Cold War Artifacts Found
I find it interesting that although we continually chop down trees and rainforests every year, and that the ocean has become known as “the final frontier,” that every now and again, surprises still lurk in the shadows of our own state.
A Cold War bunker was found inside of the Brooklyn Bridge base this week. Although the place previously had been used for storage, containers were recently found inside of a cache on the third floor, with supplies in case of an emergency. These supplies included crackers that were to be consumed as part of a 10,000 calorie diet, and empty water drums.
The fact that so much history exists under our very noses is fascinating to me. When I was a kid I used to go down to my basement, and play in the small spare room that held all of our storage. I used to wish that somewhere in that room would be an old diary from a former tenant, or a box of toys no one had ever seen before. Okay, so you caught me, I had an active imagination as a kid. Still do, actually.
But the fact is, so much of our past is right in front of our face. We ignore it, trample over it, or preserve it in museums. I only wish we didn’t spend so much time modernizing and adapting. Back in the Cold War era, those items were important. For good reason. Hopefully such findings can help us better understand our past, embrace it, and keep it with us when we move on in life, leaving behind our old keepsakes and storage.
Add a comment March 21, 2006
Cold War Artifacts Found
I find it interesting that although we continually chop down trees and rainforests every year, and that the ocean has become known as “the final frontier,” that every now and again, surprises still lurk in the shadows of our own state.
A Cold War bunker was found inside of the Brooklyn Bridge base this week. Although the place previously had been used for storage, containers were recently found inside of a cache on the third floor, with supplies in case of an emergency. These supplies included crackers that were to be consumed as part of a 10,000 calorie diet, and empty water drums.
The fact that so much history exists under our very noses is fascinating to me. When I was a kid I used to go down to my basement, and play in the small spare room that held all of our storage. I used to wish that somewhere in that room would be an old diary from a former tenant, or a box of toys no one had ever seen before. Okay, so you caught me, I had an active imagination as a kid. Still do, actually.
But the fact is, so much of our past is right in front of our face. We ignore it, trample over it, or preserve it in museums. I only wish we didn’t spend so much time modernizing and adapting. Back in the Cold War era, those items were important. For good reason. Hopefully such findings can help us better understand our past, embrace it, and keep it with us when we move on in life, leaving behind our old keepsakes and storage.
Add a comment March 21, 2006
Slide Show Mania
Slideshows aren’t as easily put together as they may seem. If the pictures seem out of order, or the topics of each photograph don’t match, then the slideshow seems unneccessary, and like they are showing off. However when done well, slideshows are good ways to see several pictures with a click of a mouse. Instead of being distracted by photographs in the story, you can begin a slideshow after, to further understand what they are reading.
This first slide show is from msnbc.com, in their entertainment section. These pictures showcase this week in celebrities. It’s a good slideshow because it doesn’t focus on one particular person, but it does follow a similar theme. The theme is seemingly celebrities caught off-guard, which makes viewing them enticing to see who they will show next, and what they will be doing.
This next slide show is from the Dave Matthews Band website. Its pictures depict various shows put on by the band. I like these shots because they are not all front and center, which anyone in the audience can see. These pictures get shots of every angle, in different colors, which makes the pictures not only look cool but also entices the viewer to be keep looking. If the photos all faced forward, they wouldn’t give you the feel of the concert itself. These pictures do.
My final slide show is actually the header for the NBC.com website. The interesting idea behind this slideshow is that the pictures change on their own. They also showcase the various ‘big deal’ t.v. appearances going on this week on the channel. Pictures like these make viewers want to tune into the shows, to see where they fit. They also make you want to read the articles about the particular show, in order to either catch yourself up on what has been going on, or to prepare yourself for what is next.
1 comment March 15, 2006
How Many Drugs Does It Take?
It’s a pretty cool world we are living in where treatments for one illness can be used to help with other conditions.
Although I’m young, I still worry about arthritis. Having broken my wrist in high school, I know the joints of the bones aren’t as tough as they should be, and therefore can be easier to weaken.
Help appears to be on the way for one of the worst forms of arthritis: rheumatoid. The bodies immune system attacks the joints, which causes inflammation and pain. It is one of the most disabilitating forms of arthritis.
However, the Food and Drug Administration has initially approved the drug Rituxan, which is a best-selling cancer drug for non-Hodgekin’s lymphoma. Rituxan is also being tested as a possible treatment for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.
I am very interested in the idea that one drug can be a blanket treatment for several illnesses. I suppose that since many bacterial and viral sicknesses share symptoms, it makes sense to share medicines. However, it makes me wonder why a doctor or a scientist can not help find a cure for seemingly irreversible problems many die from, or live with.
Hopefully someday.
1 comment March 2, 2006
USA-Filled with Smoke?
It seems tobacco companies want help from the U.S. government. Two companies in California claim that anti-smoking measurements taken by the state are a ‘smear campaign’ against them.
This campaign against smoking includes using part of an .87 cent tax on cigarettes to go towards health education AGAINST smoking. The state uses advertisements that depict such quotes as “We have to sell cigarettes to your kids. We need half a million new smokers a year just to stay in business … It’s nothing personal. You understand.”
The Supreme Court has refused to hear the case, after the complaint was rejected by the United States 9th circuit court of appeals.
Honestly, I hate the fact that cigarette companies have ads in the same magazines that have articles which are against smoking for the purposes of health and weight loss. However, since cigarette smoking (however disgusting) IS legal…I guess I am not sure where to draw the line. Although the tobacco company has claimed first amendment rights towards their company, I feel that others have the right to voice opinions against.
Especially since other ‘drug-like substances’ aka alcohol are also legal and their ads promote drinking as being ‘cool,’ just like cigarettes do. Getting rid of Joe the Camel because he promotes to children the ideals of smoking doesn’t make much sense when you have reptiles on the Budweiser commercials preaching their cause as well. Until the government can figure out where to draw the line, it will have to continue to allow both sides to make their case.
1 comment February 22, 2006
Bird Flu-Clearly Not For Everyone
In recent world news, the bird flu has been found in Germany. Two wild swans were shown to carry this strain of illness. Italy and Greece have also have dead birds on their hands, poultry that has fallen victim to the latest trend in sickness.
Oprah is worried. Therefore American’s are worried. Let’s face it, the threat of a world-wide sickness that threatens with each moment to become airborne and hit plague status is SCARY.
The bird flu has been around since 1997, when it was first seen in China. Since then there have been a few scares, but in 2003 the outbreaks started hitting the masses.
As of right now, the birds carrying these diseases in European countries have been wild. Government officials say they are taking extra precautions to ensure that farm animals can be kept seperate, to avoid slaughter.
Everything time I hear something new about the bird flu, I add another question to my mental list. Does this mean we can’t eat poultry? Possibly not ever again? I’m not really much of a beef girl, so this would be highly disapointing.
On a less self-contained level, what if we did have a plague? According to Oprah’s expert, what needs to happen is a person with the bird flu (which has so far been a rarity) must also simultaneously contract the human flu. This would mutate the two into an airborne strain, with liscence to kill. If you listen further to Oprah, and lets face it everyone does, those with the best immune systems are at the greatest risk.
This all makes me feel like we, ourselves, are headed to the slaughterhouse. It’s a scary thought. I personally like living in a world where I’m not worried about those around me giving me a life threatening illness by merely breathing on me. Okay, so there are other sicknesses out there that can do similar-but without vaccinie or positive methods to avoid-this one takes the cake right now. Let’s hope it can be contained for the future of…well…our lives.
1 comment February 15, 2006
Sports in the USA
I am now the proud owner of a Steeler’s Championship Shirt. It fits in nicely with my collection of jersey’s, terrible towels, and pajama sets. This has been a long time coming for my family, avid Pittsburgh fans. My Dad’s family being from Grove City, P.A. (about an hour from the Steel City), I’ve spent the last ten years wishing Neil O’Donnell could have saved us the shame of losing to the Cowboys.
And now here we are. Tied with San Fran and the Cowboys for 5 titles. I think calling them “world titles” are a bit extreme- as this is only a NATIONAL footbal league.
I of course will miss Bettis. Too old to do his signature “bus” move, but still young enough to help bring his team to victory. He made up for his serious fumble during the last few minutes of the Colts game. Fumbling on the two yard line is a pretty serious offense, and had that been the last play of his career would have been almost inexcusable. Luckilythe kicker for the Colts couldn’t make a 47 yard field goal.
The Seahawks also appeared to have that problem. Not only did their punter miss an easy field goal (it went offsides at the last moment) but as the team whose first trip to the superbowl EVER was against a team who had made it 6 times…So many technical difficulities were made. Although no one on the Steeler’s team had ever been to a Superbowl, and therefore had some pretty rookie moves, they at least followed the rules of the game. Examples being Ben’s touchdown being upheld by getting the tip of the ball in the plane of the goal line. Then you had the Seahawks stepping out of bounds and catching balls after flags had been thrown. This was a game that came down to better coaching and less technical difficulties on behalf of the Steelers. They deserved it after years of trying, and Bill Cower only having 3 losing seasons in his 14-year run.
1 comment February 6, 2006
Entertainment
I don’t know about the rest of you, but this whole baby-boom of the stars is really getting to me. Babies seem to be the hot new accessory of the season. First there was Brittany, then Michelle Williams, Jennifer Garner, and now Angelina.
Every new pregnancy gives us a ton of stories of where to shop and what to do while pregnant, and of course the ever popular how the stars cope after with new baby and old weight.
Now Brittany (Spears, I’m assuming we all know her by now) wasn’t ever a classy dresser.
However since the pregnancy, backlash aimed at her wardrobe has been especially brutal. Granted while being pregnant she favored the sheer, too-tight dresses that I wouldn’t even wear at my weight (135 at 5’7” thank you very much), but I feel bad for her that being in the public eye people expect her to drop the weight and look as good in the same clothes right after.
Maybe if she wore more maternal clothing during people wouldn’t spend so much time eyeing her after.
But should we really pick on anyone for dressing how they see fit and not being in the best condition post-baby Preston? It’s not like she has a husband to rely on for support. Maybe the public could stop condemning and start looking elsewhere for say, 3-5 months until the baby weight FULL comes off (although it’s not like she looks terrible now, she’s just with a different kind of six pack now).
I could do a full-length feature on anyone I mentioned in the first paragraph, but I supposed that’s all for now. So thanks for tuning in to my life!
1 comment February 1, 2006
