Let the bugs fly free!

The Mall of America has released 72,000 lady bugs inside. The reason they did this was to kill off the insect, aphids, that are killing all of the plants inside. The plants inside are natural air purifies for the mall. The mall has apparently done this before, but not in this large amount. The customers seem to not mind them, because they mainly stay on the plants, but when the get into your food, they are a little bit ticked off.

The Mall of America is so big that it can fit 7 Yankee Stadiums inside of it. It has 1.2 miles of skylights to give it natural sunlight and heat. Apparently, the Mall also converts all of the restaurants' fryer fat into bio diesel for the security vehicles, but it's kind of hard to believe that.

In the article it goes on about how the ladybug (Ladybird) population has been changing and all because of the climate change and the land-use patterns. It also talks about ladybugs are a biological defense system in the environment because it helps eat/fight off icky pests.

Yeah, this is all a little weird, but I think people would just be more accepting of getting dirt on their shoe from transplanting, that a ladybug flying into your milk shake. I already knew that ladybugs were a natural defense, but I didn't know that they fight off what ever this aphids. I wonder how those stupid little things got in there anyway.


http://news.yahoo.com/72-000-ladybugs-released-mall-america-193856307.html

Rare Diamond with a rare price

In the article, it was stating some facts about the Hope Diamond, which is the biggest, most famous diamond out there. The Hope Diamond is 45.52 carats, a deep deep blue, and was once own by King Louis XIV . It now sits in the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History, in Washington D.C.

The ring was first cut into a Trombino ring in 1965 by the Italian jewelry designer Bulgari.

That is a whole lot of money. Only a jewelry company could afford that, of course.

A rare blue diamond that weighed 5.30 carats went up for sale last Wednesday. The winning bid was 9.6 million to a diamond business, Graff Diamonds. The sale was held in London, by a jewelry company, Bonhams Fine Jewelry. The are very happy with the sale. The ring was expected to go for about $1.6 million; instead it went for close to $9.6 million, or $1.8 million per carat. That is a lot of money. The old record was $1.68 per carat.




http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/rare-blue-diamond-fetches-record-price-163323202.html

SAVE THE WHALES

In the city of La Paz, Mexico, they are celebrating a very wonderful thing that happened. Last Sunday, some good Samaritans decided to help save a stranded humpback whale. The 30-foot whale was swimming on a shoal during low tide and had gotten stuck. Thanks to the good people of this world, they helped free the whale after numerous hours of hard labor. The whale was pulled free thanks to some ropes too. The whale was stranded on El Coromuel Beach. After they helped the whale, the whale ended up going back into the La Paz Bay, via the Sea of Cortez. People are hoping that they don`t end up seeing the whale on a beach somewhere dead.

In the article it was said that whales tend to swim closer to land when they are young, or feeling sick. They are not sure what the main cause of the whale swimming so close was, but they know he was just so tired from trying to get free. Humpback whales are currently migrating towards Alaskan waters.


As I was reading the comments below the article, I agree with all of the people that were saying that their happy that there are still some good people in the world who are willing to spend time to free a poor whale, without any type of payments. Mexico has been in the news way to often about their drug and other problems. I`m glad they got in the news for doing something good this time.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/humpback-whale-rescued-after-dramatic-community-effort-in-mexicos-la-paz-bay/

Technology helps keep us alive

There has been a system out there in the world that is helping keeping organs, specifically the heart, alive outside of the human body. This contraption is called TransMedics Organ Care System. It was first introduced in 2006, over in Europe, when they complete the first successful transplant using this system. Then, in 2011, they created a similar type of machine that is used for lungs. These machines are legal in Europe, but their still waiting to approve them for here in the United States.

According to the statistics in the article, it is said that 60% of lung transplant recipient's die in the first 5 years after the transplant. That is a very sad thing. There are many good things about this system, such as that it keeps the organ "alive" it stimulates blood or air movement, which is so much better than just plopping it on a pack of ice, and jostling it all around trying to get it to the recipient. apparently, 70-80% of the transported lungs end up being rejected by the body because of infections that happen during the transplant. That is horrible. The new system has given 200 people healthy organs, which keep them up and living.

This is such great news! I really hope that the doctors over here see that this  is a truly wonderful thing and that we need to get it in the hospitals now. Even if it cost a whole bunch of money, it is saving lives, and making people healthy.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/25/health/live-organ-transplants/index.html?hpt=he_c1

All Vegetarian School

An elementary school in New York City, New York has decided to become the first all-vegetarian school in the United States. The elementary school, Active Learning, has pre-kindergarten classes all the way through third grade. These students are really happy with the change. The school first introduced all the all vegetarian meal three years ago when they noticed a majority  of their students were eating  or bringing in vegetarian meals. At least 85% of their students are Asian and another 10% Hispanic.

The school had started the switch three years ago when they introduced a 3 day-vegetarian meal option in their school. They saw numerous amounts of the students enjoying the new menu. They teachers there believe that a healthy life style can help with your education. This seems to have proven them right. The school has officially switched to an 5-day vegetarian meal back in January.

 I think that this is really good for the school that they are finding ways for the children to eat healthier and to also be smarter. The fact that the children actually are enjoying all the different types of food surprises me, especially the tofu meals.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/health/new-york-vegetarian-school/index.html?hpt=he_bn6

I apologize.

For anyone one who reads my blog, which I doubt is any. I apologize.

I made a very immature mistake by plagiarizing. I feel bad that I did this just to try to get my grade up. It was a huge mistake, and I wish I would not of done it. I fell very apologetic towards the author of the article, and I wish there was some sort of way to tell them of my mistake. It was very silly of me to do this. But, as the responsible senior that I am, I accept any consequences that come out of this, even if it means not passing this class, with less than 10 days left.

Girls can now play sports!

Some big news in the world today is that Saudi Arabia girls/women can now officially play sports! The only bad thing about this is that it is only applied to private schools. In the article, it shows a picture of some girls practicing from 2012, but I thought that it was still illegal back then, but oh well. They said in the article that this is a "test balloon" to see if they would be able to allow the public schools to let women play sports.

Saudi Arabia (Google.com)

Apparently they are one of three countries all across the world to not let women participate in the Olympics. But last year, Saudi Arabia allowed two women to play for Saudi Arabia last year in London.

In the article, it states that there is only one university in all of Saudi Arabia that has a women's workout facility, which is only a tennis court. Apparently other gyms doe exist, but they are in danger of being shut down, or are only for the elite rich and famous.

I feel as if this is really good news for women. Their starting to get more rights on even just little things. Sports are a huge part of my life, and i`m glad that for at least some women there, they get to experience it too.


http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/Olive-Press/2013/0505/Saudi-Arabia-sanctions-sports-for-girls-for-the-first-time

Bulking Up

Pain and Gain has had a lot of good reviews, and not only just about their amazing, beautiful cast, Including Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg). Mr Wahlberg worked out a lot, and I mean, A LOT. Clearly. He is looking way to good for his age, 41. For his role as a body builder, he worked out each and every day, multiple times a day. He also ate 12 meals a day. He would wake up specifically at night just to eat protein filled food.

And yeah, this doesn't really relate to the whole world humanities thing right now, but hey, it's Mark Wahlberg. he's known world wide, right? This could bring up the whole issue of the world wide controversy of muscles and illegal steroids and such, but I'm just gonna focus on Mark and his beautiful-ness.

Mmmm, still looking good Mark.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/03/how-mark-wahlberg-bulked-up-for-pain-and-gain/

Smoking is stupid; and here's the proof

Once again, it had been proven that smoking is still bad for  are you and always will be. This recent study has proven that people has young as 35 years old who smoke, or who are over weight, decreases your braing function.

This is what you stupid idiots get besides lung, throat, and every other type of cancer.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/03/smoking-being-overweight-decreases-brain-function-even-in-younger-adults/?intcmp=HPBucket

A big ol' fishy

A fishing guide in Spain had caught his own monster Wels catfish. The catfish weighs in at 6 feet, 11 pounds. He caught him on the Ebro River in Spain. They only kept him long enough to weigh and measure it, and then they let it go, like the good fisherman they are. And of course, right after he caught and released the fish, he tweeted about it.

Ben Hervey-Murray sent this picture along with an email, to GrindTV Outdoor, which then told the world about it in this article. He hopes that even bigger fish will be around so his clients can catch them, and really understand this whole ordeal.

That is one HUGE fish.

He's bigger than me!

The big ol thing.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/excursions/post/fishing-guide-catches-own-monster-catfish/

Barbie Wanna-A-Be`s

What if people in this day of age actually looked like a barbie?

This article is about all of the changes that women would have to make to look like a barbie doll.
If you hadn't already heard, there is a lady out there,  named Valeria Lukyanova, who has went through all the surgery, and extreme dieting, to look like barbie. And she is damn proud of it. She does look a little add though. She is 2 feet taller than average, much bigger breasts, a way to tiny small of waist, and grossly thin arms and legs.

Apparently, she has even had some of her ribs removed to get the perfect figure..

Valeria Lukyanova

This doctor/researcher dude decided to do a study about it from barbie,  compared to the average 19 year old female, who is closest built to barbies figure.


http://shine.yahoo.com/photos/barbie-vs-real-women-artist-slideshow/

New Money

Woo, the US is getting a make over, money wise at least. The new 100 dollor bills is set to be produced any day now. It has more security features and will be harder to remake into counterfeit bills.

There is a lot more color in the new bill which will make it harder to reproduce. It also has a different background with more security features.


The Old

The New
 

This is good for the United States, but I wonder if they realize that people will still counterfeit the old money. You can't just take out all of the older bills. A lot of things would become un balanced and there would be chaos among the people, the government, and the banks.



http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/24/news/economy/new-100-dollar-bill/

Connecticut bans Guns

Connecticut has officially banned more fire arms since the Sandy Hook shooting. I am happy for them that this will somehow give them some sense of security, but people still have their guns. People have their ways of getting guns, whether it's through friends or online or whoever. People will have their guns.

In the article, it mentions how it bans some weapons as well as the sale or purchase of high-capacity magazines, just like the ones used in the shooting. It also requires background checks for any type of gun purchase. This isn't all that they proposed change, but hey, at least they got something passes, and a new law created.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/us/connecticut-gun-law-overhaul/index.html

A Generation to die for.

There is a new study out there that teens in this generation are bound to have heart disease in later life. I have no doubt about this. With all of this icky, greasy food, that people just shovel in their mouth is gross. I assume I will probably know some people who will get heart disease because they eat so unhealthy. like people, for real. EAT YOUR VEGGIES.

In the article it talks about how 80% of U.S. teenagers are on the path of getting heart disease because of their poor diet. It also talks about how they don't exercise enough. I will admit, that I am probably on that road too, but hey, I'm trying to make the effort and work out and eat healthier!

In the article it says that even children as young as 6 years old are starting to have enlarged arteries. THAT IS HORRIBLE. I hardly ever went out for fast food when I was young, because my parents knew it was bad for me. Why don't these parents realize that it's all processed cow or chicken fat with flavor and a whole bunch of sugar? I will be one of those parents who don't take their children out for fast food, and will not let them drink any type of soda or energy drink.

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/01/17553021-most-teens-well-down-road-to-heart-disease-study-finds?lite

Rain is bad.

Heavy rains, in a forest that has a mine in it isn't the best idea. Because of the heavy rains in Myanmar, 11 people have died because it made one mine collapse and another have a tree fall on the living quarters. This happened last Friday. Hopefully they get a better support system in the mine, if they reopen.

Myanmar seems to be getting the metaphorical shaft lately. This sudden flooding is really bad for the already troubled country.


http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/myanmar-rains-gold-mine-collapse-kill-11-19100277

Crazy mother.

There is this really crazy lady in the UK who forced her adoptive daughter to get pregnant because she isn't allowed to adopt any more children. Clearly, there is a reason for that. The daughter ended up having a miscarriage, so after a few more tries, she ended up having the baby at 17, with a  stranger's sperm that they bought online. WHAT THE HELL. I would straight up run away, but I guess if you loved your mother, and wanted to do anything for her, I guess you would do this. But now the crazy lady is in jail for a couple of years and her adoptive kids are now back in the system.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/mother-in-uk-forced-14-year-old-to-get-pregnant/story-fnet08ck-1226631901344?from=public_rss

Violence against women act passed!

Struggling again with an issue important to women and minority groups, House Republicans on Thursday failed to pass their version of a new Violence Against Women Act and then split over a Senate version that won approval with unanimous Democratic support.

The measure now goes to President Barack Obama, who said in a statement that it was "an important step towards making sure no one in America is forced to live in fear." "I look forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits my desk," Obama said.

 

Thursday's votes reflected an emerging political reality in the GOP-led House, with a minority of Republicans joining Democrats to pass legislation supported by the public, including increasingly influential demographics such as Hispanic Americans. By a vote of 166-257, the GOP version of the Violence Against Women Act failed to win a majority after almost 90 minutes of debate. The House then voted 286-138 to pass the Senate version, with 87 Republicans joining all 199 Democrats to provide majority support.

Originally passed in 1994 and reauthorized since, the act provides support for organizations that serve domestic violence victims. Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law. Supporters credit the act with sharply reducing the number of lives lost to domestic violence over the past two decades.

Last year, the House and Senate were unable to compromise on another extension of the act, with Republicans opposing Democratic attempts to specify inclusion of native Americans, undocumented immigrants and lesbian, transgender and bisexual women. However, exit polling showed Obama won strong support among women and Latino voters in the November election that also strengthened the Democratic majority in the Senate and weakened the Republican majority in the House.

Unsolved mystery

The unidentified family of four — including two children under 8 — had been sailing a small vessel Sunday west of Monterey Bay. Forecasters had issued a weekend advisory warning boaters of rough seas in the area, and water temperatures typically are in the 40s and 50s, making long-term survival difficult. The group made its first distress call late Sunday afternoon. Investigators used the boat's radio signal and radar to determine the call came from an area about 60 miles west of Monterey. The boaters reported that their 29-foot sailboat was taking on water and the electronics were failing. Crews planned to search by sea and air through the night Monday to find the family, who said in the calls that they were fashioning a raft from a cooler and a life-preserver ring before they lost contact with the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard released one of the family's recorded distress calls, in hopes that it would lead to new information from the public that could help in the search. So far the agency has received no reports of missing persons in the case. The agency believes the boat's name was Charmblow. In the crackling recording, a man's voice is heard saying, "Coast Guard, Coast Guard, we are abandoning ship. This is the (Charmblow), we are abandoning ship."

Investigators determined from the broken distress calls that the family included a husband and wife, their 4-year-old son and his cousin. The boat's location initially was reported farther north, but investigators now believe the call came from west of Monterey Bay, about 100 miles south of San Francisco. The boat did not have a working GPS system. Calls to harbors in California have failed to locate the boat, and database searches have come up empty. . The Coast Guard was expanding its search to Hawaii, the Seattle area and north into Canada.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0226/Family-missing-at-sea-An-unsolved-mystery-video

Up and Away

A balloon had exploded, and its 21 passengers and operators plummeted about 1,000 feet to the ground. The number of dead had climbed to 19, making it the world's deadliest hot air balloon accident in at least 20 years. It was a gas explosion. Passengers in the balloon included 19 foreign tourists: nine from Hong Kong, four from Japan, three from Britain, and two from France and one from Hungary, officials said. An Egyptian pilot and another Egyptian also were on board. Two people, a Briton and the pilot, are hospitalized

Conflicting reports emerged about the company that operated the doomed balloon, Sky Cruise. The head of the country's civil aviation authority said the company was licensed and working legally. The agency has begun an investigation of the incident. The balloon's basket was divided into four parts, he said, each holding five passengers.

Meanwhile, Luxor's chamber of tourism said the company had previous violations. Several balloon companies had terminated contracts with the local meteorological service after the Egyptian revolution. Sky Cruise and other companies were known to violate safety and security instructions by flying out of East Luxor, instead of the recommended West Luxor. Luxor is among Egypt's top tourist draws. Visitors go to see ancient temples and tombs, and travel sites often recommend the hot air balloon trips.

The last hot air balloon accident in Luxor occurred in 2009, when 16 foreign tourists were injured after a balloon struck a cell phone transmission tower. Until Tuesday's incident, the deadliest accident in recent memory took place in 1989, when 13 people were killed as two hot air balloons collided in Australia.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/world/africa/egypt-balloon-deaths/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

Seals and Science

Elephant seals wearing head sensors and swimming deep beneath Antarctic ice have helped scientists better understand how the ocean's coldest, deepest waters are formed, providing vital clues to understanding its role in the world's climate. The tagged seals, along with sophisticated satellite data and moorings in ocean canyons, all played a role in providing data from the extreme Antarctic environment, where observations are very rare and ships could not go.

Scientists have long known of the existence of "Antarctic bottom water," a dense, deep layer of water near the ocean floor that has a significant impact on the movement of the world's oceans. Three areas where this water is formed were known of, and the existence of a fourth suspected for decades, but the area was far too inaccessible, until now, thanks to the seals.

Southern Ocean Elephant seals are the largest of all seals, with males growing up to six meters (20 feet) long and weighing up to 4,000 kilograms (8,800 lbs). Twenty of the seals were deployed from Davis Station in east Antarctica in 2011 with a sensor, weighing about 100 to 200 grams, on their head. Each of the sensors had a small satellite relay which transmitted data on a daily basis during the five to 10 minute intervals when the seals surfaced.

The scientists get four dives worth of data a day but the seals actually doing up to 60 dives. The elephant seals ... went to the very source and found this very cold, very saline dense water in the middle of winter beneath a polynya, which is what we call an ice factory around the coast of Antarctica. Previous studies have shown that there are 50-year-long trends in the properties of the Antarctic bottom water, and Williams said the latest study will help better assess those changes, perhaps providing clues for climate change modeling.

http://news.yahoo.com/seals-scientists-antarctics-ocean-floor-035440809.html