Forensics for a Billion

Giving the gift of food for Mother's Day

2010-05-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Treating mothers to breakfast in bed or a family dinner may seem to be logical and loving gifts.

But for mothers struggling to put any sort of food on the table, these meals would come as a luxury.

On Sunday, people across the United States will celebrate Mother's Day to honor the women in their lives that have left an impact.

And this time, there is an opportunity for the gifts that mothers are given, to impact more than one person.

In an effort to fight world hunger, the World Food Progamme is providing ecards, or electronic Mother's Day cards, in honor of a mother. Those wishing to participate can select a card from the list and make a donation in honor of their mother.

The proceeds will go toward defeating worldwide hunger.

Gun Show Loophole: No background checks for assault weapons

2010-04-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Purchasing a gun comes with responsibility and takes time.

Unless that purchase is made at a gun show.

Obtaining these weapons without undergoing a background check still exists at gun shows across the United States and, oddly enough, is not illegal.

Known as the gun show "loophole," these unchecked purchases are legally acceptable because private sellers are not required to perform background checks on the buyer.

On the east coast alone, 65 percent of gun related deaths are the result of gun shows in the state of Virginia.

And the numbers get shockingly larger.

In a two hour time span, 12 members of the Central Intelligence Agency purchased 5,000 fire arms at gun shows without an I.D. or background check, while those involved with the Columbine High School shootings purchased their guns at gun shows in Colorado.

Currently, democratic members of Congress have sent letters to the House of Representatives to support a bill that would change this policy.

www.nra.org
www.stopviolence.com

World Food Programme calls for heroes to fight hunger

2010-04-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

In June, 2009, the Food and Agricultural Organization reported that there are more than one billion people, worldwide, suffering from hunger and malnutrition.

Luckily, the World Food Programme (WFP) based out of the United Nations, is working to provide food to those suffering, with the intent of decreasing this number.

Now, the organization is searching for heroes to aid in their efforts.

Before April 20, the WFP aims to have at least 100 people that donate at least $15 to the cause.

Because the Haitian hurricane season is strengthening, and food supplies in Niger are becoming scares, the WFP needs the help of all individuals.

For just one $15 donation, three children can be feed school meals for an entire year, while a $100 contribution could provide clean drinking water for thousands of children.

Through the WFP, becoming a hero and saving a life is easy.

It just takes $15.

Bus tour teaches gang life

2010-04-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Walking in the shoes of another person provides insight to what that person is like.

What types of activities they do.

And perhaps, their goals and dreams.

But when it is impossible to physically fit into the shoes of another person, it is possible to fit on one of the 56 seats on a Los Angeles bus.

On January 16, 2010 The New York Times reported on a new concept that teaches outsiders what life is like inside of a gang-populated neighborhood, for just $65 per person.

Through, what is called, the LA Gang Tours, tourists can literally travel into gang culture to see what that lifestyle is like, first-hand.

Tourists sign consent forms to take the tour, but at the same time, gang members in the neighborhood have been contacted to limit violence during tour hours.

The goal of the bus tour is to educate and increase awareness about this culture, putting a face to what people often fear. Once the culture becomes real, solutions can begin to be developed to help gang members.

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M81WtBGhO8 for a deeper look into the tour.

Artists struggle to truly reach audience

2010-04-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

Being an artist isn't easy.

It requires inspiration, a message and a talent.

It involves taking something that has meaning to one person, and trying to make that same message applicable to a widespread audience.

And then having to respond to critiques from those that couldn't truly understand this form of personal expression.

Poet, Shane Koyczan exemplifies the difficulty artists face in trying to be perfect for their audiences, through his poem, "Beethoven."

This single piece of art demonstrates the struggle one of the world's most popular and prominent composers faced when creating music that had both meaning to the artist, and the audience.

It is through this struggle of self-sacrifice and self-destruction that artists attempt to reach both goals.

Circumcision cosmetic process

2010-03-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

Plastic surgery in the United States is not only increasing in popularity, but is reaching a different type of audience.

Baby boys.

Specifically through the form of male circumcision.

In 2010 the American Academy of Pediatrics declared male circumcision a purely cosmetic process arguing that the medical benefits do not outweigh the costs.

During the process, doctors believed babies entered a euphoric state, making the process painless to the child. This process, however, does provoke pain for the child and typically sends the baby into a state of shock.

Despite this pain, the push for circumcision is provoked by economical benefits to doctors instead of medical benefits to the patients, thus urging parents to research all options before taking action, simply because it is the norm.

Feminism isn't a dirty word

2010-03-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

With man-hating, aggressive, pro-choice stereotypes it's easy to understand why being a feminist receives negative responses.

But not all feminists fall into these categories.

In fact, few do.

For most, being a feminist means fighting for equality, not only between men and women, but all groups of people.

It's about ending oppression and breaking down stereotypes.

Stereotypes that women must fulfill domestic duties, be second in command to men, and always be beautiful.

Allen Brown, former instructor at Harvard Medical School, argues that the goal of feminism is not to make men adopt female characteristics, but instead, to accept all genders as equal human beings.

This, in turn, will allow society to live in a more unified and progressive place.

Distracted driving needs to stop

2010-03-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

On average, it takes about 10 seconds to send a text message.

Ten seconds that could be deadly, when it distracts drivers and removes their eyes from the road.

The Car and Driver Magazine found that this form of distracted driving has become more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol.

Not only are text-ers removing their focus from the road, but because the focus is shifted, reaction time is significantly slowed - by at least four times.

Within the last year, the National Safety Council reported that cell phone use while driving has resulted in more than than one million vehicular accidents. Of that, more than 200,000 are the direct result of texting while driving.

That's more than one million accidents that could have been prevented.

The solution is simple. Put down the phone when you are driving. And if you feel that text or call is urgent, pull over to the side of the road to respond.

Ten seconds might seem like a short amount of time. But when on the road, it could mean a lifetime.

Cooking is becoming a thing of the past

2010-03-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

From preparing a seven-course meal to microwaving a package of Easy Mac, cooking has a different definition for everyone.

But while the definitions may vary, the fact that Americans are spending less time than ever in the kitchen, remains constant.

On average, Americans will devout only 27 minutes of their entire day to food preparation. Yet, ironically, the amount of time spent virtual cooking is at an all-time high, with Food Network shows earning more viewers than any other cable news channel.

Each virtual cooking session lasts about 60 minutes, double the amount of time we spend actually cooking.

When cooking does occur, it often consists of processed foods that simply require heating up, such as Hamburger Helper.

The lack of cooking in the American culture can be linked to higher obesity rates, as the consumption of fast food is on the rise.

By stepping back into the kitchen for some old fashioned cooking, Americans can regain control over what enters their bodies.

Recyclable items become 'Smart Trash'

2010-02-26T08:04:00.001-08:00

One person's trash could be another person's treasure.

But now, if efficiently recycled, or our own trash could be worth some cash.

Valerie Thomas, an associate professor at Georgia Tech University, has developed an idea that provides a cash incentive for recycling called: Smart Trash.

Through Smart Trash, a scanner will be coded into trashcans that automatically records what is being disposed. The concept uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFI) tags that are already attached to many recyclable items, and Thomas hopes will soon appear in every item.

While recycling currently exists, through this system, more than paper, plastics and glass will find their way to the recycling bins - thus, making recycling a more efficient practice.

And with the incentive of extra cash, recycling can become a routine.

Thomas's goal is to have each Smart Trashcan's scanner linked to the internet that would register each item, and potentially, credit a person's trash credit, allowing them to receive a refund check with their garbage bill.

Meet Gwen

2010-02-23T21:27:00.001-08:00

Playing with dolls can be a child's favorite past time.

From changing the outfits to styling the hair, creativity is unleashed through this one simple toy.

But more importantly, dolls can be used as a means for educating.

American Girl, a producer of such dolls, strives to teach young girls about who they are today, and who they could become tomorrow.

But a doll released in 2009 failed to meet these standards--Gwen, a blonde-haired beauty, who is homeless.

Gwen, though representing homelessness, comes styled in a white sun dress, pink flip-flops, a cute pink headband and costs $95.

Though the company charges this large amount for a doll and her story, American Girl is donating none of the proceeds from Gwen to actually help the homeless.

A $95 doll could help one of the 1.5 million homeless children in the United States.

American Girl is a company that prides itself on bringing diversity awareness to children, to help them better the future. But apparently, when it comes to itself, the bar is set too high.

Tropical storms to be defeated

2010-02-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

For the first time in history, tropical storms may have met their match.

And the opposing force is someone unexpected: Bill Gates.

This Microsoft Founder, along with 12 colleagues has created a device to decrease the intensity of tropical storms.

Though this device is still in the patent and prototype form, the Salter Sink will mix warm water from the ocean's surface, with the colder water from its depths.

Warm ocean water provides the energy for each storm, causing increased evaporation and more humidity. The wind then forces this moisture into the sky to create rotating storm clouds, that in turn, form hurricanes.

By preventing or eliminating warm water, storm clouds can be kept from ever forming. If the water can be altered by just 4.5 degrees, the entire tropical storm could be completely extinguished.

Each vessel will be about 100 meters in diameter, or about the length of a football field, and will consist of two levels. The upper level will represent a raft-like apparatus composed of used tires. The lower level will contain plastic tubes that extend below the ocean surface. Waves will power the operation by entering the vessels, pushing the warm water downwards and igniting a turbine. The first turbine will ignite the second turbine and will pull up the cold water from the second tube.

The process seems to be simple, however, by altering nature unforeseen consequences are bound to occur, potentially creating a disaster for our planet.

Rudeness on the rise

2010-02-18T21:03:00.000-08:00

Cursing, spitting and texting at the dinner table are actions that are hard to miss.

But evidently, these social faux pas are morphing into social norms.

According to The Charleston Gazette, 80 percent of Americans feel our nation's rudeness is on the rise.

Magicians Penn and Teller found similar results, and when they asked the same question, the remaining 20 percent told them to F-off.

And with the increased presence of social media and technology, it's no shock.

As a result of our fast-paced, need-for-immediacy lives we are focusing less on our people skills, which has made a lack of eye contact or updating a tweet during class socially acceptable.

Because a new decade has just begun, our nation has been given the chance to start fresh, and bring back the manners that were lost in the last ten years.

Valentine's Day about appreciating others

2010-02-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

The week of Valentine’s Day keeps the thoughts of relationships in the minds of many.

With this day emphasizing love, this one passionate emotion has different meanings for each individual.

It’s about appreciation.

Appreciation for family, friends and significant others.

While the concept of a romantic love is typically the main focus of this holiday, it is imperative to remember that love does come in many forms.

It is only through the relationships we form that we truly learn the impact of one individual on our lives, whether this is a romantic relationship or not.

In the poem, The Crickets Have Arthritis, Shane Koyczan highlights the significance one person can have on the lives of others.

Through appreciation and lessons we learn from others, we, as individuals, are able to further understand ourselves.

World hunger at all time high

2010-02-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

As reported by the Food and Agricultural Organization, for the first time in history, world hunger has exceeded one billion.

Of that one billion, there are 49 million Americans suffering from hunger and malnutrition - a number that has doubled during the last decade - and increased by 13 million in the last year.

Following the tragic events of the January earthquake in Haiti, $7.5 billion are now needed to eradicate this problem. The World Food Programme has been the largest food supplier to Haitian survivors and thus far, have reached one of the two million in need.

The WFP's Initiative, A Billion for a Billion, argues that the amount of hunger worldwide can be nearly eliminated through individual contributions.

If each person online donates just $1 per week for one year, the problem can be solved.

That's giving up just 52 sodas, 10 fast food meals or one pair of shoes for one year.

By targeting individuals to solve the short-term problem of feeding the hungry now, governments can focus on creating a more permanent solution, such as improving agricultural infrastructure.

Of each contribution, 93 percent will be spent directly on the food to feed those in need. The remaining seven percent will be spent on overheads for the organization.

Collegiate Forensics compete for an impact

2010-02-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Making a difference in the world, one speech at a time.

Cliche? Maybe.
True? Most definitely.

College students around the nation that participate in forensics programs strive to educate, through performance, about the world's newest and most urgent issues. From helping end hunger to decreasing our nation's rudeness, the competitors in this activity research and analyze feasible solutions to various problems.

Each weekend during an academic year, students share these ideas with their peers in a competitive atmosphere. But spreading the word is difficult to do alone.

After each competition, new ideas and concepts will be presented, so that as an online community, we can help produce change.