KNIGHT WATCH

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

In San Jose, California July 30, 2009 was the start of the “Got Your Bags?” campaign. Backed by non-profit government and business groups, the campaign is a statewide effort to encourage Californians to recycle plastic bags and use reusable ones. Annually more than 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide with only a small fraction being recycled. Plastic bags ending up in landfills can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, while emitting toxins into the soil. Got Your Bags will supposedly help make California the cleanest and prettiest state. Of course, recycling politicians could help accomplish that too.

In Santa Ana, California a proposed anti-graffiti law would make parents financially responsible for their children’s graffiti. What’s being called “If You Spray, You Pay” was developed by a group of community leaders, businessmen and activists. It would make graffiti a misdemeanor and allow the city to collect fines and restitution from the vandals’ parents – including putting a lean on the parents’ houses. In the 2009 fiscal year graffiti abatement will cost Santa Ana about $2.4 million. If this law passes, parents will be forced to see the writing on the wall – and to pay for it.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bicyclists, inline skaters and skateboarders will have to use hands-free devices for their cell phones as of November 1, 2009. Philadelphia has more than 200 miles of bike lanes and will be the fist U.S. city to include non-motorists in its hands-free cell phone law. Numerous studies have shown the dangers of using a hand-held cell phone while moving – even while walking. Those caught violating the law will have to pay a $150 fine for a first offense. Repeat offenders will have to pay more – but at least they won’t have to pay with their lives.

In California, Pennsylvania and Illinois there are lawsuits against schools that won’t allow children with autism to bring their specially trained service dogs to school. The issue being debated in 2009 is whether the dogs are essential to managing the disability or just to provide comfort to the children. Autism is a developmental disorder, which includes outbursts and difficulty both communicating and changing environments. The dogs are trained to provide a calming effect and a consistency between the changes in environments. Some dogs are tethered to children to prevent them from getting into dangerous situations. Schools need to be open to change – not be “dogmatic”.

WHAT HAVE ANIMALS TAUGHT US?

Turtles shut down a runway at John F. Kennedy International airport on July 8, 2009. At least 78 turtles emerged from a nearby bay and crawled unto the tarmac. The turtles were identified as Diamondback terrapins, a species common to Jamaica Bay that surrounds the airport. Although the turtles were gathered up in 35 minutes and deposited in water farther from the airport, JFK’s flight schedule experienced delays up to 90 minutes. It seems turtle spawning season occurs in late June and early July, providing a 21st century version of the air and the tortoise.

Deep Sea Worms were collected using undersea robots. According to research published in the journal “Science”, 7 new segmented species were discovered. Five of the species cast off glowing bombs to escape predators. These bombs seem to be made of gill parts and glow when ejected from the worms. The newly named “Swima bombiviridis" (good swimming green bomber) use comb-like body bristles as paddles to propel through the water. So far they’ve been found off the coast of the Philippines, Mexico and the U.S.; but because they live 1.2 to 1.9 miles below the water’s surface, Swima bombiviridis aren’t likely to light up our lives.

Jellyfish may help to reduce the effects of climate change. According to a study published in the journal “Nature”, jellyfish do this by participating in ocean mixing. Although tides and winds are the major participants, new movies show that jellyfish drag water behind them as they swim. To avoid predators jellyfish swim to the surface at night to feed. It’s expected that they take cold water to the surface and warm water to the ocean depths. They may also take dissolved carbon dioxide down with them, lowering the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Humans who ignore climate change, however, are a different kind of jellyfish.

Dogs are trained by Italy’s National Civil Protection Agency to be lifeguards. About 70 Labradors, Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers – all strong in the water – have been trained for at least 2 years from puppyhood. When these dogs see swimmers in trouble, they paddle to the swimmers – with or without their human partners. The troubled swimmers can hold onto the dogs or the dogs can tow the swimmers ashore by their bathing suits. In fact, these dogs are strong enough to tow three people simultaneously – giving new meaning to the “dog days” of summer.

ARE MOST HEALTH STUDIES ABOUT BAD HEALTH?

According to a study published in “Psychosomatic Medicine”, feeling lonely – even when surrounded by family and friends – is  linked to an  increase in the risk of heart disease. The study covered more than 3,000 people over 19 years. After having a physical and an extensive personal interview, all participants’ heart health was tracked. The women who were loneliest at the beginning of the study were 76% more likely to develop heart disease. Researchers hypothesize that loneliness affects only women in this way because women are more concerned about relationships. It seems men can have fulfilling relationships with remote controls.

According to a recent study, high and borderline-high cholesterol levels in midlife increase the risk of Alzheimer’s 30 years later. The cholesterol levels of 9,844 people ages 40-45 were determined between 1964 and 1973. When their medical records were reviewed between 1994 and 2007, the risk of Alzheimer’s was 57% higher for people who had cholesterol levels of 240 and above in midlife. Their risk of vascular dementia also increased. Even those who had  borderline-high cholesterol levels of 200-239 in midlife had an increased risk of 50%. Considering nearly 100 million Americans have high or borderline-high cholesterol levels, it’s time to level off.

According to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, severe sleep apnea increases the risk of early death by 46%. Severe sleep apnea causes sleepers’ airways to be blocked for 20-30 seconds, waking them about every 2 minutes. Of the 6,400 people in the 8-year study, 8.2% of the men had severe cases and 3% of the women. The NHLBI estimates that 12 million adult Americans have sleep apnea and recommends weight loss as the best treatment. Unfortunately, most people aren’t diagnosed or treated – in spite of their losing sleep over the problem nightly.

Nevertheless, in spite of all the bad health news, the National Center for Statistics reports that U.S. life expectancy has reached a new high. The average life expectancy for a baby born in 2007 is nearly 78. That’s almost 3 months more than for babies born in 2006. This increase is primarily due to the decreasing death rates in almost all leading causes of death. However, about 30 countries have longer estimated life spans, with Japan having the longest. The average life expectancy for Japanese babies born in 2007 is 83. Products made in Japan do seem to last longer.

HOW ODD IS ODD?

George Vera, 25, was arrested in Houston on August 2, 2009 and taken to city jail. After a day there he was transferred to Harris County Jail. Fourteen hours after the intake procedure Vera was taken to the showers – the last stop before going to his cell. At the showers he confessed to the police he had a 9mm handgun and 2 clips of ammunition on him. According to procedure, Vera should have been searched at least 3 times. Vera, weighing nearly 600 pounds, had hidden the gun and clips between layers of body fat. Although released on bond, Vera will face the scales of justice.

The crypt above Marilyn Monroe’s at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles was auctioned on eBay. As of August 17, 2009 the bid was $4.5 million. The present occupant of the crypt bought it from Joe Dimaggio when the ballplayer and Marilyn Monroe divorced in 1954 and has resided there since 1986. In fact, being buried facedown was a deathbed request. The occupant’s widow is moving her husband and selling the crypt to pay off a $1 million mortgage on her Beverly Hills home. It seems this is an eBay auction to die for.

Marco Sea, a Manhattan real estate company, turned 3 trash bins into swimming pools. Placed in an “H” formation, the clean bins are lined with heavy plastic and filled with filtered, chlorinated water. They are surrounded by a wood deck – complete with tent cabanas, barbecue grills and beach chairs. Because the bins are 5 ½ feet deep, there’s also a shallow kiddie pool. Marco Sea is thinking about putting these pools in redeveloped strip malls, as well as renting them for parties. One thousand dollars turns a trash bin into a pool – unless you think the idea is all wet.

Scientists tested bank notes from more than 30 cities in 5 countries and found that currency from China and Japan had the lowest levels of cocaine contamination – 12%-20%. Canada and the U.S. had the highest – 85%-90%. In fact, the U.S. level was 20% higher than in a similar study done 2 years before. Of the money from U.S. cities, Salt Lake City had the lowest contamination levels. Baltimore, Boston and Detroit had among the highest levels and Washington, D.C. ranked above average with 95% of its money being contaminated with cocaine – giving new meaning to dirty money.

WHO THINKS UP THE SUBJECTS FOR STUDIES?

A study done by the National Institutes of Health shows that capuchin monkeys prefer humans who act like them. A capuchin monkey was given a wiffle ball before interacting with two researchers. One researcher had a ball and imitated the monkey’s actions. The other researcher acted differently. Repeatedly the monkeys spent more time with the imitator. The monkeys were also more willing to accept food and trinkets from the imitator - even when the non-imitator offered the same rewards. Supposedly, these findings indicate an evolutionary link to the way humans form friendships and social connections – monkey see, monkey do.

Research published in “Psychological Science” found that touching money can reduce feelings of social rejection and dull physical pain. In one experiment 42 volunteers counted eighty $100 bills and 42 volunteers counted paper. Then all 84 volunteers played a computer game that was rigged against them. Those who’d counted money rated their social distress lower. In a second experiment – again with half of the volunteers counting money and half counting paper – the volunteers’ fingers were dipped in 122 degrees Fahrenheit water. On average those who had counted money reported less pain. Unfortunately, neither experiment showed touching money could make you happy.

Two Vermont scientists created software to measure happiness. The software collected sentences from blogs to identify the happiest days of the past few years. They started at the Web site wefeelfine, which goes through 2.3 million blogs looking for sentences that start with “I feel” or “I am feeling”. The words coming next were ranked on a happiness scale from 1-9, with 1,034 words being ranked. As a result of the study, November 4, 2008 and January 20, 2009 – Obama’s election and inauguration – were found to be the happiest days of the past few years – except for Republicans.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s Mind-Body Center surveyed 1.399 people who had been recruited for studies on breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and other conditions and asked them how much time they had spent the previous month doing things they enjoyed. The people who had more leisure activities - including vacations – had lower blood pressure, lower levels of stress hormones and smaller waists. Then there’s the 9-year Framingham Heart Study of approximately 12,000 men at risk of heart disease. The more frequently the men took vacations, the longer they lived. Obviously, even in a down economy we have to live it up.

WHAT DOES A BAD ECONOMIC TIME LOOK LIKE?

According to federal data, 2008 represented the first decline in births since the beginning of the decade. There were approximately 4,247,000 births – down about 68,000 from 2007. Although more babies were born in 2007 than in any year in U.S. history, an almost 2% drop is significant because birth rates had been increasing for women in all age groups. The largest declines occurred in California and Florida – 2 states hardest hit by housing foreclosures. Add to that approximately 7 million jobs being lost nationwide since the recession started in 2007 and it seems the economy took the pop out of population.

In spite of the economy, baby boomers are history’s richest generation. Marketing experts knew boomers would spend less as they approached retirement, but none of them expected to suddenly lose customers they’d counted on for thirty years because of a recession. When 79 million Americans – almost one-third of the population – stop spending, the economic rebound is affected. Now many companies are trying to appeal to Generations X and Y. Vera Wang came out with a casual line aimed at twenty-and-thirty-somethings. Mercedes recruited a focus group of 500 people ages 23-32. The bad economic times stopped boomers from spending like they weren’t old enough to know better.

Historically speaking, jigsaw puzzles are a sign of bad economic times. The first jigsaw craze occurred during the Panic of 1907. As the stock market dropped 50%, businessmen – some on doctors’ orders – used jigsaw puzzles to settle their nerves. The second craze occurred during the Great Depression; but mass-produced, die-cut, cardboard jigsaw puzzles made them affordable for more people. During the 2009 recession the trade journal “Playthings” reported jigsaw puzzle sales up 13% in the first quarter despite an overall decline in traditional toy sales. Economically being able to make pieces fit together isn’t traditional.

According to the very traditional British Beer and Pub Association, an average of 52 pubs close weekly. This is attributed to changing consumer tastes; the 2-year-old smoking ban; the recession; and the tax on beer, which went up 20% in 2 years. In 2009 the traditional pint of beer costs about $6. This has limited pub business primarily to weekends. During the week people drink beer from supermarket chains that can undercut pub prices. As a result, pubs are having to adapt. The Black Lion Pub in West London has psychic night – obviously knowing it would attract customers.

ISN'T THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO?

Moranda Hearn and Kaylei Deakin are 2 California sixteen-year-olds who have experienced tough times because their fathers are in the military. Instead of complaining, they’re planning a conference for daughters of California troops who have gone to war. They have booked a conference center, proposed using military transportation, prepared a list of speakers and are contacting corporations for sponsorships. They have also presented their plan to the National Guard’s Brig. Gen. Mary Knight and received her full support. However, because Knight would like the 2010 conference to be coed, it might not be called “The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDU’s” (Battle Dress Uniform).

Shawn Saylor is a farmer/science buff with 600 cows outside Pittsburgh. Since 2006 he’s been using manure to make electricity. In a process called “anaerobic digestion” a mechanical scraper drops manure into a tank. From there it moves into a digester. There it’s heated for about 16 days, while bacteria break down the organic matter, producing methane gas. The gas is then burned in generators to make electricity. This electricity powers the farm and 12 neighboring houses - with electricity left over to sell to the grid and an annual savings of $200,000. Thankfully, cows don’t cower about providing energy.

Japan’s Keihin Express Railway Co. offers an optional service to employees – a computer program that rates smiles. In response to a grim face, “Smile 0” pops up on the computer screen; but a broad grin can earn 70 points. The company has installed this software at the 15 busiest of its 72 stations to help employees prepare themselves before facing customers. Considering 250,000 rushed and possibly agitated customers pass through Shinagawa Station each day, a smiling face can go along way. In fact, smile-rating software is underrated just being used in train stations.

Two public interest groups used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration’s 7-year-old recommendation against all cell phone use while driving. Seven years ago more than half the population had cell phones and highway safety researchers estimated driver/cell-phone-related accidents caused 955 fatalities and 240,000 injuries. In 2009 87% of the population has cell phones. According to research, drivers on phones are 4 times more likely to crash; and they are as likely to cause an accident as someone with 0.08 blood alcohol content. Isn’t it time for a call – to stop cell phone use while driving?

IF NOT ON TREES, WHERE DO GOOD IDEAS GROW?

Major oil companies are funding nanoreporter research to find oil. Nanoreporters are carbon clusters 30,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. When injected into natural reservoirs, change in their chemical makeup tells if they’ve encountered oil, water or other substances. Temperature and pressure information are also provided, also helpful in finding oil. Bar-code-like tags tell how long nanoreporters have been underground. If 9-month nanoreporters find oil but 3-month ones don’t, scientists know the oil is deeper. Royal Dutch Shell is funding nanoreporter research to relay real-time information - but isn’t it real time for other energy sources?

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University hope to use the Gulf Stream on Florida’s eastern shore as an energy source for the energy-challenged state. As the Gulf Stream flows by turbines, it would turn rotor blades and generate energy to be transmitted to electrical conducting cables and stored for future use. It’s predicted that the world’s strongest current could generate 4-10 gigawatts  of power – the equivalent of 4-10 nuclear power plants – enough to power 3-7 million homes, supplying one-third of Florida’s electricity. Of course, questions about cost and environmental impact have to be answered to see if the idea holds water.

Mary Naylor’s idea was to start the Transitional Care Model at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. When elderly patients are discharged from hospitals, 20% return within a month, costing Medicare $17 billion annually on re-admissions. With TCM, nurses with advanced geriatric training are assigned to elderly patients in the hospital and they follow up with these patients after their discharge. The nurses make frequent visits and phone calls for 2-3 months to help the patients learn to manage their own care. Although studies show the program saves Medicare patients $5,000 annually, Medicare doesn’t pay for the nurses – an unhealthy decision.

Susan Kessler, Georgia mother of 6, made a decision to market a sign that can be magnetically attached to cars driven by teens with learner permits or first-year licenses – “Caution Newly Licensed”. Some European countries require signs for new drivers, but U.S. states vary greatly in their restrictions. Nevertheless, states with strong licensing laws for young drivers had 30% fewer fatalities among 15 to 17-year-olds. Kessler has sold more than 15,000 of the $7.99 signs through her Web site “newlylicensed”; and if new drivers remove the sign, it’s a sign for parents to remove the keys from new drivers.

ARE THEY KIDDING ABOUT KIDS' HEALTH?

According to a new study, air pollution exposure before birth may cause lower IQ scores in children. In the study 249 women in New York City wore backpack air monitors for 48 hours during the last few months of pregnancy. The women’s lives exposed them to different levels of air pollution - mostly from car, truck and bus exhaust. At age 5, before starting school, the women’s children were given IQ tests. The children exposed to the most air pollution before birth scored an average of 4-5 points lower. Unfortunately, the Bill of Rights doesn’t guarantee the right to breathe clean air.

According to the World Health Organization, mothers should breast-feed babies within 1 hour of birth and continue feeding only breast milk for 6 months. Breast milk provides vital nutrients and strengthens the immune system to fight diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia. However, in 2009 fewer than 40% of mothers worldwide exclusively breast-feed their infants for that long – many because they don’t know how to breast feed or because it’s painful. If 90% of mothers breast-fed for 6 months, it would prevent about 13% of the 10 million under-age-5 deaths annually. This is information pregnant women should stay abreast of.

According to a study published in the “American Journal of Epidemiology”, digging in beach sand raises the risk of diarrhea 44% in children under age 11. Being buried in sand raises the risk 27%. It seems the top 8 inches of beach sand contain high levels of E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria from storm sewer runoff and animal feces. In fact, the levels of germs in sand can be 40 times greater than the levels in the water at the same beaches. When children put sandy hands in their mouth, they ingest the germs in the form of “sandwiches”.

According to clinical studies, sugar-free gum is effective in reducing children’s cavities. Now gum makers are adding xylitol. Besides being a natural sweetener, xylitol is an anti-microbial that acts against bacteria to prevent cavities. For there to be enough xylitol in gum, it has to be the first ingredient listed on the gum package; and for it to be effective, 2 pieces have to be chewed 3 times a day. Children in Finland have been chewing xylitol gum for years as part of a successful public health initiative to reduce cavities – and hopefully one day to “Finnish” with cavities completely.

IS THERE ANY PLACE THAT'S SAFE?

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, text messaging while driving isn’t safe. Cameras watched drivers of light vehicles and trucks for more than 6 million miles and found that driving while texting increases collision risk by 23 times. Dialing a cell phone or using an electronic device increased the risk by about 6 times. Right before a crash or near crash drivers spent almost 5 seconds looking at their devices – at 55 mph that’s time to go more than the length of a football field. As a result, the Institute recommended banning text messaging while driving; and 14 states have already gotten that message.

According to a report in the “British Medical Journal”, rear-facing car seats are safer for young children. An analysis of U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data was done of 870 children involved in crashes from 1998 to 2003. It found rear-facing car seats provided better protection in all crashes through age 23 months. These seats provide full alignment of head, neck and spine so crash forces aren’t centered on one area. Although infants are usually switched to front-facing car seats at 20 pounds, there’s growing evidence the switch should wait until age 4. Car seat manufacturers should consider this “fourwarning”.

According to MSNBC’s review of state hunting laws, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont and Washington have no minimum age for solo hunting. In Texas the minimum age is 9. In Alaska, Louisiana and Tennessee it is 10. In Missouri it’s 11 and in nine other states it’s 12. The NRA believes parents – not lawmakers – should decide when their children start hunting, but federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from buying a rifle or a shotgun. Maybe a Washington woman wouldn’t have been killed in 2008 if a 14-year-old hadn’t thought she was a bear – “bear” facts.

According to Underwriters Laboratories’ testing, autoclaved aerated concrete – AAC – is masonry material that can withstand 2,000 degree fires for 4 hours. Among other features, AAC is energy-efficient, termite–proof, deadens sound and can be shaped with hand tools. It’s a mixture of sand, water, lime, portland cement and aluminum powder, formed into blocks and dried in an industrial pressure cooker – completely non-toxic. The bad news for fire-plagued California is that using it is against building code because it’s supposedly seismically unsound. Considering AAC is used in all other 49 states, that doesn’t sound like sound thinking.