Health & Web 2.0

Free Calls Promotion from Skype

2006-05-16T11:36:00.000-04:00

Free 3D Modeling Software From Google

2006-04-28T14:22:00.000-04:00

Texas College Blocks MySpace

2006-04-24T11:29:00.000-04:00

[Article]

I'm actually surprised we haven't heard stories like this until now. My guess is that we'll be seeing more and more of this, as the popular web site does take a toll on a school's bandwidth.

Google Releases Web-based Calendar

2006-04-13T10:20:00.000-04:00

[Article]

ABC to Offer Shows Online for Free

2006-04-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

ABC will begin offering free streaming episodes of several shows (Desperate Housewives, Lost, Commander in Chief and Alias) online in May.

However, Internet viewers will have to watch commercials, which they will be unable to fast-forward through.

[Article]

Does Massachusetts' Mandatory Health Care Plan Make Sense?

2006-04-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

[Article]

Massachusetts Okays Mandatory Health Care Bill

2006-04-05T13:36:00.000-04:00

[Article]

This sounds like a great idea to provide poorer people with health care, but what about those people who choose not to purchase health care? Should they be penalized? I guess this bill states that yes, they should.

I do agree with the annual fee for employers who do not offer health care.

Buying Downloadable Movies Online

2006-04-04T15:21:00.000-04:00

[Article]

Way to go DC!

2006-04-03T13:16:00.000-04:00

Each year PETA puts out a list of the top vegetarian-friendly cities in the U.S. This year, Washington, DC took 6th place!

Low-fat Vegan Diet Can Make You Slim, Healthy

2006-04-03T13:04:00.000-04:00

[Article]

Why Vegan?

Facebook Turns Down $750 Million Offer

2006-03-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

Facebook has turned down an offer for $750 million, in hopes of getting as much as $2 billion.

[Article]

Security Risk in IE

2006-03-27T16:01:00.000-05:00

[Article]

DC Plans Bird Flu Summit

2006-03-21T14:37:00.000-05:00

Washington, DC will host a bird flu summit on April 28th at Gallaudet University.

[Article]

Tofu & Oatmeal Help Lower Cholesterol

2006-03-16T13:20:00.000-05:00

[Article]

Tip: The best way to lower your cholesterol is to cut it out completely. Vegan diets consist of zero cholesterol. Learn more.

Government Plans to Scale Back Mad Cow Testing

2006-03-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

Even with the confirmation of a third case of mad cow disease, the government plans to scale back its testing for the disease.

Why scale back testing when the disease has been identified in the U.S.? Shouldn't we be more concerned?

[Article]

Soft Drinks Contribute to Weight Gain

2006-03-14T15:25:00.000-05:00

A recent study of soft-drinking teens states that "a single 12-oz sugar-sweetened beverage per day translates to about 1 pound of weight gain over 3 to 4 weeks. 'Sugary beverages have no nutritional value and seem to make a huge contribution to weight gain.'"

Off to Court: Google vs Bush Administration

2006-03-14T10:46:00.000-05:00

[Article]

Avoiding Meat Keeps Weight Low

2006-03-14T10:36:00.000-05:00

[Article]

Alabama Cow Tests Positive for Mad Cow

2006-03-13T15:42:00.000-05:00

[Article]

Learn about a vegan diet.

Google Mars

2006-03-13T10:26:00.000-05:00

Google has released Google Mars, a Google Maps-like application that lets you view the landscape on Mars.

Why Do I Feel Dizzy When I Stand Up Quickly?

2006-03-10T11:09:00.000-05:00

This article provides a scientific explanation.

Google Acquires Upstartle

2006-03-10T08:27:00.000-05:00

This article points out that Google has acquired Upstartle, a small company that owns Writely.

Writely is dubbed the "web word processor." I haven't checked out Writely yet, but it appears to have some nifty features:

Share documents & collaborate in real-time
Store documents securely
Upload from Word
Post to your blog

The New York Times, in this article, says this "acquisition puts Google in direct competition with Word software from Microsoft and signals the intention of Google to expand its reach into Microsoft products."

Parental Notification Law Linked to Drop in Abortions

2006-03-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

A parental notification law in Texas, which went into effect in January of 2000, has been linked to a drop in teen abortions in the state.

Rate of reduction by age group (in the first two years after the law was enacted):

15-year olds: 11%
16-year olds: 20%
17-year olds: 16%

Is this reduction in teen abortions really due to the parental notification law? The Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood in Austin, TX says most of the decline is due to "national trends toward fewer teen pregnancies and the increased use of emergency contraception."

[Article]

House Votes to Strip Food Warning Labels

2006-03-09T09:50:00.000-05:00

The House approved the National Uniformity for Food Act yesterday, with a vote of 283-139. The bill will now go to the Senate.

The bill, if signed into law, has the potential to strip many warnings from food labels - such as "about arsenic in bottled water, lead in candy and allergy-causing sulfites," and possible carcinogens.

[Article]

iTunes Offers Daily Show & Colbert Report

2006-03-09T09:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, iTunes began offering downloads of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. You can purchase individual episodes for $1.99 a pop or a month's worth for $9.99.

[Article]

10th Bird Flu Death in China

2006-03-08T10:04:00.000-05:00

[Article]

Study: Why People Cannot Tickle Themselves

2006-03-07T15:46:00.000-05:00

The study, posted here on the Discovery Channel's website, shows that that we anticipate our own actions, and therefore, cannot tickle ourselves.

An excerpt from the article: "We are constantly predicting the consequences of our actions. When we act on ourselves and on the world around us we predict in real time as we move."

Q&As to South Dakota's Anti-Abortion Law

2006-03-07T14:08:00.000-05:00

Star Tribune has put out this informative article that includes many Q&As in regards to South Dakota's recently passed anti-abortion law.

Google Provides Local and Organic Food

2006-03-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

This article, posted on the Organic Consumers Association, states that Google supplies local and organic food for its employees three times a day (for free).

Take a look at this informative article to see why Google goes to great lengths to provide for their employees.

SD Governor Signs Abortion Law

2006-03-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

Today, the governor of South Dakota signed severe restrictions on abortions into law. All abortions (including those in cases of incest and rape) are illegal in South Dakota. The only legal abortion now allowed in the state is if the mother's life is threatened.

[Article]

Better Moods with Omega-3s

2006-03-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

This article points to a study done at the University of Pittsburgh, which shows that omega-3s may help bring on better moods.

Healthy alternatives to fish for great sources of omega-3s include flaxseed, walnuts, and tofu.

Antarctic Ice Sheet Shrinking Rapidly

2006-03-03T10:28:00.000-05:00

This article states that the Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking rapidly - as much as 36 cubic miles of ice a year. Scientists link this trend to global warming.

What can you do to help? Use public transportation when possible and stay in shape by using that bicycle sitting in your garage.

Bird Flu Spreading Rapidly

2006-03-03T10:18:00.000-05:00

Bird flu is right now spreading more rapidly than anyone could have guessed six months ago.

A recent poll conducted in the U.S. by the Harvard School of Public Health reveals that if a bird flu outbreak hits the U.S. population, an astounding 68% of the population will stay home and skip their jobs.

[Article]

Iraqi Dies, Bird Flu Suspected

2006-03-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

An Iraqi woman, suspected of being infected with the bird flu (H5N1 strain), has died.

[Article]

Flu Wiki

2006-03-02T15:53:00.000-05:00

What a great idea this is - sharing information regarding the avian flu in the form of a wiki!

CNN did an article on Flu Wiki here.

Flu Wiki

NJ Nurse Sentenced to 11 Life Terms

2006-03-02T13:56:00.000-05:00

A New Jersey nurse has received 11 consecutive life terms for killing as many as 40 of his patients.

[Article]

More Bird Flu Cases in Germany

2006-03-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

More bird flu cases have been reported in Germany, bringing the total number of infected animals to 136.

[Article]

Cancer Chemical Found in British Soft Drinks

2006-03-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

An article on BBC News caught my attention today: A cancer-causing chemical has been found in British soft drinks, at a concentration level eight times the legal level permitted in drinking water.

[Article]

MashMap - Movie Showtime Map

2006-03-01T10:36:00.000-05:00

MashMap is a great example of what people can create with Google Maps. Because Google uses open APIs anyone is free to grab and customize their mapping program.

With MashMap, you simply enter your zip code (or city/state) and hit Find. A Google map will appear on the left side of the screen, complete with markers showing your closest theatres. Clicking on a marker will display the venue's location, phone number, and showtime lineup.

On the right side of the screen, you'll see a list of your closest theatres (name and distance). When you hover over a theatre name, the current list of showtimes is displayed.

You're also able to customize the range to find theatres in, locate theatres by movie title, and create permalinks to your map results.

A new feature I'd like to see released would be clickable showtimes - hyperlinking showtimes with a ticket purchasing service (such as Fandango, Moviefone, or MovieTickets. MashMap could probably partner with one of these sites and monetize their page.

Vegan Bakery in DC Raising Awareness

2006-03-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, NBC4 did a piece on a Sticky Fingers, a local vegan bakery in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC.

Products at Sticky Fingers are a much healthier alternative to the standard baked goods we come across each day. Everything is naturally cholesterol free (as there are no animal products whatsoever in their baked goods).

Check out the video clip on NBC4's website.

Want more information on a vegan diet? Check out Why Vegan, put out by Vegan Outreach.

MindFreedom Conference in DC

2006-03-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

MindFreedom Support Coalition is composed of over 100 grassroots organizations "working to oppose coercive psychiatric treatments and the dominance of Big Pharma in mental health."

MindFreedom is organizing a conference from April 29 to May 2 in Washington, DC at American University.

[Article]

False Advertising in Antidepressant Ads

2006-03-01T08:22:00.000-05:00

A popular Zoloft ad claims that "depression may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that 'Zoloft works to correct this imbalance.'"

Statements such as these, an article on iVillage Health says, are stated so often for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants that many people take them to be fact.

Many Americans, however, "might be particularly surprised that not a single article can be produced which directly demonstrates that depression is the result of a serotonin deficiency."

[Article]

Also, see Prozac Spotlight.

Promoting Your Blog

2006-02-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

You have a blog but you want more people to read it, right? Blogger has a very informative article on how to promote your blog.

Some tips they discuss:

Wikipedia on Your iPod

2006-02-28T14:32:00.000-05:00

Link to a blog post by Allen.

How Stress Triggers Heart Attacks

2006-02-28T14:29:00.000-05:00

UK researchers "found evidence that stress can elevate blood pressure over an extended period, and trigger the release of high levels of clot-forming platelets."

[Article]

Apple Publishes Ruby Tutorial

2006-02-28T12:16:00.000-05:00

Apple has published a Ruby on Rails tutorial, available here.

Washington Post & Del.icio.us

2006-02-28T12:15:00.000-05:00

The Washington Post has done something great with its online site: Each article includes a "Save & Share" box that enables the reader to tag the article with their Del.icio.us account.

Blogging From a Homeless Perspective

2006-02-28T12:13:00.002-05:00

Michael Brown is a homeless husband and father blogging about homelessness.

Michael lives in Greensboro, NC and discusses his experiences and perspectives daily (or near daily).

News & Record, a local paper in Greensboro, ran an article on Michael and his blog.

His blog is unique and informative - take a look.

Google to Challenge eBay?

2006-02-28T12:13:00.001-05:00

[Article]

U.S. Government vs. Google

2006-02-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

Justice Dept. Says Google Privacy Concerns Are Not Valid

The article includes a quote by John Battelle: "Even if it's forced to comply in the end, Google can point to how it tried to stand up for its users' privacy."

Google to Capitalize on Social Bookmarking?

2006-02-28T12:12:00.001-05:00

Article on PC Mag

Flock - The Upcoming Social Networking Browser

2006-02-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

Flock is a planned social networking browser, currently in development mode.

In the meantime, check out 13 things you'll be able to do with Flock.

For hours of entertainment (screenshots, discussions, and predictions) check out flockbuzz.

Six Versions of New Microsoft OS?!

2006-02-28T12:11:00.001-05:00

PC World says Microsoft is going to release six different versions of their new operating system, Windows Vista.

Check out the article and scroll to the bottom to see user comments. Virtually everyone is proclaiming it a bad move for Microsoft (save for the Linux lovers who are praising them for continuing on a downward spiral).

User comment snippets:

Microsoft isn't Baskin Robbins. It doesn't need 31 flavors of Windows. As a computer salesman, I can tell you that this is just going to confuse the hell out of people.

As an Apple shareholder, this is thrilling news

Seems to me a typical Bill Gates venture: make more money and dominate

As a longtime user of Windows, I can say that this concept is one of the best ideas that Microsoft has come up with in a long time. What an opening for Linux and it's various clones.

Started Using My Reviews

2006-02-28T12:11:00.000-05:00

I've started using My Reviews on Multiply. I'll be using it to review, rank, and index social networking and health-related websites.

Please feel free to do the same, but link me if you do!

DailyOM - Inspirational Thoughts

2006-02-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

Each day, DailyOM posts (or emails you) "inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day." The website includes horoscopes, inspirational words (OMs) by category (self improvement, relationships, nature, etc.), and an online community.

I found a great article called, "The Joy Of Being: Celebrating The In-Between Times."

I haven't spent a lot of time there yet, but I'm impressed with what I've seen. I suggest you check it out.

Facing the fire-hose at Wondir

2006-02-28T12:09:00.002-05:00

Allen blogged about someone's review of Wondir: Link

Man Saved by Skull Stomach Implant

2006-02-28T12:09:00.001-05:00

A man in England survived a 20ft fall by doctors removing a piece of his skull and placing it into his abdomen.

[Article]

France stages bird flu drill

2006-02-28T12:09:00.000-05:00

According to this article, France stagged a drill to test the response rate of their emergency services to a potential bird flu pandemic.

Healthcare costs to skyrocket

2006-02-28T12:08:00.000-05:00

I found this article on iVillage that projects that "by 2015 one in every five U.S. dollars will be spent on health care."

WordPress Resource

2006-02-28T12:07:00.001-05:00

Allen pointed me to a good resource for WordPress as a lens on Squidoo.

YouTube.com

2006-02-28T12:07:00.000-05:00

YouTube is a social networking site I just found through this article.

The tagline of YouTube is, "Broadcast yourself. Watch and share your videos worldwide!" I spent a few minutes looking around and found a video called Squirrel Master - you can watch a video some guy uploaded of a squirrel eating a potato chip out of his mouth.

One Billion Songs Sold on iTunes

2006-02-28T12:06:00.000-05:00

One billion songs have been sold by Apple on iTunes.

Don't want to pay $0.99 per song to listen to music? Check out Pandora - you can't download music but you can listen for free.

[Article]

Why Youth Heart MySpace

2006-02-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

I just came across this article titled, "Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace" with the help of Rojo

The article is written by someone at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It attempts to shine light on why youth like MySpace and what they're doing on it.

One of the conclusions that I find interesting is, "Youth are not creating digital publics to scare parents - they are doing so because they need youth space, a place to gather and see and be seen by peers."

Top 15 Health Goals on 43 Things

2006-02-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

I just came across a list for the top 15 goals tagged health (on 43 Things). I wouldn't necessarily agree that all of the items are health-related, but here are a few that are:

lose weight (6995 people)
be happy (4529 people)
drink more water (4012 people)
eat healthier (2183 people)
get in shape (2129 people)
exercise regularly (2128 people)
quit smoking (1957 people)