FOX Studios science fiction show, Fringe, has been one of the most talked about series in the past couple of years. The show is about an FBI agent Olivia Dunham, played by Anna Torv, who solves science-related cases with the help of jack-of-all-trades Peter Bishop, played by Joshua Jackson, and his father renowned scientist Walter Bishop, played by John Noble. Each episode they deal with occurrences or criminal acts related to that unorthodox branch of science known as Fringe science. In this show anything is possible. From reanimating corpses to telepathy nothing is too strange or incredulous that it could not happen. But are any of the occurrences in this show capable of actually happening?
One episode saw the Fringe team dealing with a biochemical attack on several people. A biochemist attacks a wedding event by unleashing harmful toxins in the air through a candle. Since it was a wedding many people were in attendance and almost all of them were exposed to the harmful toxin but surprisingly only some were killed by it. Specifically, people who were of Jewish descent were the ones who died from the attack while the others were spared. Upon finding out the objective of the terrorist the Fringe team figured it out that the terrorist was a Nazi criminal still intent on killing everyone while sparing the Aryan race for them to thrive and take over the world. The question here is: Could there really be a biochemical weapon designed to kill only specific races?
According to Professor Dale Johnson of UC Berkeley’s Nutritional Science and Toxicology Program some ideas that the show proposed might actually be plausible. He says that the idea of a biochemical weapon targeting specific ethnic groups can become a possibility. He explained that biochemical weapons that are taken from biological sources, like Botulinum and Anthrax, can kill certain cells in the body either by targeting the nervous system or the immune system or by creating chemical intermediates that are extremely toxic. He further explained that ethnic groups have varying genetic structures and designing a biochemical weapon to target a specific genetic structure might be possible in the future. Some ethnic groups have genetic structures that comprise a slow metabolism while other ethnic groups have faster ones. If a scientist would want to design a biochemical weapon to target specific ethnic groups then he or she might take this characteristic of genetic variants into consideration.
Professor Johnson was quick to point out though that this is far from happening with today's technology. He said that even if one were able to manufacture that kind of biochemical weapon it would still be hard to perfect it. According to him the problem lies with the objective of the weapon. No weapon, biochemical or any other kind, can target specific ethnic groups because it is very difficult to target the exact genetic characteristic or trait of that group. So far no one has been able to come up with a way to do such a thing, he only suggested that with the advancement of technology such an idea is not farfetched.
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Friday, July 29, 2011
Are Reality Series Proving to be Detrimental to America's Youth?
Tune into MTV and chances are you will get a glimpse of the reality series: Jersey Shore. It is a show about a group of Italian-Americans living together under one roof. The series was meant to show the audience the lighter side of the lives of Italian-Americans but it has garnered much controversy due to the cast's often use of expletives and their penchant for frivolous behavior which has embarrassed most Italian-Americans in the US.
The show, like most reality series, follow the cast wherever they go and showcases to the audience whatever they do. The cast often attends parties wherein most of the female cast-members end up inebriated and unable to walk. One episode even saw one of the members of the cast urinating behind a bar because she was too drunk or lazy to go to the toilet. If they're not getting drunk they're trying to find someone to have sex with which is often the case with the male members of the cast. Almost every episode finds the male members of the show cavorting with female strangers, if not with their fellow female cast-members, enticing them to have sex with them.
The antics of the show's cast-members have garnered much criticism from the Italian-Americans and the larger population. Some have deemed the show to be too crass and racy. It also has a tendency to flaunt the stereotypes of 'Guidos' much to the dismay of some of their fellow Italian-Americans. Most Italian-Americans have criticized the show because of the depiction of
their race which has nothing better to do than to party and have sex.
The show garnered more criticisms when it began airing in Italy. Roberto Del Bove, who is a columnist for a newspaper in Rome, spoke against the show saying that it showed the worst stereotypes of Italian people. He further condemned the show along with other columnists in Italy.
Some people have spoken out against this show due to its lack of finesse and its lack of moral fiber that might be detrimental to many American teenagers and children. Most people find it disturbing that the show celebrates the cast-members lack of inhibition and preference for reckless behavior.
There are other shows on television that seem to embody the same kind of recklessness that the Jersey Shore displays. The Bad Girls Club showcases young women who are constantly embroiled in minor misdemeanors or public altercation. Although the show's producers state that the show is just entertainment constant display of reckless behavior by these women might encourage women of the same age to act like them as well.
The theme of the show 16 and pregnant is pretty self-explanatory and although it could have been a useful venue to educate young women about unwanted pregnancies the show seems to be more focused on glorifying teen pregnancies.
Reality Series such as these might not have a direct influence on a person's behavior. But then again constant production of shows like these might send a message to the younger people that reckless behavior is something to be glorified.
Tune into MTV and chances are you will get a glimpse of the reality series: Jersey Shore. It is a show about a group of Italian-Americans living together under one roof. The series was meant to show the audience the lighter side of the lives of Italian-Americans but it has garnered much controversy due to the cast's often use of expletives and their penchant for frivolous behavior which has embarrassed most Italian-Americans in the US.
The show, like most reality series, follow the cast wherever they go and showcases to the audience whatever they do. The cast often attends parties wherein most of the female cast-members end up inebriated and unable to walk. One episode even saw one of the members of the cast urinating behind a bar because she was too drunk or lazy to go to the toilet. If they're not getting drunk they're trying to find someone to have sex with which is often the case with the male members of the cast. Almost every episode finds the male members of the show cavorting with female strangers, if not with their fellow female cast-members, enticing them to have sex with them.
The antics of the show's cast-members have garnered much criticism from the Italian-Americans and the larger population. Some have deemed the show to be too crass and racy. It also has a tendency to flaunt the stereotypes of 'Guidos' much to the dismay of some of their fellow Italian-Americans. Most Italian-Americans have criticized the show because of the depiction of
their race which has nothing better to do than to party and have sex.
The show garnered more criticisms when it began airing in Italy. Roberto Del Bove, who is a columnist for a newspaper in Rome, spoke against the show saying that it showed the worst stereotypes of Italian people. He further condemned the show along with other columnists in Italy.
Some people have spoken out against this show due to its lack of finesse and its lack of moral fiber that might be detrimental to many American teenagers and children. Most people find it disturbing that the show celebrates the cast-members lack of inhibition and preference for reckless behavior.
There are other shows on television that seem to embody the same kind of recklessness that the Jersey Shore displays. The Bad Girls Club showcases young women who are constantly embroiled in minor misdemeanors or public altercation. Although the show's producers state that the show is just entertainment constant display of reckless behavior by these women might encourage women of the same age to act like them as well.
The theme of the show 16 and pregnant is pretty self-explanatory and although it could have been a useful venue to educate young women about unwanted pregnancies the show seems to be more focused on glorifying teen pregnancies.
Reality Series such as these might not have a direct influence on a person's behavior. But then again constant production of shows like these might send a message to the younger people that reckless behavior is something to be glorified.
Home-based Jobs Vs. Office-based Jobs: Who is winning?
The days of the office-based job is slowly coming to an end. More and more people are preferring the home-based job compared to the other because of the convenience it entails. No need to hustle and bustle early in the morning so you could catch your bus or train because your office is right in your room. No need to deal with annoying coworkers or listen to their arrogant remarks about your PowerPoint presentation because you work alone. Finally, no need to wake up in an unholy hour because you could choose the time when you want to start working. These are just some of the perks of having a home-based job and more people are starting to realize this that more and more companies are beginning to offer jobs you could work on in the comforts of your own home.
The advancement of technology and the accessibility of the internet has made working at home possible and even more lucrative than office-based jobs. IT companies are outsourcing their services to people working from their houses because it is much cheaper than having them work in their offices. With home-based jobs companies wouldn't have to worry about paying electric bills of an office or supplying the employees with pens and papers. Companies also need not worry about employees coming in late due to traffic. The accessibility of the internet has made every house or location a virtual office for everyone. And with more and more jobs that can be done with
minimal supervision it is not surprising that people are turning more to working at home than going to the office.
Back then people thought that only entrepreneurs were able to work in their homes but today many jobs can be done in homes with minimal interaction between employer and manager. IT jobs like computer software engineering, computer programming, and database management are on the top of the list of home-based careers. These jobs can be easily done at home because it requires mainly the use of computers which most of these people have in their homes. Customer service or customer support-oriented jobs are now also being delegated to people working at home because of two requirements: internet access and telecommunication capabilities. As long as employees have a phone they can use and internet access which is up and running 24/7 then they could get a job as customer support agents. Transcribers, copywriters and web content writers are also becoming part of this home-based work environment. Writers or transcribers who can access the internet anytime can easily look for writing and transcribing jobs online.
So many people are working at home now that according to a survey done back in 2004, home-based employees grew from 41.3million to 44.4millione from 2003 to 2004. With more home-based jobs coming out of the woodwork it won't come as a surprise if that number has already tripled.
The advancement of technology and the accessibility of the internet has made working at home possible and even more lucrative than office-based jobs. IT companies are outsourcing their services to people working from their houses because it is much cheaper than having them work in their offices. With home-based jobs companies wouldn't have to worry about paying electric bills of an office or supplying the employees with pens and papers. Companies also need not worry about employees coming in late due to traffic. The accessibility of the internet has made every house or location a virtual office for everyone. And with more and more jobs that can be done with
minimal supervision it is not surprising that people are turning more to working at home than going to the office.
Back then people thought that only entrepreneurs were able to work in their homes but today many jobs can be done in homes with minimal interaction between employer and manager. IT jobs like computer software engineering, computer programming, and database management are on the top of the list of home-based careers. These jobs can be easily done at home because it requires mainly the use of computers which most of these people have in their homes. Customer service or customer support-oriented jobs are now also being delegated to people working at home because of two requirements: internet access and telecommunication capabilities. As long as employees have a phone they can use and internet access which is up and running 24/7 then they could get a job as customer support agents. Transcribers, copywriters and web content writers are also becoming part of this home-based work environment. Writers or transcribers who can access the internet anytime can easily look for writing and transcribing jobs online.
So many people are working at home now that according to a survey done back in 2004, home-based employees grew from 41.3million to 44.4millione from 2003 to 2004. With more home-based jobs coming out of the woodwork it won't come as a surprise if that number has already tripled.
How to Curb Cyber-Bullying?
Social media sites have revolutionized the way people interact. About 20 years ago people only got to know each other pretty well because they live near each other or they spend most of the time together in the office or in a club. Nowadays, people from the farthest corners of the world can get to know other people with just a click of a keyboard. The internet and its social media sites have opened new doors for people to interact and get to know each other. Social media sites like Facebook, Friendster, MySpace and Twitter enables people from all walks of life and from places far away to know more about anyone and everyone. The social media site phenomenon has taken social interaction to another level but has it also taken bullying as well?
Since the advent of social media sites bullying or cyber-bullying to be more apt, has also been visible alongside friendly social interaction. Kids and teenagers are the usual victims and suspects and the damage that cyber-bullying can do to these kids is too harrowing that one is lead to think why kids would go to extreme lengths to terrorize a child. Most cyber-bullies post messages of hate on wall posts of other kids' Facebook accounts or Twitter accounts ceaselessly until these kids fear for their lives or break down due to depression.
Reports of teenagers taking their lives because of cyber-bullying has gone up these past couple of years and until a law has been passed
that states that cyber-bullying is illegal no one is safe from this kind of terrorism.
Fortunately, social media experts are offering some tips to parents to help their kids avoid being bullied on the internet. Here are some tips that parents can do to protect their children from cyber-bullies:
1. “Block” the cyber-bully. Parents should teach their kids to block all forms of communication with someone who is bullying them. Usually, bullies stop harassing others when they are being ignored.
2. Ignore the bullies. As mentioned before, bullies usually stop harassing other people if they are being ignored. So if your child is being bullied on the net tell him to ignore that person and even refrain from replying to any of his taunts or remarks.
3. Do not delete the taunting messages of the cyber-bully. If the bullying doesn't stop it is useful to have proof on hand of the bullying in case you have to go to court.
4. Purchase web applications or mobile applications that are anti-cyber-bullying. There are applications available now that can monitor your child's mobile phone or computer and sends you an alarm when someone is trying to bully your child.
5. Tell your children to ease a little when they are being bullied. If your child experiences cyber-bullying teach them to step away from the computer for a minute and clear their head.
6. Remember that the law is on your side. You and your child have a right to lead a peaceful life free from any torment so if your family is under duress due to another child's taunting then by all means sue them with all you've got.
Since the advent of social media sites bullying or cyber-bullying to be more apt, has also been visible alongside friendly social interaction. Kids and teenagers are the usual victims and suspects and the damage that cyber-bullying can do to these kids is too harrowing that one is lead to think why kids would go to extreme lengths to terrorize a child. Most cyber-bullies post messages of hate on wall posts of other kids' Facebook accounts or Twitter accounts ceaselessly until these kids fear for their lives or break down due to depression.
Reports of teenagers taking their lives because of cyber-bullying has gone up these past couple of years and until a law has been passed
that states that cyber-bullying is illegal no one is safe from this kind of terrorism.
Fortunately, social media experts are offering some tips to parents to help their kids avoid being bullied on the internet. Here are some tips that parents can do to protect their children from cyber-bullies:
1. “Block” the cyber-bully. Parents should teach their kids to block all forms of communication with someone who is bullying them. Usually, bullies stop harassing others when they are being ignored.
2. Ignore the bullies. As mentioned before, bullies usually stop harassing other people if they are being ignored. So if your child is being bullied on the net tell him to ignore that person and even refrain from replying to any of his taunts or remarks.
3. Do not delete the taunting messages of the cyber-bully. If the bullying doesn't stop it is useful to have proof on hand of the bullying in case you have to go to court.
4. Purchase web applications or mobile applications that are anti-cyber-bullying. There are applications available now that can monitor your child's mobile phone or computer and sends you an alarm when someone is trying to bully your child.
5. Tell your children to ease a little when they are being bullied. If your child experiences cyber-bullying teach them to step away from the computer for a minute and clear their head.
6. Remember that the law is on your side. You and your child have a right to lead a peaceful life free from any torment so if your family is under duress due to another child's taunting then by all means sue them with all you've got.
Looking Into The Most Stressful Job Today
It comes as no surprise that work can be so stressful to one's life. Doctors even advise their patients to take some time off from their jobs otherwise they'll end up dead from all the stress. But of all the professions out there some of us wonder which ones are considered to be the most stressful and why.
Surprisingly, most people wouldn't consider being a commercial airline pilot as the most stressful profession but according to CareerCast.com it tops the list of most stressful jobs out there. Aside from weather conditions pilots have to worry about the stability of their planes when they are in flight. Also, pilots have work shifts so they are required to work odd hours which can take its toll on their health and efficiency sometimes.
Second in line is the PR executive. Apparently, media-related professions are quite stressful too and being a PR executive is much more stressful than being a photojournalist covering war-torn areas or places of great danger. According to CareerCast.com PR executives have a more demanding job than photojournalists taking pictures of highly dangerous territories. PR executives are much more prone to stress due to consistent monitoring and rectifying of crisis situations involving their clients. In the event of a media crisis wherein a person, company or product is under scrutiny or being attacked by the media it is the responsibility of PR executives to rectify the situation immediately which is why most of these PR people are on the job 24/7.
PR executives have high stress levels also because of the constant demands of their job, and some of it doesn't even come from their clients. Media technology is advancing very rapidly and people in the PR industry should be able to cope with it otherwise they will be left behind by everyone else. PR executives have to stay on top of every situation and every possible outcome that could affect their clients. Since information can be passed on much quicker these days than before, professionals in the PR industry must be able to think two steps ahead of every media outfit who is going to expose certain details of their clients that can be quite embarrassing.
But of course there are other professions that are much more laid-back than the ones mentioned earlier. Healthcare professionals like audiologists, dieticians, and dental hygienists have more relaxing jobs due to minimal competitiveness and minimal demands of their professions. Computer programmers and software programmers also have stress-free jobs since they are often not required to deal with demanding clients and since they can work at their own time and at their own pace.
According to Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com, those who would want to have a less stressful job should look into professions that do not require too many demands and that are not too competitive. Jobs that have people always gunning for the top spot are the most stressful ones since people are constantly required to be at their best not letting them take a breather every now and then.
Surprisingly, most people wouldn't consider being a commercial airline pilot as the most stressful profession but according to CareerCast.com it tops the list of most stressful jobs out there. Aside from weather conditions pilots have to worry about the stability of their planes when they are in flight. Also, pilots have work shifts so they are required to work odd hours which can take its toll on their health and efficiency sometimes.
Second in line is the PR executive. Apparently, media-related professions are quite stressful too and being a PR executive is much more stressful than being a photojournalist covering war-torn areas or places of great danger. According to CareerCast.com PR executives have a more demanding job than photojournalists taking pictures of highly dangerous territories. PR executives are much more prone to stress due to consistent monitoring and rectifying of crisis situations involving their clients. In the event of a media crisis wherein a person, company or product is under scrutiny or being attacked by the media it is the responsibility of PR executives to rectify the situation immediately which is why most of these PR people are on the job 24/7.
PR executives have high stress levels also because of the constant demands of their job, and some of it doesn't even come from their clients. Media technology is advancing very rapidly and people in the PR industry should be able to cope with it otherwise they will be left behind by everyone else. PR executives have to stay on top of every situation and every possible outcome that could affect their clients. Since information can be passed on much quicker these days than before, professionals in the PR industry must be able to think two steps ahead of every media outfit who is going to expose certain details of their clients that can be quite embarrassing.
But of course there are other professions that are much more laid-back than the ones mentioned earlier. Healthcare professionals like audiologists, dieticians, and dental hygienists have more relaxing jobs due to minimal competitiveness and minimal demands of their professions. Computer programmers and software programmers also have stress-free jobs since they are often not required to deal with demanding clients and since they can work at their own time and at their own pace.
According to Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com, those who would want to have a less stressful job should look into professions that do not require too many demands and that are not too competitive. Jobs that have people always gunning for the top spot are the most stressful ones since people are constantly required to be at their best not letting them take a breather every now and then.
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