who had ten, 55-minute sessions of cognitive behavior therapy in addition to usual physician care, 42% recovered from depression – supposedly the same level of benefit as expected from traditional therapy. Although this type of therapy would be able to reach more people, there are questions about state laws, insurance coverage, video for viewing patients’ behavior and encryption for patients’ privacy. Before computer-based therapy is a practical alternative, everything has to compute.
Dolphin hunting season opened in Japan September 1st - but with a change No hunters from the small fishing village Taiji participated. This is attributed to the secretly-filmed documentary “The Cove”, which exposed Taiji’s dolphin hunt. During the 6-month season, thousands of dolphins are trapped in narrow caves. Those that aren’t captured to sell to aquariums and amusement parks are killed for meat. “The Cove” won a Sundance Film Festival award, creating a worldwide outcry against dolphin hunting. Activists applaud 2009’s change, but change requires change. Until the fishing village can change the livelihood it’s always known, it’s not off the hook.
According to an August 2009 announcement by the American Heart Association, sugar – including high fructose corn syrup – is bad for the heart. Women should have no more than 100 calories daily from sugar that’s added to foods and drinks. Men should have no more than 150 of these calories daily. Unfortunately, the average American consumes 375 calories from added sugar daily. In fact, about half the increase in calories in the past 30 years comes from beverages. Twelve ounces of regular cola have about 130 calories of sugar. Is seems Americans aren’t drinking to their health.
According to a study in the journal “Neurology”, people as young as 45 who have high diastolic blood pressure are more likely to have problems with memory. The diastolic number is the bottom number on a blood pressure reading. Blood pressure readings of 140/90 or above are considered high and every 10-point increase in the diastolic number increases the likelihood of memory problems 7%. Thus it’s thought preventing or treating high blood pressure could help prevent memory loss. Considering 1 out of 3 Americans have high blood pressure, 1 out of 3 could have difficulty remembering this.
According to a study published in the journal “Social Science & Medicine”, worry about losing a job is worse for peoples’ health than not having a job. In fact, chronic job insecurity was a stronger predictor of poor health than smoking or hypertension. It’s not just the loss of income that causes this stress; it’s also the loss of health insurance, retirement benefits and peace of mind. Previous research has shown that stress leads to a range of poor health conditions that can shorten life. Of course, other research has shown that job security in a stressful job can shorten life too.
According to Dr. Martin Wiseman of the American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund, nearly 40% of breast cancer in the U.S. could be prevented. The report, which reviewed 81 new studies on the links between lifestyle and cancer, showed that 70,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented a year if women maintained a healthy weight, drank only 1 alcoholic drink a day, exercised at least 30 minutes a day and breastfed their babies. Breast cancer kills 400,000 women worldwide every year, with 40,000 dying in the U.S. While the government struggles with health care, women can help care for their own health.
