the winds of change

Students Continue to Protest California Tuition Increases

Seeded on Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:46 PM EST (The New York Times)

BERKELEY, Calif. — The day after the University of California Board of Regents approved a 32-percent increase in fees that are the equivalent of tuition, protests continued on several campuses, with students occupying buildings at Santa Cruz and Berkeley.

politics, higher-education, tuition, student-activism

How the travel industry can win you back

Seeded on Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:56 PM EDT (CNN)

The travel industry should offer flexibility for issues out of its customers' control. Customers are forced to accept flight delays and overbookings with little recourse. Some reciprocal understanding would help customer relations.

us-news, airlines, airfares, customer-service

Art-draped hotel focus of suit

Seeded on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:32 PM EDT (San Francisco Examiner)

The building is furnished, but the beds and sofas hang off its walls. That's not good enough for frustrated government officials who want the fire-damaged Hugo Hotel at Howard and Sixth streets demolished and replaced with a new building.

arts, public-art, tenderloin, urban-renewal

Mexico City bans stores from distributing plastic bags

Seeded on Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:57 PM EDT (CNN)

Mexico City has become the Western Hemisphere's second largeest metropolitan area to ban plastic bags. The move comes as leading environmentalists call for a global ban. According to a U.N. agency, plastic bags are second-most common form of litter.

science, plastic-bags

Scientists study 'garbage patch' in Pacific Ocean

Seeded on Wed Aug 5, 2009 11:38 AM EDT (CNN)

(CNN) -- It is a problem of massive plastic proportions -- a giant floating debris field, composed mostly of bits and pieces of plastic, in the northwest Pacific Ocean, about a thousand miles off the coast of California.

science, litter, seafood

Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him

Seeded on Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:29 AM EDT (CNN)

How many people does it take to break the Internet? On June 25, we found out it's just one -- if that one is Michael Jackson.

technology, michael-jackson, twitter, wikipedia, tmz, google-trends, aim

Great-grandmother donates 200th pint of blood

Seeded on Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:24 AM EDT (CNN)

Margaret Delfino donated her 200th pint of blood last week, bringing her total to to more than 25 gallons.

health, blood-donation, charity, cancer

Hip-hop mogul, lawmaker team up to help youth

Seeded on Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:27 AM EDT (CNN)

The power of music and the power of politics met Tuesday, with a hip-hop mogul and one of the most prominent leaders in Congress joining their considerable forces to spotlight issues facing youth in America.

education, hip-hop, at-risk-youth

Office refrigerator stench packs punch, sends seven to hospital

Seeded on Thu May 14, 2009 9:15 PM EDT (CNN)

When an AT&T worker cleaned out a refrigerator filled with rotting food, an office evacuation became necessary. The smell of spoiled food combined with cleaning chemicals caused noxious fumes.

odd-news, office, trash

The power of music: It's a real heart opener

Seeded on Wed May 13, 2009 2:16 AM EDT (CNN)

Music, like laughter, opens up blood vessels and produces protective chemicals.

health, music-therapy

Finally in the land of the free, but where are the jobs?

Seeded on Tue May 12, 2009 11:33 AM EDT (CNN)

More than 60,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S. in 2008, but finding even menial, unskilled jobs has proven difficult during the downturn. The State Department allocation for living expenses per refugee on arrival is only $450, regardless of their situation.

us-news, refugee, immigration

Head-banging parrot proves birds can dance

Seeded on Mon May 4, 2009 3:19 AM EDT (CNN)

(CNN) -- A head-banging parrot who became a YouTube sensation has demonstrated that an ability to appreciate music and keep a rhythm is not unique to humans, scientists say.

science, music, cognition

Obama unveils high-speed passenger rail plan

Seeded on Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:18 PM EDT (CNN)

President Obama unveiled his administration's blueprint for a new national network of high-speed passenger rail lines Thursday, saying such an investment is necessary to reduce traffic congestion, cut dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment.

us-news, rail, public-transportation, first-hundred-days, trains

Riding the It Factor

Seeded on Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:55 AM EDT (The New York Times)

An NYT fashion reporter raves about the wonders Dutch bicycles could do for fashion-conscious New Yorkers.

us-news, bicycles, cycling

Scientists warn of rapid -fire media dangers

Seeded on Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:11 PM EDT (CNN)

A USC study finds that rapid-fire Twitter and news updates are too fast for the human brain. Scans show humans respond rapidly to pain, but more slowly to compassion and admiration. Scientists say that reliance on Twitter or news snippets could harm young people's moral compass.

technology, twitter, internet-usage, generation-i, information-overload

Four receive organs from slain California officer

Seeded on Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:56 AM EDT (CNN)

Organs donated by a slain Oakland, California, police officer saved four lives, and his donated tissue will enhance the lives of up to 50 others, the California Transplant Donor Network said Wednesday.

us-news, police, organ-donor

Notes of Distress and Discord From the Esteemed Philadelphia Orchestra

Seeded on Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:42 PM EDT (The New York Times)

The Philadelphia Orchestra, which appears at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday evening, is functioning without a permanent board chairman, chief executive or music director.

arts, orchestra, symphony

Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?

Seeded on Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:20 PM EDT (TIME)

Could marijuana be the answer to the economic misery facing California? Democratic state assemblyman Tom Ammiano thinks so.

us-news, medical-marijuana, marijuana, drugs, legalization

California lawmaker wants to blur Google Earth

Seeded on Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:53 AM EDT (CNN)

A California bill would blur many state buildings on online maps like Google Earth. The bill's goal is to prevent terrorism, according to its author, Assemblyman Joel Anderson. Anderson argues that images from Google maps were used to plan the attacks on Mumbai, India.

politics

Religion: Biological Accident, Adaptation — or Both

Seeded on Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:12 AM EDT (Wired News)

Whether or not God exists, thinking about Him or Her doesn't require divinely dedicated neurological wiring. Instead, religious thoughts run on brain systems used to figure out what other people are thinking and feeling.

science, evolution

updated 7:23 p.m. EST, Thu February 19, 2009

Seeded on Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:15 AM EST (CNN)

The "Virtual Happiness Project" in the Netherlands explores the relationship between the Web 2.0 (in particular) and happiness.

technology, facebook, social-networks

Solar power heats up energy possibilities

Seeded on Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:12 PM EST (CNN)

In the desert of southern Spain, just west of Seville, a sea of giant mirrors is reflecting the sun's energy to provide "concentrated solar power" (CSP) while illuminating the path to a new wave of green energy projects.

science, solar-power

Study: Proximity to fast-food restaurants linked to stroke risk

Seeded on Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:10 PM EST (CNN)

A person's risk of stroke is associated with the number of fast-food restaurants near their residence, according to a study presented Thursday at a stroke conference in San Diego, California.

health, fast-food

Can bamboo tackle environmental and poverty concerns?

Seeded on Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:02 AM EST (CNN)

Bamboo could be a source to lift thousands out of poverty in south east Asia. The potential of industrial use of fast-growing plant lies in a greater export market.

world-news, bamboo, sustainable, construction

Vandalism Vexes Paris Bike-Rental System

Seeded on Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:41 PM EST (The New York Times)

PARIS — The Velib bike rental system has been hailed by Parisians and tourists alike for its convenience, as well as being a "green" alternative to getting around the French capital via taxicab, bus or metro.

world-news, bicycles, bike-sharing, bicycle-sharing

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