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Thought processes - 0 views

www.cc.gatech.edu/...process.html thought process . psychology reasoning
shared by Minjie Kim on 04 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Cogito ergo sum (I think therefore I am)
  • reasoning and problem solving
  • deductive, inductive or abductive
  • ...19 more annotations...
  • Deductive reasoning involves deciding what must be true given the rules of logic
  • Inductive reasoning involves deciding what is likely
  • Deductive reasoning derives the logically necessary conclusion from the given premises.
  • it can lead to a logical conclusion which conflicts with our knowledge of the world
  • Human deduction is at its poorest when truth and validity clash
  • people bring their knowledge of the real world into the reasoning process
  • Induction is generalizing from cases we have seen to infer information about cases we haven't
  • In the absence of counter examples, all that we can do is gather evidence to support our inductive inference
  • Abduction reasons from a fact to the action that caused it
  • can lead to unreliability as an action preceding an event can be wrongly attributed as the cause of the event.
  • Problem solving is the process of finding a solution to an unfamiliar task
  • Gestalt theory and the problem space theory.
  • productive problem solving involves insight and restructuring of the problem
  • productive and reproductive
  • Reproductive problem solving draws on previous experiences
  • Reproductive problem solving could be a hindrance to finding a solution
  • theory says that problem solving centers around the problem space.
  • People solve novel problems by mapping knowledge in a similar known domain, to it
  • people miss analogous information unless it is semantically close to the problem domain.
    • Minjie Kim
      Minjie Kim on 04 Dec 08
       
      doesn't this basically say that humans are quite narrow minded, and fail to see a connection between two things unless it's right in front of them??
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Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia - 0 views

gme.grolier.com/...article energy problems
shared by Kate L on 01 Dec 08 - Cached
  • basic laws of physics dictate that energy is conserved and can only be changed from one form to another or into matter.
  • Fuel, on the other hand, is the accumulation of matter and therefore represents a store of energy.
  • released in the form of heat when the fuel is burned in chemical or nuclear reactions
  • ...39 more annotations...
  • cannot be reversed to regenerate the original fuel mass
  • a fuel problem does exist
  • If the supply of fuel is finite, not only will there be no energy supply when the fuel is exhausted
    • Kate L
      Kate L on 03 Dec 08
       
      Finite means: a form of a verb that can occur as the head of a sentence. In Sam wants to leave, wants is finite, leave is non-finite.
  • all other processes that depend on it will cease
  • Several factors combine to make the problem an urgent one
  • World population
  • demand for energy will also increase
  • coal, oil (petroleum), natural gas, uranium, and fuel wood—is limited and insufficient to sustain rapid rates of development.
  • debate about the exact length of time available before the effects of a worldwide shortage become apparent
  • shortage will occur.
  • geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, peat, ocean thermal energy, solar energy, tidal energy, wind power, and fuel wood.
  • replenish themselves naturally in a relatively short time and will therefore always be available.
  • Renewable energy resources
  • indirectly responsible for many other renewable energy sources.
  • ocean currents and winds are results of the uneven distribution of solar radiation over the Earth's surface
  • winds in turn produce waves whose energy can be utilized
  • windmills and wind power
  • ocean thermal energy, solar heating of the upper layers of the ocean produces temperature gradients that can be harnessed to generate electricity
  • Sun also powers the hydrologic cycle, in which ocean water is evaporated, transported over the continents, and precipitated as rain or snow to form rivers
  • flow energy produces hydroelectric power.
  • energy locked in such renewable fuel sources as wood and peat is derived from the Sun by the process of photosynthesis.
  • renewable energy source is geothermal energy
  • arises through the leakage of heat from the Earth's interior to the surface
  • over the entire surface of the Earth at a very low average rate, leakage is much higher in certain locations.
  • Yellowstone National Park
  • Iceland, Italy, and New Zealand.
  • possible to tap the heat and use it for human purposes.
  • Nonrenewable resources originate from two processes: (1) photosynthesis, which occurred many millions of years ago, followed by the fossilization of the plant and animal life that resulted, and (2) the formation of the Earth itself.
  • fossil fuels—coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas;
  • produced the fuels for nuclear energy, such as uranium for fission and lighter elements for fusion
  • irreplaceable fuels represent an energy capital that must be invested wisely.
  • A cleaner-burning fuel than oil, natural gas seemed to be in abundant supply at the turn of the 21st century and, with the greatly enlarged network of gas pipelines, was rapidly growing in use.
  • nearly total dependence on fossil fuels and hydroelectricity ensures that efforts to solve energy problems by switching to alternative sources will have to overcome a great deal of inertia, both economic and psychological.
  • sources as solar power, wind power, and synthetic fuels suffer from the serious drawback that few major installations now exist.
  • handicapped by the engineering problems of converting the energy to a form useful to human beings.
  • solar energy reaches the top of the atmosphere in amounts 10,000 times greater than all human production of energy, it reaches the Earth's surface at rates of only about 80 to 250 W/m2, and considerably less on cloudy days.
  • arge-scale system based on solar-collector panels will be physically huge, causing problems of maintenance and land use
  • Wind power, wave power, and ocean-thermal-generation sources suffer from similar difficulties
    • Kate L
      Kate L on 03 Dec 08
       
      Even though there are some difficulties with working towards the alternative fuels, it may prove to be more efficient for smaller things (heat and power to small communities or single buildings) in the long run
  • Kate L on 01 Dec 08
     
    Energy Problem
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Alley Cat Rescue � The National Cat Protection Association - 0 views

www.saveacat.org/communitybenefits.html
shared by Ann Thomas on 10 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Feral cats can minimize rodent problems. While cats cannot hunt rats and mice into extinction, they can keep their populations in check and discourage new rodents from moving into the area. Often feral cats fill in a gap in the current ecosystem. For example bob cats or lynx used to live up and down the East Coast but were hunted ruthlessly and driven away by development. Feral cats are similar in size and behavior to these native feline predators and help to control the same species of small prey animals. Many people enjoy watching feral cats and observing animals has been shown to lower blood pressure in medical studies. People who help to care for feral cats by feeding them and taking them to the vet enjoy many benefits. Often cat caretakers are elderly and live alone, a population at risk for depression, loneliness, and isolation. Cats relieve these conditions and often bring a sense of happiness and purpose to people who help them. Just as companion animals have been shown extend life expectancies, lower blood pressure, and relieve stress, caring for feral cats improves the health of their caretakers. Individuals who cannot take on the full time commitment of adopting a companion animal can participate in programs to help feral cats. This provides a viable alternative to irresponsibly purchasing an animal one is not prepared to care for. An established, stable, vaccinated, and sterilized colony of feral cats will deter other stray and feral cats from moving into the area. This actually decreases the risk that residents will encounter an unvaccinated cat, and will virtually eliminate problem behaviors like fighting and spraying.
  • Ann Thomas on 10 Dec 08
     
    1. Feral cats can minimize rodent problems. While cats cannot hunt rats and mice into extinction, they can keep their populations in check and discourage new rodents from moving into the area. Often feral cats fill in a gap in the current ecosystem. For example bob cats or lynx used to live up and down the East Coast but were hunted ruthlessly and driven away by development. Feral cats are similar in size and behavior to these native feline predators and help to control the same species of small prey animals. 2. Many people enjoy watching feral cats and observing animals has been shown to lower blood pressure in medical studies. 3. People who help to care for feral cats by feeding them and taking them to the vet enjoy many benefits. Often cat caretakers are elderly and live alone, a population at risk for depression, loneliness, and isolation. Cats relieve these conditions and often bring a sense of happiness and purpose to people who help them. Just as companion animals have been shown extend life expectancies, lower blood pressure, and relieve stress, caring for feral cats improves the health of their caretakers. 4. Individuals who cannot take on the full time commitment of adopting a companion animal can participate in programs to help feral cats. This provides a viable alternative to irresponsibly purchasing an animal one is not prepared to care for. 5. An established, stable, vaccinated, and sterilized colony of feral cats will deter other stray and feral cats from moving into the area. This actually decreases the risk that residents will encounter an unvaccinated cat, and will virtually eliminate problem behaviors like fighting and spraying.
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The Problem with "Alternative Fuel" - 0 views

www.associatedcontent.com/...lem_with_alternative_fuel.html problems energy fuel
shared by Kate L on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Kate L on 03 Dec 08
     
    looks at the problems with it
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The Health Benefits of Owning a Cat: Pets Reduce Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, and Othe... - 0 views

cats.suite101.com/...ealth_benefits_of_owning_a_cat
shared by Ann Thomas on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Cat ownership helps children to learn responsibility and develop a greater capacity for empathy at an early age. In addition, pets provide unconditional love and acceptance, which can help children through difficult times.
  • Cats also offer protection against certain physical conditions. If adopted before or shortly after a child is born, owning a cat reduces the risk of developing animal allergies, asthma, and possibly other illnesses as well. One study found that children living with pets were 13-18% less likely to miss school due to illness than children without pets. Researchers who measured the salivary immunologobulin levels of young pet owners found that their immune function was less likely to be in the sub-normal range than that of non-pet-owners. Additionally, cats can provide particular therapeutic benefits for children with conditions such as autism, especially those who suffer from motor coordination problems.
  • and cat owners tend to have lower triglycerides, which reduces their risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Pet ownership has also been shown to boost the levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. As such, pets can reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other negative states.
  • Elderly people are particularly likely to benefit from the health-protective effects of cat ownership. Those with cats are less inclined to suffer heart attacks, their blood pressure is lower on average, they report less tension and stress, and they live longer overall.
  • A University of Minnesota study of 4,435 people found that those who did not own cats were 30-40% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, even if they owned dogs.
  • Ann Thomas on 03 Dec 08
     
    Owning cat can provide psychological and physical health benefits, particularly for children, seniors, and those with medical conditions or disabilities. Cat ownership helps children to learn responsibility and develop a greater capacity for empathy at an early age. In addition, pets provide unconditional love and acceptance, which can help children through difficult times. Cats also offer protection against certain physical conditions. If adopted before or shortly after a child is born, owning a cat reduces the risk of developing animal allergies, asthma, and possibly other illnesses as well. One study found that children living with pets were 13-18% less likely to miss school due to illness than children without pets. Researchers who measured the salivary immunologobulin levels of young pet owners found that their immune function was less likely to be in the sub-normal range than that of non-pet-owners. Additionally, cats can provide particular therapeutic benefits for children with conditions such as autism, especially those who suffer from motor coordination problems. and cat owners tend to have lower triglycerides, which reduces their risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease. Pet ownership has also been shown to boost the levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. As such, pets can reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other negative states. Elderly people are particularly likely to benefit from the health-protective effects of cat ownership. Those with cats are less inclined to suffer heart attacks, their blood pressure is lower on average, they report less tension and stress, and they live longer overall. A University of Minnesota study of 4,435 people found that those who did not own cats were 30-40% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, even if they owned dogs.
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Four Reasons Stock Market Hope Will Overcome Despair - Seeking Alpha - 0 views

seekingalpha.com/...ket-hope-will-overcome-despair 4 reasons
shared by Eriel Eaglin on 01 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Interestingly enough, stock prices suggest the opposite. We haven't sold off like this since the Depression. Even during the inflation crisis of the 1970's, the most we ever sold off was 17%. Being down 40% on the year must be very scary for market bears. Everyone wants to tell you that valuations don't matter but I have a secret for you - they do. It's hard to find a stock with a p/e over 20 anymore. Apple's market cap is down to $79 billion and yet it will have $30 billion in cash on its balance sheet by year end.Apple's not the only one either. Corporate America has never been more fiscally responsible. Record amounts of cash sit on balance sheets across many different sectors. Leverage has been limited to consumers and banks.
  • Outstanding credit card debt sits at $971 billion for the United States. This amounts to approximately $3,000 per person. This problem is nowhere near the problems that we were faced with earlier in the year in the financial sector. Government stimulus can easily fix the problem of consumer leverage. With a shot of confidence, the consumer will prove resilient once again.
    • Eriel Eaglin
      Eriel Eaglin on 03 Dec 08
       
      America is in debt
  • Eriel Eaglin on 01 Dec 08
     
    4 reasons
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Cat School - 0 views

www.khanate.co.uk/...interaction.shtml
shared by Ann Thomas on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Ann Thomas on 03 Dec 08
     
    All cats love to play, and playing is an important part of any kittens development. Playing is how cats learn the important lessons of attack and defense. They may look cute when attacking a ball or piece of metal foil, but they are actually learning or practicing the art of stalking, chasing and pouncing. Cats need to play all through their lives, so don't stop playing with him just because he reaches adulthood. A cat that is played with regularly is more likely to be happy, content and healthy and less likely to suffer from behavioural and weight problems. Just like humans, a cat who remains ative in mind and body can remain healthy and alert well into their old age.
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The dope on steroids: Why some athletes take the risk : UMNews : University of Minnesota - 0 views

www1.umn.edu/...me_athletes_take_the_risk.html
shared by anonymous on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • The stakes in Athens are fierce. The difference between an Olympic gold or silver medal could be a one hundredth of a second on the track or in the pool; an inch on the pole vault or shot put.
  • The athletes who make the Olympic cut are blessed with the right combination of physical and psychological traits, including an intense competitive drive and an unrelenting determination to be the best. This is the stuff of champions.
  • Steroids are not just for elite athletes--they can be used by anyone who wants to change his or her body image. The Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report shows more than a million youth taking steroids, and the numbers have been rising every year.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Unfortunately, sometimes so are steroids. For decades, athletes have used anabolic (meaning muscle-building) steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to build strength and endurance. And those drugs are getting more and more sophisticated in an effort to evade detection. Doping, as the practice is called, is illegal and, by most people's standards, unethical. Athletes who have been caught using these drugs have been stripped of their Olympic medals and world records and banned from their sports, sometimes for years, and on occasions for a lifetime.
  • "There are rights and wrongs in life, and if it's against the rules, it's cheating to do it," says Wiese-Bjornstal. "I love sports, but some athletes treat elite sports as if they are life itself, more important than their health, their loved ones, and even their lives."
  • In addition, steroids mess with your body. Potential side effects include high blood pressure, strokes, nausea, sleep problems, increased aggressiveness, and severe mood swings. In men, steroids can reduce sperm count and cause impotence, breast growth, and shrunken testicles. In women, side effects can include reduced breast size, increased body and facial hair, a deepened voice, and menstrual problems.
  • With the risks and consequences of steroid use so high, why do some athletes continue to dope?
  • "The major underlying factor [with steroids use] is that winning at all costs is the most important thing," says Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor in the School of Kinesiology.
  • She says that athletes that use steroids often have the mindset that "they are demonstrating that they are as highly committed to their sport as they can be and are doing whatever it takes to prove to themselves, their coaches, and to the world that they are true athletes who will do anything to win."
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 03 Dec 08
       
      Diane Wiese-Bjornstal's Comment
  • From a moral and ethical framework, Wiese-Bjornstal believes this is twisted thinking. "There are rights and wrongs in life, and if it's against the rules, it's cheating to do it," she says. "I love sports, but some athletes treat elite sports as if they are life itself, more important than their health, their loved ones, and even their lives."
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 03 Dec 08
       
      Wiese-Bjornstal's Comment
  • She also says there is pressure to dope because of the belief that everyone else is doing it, and that if an athlete wants to compete at the highest level, she or he has to do it, too.
  • Nancy Cullen, a sports psychology consultant for the University, says the temptation to use steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs simply comes down to the rigors and pressure of elite competition and the desire to win. She cites an alarming poll taken in 1995 of 198 sprinters, swimmers, power lifters and others, most of whom were Olympians or aspiring Olympians. The poll asked if the athletes would take a banned performance-enhancing substance if they knew if would help them win and they wouldn't be caught--195 responded, yes.
  • Most athletes train for perfection," says Cullen. "The drive to achieve and win is so strong. If the difference between winning or losing is a hundredth of a second, and there is a drug that might give you the edge, the temptation can be great."
  • For some Olympic events, steroid scandals have cast a pall over the games, leaving viewers to wonder after each win, "Did he take drugs? Did she?"
  • Both Wiese-Bjornstal and Cullen agree that education, beginning with young athletes, is important in the fight against steroid use, as are drug testing and stiffer penalties for those who are caught. They also believe that coaches and parents play an important role in supporting the healthy ambitions of developing athletes.
  • "It's important to teach athletes to know what the consequences are and to learn other training practices that are legal and don't involve taking drugs," says Cullen. "Strive to win, strive for perfection, but do it within the rules of the game."
  • anonymous on 03 Dec 08
     
    Good Site for information and Comments on use of drugs on athletes. Site has lots of good comments. Very Interesting.
  • anonymous on 03 Dec 08
     
    Use it
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The Wrong Way to Win - 0 views

express.howstuffworks.com/express-doping1.htm
shared by anonymous on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • The Wrong Way to Win › Introduction to The Wrong Way to Win › Why Do Athletes Use Performance-enhancing Drugs? › Masking Pain and Managing Weight and Stress › Detecting Drugs Why Do Athletes Use Performance-enhancing Drugs?
  • An athlete may want to: Build mass and strength of muscles and/or bones Increase delivery of oxygen to exercising tissues Mask pain Stimulate the body Hide use of other drugs
  • Many drugs are banned outright in Olympic competitions. However, some drugs, such as cortisone and local anesthetics, are merely restricted because they have legitimate clinical uses. Athletes may also misuse drugs to reduce weight, relax, cope with stress or boost their own confidence. Whatever the reason, doping has many unsafe if not deadly side effects.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Another method for improving oxygen concentration is blood doping -- infusing whole blood into an athlete. An athlete who infuses his own blood may cause infection or cardiovascular problems because of the increased blood volume (high blood pressure, blood clots, heart failure and stroke). An athlete who uses someone else's blood runs the risk of acquiring viral infections such as HIV/AIDS. These are huge risks for a result that can also be achieved by training at high altitudes.
  • In addition to taking drugs that build mass and strength, some athletes take drugs and engage in practices that increase the amount of oxygen in tissues. Endurance athletes, like cyclists or cross-country skiers, may use Erythropoietin (EPO). EPO can increase an athlete's oxygen supply by as much as seven to 10 percent. As mentioned earlier, EPO is extremely dangerous, if not deadly in some cases. The increased red cell density caused by EPO can thicken the blood. The thickened blood -- which is more like honey than water -- cannot flow through the blood vessels well. To pump the thickened blood, the heart must work harder. This increases the chances of heart attack and stroke.
  • Athletes looking to build mass may also abuse Human Growth Hormone (hGH). Excessive hGH levels increase muscle mass by stimulating protein synthesis, strengthen bones by stimulating bone growth and reduce body fat by stimulating the breakdown of fat cells. Use of hGH has become increasingly popular because it is difficult to detect. Side effects include overgrowth of hands, feet, and face (known as acromegaly), enlarged internal organs, especially heart, kidneys, tongue and liver and heart problems.
  • Athletes use anabolic steroids to increase muscle strength. Anabolic steroids, which can be injected or taken as pills, allow the athlete to train harder and longer at any given period. The possible and well-known side effects of anabolic steroid use include jaundice and liver damage, mood swings, depression and aggression. Men may also suffer from baldness, infertility and breast development. Females may grow excessive hair on the face and body and suffer from infertility. The substances Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Luteinizing Hormone (LH) may also produce the same side effects.
  • anonymous on 03 Dec 08
     
    use it
  • anonymous on 03 Dec 08
     
    Use this site for information
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Global Warming Effects, Global Warming Causes, Causes of Global Warming, Effects of Glo... - 0 views

globalwarming-awareness2007-arshad.com
shared by Katie M on 08 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Many scientists have specified various reasons for global warming effects on the environment and for human life. It is not easy to point one reason for global warming effects, but recently you might have saw many change in global climate. Global warming effects have various consequences such as glacier volume decreasing, rise in sea levels, shrinkage of Arctic and altered fashion of doing agriculture have been named as direct effects on global warming. Secondary global warming effects are extreme weather events, increase in tropical diseases, changes in the timing of seasonal patterns in ecosystems, and drastic economic impact.
  • Before many times back, many scientist and researchers were hopping that a positive effect of global warming would be increased agricultural yields(outputs), because of the role of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis which might behave in positive manner, but now it resulting in destructions of several crops. In the area of Iceland, due the rising temperatures which have made possible the widespread sowing of barley easily in an effective manner, which was not possible twenty years from now. The net result is expected to be that 33% less maize—the country's staple crop—will be grown. The reduction in rainfall has turned millions of land into deserts.
  • Insurance industry has been affected very badly with the risk of insurance; the number of major natural disasters has been increased to 300% since 1960s, and insured losses increased fifteenfold in real terms. According to Choi and Fisher (2003) each 1% increase in annual precipitation could enlarge catastrophe loss by as much as 2.8%.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • All major Transportation sources such as Roads, airport runways, railway lines and pipelines, always require time to time maintenance and renewal as they become subject to greater temperature variation. Regions already adversely affected include areas of permafrost, which are subject to high levels of subsidence, resulting in buckling roads, sunken foundations, severely cracked runways and many other related problems.
  • Most of the low-lying countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Netherlands and many other small islands have been affected by sea level rise, in terms of floods or the cost of preventing them. In most of the poorest low-plain countries, land is the only available space, or fertile agricultural land which is livelihood for them. But due to flood they are finding problem now to perform their activities.
  • Katie M on 08 Dec 08
     
    effects of global warming
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PowerSearch  Document - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...retrieve.do
shared by Jilliane Velazco on 08 Dec 08 - Cached
  • digital revenues have overtaken earnings from physical sales.
  • more digital downloads were sold in the US last year than physical products, they accounted for just a fraction of overall music industry revenues.
  • Making money from digital recordings has become the music industry's biggest challenge as it faces up to falling CD sales and a persistent piracy problem.
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Benefits of Pets - 0 views

www.petsandpetals.com
shared by Ann Thomas on 08 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Pets reduce stress - studies have shown that simply petting your cat or dog can lower your heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, a great benefit of pet ownership.   Companion pets help safeguard against loneliness and depression - Who can resist returning the affection you receive from a pet. They love you unconditionally; well, at least dogs do!  They are always happy to see you and make you feel good even when you’ve had a bad day.  More benefits of having a pet are... Pets encourage us to get out and exercise - What better way to get exercise than to share a walk with your dog or a play outing to the park.  If you have a cat or an older small dog, you can still take them for a walk in a pet stroller.  Another benefit of owning a pet is...   Helping us meet people - Almost everyone loves animals and many people may want to meet your dog or cat during your outings with your pet.  Those times give us an opportunity to increase our circle of friends. The next benefit of a pet is...
  • A dog or cat will help children’s self esteem and social development – pets are accepting and give positive reinforcement to children. Having a pet will benefit your child’s development as it promotes learning how to be responsible. They will listen to all your stories without fail – even if your human friends get tired from time to time of what you have to say, your pet will always think you “look great”, will never argue with you, and will never tell you they are too tired to talk. This is one of the greatest benefits of pets that people don’t recognize!   Pets will make you laugh, the best stress reliever in the world – your new family pet will provide many hours of amusement for your family as you “explore” your world together. What a wonderful benefit of having a pet in your home!   Another benefit of pet ownership is they help older people feel less isolated – They lessen loss for older people who are on their own and help to keep them involved in caring for another being.   
  • Pets can keep you company while you garden - This may be a stretch, but there is nothing cuter than a cat peeking out from behind the petals of your flower garden or a dog helping you “turn the earth”. Some may not consider digging a benefit of having a pet, but if properly trained it shouldn’t be a problem and your dog can actually help you tote your gardening tools around the yard and your cat will appreciate the catnip in your herb garden.
  • Ann Thomas on 08 Dec 08
     
    Pets reduce stress - studies have shown that simply petting your cat or dog can lower your heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, a great benefit of pet ownership. Companion pets help safeguard against loneliness and depression - Who can resist returning the affection you receive from a pet. They love you unconditionally; well, at least dogs do! They are always happy to see you and make you feel good even when you've had a bad day. More benefits of having a pet are... Pets encourage us to get out and exercise - What better way to get exercise than to share a walk with your dog or a play outing to the park. If you have a cat or an older small dog, you can still take them for a walk in a pet stroller. Another benefit of owning a pet is... Helping us meet people - Almost everyone loves animals and many people may want to meet your dog or cat during your outings with your pet. Those times give us an opportunity to increase our circle of friends. The next benefit of a pet is... A dog or cat will help children's self esteem and social development - pets are accepting and give positive reinforcement to children. Having a pet will benefit your child's development as it promotes learning how to be responsible. They will listen to all your stories without fail - even if your human friends get tired from time to time of what you have to say, your pet will always think you "look great", will never argue with you, and will never tell you they are too tired to talk. This is one of the greatest benefits of pets that people don't recognize! Pets will make you laugh, the best stress reliever in the world - your new family pet will provide many hours of amusement for your family as you "explore" your world together. What a wonderful benefit of having a pet in your home! Another benefit of pet ownership is they help older people feel less isolated - They lessen loss for older people who are on their own and help to
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Dogs > Dogs Helping People > Assistance Dogs - 0 views

www.nhm.org/...assistance.html how do dogs help humans
shared by angela sun on 08 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Guide dogs Hearing dogs Service dogs
  • blind, deaf, or physically disabled
  • Service dogs can also be trained to help people with seizure disorders or other medical problems.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Hearing dogs alert a person who is deaf or hearing-impaired to sounds like doorbells, smoke alarms and baby cries.
  • help people who have physical disabilities
  • Guide dogs help people who are blind or visually impaired navigate their community
  • Ashley T on 08 Dec 08
     
    website
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China - 0 views

dsc.discovery.com/...china-weather-olympics.html water polllution prevention china environment olympics
shared by Stephania D on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Though it sounds like a classroom assignment from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, weather modification programs have been around for more than 50 years.
  • The problem is there are too many factors that affect the weather, making naturally occurring phenomena difficult to separate from man-made triggers.
  • "There was no strong scientific base for changing the weather."
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Determined to prevent rain from dampening the spirits -- not to mention the crowds -- on opening day ceremonies, the government plans to seed any threatening clouds with chemicals to dispel, or at least delay, rainfall.
  • Stephania D on 03 Dec 08
     
    Pollution, prevention
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Olympic Sailors Face Pollution : Discovery News : Discovery Channel - 0 views

dsc.discovery.com/...sailing-olympics-02.html
shared by Stephania D on 05 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Officials have said the algae is the result of a hot spell after heavy rain, but environmentalists said such blooms are largely due to sewage and agricultural pollutant run-off.
  • "It's not clean, but two years ago it was much worse, you would see bags and things floating in. Now you're not seeing bags," she said.
  • Canadian coach Dave Hughes said the water quality has improved a lot, but there are still spots where sailors track through what smell like sewage.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • disputes that Qingdao is more polluted than other courses around the world.
  • "The water's not poison and it won't harm the athletes," he said.
  • He said the stomach problems experienced by athletes following previous races in Qingdao could be caused by a variety of factors, such as not being used to Chinese food.
  • The government has invested heavily to clean up Qingdao's water, he said, with new facilities moving sewage away from the coast and into the deep sea.
  • "Now you can see the bottom of the marina, before I couldn't see it," Qu said.
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Green Countries - 0 views

www.newsweek.com/...print Countries water polllution
shared by Stephania D on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • China in particular has long argued that it is too poor to afford the Western luxury of environmental awareness.
  • China ranks last among 15 nations in its income group (the fifth decile), behind Vietnam. If Colombia, the group's leader, can afford environmental concern, why can't China?
  • China fares slightly better in protecting its habitat but much worse in measures of industrial ills.
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  • One conclusion to be drawn from the Yale-Columbia project is the need for better data, which requires funds.
  • Experiences like the recent biofuels surge, which is driving up food prices, show how treacherous even well-intentioned decisions about the environment can be when they're uninformed.
  • The same holds for consumers, who sometimes think paying somebody to plant a few trees will compensate for flying around the world in airplanes.
  • For such decisions, data are essential. If we're going to avoid squandering our natural resources, the quicker we begin to rely more on facts and less on assumptions, the better.
  • Some countries simply lie or make up the facts.
  • Today's Russian bureaucrats may still be fudging its environmental figures.
  • Among the worst offenders were Japan, South Korea, Brazil, the United States, Italy and Paraguay.
  • (While there are good comparative data on ozone, smog also includes nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides and other components that are poorly tracked in most nations.) Among the best industrial countries were Malaysia, the United Kingdom and all of Eastern Europe (a legacy of the Soviet nuclear program).
    • Stephania D
      Stephania D on 10 Dec 08
       
      desert nations how trouble with water supplies. Israel looks better than other nations.
  • Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which have more severe water problems.
  • Brazil is another country whose high rank—34th—is deceptive.
  • Brazil is a vast land blessed with an abundance of water, which yields energy relatively cheaply with no carbon emissions
  • Brazil is now the world's fourth biggest emitter of carbon, mainly due to the felling of trees.
  • By contrast, Belgium and the Netherlands, which share much in terms of population and geography with their neighbors, suffer from neglect of the environment—particularly in protecting native habitats.
  • Stephania D on 03 Dec 08
     
    The countries doing worst and best with water pollution
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beaches in the U.S - 0 views

www.msnbc.msn.com/20156905 water Pollution beaches
shared by Stephania D on 03 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Pollution at the nation’s 3,500 ocean, lake and bay beaches resulted in more than 25,000 closing or swimming advisory days last year, 28 percent more than in 2005, and the highest number in the 17 years that records have been kept, according to a new federal report released Tuesday.
  • he prime culprit was storm water runoff
  • Another 1,300 days were attributed to sewage spills and overflows.
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  • could not be determined.
  • “Exposure to bacteria, viruses and parasites in contaminated beach water can cause a wide range of diseases, including ear, nose and eye infections; gastroenteritis; hepatitis; encephalitis; skin rashes; and respiratory illnesses,”
  • Most at risk are small children, pregnant women, cancer patients and others whose immune systems are weak or compromised.
  • “Children under the age of 9 had more reports of diarrhea and vomiting from exposure to waterborne parasites than any other age group,”
  • “found that more than 10 percent of swimmers report contracting gastroenteritis or respiratory infections after swimming. Based on those results and beach attendance numbers, nearly 300 people could expect to contract a respiratory illness after swimming in Lake Michigan in Chicago on a summer weekend.
  • “The study found skin rash and diarrhea to be consistently significantly elevated in swimmers compared to non-swimmers.
  • For diarrhea, this risk was strongest among children 5 to 12 years old,
  • an estimated 27 cases per 1,000 among children with any water contact, 32 cases among those with facial contact with the water, and 59 cases among those who swallowed water,
  • 92 beaches in 19 states as being “high risk”
  • 25 percent of tests.
  • “Aging and poorly-designed sewage and storm water systems hold much of the blame for beach water pollution. The problem was compounded by record rainfall, which added to the strain on already overloaded infrastructure.
  • Stephania D on 03 Dec 08
     
    Water pollution (Best + Worst)
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Document Page: BETTER DATA AND EVALUATION OF URBAN RUNOFF PROGRAMS NEEDED TO ASSEDD EFF... - 0 views

elibrary.bigchalk.com/...document
shared by Stephania D on 10 Dec 08 - Cached
  • The Chesapeake Bay, forexample, has been polluted with the nutrients nitrogen andphosphorus and with excess sediment caused, in part, by urbanrunoff. The excess nutrients cause algae blooms that blocksunlight from reaching bay grasses-which are a source of food,shelter, and nursery grounds for many aquatic species.
  • In aneffort to control nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, theExecutive Council of the Chesapeake Bay Program" established agoal to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus entering theChesapeake Bay by 40 percent, including through control of runofffrom urban areas.
    • Stephania D
      Stephania D on 10 Dec 08
       
      The Baltimore Harbor and the Patapsco River in Maryland; the Anacostia, River in Washington, D.C.; and the Elizabeth River in Virginia were designated as "regions of concern."
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  • "hot spots" of contaminated sediment.
    • Stephania D
      Stephania D on 10 Dec 08
       
      The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project conducted a study to identify adverse health effects of untreated urban runoff by surveying over 13,000 swimmers at three bay beaches. The study established a positive association between an increased risk of explains health outcome measures at various distances from storm drains. For example, the study found a 1-in-14 chance of fever for swimmers in front of the drain versus a 1-in-22 chance at 400 or more yards away.
  • Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, which are often presentin urban runoff, can pose public health problems.
  • Drains Versus 400 or More Yards Away Found On Hard Copy-Storm Drain Runoff," Epidemiology, July 1999, Vol. 10, No. 4.Metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in urban runoffcan present a threat to aquatic life.
  • proved to betoxic to sea urchin fertilization in the Santa Monica Bay, anddissolved zinc and copper were determined to be contributors tothis toxicity. -Brown bullheads (a bottom-dwelling catfish) inthe Anacostia River developed tumors that were believed to becaused by PAHs associated in part with urban runoff. High PAHand heavy metal concentrations were found in crayfish tissuesamples from several urban streams in Milwaukee. The studyassociated these contaminants with storm water runoff.
  • The three primaryactivities used in these programs include efforts to characterizestorm water runoff; BMPs aimed at reducing pollutants in stormwater runoff to the maximum extent practicable; and reportingprogram activities, monitoring results, and costs of implementingthe program. Some BMPs are structural-meaning that they aredesigned to trap and detain runoff until constituents settle orare filtered out.
  • -good housekeeping" practices by the local government, such asoil collection and recycling, spill response, household andhazardous waste collection, pesticide controls, flood controlmanagement, and street sweeping; -public education programs, suchas storm-drain stenciling, to remind the public that trash, motoroil, and other pollutants thrown into storm drains end up innearby receiving waters;' -new ordinances to control pollutionsources, such as prohibiting the disposal of lawn clippings instorm drains and requiring pet owners to clean up after theirpets;" requirements that developers comply with storm waterregulations and incorporate erosion and sediment controls at allnew development sites; -requirements that runoff from propertiesowned or activities sponsored by the municipality be properlycontrolled; and -efforts to identify and eliminate illicitconnections and illegal discharges to the storm sewer systems,such as those from pipes carrying sewage.
  • Several officials in the cities we visited said that their annualcosts are likely to increase. A number of factors could affectthe costs. For example, a Baltimore City official explained thatthe anticipated, future program costs depend on several factors,including (1) requirements in watershed- management planscurrently being developed, (2) pollution-reduction goals the citywill be required to achieve, (3) requirements of the stateregulatory agency in future permits, and (4) requirements thecity may have to meet if TMDLs or numeric effluent limits areincorporated into NPDES storm water permits. Other city officialsalso expressed concern about the extent to which TMDLs couldaffect their future costs. These city officials are concernedthat when and if TMDLs are established, their future storm waterpermits may require that storm water runoff meet specific waterquality standards. For example, Los Angeles County's trash TMDLcould potentially drive the county's storm water management costsupward, and the county expects additional TMDLs to be imposed. Onthe other hand, Worcester officials estimated that their futurestorm water costs would be about the same as they were at thetime of our review-about $4.5 million per year.
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