Searching For The Perfect Athlete

The New Yorker:  http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sportingscene/2013/07/genetics-searching-for-the-perfect-athlete.html#entry-more

Genetics is like a box of chocolates, you never know what combinations you're going to get! A little warning though, the article is really interesting, but it is a longer article. So Superbaby is a child who has a genetic mutation that inhibits myostatin, which is a protein that limits muscle growth. This causes him to be extremely muscled and incredibly strong. The article branches out into talking about genetics, how it can affect athletes, and genetic testing for certain differences in genetic makeup.

So when I read this article the first thing I thought was, "That is one buff boy. Hope I never make him mad." It seems unnatural and strange that a baby is born muscled and basically fit. Most people have to work out get so strong and muscled, but this child was simply born with it! When I continued to read, the article talks about how athletes of particular sports usually share a similar genetic trait or gene. These genes influence the athlete or person to have a different capability. For instance,  "Members of a particular ethnic group in Kenya, in addition to living at altitude, have thinner legs, which makes the pendulum effect necessary for distance running that much easier to create.[...] Redheads from everywhere tend to have greater tolerance for physical pain." This is extremely interesting since it is also proof of the theory of evolution and shows that humans are still changing. I think these genes will become more popular and widespread given some centuries since these genes are desirable for most athletes.  

Also, I find it interesting how scientists and biologists are able to detect exactly which genetic traits do what and how they utilize this knowledge. Humans (mostly breeders) are already using such knowledge to breed fast horses and dogs, as stated in the article (which is horrifying). The author of the article seems to consider using this knowledge and applying them to humans. I really hope this does not happen. It seems like this is a little too immoral to be good for the human population. Tampering with human genetics seems risky and not right, because it seems like the scientists and biologist are playing God in these situations.

In conclusion, these genetic changes are really interesting to me and what genetics can do always surprises me. I hope the scientist will put this new knowledge to proper use and not exploit it.

Arkansas Girl Battles Brain-eating Amoeba

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/29/health/arkansas-girl-amoeba/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

I wish the best to this girl, Kali Hardig. This rare infection is caused by an amoeba that enters the body through the nose and goes to the brain. According to Dr. Dirk Haselow with the Arkansas Department of Health, "This infection is one of the most severe infections that we know of. Ninety-nine percent of people who get it die." The infection's symptoms start one to seven days after infection. The government agency's website also says, "After the start of the symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within one to twelve days." Between these days, the infected person experiences headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations.

Even though this amoeba is extremely rare, it is extremely important to eradicate it. As stated, 99% of people who get it die and if this amoeba spreads, it would be devastating for everyone and could turn into an epidemic. This disease is also extremely dangerous since it attacks the brain. We do not have the technology to replace the brain so the only thing to do when someone gets this infections is to wait it out and let destiny take its course. All we can do is take extreme measures to lower the risk of infection.

I hope that even though this infection is rare, scientists will continue to try to develop a cure for this infection. Even though there has been a little over 32 reported cases, any infection that claims lives so viciously should be researched. It is heart-wrenching to see someone claimed by a brain-eating infection (or any illness) since she is literally dying on the inside.

Once again, may the odds be ever in her favor and I hope she becomes one of the 1% that survives this infection. Now I bid you farewell because this is such a depressing topic, and the sad music Pandora chose for me to listen to is NOT helping at all.

T-Mobile's New Jump Plan Gives Customers a New Phone Every Few Months

LA Times:  http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-tmobile-jump-upgrade-20130710,0,5506192.story

So first off, the title completely caught my attention when I saw this on the LA Times website (which is the point of the title, so congratulations and good job to those people). My initial response when I read this article was disbelief. There has been so many new phones made in the last couple years and smart phones are now the must-have of the 21st century, but a new phone every few months is something new for me. (Especially since I have had my phone for well over 3 years and it is still in working condition.)

Quite honestly, I don't feel as though people should be so phone crazy. According to the article, a person with the Jump plan could potentially have up to four smart phones in only 18 months. That seems a little extravagant to me. In my opinion, the Jump plan seems like an amazing deal for people who can afford it, as in really afford it and not, "Oh, I think I can make ends meet for these new phones". With the economy issues, I don't believe encouraging people to get new, expensive phones every few months is the proper way to go. The article says "potentially four phones in 18 months for  about $900, or about $50 a month." I don't know about the majority of the world, but an extra $50 a month for 18 months for potentially four phones is not exactly in my view of affordable or reasonable. 

The overall structure of the news article is simple and well organized. Each section is clearly labeled with a sub-heading and the information presented does not digress from the main point in each section. Each section is further broken down into paragraphs. Each paragraph states an idea or a quote that clearly relates to the section it is under. So, the organization is quite well organized and presented, which is important to a news article. 

In conclusion, I have doubts about T-Mobiles new Jump plan. In my opinion, (and I emphasize MY OPINION) I do not think that this plan is very reasonable for people, especially since the economy is not in the best condition right now. I'm interested in how others will view this new plan. I'm sure it will be met with  both disbelief and anticipation. The structure is very well organized and makes the article easy to follow and I am curious to see how well this plan will be in the eyes of the public.

Now that I've written all of that, I just have to say, "HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE SISTER STEPHANIE!!!" I might as well write that since I'm just sitting here and trying to burn as much time as productively as I can before dinner. (that may have been a run-on, but it's not exactly part of my blog about the news article. I just realized that I could probably go on and write a bunch of random things, but I have a feeling I will be judged for this. Oh well, you PACE people already know me for me, especially the back half of the classroom. Now I shall say goodbye to you people because I'm just rambling on and on. ADIOS!)

Gun Sales are Rising

The Guardian:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/14/smith-wesson-gun-sales-newtown

So first off, gun usage and rights in America is an issue that is completely surrounded in controversy. Being a minor, I do not really have much say in these issues, so I usually just sit back and watch other people argue pointlessly on their beliefs on gun usage (which can get surprisingly intense, which I still find funny). With the controversy lies another subject which is in the "gun usage and rights" category, gun sales. This will be my interpretation on gun sales, which has rose frighteningly in just the past year.

Within the past couple years, gun sales have gone up around a 43% year-on-year rise. The surge in gun sales results from incidents such as the massacre at the Sandy Hook elementary school of Connecticut in December of 2012, the Dark Knight Rises shooting and gassing in Colorado in July of 2012, and after Barack Obama's re-election in November. It seems like each event brings on the urge to be protected and equipped for self defense.

In the article, it talks about how gun sales rise as an effect of mass shootings  According to the article, after all these events, the number of background checks to be legible for a gun license rose. This shows how people are frightened by these events and want to find a way to feel protected. Ironically, the way for a vast majority of people to find protection is to obtain the very objects that caused the incident, guns. However, most people seek to own a gun as merely a precaution to what may happen. Since we do not possess the ability to predict the future, we must prepare ourselves for everything that may go wrong. To most people, having access to a gun provides a sense of security since in most peoples' opinions, who in the right of mind wants to mess with the guy with a loaded gun? (Answer, not many sane people). As a result of the gun abuse in Colorado and Connecticut, people are seeking to obtain a gun to use for self-defense since they want to be able to fight back and have a chance to live in case of an attack.

For the rise in gun sales after Barack Obama's re-election, it is also a precaution for safety as well. Gun buyers feared a clampdown on gun sales, which takes away from the availability for legally obtaining guns and weapons. These people fear to be left in the dust while others are equipped with dangerous items, leaving them more vulnerable to attacks.

Guns seem to be seen as a protective item. People want them to assure themselves that they can fight back if the occasion arises. They assure themselves that the gun will used for self-defense after seeing the devastating effects that a gun can have on the world after incidents like the Sandy Hooks massacre and the Dark Knight Rises cinema shooting and gassing. People want to be be protected from these events, which cause them to buy guns, leading to an increase on gun sales. In conclusion, gun sales rise after incidents involving the use (or misuse) of guns and the possibility of losing the rights to have access to guns.