Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Surgeons to separate conjoined twins in marathon operation

In hospital of Los Angeles, there are ten month old two girls joined from the chest to the pelvis. They have two heads, necks, shoulders, arms, hearts and lungs each, but they have only one some vital organs. Doctors will devide their some organs.
Surgeons to separate conjoined twins

Nowadays, we can see the siamese twins. Some of them were already separate their bodies, and others still are joined from their bodies. Usually, if they separate their bodies, percentage of their survival is too low, 5~25%. However, if they do not separate their bodies, they are going to be pain during their life. I think that they should have a choice to devide their bodies because it is own life and bodies. However, as this news, they cannot decide to do yet, so that their parents and doctors should consider really carefully.

Fortunately, they separated successfully.
Successfully separated

ERIC

Prosecution demands Saddam death

I read "Prosecution demands Saddam death " in bbc news. The auther talks about the trial of Saddam Hussein.There are seven of former aides. The prosecution requir Saddam death.Chief prosecutor said that Saddam,Barzan,and Taha Yassin did many crimes aganist Iraqian people.Hoever,The defendants said that Saddam is not responsible for these crimes.


I think that Saddam is gality, and he killed a lot of people and he disearve the death.However, not only Saddam is gality but also there are many Presidents around the world have to face the same trial because they kill a lot of people every day. On the other hand, Saddam did goog things in the past.He developed the education system and the hospitals.I wish that U.S did not start this war, because this war kill more people than Saddam killed.

How do you popularize McDoald?

I readA McDonald's Ally in Paris in the New York Times. In the article, Denis Hennequin, president of McDonald's Europe, explained how he produced the largest amount of profit second only to that of McDonald's the States in France. When he became the top executive in Mcdonald's France, he faced hard situation because a lot of McDonald's restaunt was destroyed by strong objections to the Americanization. However, he suceeding in making Mcdonald's resturants popular by holding ad campaingins. In the campaingins, he conveyed the customers that Mcdonald's France is not a symbol of American restaurants but restaurants of France by telling the nation that most of incredients in their foods are from France and that virtually all of the working members there are French.

I'm interested in this article because I have a question to why many countries choose Americanization. Some countries such as Japan, my native country, have a kind of affinity to the U.S., and tend to adopt American culture easily. On the other hand, other countries such as France have strong disgust to American culture and it is difficult for them to accept it. However, most of them finally become to accept it. This article explained the process that those countries accept Americanization. American culture penetrate those countries by changing its face, alothough it does not change the nature, "quick, easy, and inexpensive". The concept is too strong and attractive to protect native cultures easily. I think American culture has a lot of good points. For example, because of it, our lives became suprisingly convenient. On the other side, if we are not senstive to protect our own native caltures, other countries will be culturally colonized by the U.S . Thus, I think it is important for us to choose carefully which parts of American calture we adopt.

Starbucks targeted by group over high-fat products

Starbucks Corp. may be next on the target list of a consumer-health group that this week sued the operator of the KFC fried chicken restaurant chain for frying foods in oils high in harmful trans fat. The Center for Science in the Public Interest said it is planning to campaign against the global cafe chain because of the increased risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer associated with high-calorie, high-fat products it sells. "Regular consumers of Starbucks products could face Venti-sized health problems," Jacobson said, referring to Starbucks' use of the 'Venti' designation for 'large.' CSPI would like Starbucks to list nutrition information -- which is currently available online and in store brochures -- on its menu boards. A 20-ounce Venti banana mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream contains 720 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat, and a banana cream crunch bar weighs in at 630 calories and 25 grams of saturated fat. By comparison, a McDonald's Corp. Big Mac has 560 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat. "People expect foods from Dunkin' Donuts to be unhealthy, but Starbucks has more of an upper middle class, healthy, hip, politically correct facade," Jacobson said. "But the food is just as harmful to your arteries."

In my opinion, Starbuck has to provide the informations of nutrition of their products. It was one the most interesting thing that I saw in US to be noticed nutrition list at all of foods. And it would help when people choose products and it make the companies try to improve their products' quality. In addition, choosing food with nutrition list could reduce obesity and malnutrition.


if you want to read original article, click here:D


Seo Young

Glitter Sex Abuse

I read this interesting article. It reports the child sex offences against Gary Glitter, a famous British ex-pop star. Four months earlier Glitter was accused of molesting two little girls, aged 11 and 12. Glitter's lawyer claims that his client is innocent and he refuses to admit that he did it. However, the evidence and the testimonies that are given to the Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City ensure that Glitter is guilty of child sex abuse.


It's really a shame that Glitter was an idol for millions of people once. Glitter claims that he is innocent. However, he admits letting a girl in to his bed. What is that supposed to mean! It's impossible that he didn't do anything to the girl. If he was really innocent, why did he do it in the first place? I think Glitter is guilty and he should have a strong punishment to make sure that he or other sick people don't do the same thing to little innocent children.
Samah Ali

Friday, June 16, 2006

Suicide

The author talks about Japanese suicide in "Japan to tackle high suicide rate" on BBC News. There are a lot of cases of suicide in Japan. This rate is one of the highest in MDCs (More Developed Countries). Therefore, Japanese government tries to reduce the rate. There are many causes of suicide, however, the government thought job stress and money worries are main factors of suicide and most serious problems, so they made companies to give mental health care for workers.

I agree with this author. Recently, I came to hear or see the word, "Suicide" frequently by TV news or newspaper. And suicide has been serious problem, especially industrialized countries. I think the people who live in MDCS has a lot of pressures of working and earning money to live, also. The pressure connects to suicide surely, so I agree with this author. However, I think the religion and citizen's characteristic is one of the most relative things to suicide as well. Almost Japanese people don't care about our religion, and I heard there are very few cases of suicide in Saudi Arabia. They believe in their religion, Islam strongly. Therefore, I thought the religion is related to suicide.

Hiroto

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Coffee may reduce liver disease

I read an article "Coffee may reduce liver disease" on BBC News. It was about the new research show that people can avoid the risk of alcohol-related liver disease by drinking coffee. The level of enzyme that is an indicator of alcoholic cirrhosis of drinkers who drank coffee is lower than drinkers who did not drink coffee. However, the researchers didn't absolutely sure that caffeine was the affected-factor because there is no differrent in drinkers who drank tea.

After I read this article I think it is so lucky for every heavy alcohol drinkers. They can find the way to reduce their liver disease risk. Actually, I disagree with the idea that if you drink more coffee, your risk of alcoholic cirrhosis will lower. That doesn't solve at original cause because the real cause of alcoholic cirrhosis is drinking too much alcohol. And if you drink too much both alcohol and coffee, you will be an alcoholism and caffein addict in the same time. Then the best way to avoid liver disease is that you should decrease the amount of alcohol intake.

Questions :

Chamaporn

Acceptance of gay marriage growing in State of Califoria

Hafe of california voters accept same-sex marriage.In the past , people did not support these things , but now 50% 0f people
do not disapproved the same-sex marriage. Opinions can change over time, but they can not be changed quickly. However,
some people state that same- sex marrage is rights of people and everyone want to do whatevever he want,and it is not fedral
government business. Younger voters appear mor accepting than older voters for same-sex marrage.

In my ipinions, the best thing that President Bush do in his life is that he pans the same-sex marrage. Gays and lesbians are
trying to chang the style of life. The government should treat these people because I think that some of them have problems
in their childhood .
MISFER

Violent crime on the rise in big US cities

"Violent crime on the rise in big US cities" is the headlight of the news that I found on Sky Valley Journal. In this article, FBI statistics states that violent crimes are increasing in large cities in the US. These increases reflect to the disruption of effective anti-crime programs. Also more people tend to solve their dispute in aggressive ways. Besides that, evacuees of Katrina Hurricane last year boost to the crime rate.

In my opinion, it is a serious signal for us to fight with the increase of crime rate. More violent crimes also mean to threaten the stability of the society. Unsteadiness of society may provoke more severe problems such as clashes, hate crimes, or even race discrimination. The concerned people should find out the root causes of crime and deploy the most effective approaches to heal the problems. Solutions should also connect with the restrictions of the access to weapons. For example, some school kids bring guns to class and start to shoot classmates. This also indicates

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Acceptance of Gays Rises Among New Generation

According to the article, people become except gays more than they were except them in the past. The author thinks American almost know somebody who is gay. Elizabeth Mehren believes that gays are feeling more comfortable in society, and also society is feeling more comfortable with gay people. She says young people more support of gay marriage than older people. Moreover, most elderly people don’t like watch T.V with homosexual characters.  She also proves that most people don’t like their children to be gay or lesbian even though they are excepting the idea of being gay or lesbian. Finally, The article shows us that people argue about gay is something people are born with or it is something that develops because of the way people are grow up.
Mohammed Ali

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Health in America- articles

http://www.cspinet.org/new/soda_10_21_98.htm
Soft drinks undermine America's health

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/tb2/3214
Americans lag behind English in health

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/17/health/main782266.shtm
Drink industry: Cut soda at school

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194085,00.html
Soda Ban

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/nutr/obes/alert08032004.jsp
Obesity swallowing America

http://www.naafa.org/press_room/obesity.html
Obesity Acceptance

Acceptance of gays- articles

http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/usnews094.htm
Acceptance of gays on rise, polls show

http://talk.livedaily.com/archive/index.php/t-402693.html
Acceptance of gays rises with new generation

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/5/22/131736/145
Acceptance of gays in major religions

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/26/MNGOR58L2F1.DTL
Acceptance of gay marriage in California

http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/index.ssf?/special/oregonian/gaymarriage/040306_pop.html
Acceptance of gays tied to pop culture

http://www.illinoisfamily.org/informed/contentview.asp?c=22904
Illinois Family Institute reports gay protesters

Monday, June 12, 2006

Students Find Ring Tone Adults Can't Hear

Young students are using the special ring tone. It is actually made for elimination of teenagers who loiter in front of stores. User can download ring tone which is too high pitched to be heard by most adults. However, some young students can receive message without the teacher knowing.

Since 1990, our technology have changed and developed rapidly, so we can get a lot of better life from various kinds of machine, but sometimes we are in troubles because of the technology. One of the exapmples is the cell-phone. It can obviously give to us convenience to call because we can call anywhere. However, nowadays almost all people cannot live without the cell-phone because we are already accustomed by the cell-phone. Also, like this news, many young students are playing with their friends during calss time. We should know to control ourselves from technology, but unconditional developing technology.

article
ERIC

This Joe's for you?

Three big restaurant chains are revving up efforts to take on Starbucks, which has struck it rich by serving expensive coffee to people looking for a little bit of daily luxury. But the chains — Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and Burger King — are not going after the Starbucks coffee snob; they're going after the average Joe. Call it class war in a coffee cup. Burger King customers buying the new BK Joe coffee "don't want it to be complicated, like a chai half-decaf whatever," said Denny Marie Post, the senior vice president and "chief concept officer" for Burger King, a unit of Texas Pacific. "Our customer doesn't have that kind of money, frankly, and doesn't have that kind of profile. They just want it to be straightforward. This is not frou-frou coffee." Since McDonald's began promoting its premium coffee several months ago, the company says, its coffee sales have increased at a double-digit rate. The chain has almost "defied gravity," said Bob Goldin, the executive vice president of Technomic, a restaurant consulting company in Chicago. "You would have thought that the bubble would have burst by now, but they've continued to find ways to make themselves relevant to their consumers." "It's such a big business, and there's so much room," Mr. Goldin said. "Starbucks does have a different, more loyalist customer. You think of the Starbucks customer as Gen X, more affluent, more urban. I think Dunkin' has a little bit more of a blue-collar type of appeal, but that is starting to change." Coffee is the easiest way to figure out who is a member of your "tribe," said Marian Salzman, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at the advertising agency JWT. It may be that Dunkin's average-guy ad campaign is catching on, Ms. Salzman said. "I've noticed a real change of people carrying Dunkin' Donuts products proudly, like they're driving an average sedan. It's like a billboard, a cup that says 'I don't care.' "


Seo Young

Power mull Iran nuclear crisis

In the article ths six major country discuss Iran's nuclear programme.These countries are working to avoid Iran to do that. Iran says that it will meet with US if it was allwed to complete uranium enrichment. George W Bush warrned if Iran continue that, the US will go to the UN Security Council . The best thing for Iranians to understand that the next step for the world to go to the UN Security Council.

In my opinion Iran have the right to start its programme. Iran want to use the energy in good things as it said. However, some countries have the nuclear energy and US did not say anything about that. The world have to make sure about Iran's saitution, and they should not judge Iran quikly.

Acceptance of Gay

James Recci and Patricia Ward Biederman in “Acceptance of Gays on Rise, Poll Show” are discussing the fact that the community is becoming more opened to the idea of homosexuality. Over the past decades, people declined gays in the society. However, the number of people who accept gays is increasing. According to the article, acceptance of gays is similar to the black civil right movement in many ways. The influences of media and famous politicians had helped the society to admit the issue of gays. All what homosexuals demand is to be treated as normal people by the society.


People choose the path that will make them satisfied about them selves. If those people chose to be gays, they are free and this is their business. However, they will have to be careful of the consequences and they should be willing to face all the barriers in this way. Not all the people will look at them as normal couple. But eventually the community will have to accept homosexuality.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Dying to Be Beautiful? The Health Risks of Cosmetic Procedures

An interesting story called "Dying to Be Beautiful? The Health Risks of Cosmetic Procedures that I have found on Foxnews.com. It is about hidden risks to men and women who want to enhance their appearances in beauty salons. These dangers relate to technical skills and professional standards of practitioners. Besides that, sanitary conditions and misuse of products add more problems. These threats not only expose you to dangerous infections like HIV virus, but also lead you to death in serious cases. Medical experts advise us to take more precautions to stay health and beautiful before pursuing beautiful enhancement.

Who dares to die before they may become a beauty? In my opinion, beauty is only the appearance. Spiritual and intellectual attractions are more important. Why do we spend money to bring problems to ourselves? I do not think that beauty is only decorating materials to buy and stick them on our body in the hope that these materials make us prettier. This may have a temporary effect, but can beauty last long? Also, artificial beauty is like a fortune game, whether a person can become a beautiful one or not, totally depends on beauticians’ technical ability. What happens if she or he is in the wrong hands of an unskilled or unlicensed practitioner? This can turn into a mishap. Again, beauty belongs to spirituality. Anyone who wants to give her/his fate in someone else, think again before doing.

Thaiduong

The Reach of War

It was about the results of American’s war against Iraq. The most important one is the in falling down of Iraq’s culture. However, the bucker in the heart of Baghdad’s Security-Obessed Green Zone was safe from American’s bombs. The furniture in Saddam Hussein’s palace had been destroyed. The author continues the article describing the war n Iraq which has very damages results on the Iraqi people.


From my viewpoint, I think it was a good idea to have war against the tyranny Saddam Hussein. On the other hand, the war went to the wrong direction. Strategies should have been planted more carefully because the present situation destroyed and damaged many historical sites and cultural heritage in Iraq. Besides that it killed a lot of innocent people from both sides.
Samah Ali

The Reach of War

I read this article. It was about the results of the American’s war against Iraq. The most important one is the in falling down of Iraq’s culture. However, the bucker in the heart of Baghdad’s Security-Obessed Green Zone was safe from American’s bombs. The furniture in Saddam Hussein’s palace had been destroyed. The author continues the article describing the war on Iraq which has very damages results on the Iraqi people.


From my viewpoint, I think it was a good idea to have war against the tyranny Saddam Hussein. On the other hand, the war went to the wrong direction. Strategies should have been planted more carefully because the present situation destroyed and damaged many historical sites and cultural heritage in Iraq. Besides that it killed a lot of innocent people from both sides.
Samah Ali

Thursday, June 08, 2006

International migrants

The author talks about migration in the world in "Global migrants reach 191 million" on BBC News. Nowadays, migration has been common behavior in the world. The main purpose of migration is to earn money. They make money at the more developed country and send it their home country using abroad account. And Kofi Annan said that migration is really good for both of countries to develop.

I think migration has a lot of advantages certainly, but it has disadvantages, also. In the case of this article, migrants can earn much money, and the countries which accept migrants will develop more surely. But I think if migration will be more common behavior, the commerce, industry or technology of the countries of the migrants won’t be developed, because they can make much money and send it to their home at MDCs, so the people who go back to their home country to work will be very few. Therefore, I think migration of this case has both sides, advantage and disadvantage.

Hiroto

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Space Shuttle Launch

I read “Dicovery Reviews Continue for July Launch” on NASA News. It was about NASA Shuttle Program Manager, Wayne Hale, speaking at the space program’s Debris Design Verification Review meetings on the status of STS-121 mission. He said that the shuttle will release foam debris during launch but the mission still go on. NASA Engineers are still working in this problem.

I was interested in this article because when I was young, I had dreamed to be an astronuat. I agree with this mission because I think discovering other planets can show us how our Earth used to be and how it will be in the future. I believe that everry planets in the same Universe born and will die in the same way. However, NASA should think over the hazardous waste that will release after shuttle launch, how they can eliminate it or how they can clean it up.

related link

questions

Chamaporn

Sunday, June 04, 2006

English should be taught in elementary school?

I read Editorial/ English education.In this article, the author reported the change of English programs in Japan. A Council on foreign language suggested that English education be enhanced in elementary schools because English become more important all over the world. Actually, most elementary schools in Japan already introduce English lessons as part of comprehensive study lessons. Most parents support that their children study English in their early age. However, some people say that it is more important for children to study Japanese intensely in elementary schools because it gives a firm foundation to them when they start studying English in junior high school. The author stated his opinion that elementary schools should be given choices to decide on how they teach English.

The author insists that the elementary schools should have choices in whether they teach English or not. However, I totally disagree with the introduction of Engish lessons in elementary schools for the following reasons. First, I think teaching English in elementary schools is useless. From my exprience, I have a strong question to English education in Japan. We have studied English for 6 years in junior high and high school, but we don't have oppotunity to speak English in class room. Teachers just concentrated on teaching structure and translation to Japanese, and did not give chance to communicate in English. For this reasons, most Japanese can't speak English after 6 years. In addition, some of them have fear of English, because they have bitter memories to study difficult structure for 6years. If new Engish program start now, teachers will do same mistake. Second, we don't have so many necessities to use English in Japan. In Japan, we don't have any difficulty in daily life if we can speak Japanese. Of course, accompanying globalization, some Japanese need to use English, but the number is limited. Especially, children don't need to speak English. If they feel it important to learn English after becoming older, they study English voluntarly. Actually, many Japanese go to study abroad to learn English, and there are a lot of private English schools in Japan. For this reasoon, I think that not all Japanese have necessity to speak English. If government has budget to enhance English program in elementary school, they should use it to solve more serious problem, such as environmental probrem or umemployment. Therefore, I disagree with the introduction of English education in elementary school.

Yuhei

Friday, June 02, 2006

I'm the daddy

I'm the daddy

I’m the daddy” is a title of an article introduced on BBC News online. It is a story about, Ian Mucklejohn, a single businessman from UK with the fear of losing his right to take care of his children when a relationship broke up, he decided to have children without a female partner. With help of scientists, he has his own babies and becomes father and mother of his children.

After reading the story, I have a hateful feeling toward Ian. He is just too selfish. He only thinks of himself. Is his love for his children genuine, or is it just something he does to satisfy his ego? He is too cowardly to have his own relationship and start his own family in the normal way (a family with father, mother and children). What he did is like the nature of his business. You have money and you can buy what you want. In this case, he bought his children although he may think that he created a new page in history to become father of three children without a spouse. If he does care for children like that, he should have thought about how his children’s lives would be without love and care from a mother. Probably, Ian himself has a mother who loved and cared for him, but he fails to apply this to his children. If he really cares and loves children, he should start a family in a normal way.

Thaiduong

Paparazzi

paparazzi is a plural term (paparazzo is the singular form) for photographers who take candid photographs of celebrities, usually by relentlessly shadowing them in their public and private activities. The term paparazzi is often used in a derogatory manner. Originally, it referred to Italian celebrity photographers who learned that a picture of a movie star throwing a punch was more valuable than pictures of stars smiling (celebrity tantrums are a common entertainment story in the mass media). It is this antagonistic interaction that is the hallmark of a true paparazzo; however, the term is often used more broadly to describe all photographers who take pictures of people of note.

Technological developments in cameras (such as higher quality telephoto lenses and higher speed films) enable paparazzi to "shoot" (English slang for capturing a photograph) their prey from afar and remain unknown to their subjects. Miniaturization allows tiny palm-sized cameras that can engage in effectively secret photography. Furthermore, digital cameras and transmission methods allow for rapid distribution of the pictures.

Due to the reputation of paparazzi as an annoyance, some states and countries (particularly within Europe) restrict their activities by passing laws and curfews, and by staging events in which paparazzi are specifically allowed to take photographs.

I become interested in this subject after I had class about paparazzi. It was really amazing class. I learned a lot about paparazzi and how they are professionals. They can take clear picture from long distance. Honestly, I like the way they are doing their job. In fact, they make a magazine extremely exhilarating. However, in my opinion, paparazzi are selfish. They just want to make a lot of money. They don’t care about what will happen to people who were photographed. Sometimes, they destroy their life. They try to embarrass a person which is disrespect of private life. Finally, the government should make strict rule to prevent the harmful of paparazzi.

By: Mohammed Ali

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Help design Michigan's new license plate

The government of Michigan state is going to change a new license plate.
They made a recruit application for creating new license plate of Michigan.
Michigan state wants to express well the Mackinac Bridge. The deadline of a recruit application is June 23rd.

WNDU

In Korea's case, they have tried to change license plate, because it was not only good for identification but also not good for a fine view. Why do they should change
license plate even though it does not help to drive. I think that license plate can show a symbol of own states or countries, like State of Michigan. Also, it is good to see shape of the car. In the near future, I think that someone is going to make the license plate, which expresses various kinds of expression of driver.

If you click this site, you can see the license plate of the world.
worldlicenseplates

ERIC