Now you can buy stress free chicken at the store! According to the New York Times article New Way to Help Chickens Cross to Other Side, two premium chicken producers, Bell & Evans in Pennsylvania and Mary’s Chickens in California, are preparing to switch to a system of killing their birds that they consider more humane.
They use carbon dioxide to gently gas the birds unconscious before they are slaughtered.
The article quote the owner of Bell & Evans reiterating the stress chickens undergo before they are killed.
This presents a marketing challenge to all chicken producers because the general public doesn't like to think about how their chickens are killed.
The goal of the new system is to ensure that the birds “not have any extra pain or discomfort in the last few minutes of their lives.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Times Reading Log for Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hormone treatment after menopause already known to increase the risk of breast cancer, also makes it more likely that the cancer will be advanced and deadly, a study finds, according to the New York Times Article, Breast Cancer Seen as Riskier with Hormone.
Women who took the hormones were more likely to die from breast cancer than women who never took them.
The hormones delayed tumor detection in mammograms, by increasing breast density.
The treatment studied was the most commonly prescribed hormone replacement pill, Prempro, which contains estrogens from horse urine and a synthetic relative of the hormone progesterone.
The article goes to quote doctors, like Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who said women should not take the hormones at all unless they really need them, for moderate to severe symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats that disrupt sleep and severely affect their quality of life.
Women who took the hormones were more likely to die from breast cancer than women who never took them.
The hormones delayed tumor detection in mammograms, by increasing breast density.
The treatment studied was the most commonly prescribed hormone replacement pill, Prempro, which contains estrogens from horse urine and a synthetic relative of the hormone progesterone.
The article goes to quote doctors, like Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who said women should not take the hormones at all unless they really need them, for moderate to severe symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats that disrupt sleep and severely affect their quality of life.
Times Reading Log for Monday, October 18, 2010
An editorial in Monday's paper, "In Climate Denial, Again" discusses how many people running on the republican ballot are in denial or are simply ignoring the fact that humans very much responsible for global warming.
According to the article "Mexico Closely Watches California's Vote on Legalizing Marijuana," in two weeks, Californians will decide whether to legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, in a vote that polls say could be close.
America is worried about the drug spilling over the border to Mexico. America's decision could also influence Mexico's policy on not only marijuana use, but small amounts of hard drug use as well.
In California, advocates will vote for anyone over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and it will be taxed an regulated.
According to the article "Mexico Closely Watches California's Vote on Legalizing Marijuana," in two weeks, Californians will decide whether to legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, in a vote that polls say could be close.
America is worried about the drug spilling over the border to Mexico. America's decision could also influence Mexico's policy on not only marijuana use, but small amounts of hard drug use as well.
In California, advocates will vote for anyone over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and it will be taxed an regulated.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Times Reading Log for Thursday, October 14, 2010
"Wal-Mart to Buy More Local Produce""
"Wal-Mart Stores announced a program on Thursday that focuses on sustainable agriculture among its suppliers as it tries to reduce its overall environmental impact," according to the New York Times.
Wal-Mart is expected to meet their goals by the end of 2015.
"In the United States, Wal-Mart plans to double the percentage of locally grown produce it sells to 9 percent. Wal-Mart defines local produce as that grown and sold in the same state."
While I can agree that this direction is great to be moving in, other countries are doing much better.
"In Canada, for instance, Wal-Mart expects to buy 30 percent of its produce locally by the end of 2013, and, when local produce is available, increase that to 100 percent."
I don't understand why the U.S. can't compete with that. What does Canada have that we don't, apparently they just understand the slogan, "Think Global, Act Local" a little better than we do.
The article says they are able to do this in Canada because the food business with Wal-Mart is brand new.
The article used many great sources, and went on to address that while Wal-Mart isn't really doing anything to support small farmers, which is a huge part of the "Buy Local" movement.
As a monster corporation that shuts down small businesses all the time, how much can they really do?
"Wal-Mart Stores announced a program on Thursday that focuses on sustainable agriculture among its suppliers as it tries to reduce its overall environmental impact," according to the New York Times.
Wal-Mart is expected to meet their goals by the end of 2015.
"In the United States, Wal-Mart plans to double the percentage of locally grown produce it sells to 9 percent. Wal-Mart defines local produce as that grown and sold in the same state."
While I can agree that this direction is great to be moving in, other countries are doing much better.
"In Canada, for instance, Wal-Mart expects to buy 30 percent of its produce locally by the end of 2013, and, when local produce is available, increase that to 100 percent."
I don't understand why the U.S. can't compete with that. What does Canada have that we don't, apparently they just understand the slogan, "Think Global, Act Local" a little better than we do.
The article says they are able to do this in Canada because the food business with Wal-Mart is brand new.
The article used many great sources, and went on to address that while Wal-Mart isn't really doing anything to support small farmers, which is a huge part of the "Buy Local" movement.
As a monster corporation that shuts down small businesses all the time, how much can they really do?
Times Reading Log for Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Judge Orders U.S. Military to Stop ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' reads the top right hand side of today's New York Times cover.
I don't think I could summarize the gist of the article better than the author, John Schwartz did himself,
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the United States military to stop enforcing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving.
She ordered the military to "suspend and discontinue" and investigations or proceedings to dismiss service members.
"While the decision is likely to be appealed by the government, the new ruling represents a significant milestone for gay rights in the United States," wrote Schwartz.
Across the U.S., Long Recovery Looks Like Recession is also an article that appealed to me whilst reading the Times.
The article is highlighting the fact that whether the country is called the stage we're in a recession or a recovery, we're still hurting.
This recession is the most severe since the Great Depression. The article describes all of the ways we are receding, in jobs, real estate, etc, in different regions of the U.S.
A Climate Proposal Beyond Cap and Trade from the Business section called out to me. I can't help but wonder, "What will they do to move forward next," in the high hopes that it will be an extremely effective step.
The article didn't get right to the point I was hoping it would make, but I was able to learn that the government, specifically the Clinton administration, is trying to lower the "cost of clean".
Rising Corn Prices Bring Fears of an Upswing in Food Costs, according to the article, extreme weather is making the price of grain rise. If the rise is prices for corn and even weight is only short lived, it should not effect consumers, but if this problem becomes drawn out, we, as consumers should expect to see the prices at the market increase.
The price of corn per bushel is expected to increase from $3.95 to $5. The government says we need to cut down on our usage, but where, in green energy, in human food consumption, or in feeding our livestock?
I don't think I could summarize the gist of the article better than the author, John Schwartz did himself,
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the United States military to stop enforcing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving.
She ordered the military to "suspend and discontinue" and investigations or proceedings to dismiss service members.
"While the decision is likely to be appealed by the government, the new ruling represents a significant milestone for gay rights in the United States," wrote Schwartz.
Across the U.S., Long Recovery Looks Like Recession is also an article that appealed to me whilst reading the Times.
The article is highlighting the fact that whether the country is called the stage we're in a recession or a recovery, we're still hurting.
This recession is the most severe since the Great Depression. The article describes all of the ways we are receding, in jobs, real estate, etc, in different regions of the U.S.
A Climate Proposal Beyond Cap and Trade from the Business section called out to me. I can't help but wonder, "What will they do to move forward next," in the high hopes that it will be an extremely effective step.
The article didn't get right to the point I was hoping it would make, but I was able to learn that the government, specifically the Clinton administration, is trying to lower the "cost of clean".
Rising Corn Prices Bring Fears of an Upswing in Food Costs, according to the article, extreme weather is making the price of grain rise. If the rise is prices for corn and even weight is only short lived, it should not effect consumers, but if this problem becomes drawn out, we, as consumers should expect to see the prices at the market increase.
The price of corn per bushel is expected to increase from $3.95 to $5. The government says we need to cut down on our usage, but where, in green energy, in human food consumption, or in feeding our livestock?
Times Reading Log for Monday, October 11, 2010
The only story in this issue that I feel compelled to blog about was written by David Carr and titled "A Vanishing Journalistic Divide."
The article is about the fact that some journalists are losing their integrity and becoming individual brand names.
While it is "intoxicating" to the reporter, the business model for news is lacking.
This front page story was written in first person, despite the initial point it makes.
Carr said that in his experience as an online reporter, despite what his print friends might think, that the "Web is a remarkably effective journalism machine."
He then goes into the fact that online journalism is great however, right now, print is what brings in the money. He notes that the actual dichotomy between mainstream and digital media is virtually nonexistent.
"So if news is wherever the public finds it, what really is the value of creating a complicated, labor-intensive print product?" Carr put this simply, but really, he has a great point.
If salaries remain the same and the news is the news, why does it matter whether its printed on paper or not? The news should be printed wherever the public wants to read it.
The article is about the fact that some journalists are losing their integrity and becoming individual brand names.
While it is "intoxicating" to the reporter, the business model for news is lacking.
This front page story was written in first person, despite the initial point it makes.
Carr said that in his experience as an online reporter, despite what his print friends might think, that the "Web is a remarkably effective journalism machine."
He then goes into the fact that online journalism is great however, right now, print is what brings in the money. He notes that the actual dichotomy between mainstream and digital media is virtually nonexistent.
"So if news is wherever the public finds it, what really is the value of creating a complicated, labor-intensive print product?" Carr put this simply, but really, he has a great point.
If salaries remain the same and the news is the news, why does it matter whether its printed on paper or not? The news should be printed wherever the public wants to read it.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Times Reading Log for Friday, October 8, 2010
The picture on the front page of today's issue was an amazing, gripping photograph. It was of children who were smeared with blood. I left the issue on my desk for a few days and when guests would come in, they would always say,
"Julia, did you see this picture?"
The photograph was of children who were taken to the hospital in Karachi, Pakistan after bombs killed at least seven people on Thursday.
On a lighter note, the first all-electric car, the Nissan Leaf will arrive at dealerships in December! There are other perks as well, such as federal tax credit, cash rebates, and a 3.000 dollar home-charging unit courtesy of the Energy Department. This is all part of the government's effort to have cars with zero tailpipe emissions.
This is shaving thousands of of the $32,780 sticker price. There will even be free parking for them in some cities, and use of express lanes on some highways! In Tennessee, the vehicles will even be able to go to charging stations for free.
Overall, I thought the article was skillfully and clearly written and extremely accessible and informative.
"Julia, did you see this picture?"
The photograph was of children who were taken to the hospital in Karachi, Pakistan after bombs killed at least seven people on Thursday.
On a lighter note, the first all-electric car, the Nissan Leaf will arrive at dealerships in December! There are other perks as well, such as federal tax credit, cash rebates, and a 3.000 dollar home-charging unit courtesy of the Energy Department. This is all part of the government's effort to have cars with zero tailpipe emissions.
This is shaving thousands of of the $32,780 sticker price. There will even be free parking for them in some cities, and use of express lanes on some highways! In Tennessee, the vehicles will even be able to go to charging stations for free.
Overall, I thought the article was skillfully and clearly written and extremely accessible and informative.
Times Reading Log for Thursday, October 7, 2010
On the front page Thursday's paper the article "City Seeking to Wean Poor From Sodas," grabbed my attention.
Mayor Bloomberg sought federal permission to bar New York City's 1.7 million recipients of food stamps from using them to buy soda or other sugared drinks.
The request was made to the United States Department of Agriculture, which finances and sets the rules for the food stamp program. Its an anti-obesity push by the mayor which also includes stricter rules on food sold in schools and the unsuccessful attempt to put a tax on sugared drinks.
I, personally am pleased to read this. I'm hoping this is one step forward and that one day we will see the government subsidizing local produce.
The mayor is not completely supported in his actions, one person said, in the first quote of the article, which I'm not sure is the proper place to quote this person, that the government had no right to stigmatize people on food stamps.
The mayor requessted a two year ban for a study on whether it would have a positive impact on people's health. The mayor said that no sugary drinks would give people more money to spend on real nourishment.
The mayor had gotten a lot of negative feedback because so many believe believe that it is unfair to target the poor and that they can choose for themselves. The author was a little unclear about what drinks would be limited, milks, etc. but this was cleared up by an editorial on page A31.
Mayor Bloomberg sought federal permission to bar New York City's 1.7 million recipients of food stamps from using them to buy soda or other sugared drinks.
The request was made to the United States Department of Agriculture, which finances and sets the rules for the food stamp program. Its an anti-obesity push by the mayor which also includes stricter rules on food sold in schools and the unsuccessful attempt to put a tax on sugared drinks.
I, personally am pleased to read this. I'm hoping this is one step forward and that one day we will see the government subsidizing local produce.
The mayor is not completely supported in his actions, one person said, in the first quote of the article, which I'm not sure is the proper place to quote this person, that the government had no right to stigmatize people on food stamps.
The mayor requessted a two year ban for a study on whether it would have a positive impact on people's health. The mayor said that no sugary drinks would give people more money to spend on real nourishment.
The mayor had gotten a lot of negative feedback because so many believe believe that it is unfair to target the poor and that they can choose for themselves. The author was a little unclear about what drinks would be limited, milks, etc. but this was cleared up by an editorial on page A31.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Times Reading Log for Monday, October 4, 2010
On page B1 there is an article, Verizon Wireless to Pay Millions in Refunds for Data Charges. Verizon wrongfuly charged millions of people for internet or data use and now are refunding them for this mistake on their part. Customers have complained to Verizon, but were ignored, so they contacted the F.C.C. Verizon also frequently charges custumers when they accidently access their web browser. At the end on the article, Jeffrey Nelson, the spokesperson for Verizon neglected to comment on the range of payments Verizon would make in return. This article jumped out at me because I am a Verizon customer, and I have been wrongfully charged by them on several occasions. I believe it made the first page of the business section because millions of other people can relate to it in the same way.
In National News, California is cracking down on people living in vehicles, according to an article on A9. It is a feature that opens describing the days of a woman who lived in an R.V. in Venice Beach, CA. During the day she would run a business at the beach and during the night she would move inland to find somewhere to park and sleep. Thanks to new enforcements in California and Venice Beach, she may have to leave. Venice was known as the "slum of the sea." The weather used to welcome people that lived from their cars, and now in the recession, people who once lived in homes are being forced to live in their cars, making this worse. Now, new to a new ordinance, they are banned from parking in beach lots.
In National News, California is cracking down on people living in vehicles, according to an article on A9. It is a feature that opens describing the days of a woman who lived in an R.V. in Venice Beach, CA. During the day she would run a business at the beach and during the night she would move inland to find somewhere to park and sleep. Thanks to new enforcements in California and Venice Beach, she may have to leave. Venice was known as the "slum of the sea." The weather used to welcome people that lived from their cars, and now in the recession, people who once lived in homes are being forced to live in their cars, making this worse. Now, new to a new ordinance, they are banned from parking in beach lots.
Monday, October 4, 2010
17-Year-Old Boy Saves Life of Old Orchard Beach Tourist
A car was stalled on the Amtrak train tracks with an older unconscious man trapped inside in Old Orchard Beach yesterday.
The 80-year-old man was found slumped over the steering wheel of his car by James Laboke, a 17-year-old Orchard Beach resident while walking to work at six a.m. that morning.
According to the police report, Laboke pounded on the car window but the driver remained unconscious. Laboke, who does not own a cell phone, then immediately ran 100 yards to the police station on Pier Street to report the emergency.
Laboke said later, "I never thought about it. I just knew I couldn't let the man get crushed by a train."
Janet Paradiso, captain of the Old Orcahrd Beach Police was in her cruiser about a mile away from the railroad crossing when she heard the call on the radio about the stranded vehicle.
Paradiso arrived five minutes later hearing the train's whistle.
According to Brian Paul, Old Orchard Beach Chief of Police, Paradiso rammed her police cruiser into the unconscious man's car, pushing it off the tracks.
Paradiso said, "I knew there was no time, I had to do something."
Only thirty seconds later, the train pushed through the crossing at about 40 mph.
Times Reading Log for Friday, October 1, 2010
Page A4 has an interesting story about how an Indian Court Divides a holy site for Hindus and Muslims.
In New Delhi, religion crosses with politics creating history as they split the land between Muslims and Hindus. The author fails to acknowledge the location of this during his lead, which to me is an error because I feel lost reading it. I continued to read the article searching for the actually site, and was therefore distracted from everything else the article had to offer.
In New Delhi, religion crosses with politics creating history as they split the land between Muslims and Hindus. The author fails to acknowledge the location of this during his lead, which to me is an error because I feel lost reading it. I continued to read the article searching for the actually site, and was therefore distracted from everything else the article had to offer.
Times Reading Log for Wednesday, September 29th
I like how in the article "Ancient Italian Town Now Has Wind at Its Back," the writer orients the reader in an Italian setting. This method would be inappropriate if it was printed this way in an Italian newspaper.
The story is able to be comprehended fairly easily, not only to those versed in renewable energy.
Gravitating from Italy, I am both proud and embarrassed to admit that I noticed the World Briefing section for the first time today and was satisfied to learn that the Eiffel Tower was evacuated do to a bomb scare, that France's parliament is debating making immigration legislation tougher, men are admitting plotting to bomb a Danish newspaper, and that the U.N. is sending Peacekeepers to Africa, all in one tiny rectangle!
The story is able to be comprehended fairly easily, not only to those versed in renewable energy.
Prior to reading this, I was unaware that Italians previously coped with sky-high electricity rates.
The article does a nice job tying together the environmental and economical concerns of the average person.
The journalist who wrote this, Elisabeth Rosenthal, seems to be skilled in story telling. She creates an image for her reader while using brief and clear rhetoric.
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