healthcare

After watching Sicko I was convinced that universal healthcare was the way to go. The man speaking at this Baltimore protest (above) makes me feel the same way. This is conflicting for me, since it gives our government more power. I think first our government needs to work for the people (aka the CARE part of healthcare). Then maybe we can work on the health aspect. One thing the speaker in the film mentioned is that we have public schools, and thus we should be able to have public healthcare too. But this does not address the problems that public schools have. Schools both vary in quality depending upon their location and the socioeconomic status (which is comparative to race). Doctors and hospitals would be provided in the same ways. Not that keeping healthcare the way it is now is better, seeing as it is all run on money via insurance companies. Universal healthcare will improve things now for most people, but will it continue to improve for all people?

This is just an idea I was considering. Maybe I'm way off... feel free to tell me how you feel!

-Stephanie

LHC is alive!

copyright CERN. this foto has nothing to do w. LHC experiments, it's just amazing!

how exciting is today! it was the first run of CERN's (European Center for Nuclear Research) Large Haldron Collider (LHC). so the LHC sends hydrogen protons at near light speed through two underground tunnels that measure 17 miles total. the protons smash into one another immulating the moments after the big bang. cool!
this first run of the LHC was just a tester and it will be awhile before protons are sent colliding into one another. scientists hope to sight the Higg particle (formerly called the "God particle"), which would aid in explaining why the universe has mass. also, Professor Etzion, one of 6,000 scientists who worked to make the LHC a reality, will be looking out for "zee star." He hypothesizes that Z* is a force carrier allowing some particles to escape to other dimensions. if this turns out to be the case, he says it will help explain why gravity is a weak force (side note: gravity a weak force? this i do not know anything about, maybe the next blog post...). these other dimensions are too small for us to notice or prove as of right now (side note: there is string theory & i'm not sure if Prof. Etzion's theory goes along &/or is influence by this TOE).

there is also the possibility of creating dark matter & black holes in this new wonder machine. have no fear, though. if black holes are successfully produced, they impose little danger. it's highly unlikely that black holes will be made, but if so, they would evaporate in nano-nano seconds.

correct me or tell me how amazing you think this stuff is too! or just let me know i'm a dork. comments, comments.

w. <3
kaitlyn

sources (sorry, i'm a bad person & too lazy to properly cite. i'm not trying to plagerize, i just wanted to share. these articles are great) :
NPR article
ScienceDaily article
CERN homepage (they have awesome LHC & education sections!)

is it fair trade?

I am constantly fighting with myself over how I, as a consumer, can be socially responsible. The idea of giving money to a corporation which abuses and exploits their workers makes me feel sick. However, it feels at times that all products offered at affordable prices have this down-side. And I know that I am not alone in feeling this consumer's guilt. It is all around me.

In response to the increased awareness of their exploitation, corporations have responded with a solution! Fair trade options allow consumers to feel less guilty for just a little extra money. At least the farmers growing fair trade produce are making better that bare-minimum wages, right? And it is easy to pay extra when your money is going to a good cause. But in reality, a lot of that extra money can end up going right to the corporation. In this respect, "fair trade" is just another marketing scheme. Side note- Some good-hearted companies don't charge more for fair trade. Woo!

Additionally, fair trade takes away the autonomy of the farmers. Corporations and fair trade regulations control what crops a fair trade farmer grows. This gives even more power in the markets to business owners in the US. Fair trade thus encourages a relationship between farmers and shop-owners based on power and control. While it may be working now, this unequal power is what caused the problems fair trade is designed to fix.

Fair trade has good intentions. Major corporations do not. Because fair trade is being used as a tool by major corporations to avoid being accused of exploitation, it will continue to benefit these companies more than the farmers. I think that the only way to truly change things comes from breaking apart the larger corporations. The process through which products go through should be much more visible to consumers. But the responsibility is hardly the consumers, and major corporations and government officials need to recognize their role in unfair working conditions in order for any real change to take place.

rant, skip if you please

this is the 5th or so night that my house's fire alarm has gone off. everyone is getting frustrated, understandably. it's this huge, abrasive system of formalities & communication is insignificant. what i really want to point out is that it is illegal to tamper or cover your fire alarms... in your own house. maybe i want to burn to the ground or maybe i don't want the city or state's help. it seems absurd that the legal system is forcing "safety." there is nothing personal or caring about it and i hardly feel like my well being & "the better good" is the interest of anyone, much less some huge system. just really, who's well being & interests are tied up in this way of doing things?

i appreciate my housemates dealing with the situation and looking out for each other. that much i am glad for.

home planetarium!

fotos documenting our starry night adventure craft activity of learning. aka we punched holes in cardboard to form constellations while watching the driest documentary on science.

"how dreamy"

i'm geeked out for this one & it was on sale at hobbylobby!

serious w. an exacto knife

"what? it's not a hat, too?"