photo from Springwise.com
One in three traffic fatalities in Europe are alcohol related. Blow Me is a UK-based company that is trying to change this statistic. Blow Me brings breathalyzers to parties and will comply with dress codes for events. Blow Me employes will conduct an unlimited number of breathalyzers in a professional manner in hopes of helping guests think twice about getting behind the wheel. Blow Me first started in London in 2006, and by 2008 had stopped more than 1,000 people from driving while intoxicated. In the United States someone dies in an alcohol related car crash every thirty-one minutes. Hopefully Blow Me will make its way to the U.S. or a similar company will be launched here.
Recently by Ashley Jones
photo from Springwise.com
One in three traffic fatalities in Europe are alcohol related. Blow Me is a UK-based company that is trying to change this statistic. Blow Me brings breathalyzers to parties and will comply with dress codes for events. Blow Me employes will conduct an unlimited number of breathalyzers in a professional manner in hopes of helping guests think twice about getting behind the wheel. Blow Me first started in London in 2006, and by 2008 had stopped more than 1,000 people from driving while intoxicated. In the United States someone dies in an alcohol related car crash every thirty-one minutes. Hopefully Blow Me will make its way to the U.S. or a similar company will be launched here.
This week my sorority, Pi Beta Phi, is having its second annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week. The philanthropy began last year, after a member's mother passed away due to Ovarian Cancer. Members of Pi Beta Phi will be tabling all week on Wescoe beach accepting donations, and selling Mother's Day Cards. Mother's Day cards are $2 and will be mailed by Pi Phi. Please make a donation if you are on campus this week, we are hoping to raise money for research that will help to find a way to prevent this "silent killer".
Ovarian Cancer is difficult to detect early; in fact, 75% of cases are diagnosed in the late stages of the cancer, resulting in a 5 year survival rate. Some symptoms include:
- abdominal pain
- feeling of fullness after a light meal
- loss of appetite
- severe weight gain or loss
- nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and frequent urination
For more information on Ovarian Cancer, please stop by the Pi Phi table on Wescoe Beach to pick up a pamphlet and make a donation!!
The world's largest baby could very well be residing in India. The little Boy, Karan is ten months old is 3 feet 2 inches tall, and weights about 45 pounds!! His mother, not surprised by her child's largeness, is the one of the tallest woman in Asia at 7 feet 2 inches. To keep up with Karan's growth, his mother feeds him 20 times a day.
In class on Monday I mentioned how a baby was born in India with two faces. The baby's name is Lali, and she has a rare condition known as craniofacial disease. Except for her ears, all of Lali's facial features are duplicated; and she can drink out of both mouths and open and close all four eyes at the same time. Many residents in India believe that Lali is a reincarnated version of the Hindu Goddess Valor known as Durga. Her parents claim Lali does not have breathing difficulties and is leading a normal life. They feel that there is no need for a CT scan at this time. The following link is to the video that was posted on CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/baby.heads.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch
A bill in France has been approved by the lower house of Parliament, but still has to face a Senate vote. The law's purpose is to control web sites that promote eating disorders, such as those that promote "ana" and mia" nicknames for anorexia and bulimia. The bill is aimed at mass communication including magazines and websites. The punishment for promoting "thinspiration" ideas would be up to three years in prison and more than $70,000 in fines. The link to the article explains who is behind this bill and why it will and will not be successful.
I think this bill should pass and would be very helpful in leading to new ideas of annorexia education and prevention. The "ana" sights as we have seen in the documentary we watched in class are very influential to young girls. France is known for their extra-thin supermodels, and monitoring these websites' content could help change the "thin" trend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/world/europe/16france.html?ref=health
Yesterday federal regulators approved to create a nationwide emergency contact system that can be delivered to cellphones. The huge popularity of text messaging among Americans has created an outlet for the Warning Alert and Response Network Act of 2006 to have a way to alert the public of emergencies. The text message system would only be used to alert the nation of three things:
1. A national alert from the president about a terrorist attack or natural disaster
2. "imminent threats" such as natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes) and university shootings
3. Child abduction (Amber Alerts)
People will have the option to not have messages sent to their phone. And those who do will not be charged for the messages they receive.
This service could take place by 2010. I think it is a great idea that has no harm in signing up for. Many universities already have a similar system that alert students if campus is unsafe. A lot of people are always on the go and don't always have access to the news or a computer. Contacting people through their cellphones (something that most people have with them at all times) will be effective at getting important messages across at the time they need to be delivered.
As of Monday, some Facebook Networks have been able to Instant Message with their "friends" logged on. While Facebook has always had the messaging system that resembles email, this new Instant messaging feature will allow people to chat back and forth without delays. AOL's AIM program is currently the number one chatting system used, with GMail close behind at number two. Facebook creators believe that they can pass GMail. AOL's spokesperson, Erin Gifford, thinks that AOL will say on top because facebook has always allowed members to show when they are logged onto their AIM screenname, and by clicking on that name start a chat. Time will tell to see what stays or becomes the most popular. I think this new application will be fun and easy to keep in touch with people in a more personal way. However, I also think it has the possibilities of being creepy, as you do not have the option of not having the application, and I think we all know how much people "facebook stalk" and it could get annoying having people randomly want to instant message with you.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/08/facebook.chat/index.html
New York Health regulations were supposed to take effect today, but have been pushed back to April 15th. The regulations are making it a rule that all national New York restaurant chains post calorie counts on their menus. The purpose is to help combat obesity by allowing restaurant patrons to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies. However, the New York State Restaurant Association is claiming this new "rule" violates the First Amendment, since it forces restaurants to put a certain "message" on their menus. As of now, Starbucks is the only major chain that has already put the new rule into effect.
I think that this rule will be successful in better communication with restaurant customers the calories that are included in the foods they are ordering, and will help them think twice about what they are putting into their bodies. I also think that this will hurt businesses that have lots of high calorie foods on their menus. It will be interesting to see if they rule date gets pushed back any further, and how restaurant chains are going to continue to react.
