Polar Bears not Surviving the Climate Change

“For Polar Bears, a Climate Change”

By: James Gorman

Source: NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/science/for-polar-bears-a-climate-change-twist.html?ref=science&_r=0

  Polar Bears have adapted to the cold and wintery weather. The Western shore of the Hudson Bay breaks up each summer, which leaves the polar bears swimming to shore. This has been a dangerous climate change and is affecting the polar bears. A warming planet leaves the polar bears hungry because of shortage on sea lions and no survival because of the heat. Since there are no sea lions, polar bears have found another animal to hunt and eat which are snow geese. Ice is melting earlier than it should results in bears arriving to shore early, which gives them a benefit to hunt the snow geese. The climate change has resulted in polar bears arriving to shore at a time when snow geese go through their summer breeding period. With 75,000 geese being hatched there is a new supply of food for these hungry bears. Climate change is playing a huge role into this because animals such as the geese and polar bears are not going to be able to survive with these quick climate changes. Dr. Rockwell has been counting geese since the summer of 1969. He has been following the footsteps of geese migrating from one place to another because of the quick climate changes. In the sixties there were about 1.5 million geese that migrated and now 15 million migrated this year. Dr. Rockwell has concluded that these geese are migrating from Louisiana and Texas where they spend their winters feeding on spartina (salt hay or salt meadow cordgrass). Then they migrate North in spring to nest and raise their offspring’s on grass. Polar bears are “food-deprived” in the summer because there is not enough food, and snow geese are their “backup” food.

  This is an important topic because people can see how polar bears, the cutest animals, are suffering because of the quick climate changes. They are suffering and looking for food because there is none left for them to eat. They are migrating to different places that do not fit their environment to find food. Polar bears are also harming other animals to survive. People need to know how the environment is changing and harming innocent animals like polar bears and the snow geese.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

  On one of the rainiest, gloomiest and difficult to imagine days of LA, not your ordinary Ice cream eating kind of day, is when I found my favorite ice cream. Arpi, and Lily, and I were working long hours on our science fair project. After two hours of joking around, we finally decided to get serious and start our project. After going through the long list of materials required to get this baby started, we realized that we were out of Styrofoam plates, the item that was the basis of our project. Luckily, Rite Aid was only a hop and skip away. After completing our quick trip and getting what we needed, the skies opened up and the sun began to shine down on a little ice cream shop called Baskin Robbins across the street. It was as if the Ice cream Gods were calling our names. Looking through the display of 31 flavors, I could not decide between the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream or Jamoca Almond Fudge. After sampling both flavors, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup took my taste buds on a journey through wonderland. The peanut butter chunks were so scrumptious that it made me seem like I was floating on cloud 9. The vanilla and peanut butter chunks mixed together were like a match made in Ice Cream Heaven. Now this flavor may not be the right choice for non-peanut butter lovers, but after trying one spoon, it will make anyone convert to a peanut butter lover. One serving will have you aching for seconds, thirds, or even the whole tub. All the calories that you have consumed in the end will be well worth it. So put on your running shoes and go for that extra mile run and you will thank me later.  
    

Entorvirus:"My Child's Breathing Does Not Sound Right"

"Entrovirus: What does wheezing sound like? When should you seek help?"
By: Amy Hubbard
Source: LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-enterovirus-68-wheezing-20140910-story.html

  We have reached the month when entrovirus infections are springing.  “Wheezing” and “respiratory distress” are the two common words used for someone who has the infection. Children who have asthma have been recognized with breathing difficulties. Enterovirus D68 has caused children who are healthy to land in the intensive care unit with respiratory distress. Parents are having a difficult time wondering if their child has a cold or has been infected severely and needs urgent help. Doctors are also having a tough time to find an accurate cure for this virus. A throat or nose swab is used to detect if the child has the virus, but it takes several days and many hours to get the results.

  This article is important to read because it talks about the importance of keeping your child healthy. This article includes information about a virus that is spreading quickly. It has tips for parents about how to keep their child virus free. This news article has pointers for parents on how to look for signs that their child has an enterovirus infection. It explains what wheezing sounds like so they can check if their child has been wheezing, which is a small sign of the virus. Rapid breathing and retractions are signs of distress. The article also discusses how parents should listen to their child and what types of complaints they would have. It is easy to get a virus into a person’s system. Parents should always be aware of their children’s health so they do not get severely ill. This article will help parents be aware of their children’s health and what to do in case their child does catch the virus.

West Africans Immune to Ebola Virus

"Many in West Africa May Be Immune to Ebola Virus"
By:Donald G. McNeil Jr.
Source: NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/health/ebola-immunity.html?ref=science&_r=0

Medical experts have realized that some of the population in West Africa is immune to the Ebola virus. If the medical experts are correct, they can get close to the people that have the virus and help cure them without being infected. It is still unclear how much the West Africans’ immune systems can take without other viruses being produced and infecting them. There are now approximately 1,800 survivors of the current outbreak and that are immune to the virus. Studies show that some victims also have antibodies. West Africans are also getting low doses of the virus by eating infected monkeys or bats that are uncooked. It is difficult to get blood samples to check the overall level of immunity in West Africa because with one infected needle someone can be infected. Doctors came up with a new solution that people that are immune to Ebola could donate blood that contains antibodies to give to ill patients. This has been done to Dr. Kent Brantly, one of the first two Americans who was infected by Ebola. He is a survivor, but doctors later said that ZMapp or the blood transfusion has helped him. There is no more ZMapp to use in West Africa so doctors are trying to find new solutions to cure patients infected with Ebola.  

  Medical experts are trying to find new ways for Ebola patients to be cured. This article is important to read because Ebola is still out there and medical experts are trying their best to come up with new ways for infected people to be cured. This has been a fatal disease, and people should be aware of the virus because it might reach to where they live. People should be cautious of the different viruses that can kill an innocent person, especially Ebola. 

If I Stay Review

"If I Stay"
By: Peter Travers
Source: Rolling Stone
Review link: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/if-i-stay-20140904

  If I Stay is a new romantic drama that captivates the teenage audience. The film is based on a best selling novel by Gayle Forman. It is on the top charts next to The Fault in Our Stars. It has captured many of the young teens hearts with the beautiful story line of the lovely couple and the traumatic accident that sent Mia Hall, the main character, in a coma. Mia had to make a difficult decision. She had a choice between following her dreams playing the cello at Julliard and staying with the love of her life or reuniting with her family in heaven.  

  Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, wrote a review about the movie If I Stay that was not appealing to him. He states, “As I write these words, I feel myself experiencing a loss of consciousness, wondering how this recipe for sugar shock could interest any sentient being over the age of nine”(Travers 1). Claim of value is being shown by the sarcastic quote above, stating how anyone at the age of nine would find this movie interesting. This review reflects pathos because of the wording “loss of consciousness”. He is taunting the movie’s story line and sending a message to the readers that it is an immaturely written romantic drama. In the review the author gives a short synopsis about the movie, which reflects logos. Logos is used in the review through the many scenes that Travers refers to. Claim of fact was not used in his review. Although he mentions that anyone above the age of nine would not find this movie interesting he does not state a clear claim of policy. Ethos is being used in this review because it will impact the pop culture population due to the fact that Rolling Stone is a mainstream published magazine.