27 April 2009
Binge drinking may damage teens' brains
When teens go on a binge drinking episode, they may be doing serious damage to the sensitive "white matter" in their brain, a new MRI-based study suggests.
White matter is involved in relaying information between brain cells, the researchers said. This means that damage caused to the developing brain by bouts of heavy drinking could affect thinking and memory, even lowering school performance.
Although white matter impairment has been seen in the brains of adult alcoholics, "we were somewhat surprised that these adolescents who had histories of binge drinking showed significantly poorer quality of their white matter," said lead researcher Susan F. Tapert.
White matter is involved in relaying information between brain cells, the researchers said. This means that damage caused to the developing brain by bouts of heavy drinking could affect thinking and memory, even lowering school performance.
Although white matter impairment has been seen in the brains of adult alcoholics, "we were somewhat surprised that these adolescents who had histories of binge drinking showed significantly poorer quality of their white matter," said lead researcher Susan F. Tapert.
The cause of the damage is not fully understood, Tapert said. "It could be that episodes of binge drinking during the teenage years, when their brain is still developing, could have adversely influenced the brain's white matter development," she said.
Heavy drinking among adolescents remains a major problem, Tapert said.
Heavy drinking among adolescents remains a major problem, Tapert said.
According to the MRI scans, teens with a history of binge drinking showed damage to their brain's white matter - specifically, a lower "coherence" of white matter fibers, which suggests poorer white matter health, Tapert said.
White matter is a main part of the central nervous system and is necessary for passing messages between different areas of gray matter within the nervous system.
Tapert noted that if this damaged white matter was just an image on a scan, it wouldn't be a problem. "But we have seen in other studies reductions in thinking and memory ability in adolescents who had histories of heavy drinking," she said.
In those studies, teens with a history of heavy drinking retrieved about 10 percent less information compared with teens who were not binge drinkers, Tapert said. "We have also seen that if you start drinking heavily in adolescence, you are more likely to go downhill on other measures of thinking and information processing," she said.
Although this study is only a snapshot of a small number of teens, Tapert takes the results seriously.
White matter is a main part of the central nervous system and is necessary for passing messages between different areas of gray matter within the nervous system.
Tapert noted that if this damaged white matter was just an image on a scan, it wouldn't be a problem. "But we have seen in other studies reductions in thinking and memory ability in adolescents who had histories of heavy drinking," she said.
In those studies, teens with a history of heavy drinking retrieved about 10 percent less information compared with teens who were not binge drinkers, Tapert said. "We have also seen that if you start drinking heavily in adolescence, you are more likely to go downhill on other measures of thinking and information processing," she said.
Although this study is only a snapshot of a small number of teens, Tapert takes the results seriously.
The findings also have important policy implications.
"We strongly recommend not lowering the legal drinking age, as some well-intentioned - but very misguided - college presidents have recently advocated. We do not strive to deprive teens and young adults, only to protect their futures," Dr Knight said.
"We strongly recommend not lowering the legal drinking age, as some well-intentioned - but very misguided - college presidents have recently advocated. We do not strive to deprive teens and young adults, only to protect their futures," Dr Knight said.
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter (adapted)
22 April 2009
Be Green!
It’s easy to protect the planet! These tips help save limited resources such as water and energy. So get green and give the tips a try. Make sure to ask your parents before trying any of these tips!-Choose locally grown food. Transporting food long distances wastes fuel and creates extra CO2.
-Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
-Send an e-card instead of a paper card.
-Say "No bag, thank you." Whether you're buying toys, snacks, or clothes, tell the checkout person you don't need a bag. By carrying your own reusable fabric bag, you'll help reduce the estimated 100 million plastic bags that each year clog sewers, entangle birds, and get swallowed by whales, sea turtles, and other wildlife.
-Scrape leftovers off the dishes instead of rinsing them. (Wash the dishes soon after.)
-Take short showers instead of baths. Aim for five minutes—but still get clean!
Share these green tips with your family and friends!
Emily Busch and Catherine D. Hughes, National Geographic
Drinking Water: Bottled or From the Tap?
"If your family is like many in the United States, unloading the week’s groceries includes hauling a case or two of bottled water into your home. On your way to a soccer game or activity, it’s easy to grab a cold one right out of the fridge, right?But all those plastic bottles use a lot of fossil fuels and pollute the environment. In fact, Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world, adding 29 billion water bottles a year to the problem. In order to make all these bottles, manufactueres use 17 million barrels of crude oil. That’s enough oil to keep a million cars going for twelve months.Imagine a water bottle filled a quarter of the way up with oil. That’s about how much oil was needed to produce the bottle.
So why don’t more people drink water straight from the kitchen faucet? Some people drink bottled water because they think it is better for them than water out of the tap, but that’s not true. In the United States, local governments make sure water from the faucet is safe. There is also growing concern that chemicals in the bottles themselves may leach into the water.
People love the convenience of bottled water. But maybe if they realized the problems it causes, they would try drinking from a glass at home or carrying water in a refillable steel container instead of plastic.Plastic bottle recycling can help—instead of going out with the trash, plastic bottles can be turned into items like carpeting or cozy fleece clothing.
Unfortunately, for every six water bottles we use, only one makes it to the recycling bin. The rest are sent to landfills. Or, even worse, they end up as trash on the land and in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Plastic bottles take many hundreds of years to disintegrate.
Water is good for you, so keep drinking it. But think about how often you use water bottles, and see if you can make a change.
Betty McLaughlin, who runs an organization called the Container Recycling Institute, says try using fewer bottles: “If you take one to school in your lunch, don’t throw it away—bring it home and refill it from the tap for the next day. Keep track of how many times you refill a bottle before you recycle it.”
And yes, you can make a difference. Remember this: Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours."
20 April 2009
Teens' Problems - Cool Zone 9
Cool Zone 3 is about teens' problems.
Problems like: stress, peer pressure, depression, family relationships, life at school, bullying and cyber bullying.
There are many consequences that teens feel when they have these kind of problems like stress or depression. They feel: frustrated, angry, scared, lonely, irritated, they lose self - esteem, they lack concentration, they have trouble in sleeping and get bad marks at school.
When teens have these problems they should have help and be advised by their friends, parents, family or teachers. They should be helped to overcome their problems and advised not to seek shelter in any sort of addiction, such as drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.
Drinking is a cheap addiction. Teens think drinking helps them to solve their problems but it can cause more problems.
With drugs, at the beginning they can feel a sense of power but then when they become addicted, they feel lonely and desperate.
Smoking is a very expensive addiction. Teens are usually influenced to start smoking by their family or friends.
To forget their problems teens can: relax, sleep more, have a balanced diet, do some exercise, take up a hobby or go to a therapist.
Sofia, 901
Problems like: stress, peer pressure, depression, family relationships, life at school, bullying and cyber bullying.
There are many consequences that teens feel when they have these kind of problems like stress or depression. They feel: frustrated, angry, scared, lonely, irritated, they lose self - esteem, they lack concentration, they have trouble in sleeping and get bad marks at school.
When teens have these problems they should have help and be advised by their friends, parents, family or teachers. They should be helped to overcome their problems and advised not to seek shelter in any sort of addiction, such as drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.
Drinking is a cheap addiction. Teens think drinking helps them to solve their problems but it can cause more problems.
With drugs, at the beginning they can feel a sense of power but then when they become addicted, they feel lonely and desperate.
Smoking is a very expensive addiction. Teens are usually influenced to start smoking by their family or friends.
To forget their problems teens can: relax, sleep more, have a balanced diet, do some exercise, take up a hobby or go to a therapist.
Sofia, 901
Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz is my favorite artist...He’s such a great artist that I wanted to tell the world a little more about him…Jason Thomas Mraz was born on June 23, 1977, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. He is an American singer and songwriter. His music is influenced by many styles like pop, rock, jazz or hip hop.
Jason has Czech roots and his surname is Czech for “frost”.
Jason’s interest and participation in musical theater served as his first introduction to music. After high school, he moved to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy but dropped out a year later when he took up the guitar and started focusing on songwriting.
After being in New York, Mraz returned to Virginia but in 1999 he settled in San Diego, California. He was drawn to San Diego by the city’s coffeehouse scene and historical support of singer/songwriters.
Mraz began playing shows and soon got a weekly residency at the local hot spot Java Joe’s. In that time he formed a duo with the drummer Noel “Toca” Rivera who still accompanies him. Over the next two years, Mraz’s fame expanded outside of San Diego and began to reach Los Angeles, getting the attention of record labels.
In early 2002, Mraz signed to Elektra Records and went back to Virginia to write and record his debut album, “Waiting for my Rocket to Come”. The first single “The Remedy (I won’t worry)” proved to be a great success and Jason went on tour to support it.
Mraz’s second studio album, Mr. A-Z (Mr. A to Z) was released on 2005 with some great hits like “Wordplay”, “Geek in The Pink” or “Life is Wonderful”.
Jason’s popularity reached a new high with the release of “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” which includes the great 2008 summer hit “I’m Yours” and “Lucky”, a duet by Jason with Colbie Caillat. This album for me is the Jason’s best album until now…
Jason is now on tour to promote the album “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” and he gave two great shows in Portugal on the past 19 and 20 of March… I attended the concert at the Coliseum of Porto and I must say that it was AWESOME!
I’m a fan of Jason not only for his music but for the way the is and the way he thinks…I love his way of thinking about life and nature…His thoughts sometimes make me stop and think about everything that is around me…
Jason also has a blog: www.freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com
I Hope that with this work I can gather more fans for this GREAT ARTIST! Mraz Forever!
P.S: As you may notice…Jason LOVES hats.
Daniel Pereira, 901
EARTH DAY 2009: THE GREEN GENERATION
Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of The Green Generation CampaignTM which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. With negotiations for a new global climate agreement coming up in December, Earth Day 2009 must be a day of action and civic participation, to defend The Green GenerationTM’s core principles:-A carbon-free future based on renewable energy that will end our common dependency on fossil fuels, including coal.
-An individual’s commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption.
-Creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty by creating millions of quality green jobs and transforms the global education system into a green one.
Earth Day - 22nd April
Canticle of the Sun
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord,
through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,and serve him with great humility.
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord,
through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,and serve him with great humility.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Teens' Problems
Nowadays teens face many problems.
I think that kids spent a lot of time at school (working in classes or doing homework). Sometimes teens feel that don´t study much to tests and feel nervous, so it can cause stress. When teens go home, they have to face more problems. Some teens have family problems (divorce, drugs, alcoholism), their parents argue...
It is a nightmare for kids, they can't rest.
These problems can cause depression, stress or bullying other kids.
Filipe, 902
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