Poor Sleep= Obesity?

Insufficient sleep in early childhood has been discovered to be a big risk factor for obesity.  There was a new study done by the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.  The researchers analyzed the long-term effects of sleep on kids 6 months old to 7 years.  The researchers measured sleeping patterns including naps, and when the kids reached seven years old the researchers measured their height, weight, abdominal fat, lean body mass, waist circumference and hip circumference.  Their “rubric” to measure inadequate sleep was for children ages 6 months to 2 years- anything under 12 hours was not good and for kids between ages 3 and 4 anything less than 10 hours was bad; and for children between ages 5 and 7 anything less than 9 hours was insufficient.  The kids were given sleep scores from a scale of 0 to 13 0 being the lowest.  Children with lower scores had measurements of obesity.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/05/19/poor-sleep-linked-to-obesity-risk-for-children/ 

Twins meet after 78 years

After 78 long years a pair of fraternal twins are reuntined.  Both were born in Aldershot, England but the mom decided to keep only one.  She simply couldn't keep both of themn from the low pay she recieved as a house servant.  The one that stayed in England was told she had a sister but never tried looking for her since she knew it would be too hard.  The other sister, living in California, has a daughter who researched her family tree and told her mom of a long lost twin.  The hunt was on and after 1 year of communicating through Skype the sisters met in person.  Besides the fact that they married men with the same first name and last name initial, they are very different.  The one who stayed in England is more emotional and sensitive while her Californian sister is a bit tougher.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/05/living/78-year-old-twins-reunited/index.html?hpt=li_c2

Subway

The sandwhich chain Subway is about to give their customers a new ingredient!  Hummus is on trial and might be offered nationally soon.  They are giving the option to expand the possibilites for their vegetarian customers and will be offering it at a time where people cut back on meat.  The hummus will cost more, about the same as the avacodo which is something recent for Subway too.  Mainly focusing on the 20 year old costumers since studies have shown that that age group is more nutritionally aware.  They started testing the chickpea spread in early April and noticed that it's s good choice for the young people who more commonly explore with being a vegetarian or a vegan.
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/05/06/subway-testing-hummus-thinner-meat-slices-to-keep-up-with-changing-dining/

Animals could be human Organ Donors

A lot of research has been made and it has been discovered that in the future animal organs could be used for people.  There are 120,000 people that need organs; this number is a lot higher than the actual amount of organs that are available.  Xenotransplantaion is what the process of putting animal organs in humans is called.  The animal organ could also be used as a temporary organ to keep the patient’s body functioning until a compatible human organ is available.  The biggest hurdle that the researchers are trying to surpass is tissue rejection that the recipient’s immune system could do.  They transplanted pig organs to baboons and it stayed well for 500 days.  The doctors and researchers have to perfect the problem of tissue rejection which is the hardest part. 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/30/animals-could-become-human-organ-donors-some-day-researchers-say/?intcmp=latestnews

Tupac Returns

Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known by his rapper name 2Pac, returned with a great entrance.  The rumor of the rapper never being killed in 1996 and ready to return soon, turned out to be true.  During rapper Juicy J’s concert in Milwaukee, WI this past Saturday Tupac rose from the stage during Juicy’s song “Shootin’.”  The irony was too much, and the fans went wild.  Securities had to call in triple the force.  It seems to be that the only people knowing this was going on were Tupac, and Juicy himself.  Not even managers knew.  Pictures were being taken and 2Pac proudly posed alongside his partner Juicy J.  The whole stadium changed and Juicy became Tupac’s opening performance.  He declared his title as “King” and the crowd seemed to forget they were there for Juicy J.  Tupac pulled 3 ladies from the crowd and they went to a McDonalds drive-thru in a black limo.  President Barack Obama later met up with Tupac and they had an ice cream cone together while talking about how successful his secret has been concealed.  When reporters noticed President Obama was not all surprised and that he seemed to be comfortable around Tupac; it turned out that Tupac was hiding in the white house since 2008.  Fans are pleading for a tour but we all know that he needs to get his life in order before he starts anything new.  

Don't be a Glasshole

Google’s new invention “Google Glass” is a wearable smart phone with its screen as the lenses on the glasses.  It is controlled by “natural voice commands” and after being tested for 2 years is becoming available for the people.  The notorious and successful company claim that the glasses should not be worn everywhere because they do not want people to miss out on the great things in life.  Also, Google recommends that glass users be respectful when using it since it is like a phone, it should be turned off when phones are asked to be turned off.  Aside from those tips they also warn glass users to be patient since strangers will ask about them; thus giving the advice of not being a “glasshole.” 
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/googles-guide-glasshole/story?id=22585076

GM recalls Compact Cars

General Motors is leading a recollection of around 1.3 million compact cars to make them safer and replace a motor in the power steering system.  The vehicles that are under recall list are 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt; 2007-2010 Pontiac G5; 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 sold in Mexico.  GM informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration early this week since they ended their investigation that started in 09. After receiving 1,100 complaints of “loss of power steering assist,” there were 14 crashes and 1 injury, so the NHTSA opened another investigation Jan. 27. Customers are promised to be kept posted of new info. 

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/23149/GM-recalls-compact-cars

Abortion Rates Dropping

According to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute abortion rates in the United States are at their lowest in 40 years- since it was legalized in 1973.  Abortion rate dropped 13% between 2008 and 2011.  The rates of birth is also low.  This could be due to newer more effective contraceptives.

Previous studies have shown that offering free contraceptive helped 239,400 early medication abortions were done in 2011. Chemical abortions are becoming more popular.  Women are seeing contraceptives and abortion as more of an option than before.  According to the National Right to Life something contributing the drop in abortions is that the state and legislative have been putting forth more effort.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/03/health/abortion-rates-low/index.html?hpt=he_c2 

The Pope calls Internet "Gift From God"

Pope Francis believes the Internet is a gift from God. In an interview released on the 23rd, the pope said the Internet helped connect humans with each other.  "The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another," he said. "The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God."  The Pope even has his own twitter! @Pontifex.  He tweets inspiration and blessings and has about 2 million followers! Even though he believes the internet has many good things he also sees the bad and states that the internet could isolate people from one another or not include those who don’t have access to it.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/pope-francis-calls-internet-gift-god/story?id=21639122

Rio de Janeiro

The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro got struck by lightning Friday night.  The right thumb suffered damage from the storm.  The middle finger of the statue was damaged last month as well.  Managed by Father Omar, he says that the statue is frequently hit because of how high it is.  The statue also suffered damage in April 2010 when the arms head and chest were covered in spray painted graffiti.  The figure built in 1931 already had repairs made in 2010 ($4 million dollars worth).  According to the managers of the figure it will be fixed again next month.    

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lightning-strikes-rio-de-janeiro-jesus-statue-9069060.html

The Flu

The flu is becoming very viscious, already spread in 35 states in the country with many reported deaths from the flu.  The flu seems to be targeting adults, instead of the common children and elderly this year (for the most part).  In the cases of the many deaths, some showed no particular health issues, they were healthy and died of the flu.  The flu started earlier last year but health officials say that it’s not too late to get the vaccine for influenza since the flu spreads into the spring.  Also to restrain contact with a person with the flu. 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/11/flu-season-worsens-as-illness-spreads-to-at-least-35-states-cdc-says/

Discomfort killed the Sex Talk

Doctors, children, and adults are letting their discomfort get in the way of research and appointments.  On average the “sex-talk” lasts 36 seconds between doctor and patient.  That is not enough time to cover all the topics that need to be covered in order for sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy data to be accurate.  What makes these appointments a fail is discomfort.  Doctors usually ask yes or no questions and ask only 3 questions.  They’re afraid that they will come off as creepy or unprofessional.  As for the parents, it is proven that the adolescents don’t say as much as they can because they don’t feel comfortable with their parents listening.  In order for a safer and more accurate system people should stick to being professional and honest.

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/31/doctors-dont-talk-to-adolescents-about-sex/?hpt=he_c2