Do Blogs Dynamically Transform the Modern American Political Culture ?

Recently web logs, or blogs, have exploded in popularity and have come to occupy an increasingly important place in American politics. Given the disparity in resources and organization against other actors, their influence presents a puzzle. How can a collection of decentralized, nonprofit, contrarian and discordant websites exercise any influence over political and policy outputs?

As the World Wide Web approaches its teens, we have new expectations about both the right to express an opinion and access to information upon which to base that opinion. Blogs have begun playing an important role in raising people's expectations Thus, blogs have demonstrated influence; the power to affect events. Blogging is now positioned inside the context of participatory journalism and the responses of mainstream media and political parties to the new technology are reflections of its emerging influence. From what evidence illustrates, blogs have managed to affect today's news agenda.

The Italian Renaissance gave Western civilization several crucial transformations. None, for this article's purposes, matters more than perspective. Boccaccio's Decameron, published in 1353, is considered to be among the earliest works of literature to propose that a point of view is crucial to understanding. Gutenberg's printing press brought forth a revolution that no one could have anticipated at the time. Today, the Internet is the most important medium since the printing press. It subsumes all that has come before and is, in the most fundamental way, transformative. When anyone can be a writer, in the largest sense and for a global audience, many wish to become one. Actually, no better environment exists nowadays for people to exercise these among many other rights, than the Internet and one of the best mediums to exercise these rights are weblogs.

According to some critics, most weblogs will never attempt to reach a public, even if they are in theory reachable by all Net users. The great majority of weblogs will probably be for personal use, while the user base will be peer to peer, not author to public. Other critics, in their attempt to evaluate the accelerating speed of the weblog trend, support that from what it seems so far, it is probable that most weblogs will be short lived, and wind up abandoned, just as most conversations are abandoned. Also it is probable that a few popular blogs will have huge user base and the vast majority will be invisible most of the time, a pattern that reminds some of the "old" and "traditional" mass media. Since the software and interface are highly flexible, and the uses of an easily updated, good-looking page are endless, weblogs will be commonly used in closed systems - private and company networks - as much as the open waters of the Web.

In relation to political coverage and news stories, bloggers have broken or magnified major news stories and blogs themselves draw fire for partisan politics, poor journalistic practices, and duplicity. But the issue still remains that blogs are still in their infancy, despite the wave of press they have received during the last two years. They provide a reasonable, but far from perfect, entry point into the news space, better at offering commentary and starting conversations than serving a current-events-indicator role.
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How To Help Your Children Understand Death

Most children live in an idyllic world of saturday cartoons and the loving care of their parents. Unfortuantely, there comes a time when a child will experience death for the first time and it becomes the responsibility of parents to educate their young children on the subject of death and dying...

Most children do experience death in one form or another during their childhood, be it losing a pet, a family member, or something else.

1. Make Your Discussion Easy To Understand

Don't avoid talking about death with your children, nor should you explain it in such a way that would instill a fear of death. Most children, however, have never seen a real dead body or have had a lengthy discussion with their parents about what, if anything, happens after we die.

2. Strategies For Talking About Death

Explaining an idea such as death is different from explaining something physical that your children are able to see, taste or touch. Try and explain things from the simplest level you can. If you wish, you can use this as an opportune time to go over the other big talk you will need to have with your children.

3. Essential Tips For Helping Children Through Loss

- Children sometimes ask when they will be able to see their loved one again
- No matter how small your childs pet be sure to give a proper funeral
- Often, children will express themselves through actions rather than words
- Never mislead children by telling them the deceased will come back
- Encourage children to share their feelings

Most importantly it is critical that you keep talking to your child. Keep the lines of communication open by asking them how they are feeling. Sometimes children will have nightmares about death or losing someone and it's important to talk through these dreams. Some children try to hide their confusion and sadness, and it's important to see beyond the surface and get them to open up to you. Just because they are children does not mean that they don't feel things deeply. If a child keeps their pain and confusion bottled up, it will come back to haunt them in later years.

4. Inform Children At An Early Age

Children should be given ample time to mull over the concepts of life and death in their minds. Do not wait until their pet dies in order to explain the subjects of death and dying to your children. Although death is a certainty of life, your children should not have to be scared or confused because of it.
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Swine Flu Not an Accident From a Lab, W.H.O. Says

The swine flu virus did not result from a laboratory accident, the World Health Organization said Thursday, working to debunk rumors started by an Australian virologist and circulated by news outlets all over the world.

“We took this very seriously,” Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the agency’s deputy director general, said of the virologist’s assertion. “But the evidence suggests that this is a naturally occurring virus, not a laboratory-derived virus.”

In a telephone news conference, Dr. Fukuda also expressed support for drug companies’ making a generic version of the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Many poor countries have no stockpiles of the drug.

Almost 6,500 confirmed cases of the new H1N1 flu have been reported from 33 countries, and 65 people have died, the W.H.O. said. About 4,300 confirmed and probable cases, with 3 deaths, were reported in the United States.

A woman in Arizona who was suffering from lung disease died last week from complications of swine flu, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health said late Thursday, Reuters reported.

The virus rumor was started by Adrian J. Gibbs, a retired plant virologist from the Australian National University, who previously published work in the journal Science questioning the idea, now accepted, that the 1918 pandemic started as a bird flu.

Dr. Gibbs, who had studied the gene sequences of the swine flu virus posted on public data banks, argued that it must have been grown in eggs, the medium used in vaccine laboratories. He reached that conclusion, he said, because the new virus was not closely related to known ones and because it had more of the amino acid lysine and more mutations than typical strains of swine flu.

His theory was reported by Bloomberg News on Tuesday. Even though scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were skeptical and some prominent virologists openly derisive, news outlets have repeated and magnified the theory, adding speculation about bioterrorism that even Dr. Gibbs repudiated. He was also interviewed Thursday on the ABC News program “Good Morning America.”

Dr. Fukuda said a W.H.O. panel of experts had concluded that “the hypothesis does not really stand up to scrutiny.” The lysine residues and mutation rates were typical, he said, and many swine flus seem unrelated because not enough pigs are tested each year.

But he added that he doubted that the rumor would prove damaging, and he said he would not want genetic sequences kept off public databases.

“This is healthy,” he said. “This is much better than dealing with rumors where you don’t know where the mistake comes from and can’t correct it.”

Persistent false rumors, like those that AIDS is not caused by a virus or that polio vaccine sterilizes Muslim girls, have devastated efforts to control other diseases.

Scientists have yet to pinpoint the origin of the swine flu virus, the earliest cases of which were found in Veracruz, Mexico. It contains genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia, as well as avian and human genes.

Late Thursday, Smithfield Foods reported that the Mexican health authorities had not found the new virus in herds at its huge hog-fattening operations in Veracruz, which some have blamed for the outbreak. But it was not clear what test was used; only blood tests for antibodies would show whether pigs had the virus in February, when the human outbreak is thought to have begun.

As for the use of oseltamivir, the generic form of Tamiflu, the W.H.O. has certified only one drug — Antiflu, made by the Indian company Cipla in both pill and liquid forms — as equivalent to brand-name Tamiflu.

Dr. Yusuf K. Hamied, Cipla’s chairman, said he would sell large amounts to Mexico and was in discussion with countries in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

The move could prompt patent lawsuits by Gilead Sciences and Roche, which developed and sell Tamiflu, so Cipla will sell only to countries indemnifying them against such suits, the company said.

Roche has offered 6.5 million doses of Tamiflu to the World Health Organization and 1 million doses to Mexico.

Dr. Hamied, reluctant to buy supplies for orders that might not materialize, said that poor countries should stockpile shikimic acid, the oseltamivir precursor, then pay Cipla or other generic companies to make the drug as needed.

The swine flu may cause the W.H.O. to cut short its nine-day annual conference of world health ministers so they can get home to fight the disease
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Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Asthma Attacks

Some people describe asthma as feeling like they are trying to breathe though a straw. The description fits perfectly, because during an attack, airways in the lungs squeeze shut, making it difficult to draw in air. At the same time, the narrowed airways become inflamed and filled with mucus, stifling the airways even further.

Asthma can be serious – even fatal. But if you can take care of yourself, asthma isn’t cause for alarm. Here are some ways to prevent future episodes.

1. Max Out On Magnesium

This essential mineral helps relax the smooth muscles that line airways. People who were getting the most magnesium from foods were the least likely to have wheezing and supersensitive airways. Choose whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds as your best magnesium sources.

2. Consider Antioxidant Protection

Vitamins C and E, the trace mineral selenium and beta-carotene, a pigment found in orange and dark green leafy vegetables, all seem to offer some protection to sensitive lungs. You may want to consider consuming 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E and up to 200 micrograms of selenium a day through diet and supplements.

3. Declare War On Insects

Two kinds of bugs – dust mites and cockroaches – are well-known asthma aggravators. People actually inhale microscopic cockroach parts and dust mite feces, which sets off attacks. It is impossible to get rid of dust mites, which are found in every house and are kicked up through normal household activity. So minimizing their presence by encasing mattresses and pillows in plastic covers and washing your bed linens frequently in hot water. Banishing cockroaches can be a real hassle, too. Keep food in bug-proof tins or the refrigerator, clean up crumbs immediately and never leave cat or dog food out. Fix leaks so that there are no damp spots in your house, since mites require high humidity to live.

4. Stop The Acid

The same backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus that causes heartburn can bring on asthma, especially if you are lying down. People who do a lot of coughing at night are most likely to have this problem. To avoid acid-induced asthma, you can take acid-suppressing drugs, forgo late-night foraging and shed excess weight.

5. Relax With Massage

In one study people with asthma who got weekly 15-minute upper body massages reported drops in chest tightness, wheezing, pain and fatigue. Massage may make you more aware of the stress in your life, and awareness is, for most people, the first step towards reducing stress. Stress often makes asthma symptoms worse.

6. Breathe Better With Yoga

Try exhaling for twice as long as you inhale. This is a yoga breathing technique. To do this easily, breathe in normally, then exhale normally, but as you come to what seems like the end of your exhalation, continue for a bit longer without forcing out the breathe.

7. Turn Off The Fireplace

As cozy as fireplaces and woodstoves may be, they spew pollutants into indoor air. If you are having trouble controlling asthma, you are better off not using either of these in your house.
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Top 7 Tips To Prevent Sleep Problems

Whatever it is, you might have occasional bouts of insomnia in some stage of your life and would not feel refreshed in the morning. And your conditions will start to worsen if you have a history of some common types of pain such as back, neck, shoulders, hips, and knee.

ecause everything else will start to go wrong and get much more irritable than before. It will also seem harder to cope with the pain. Here are some tips that you can consider to improve your current situation.

1. Exercise Regularly

Olympic-level exertion is not required. Simply walking for 20 to 30 minutes will help improve the quality of your sleep. Try not to exercise near bedtime, however. Evening exercise can leave you feeling too “charged up” to fall asleep easily.

2. Do Not Lie Awake At Night

The longer you worry about going back to sleep, the less sleepy you feel. After several nights of lying awake, your mind can begin to associate lying in bed with worrying rather than with slumber. If you have been lying in bed trying to sleep for more than 20 minutes, get up and go to another room where you can do something quiet and relaxing such as reading or needlework. When you feel sleepy, go back to bed. You may fear that by doing this, you will miss too much sleep. Actually, you will probably be more rested.

3. Avoid Alcohol

The effect of alcoholic beverages on you sleep can be deceiving. At first, alcohol may seem to help because it has a relaxing or sedative effect for the first few hours. But once the sedative effect wears off, you will feel more anxious and jittery. If you drink alcohol in the evening, you may find yourself waking in the middle of the night. Therefore, the regular use of alcohol can make sleep problems worse. If you are having trouble sleeping, it is best to avoid alcohol altogether. At the very least, never use it as a sleep aid.

4. Slow Sown

Take time to slow down as bedtime approaches. During the hour before bed, pursue quiet, relaxing activities.

5. Avoid Caffeine

If your sleep cycle is already upset, even small amounts of caffeine can interfere with restful slumber. While you may be tempted to energize yourself with caffeine after a poor night’s sleep, it is best to avoid coffee, tea, cola, and other caffeinated beverages. If you feel you cannot give up caffeine completely, limit yourself to one cup of coffee or tea in the morning. Try to avoid caffeine in the late afternoon or evening, and be aware that chocolates and various over-the-counter pain medications contain caffeine.

6. Do Not Overuse Sleeping Pills

Prescription sleeping pills and sedatives can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. They should be limited to short-term use because they can be habit forming. In addition, regular use of sedatives and sleeping pills can depress your mood, reduce your energy levels, and contribute to problems with memory and concentration.

7. Find Another Time For Worrying and Planning

If you tend to lie awake worrying or solving problems, you can improve your sleep by planning to do your thinking at a different time of day. For example, you can regularly spend 10 to 15 minutes each morning thinking through your concerns and problems and making plans to resolve them. This strategy not only helps you to get organized and improves your problem solving, but also enables you to put the problem out of your mind at bedtime. You might even want to keep a pencil and paper or a tape recorder next to your bed. Then, if you should think of a new concern or new option for solving a problem, you can record it, and then fall asleep without worrying that you will forget.
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Keeping Alzheimer's at Bay

Some assume that Alzheimer's disease merely affects the memory of a person. This can be true, but only in the early stages of the disease. In the case of Auguste Deter in 1901, the first person to be diagnosed, her symptoms began lightly, and only gradually did it begin to take its toll.

Admitted into a mental institution, she was treated by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who treated her with several tests. At first memory loss seemed the only culprit. But in time her condition grew worse. Overtaking her entire brain, it seemed Auguste Deter had lost any ability to function on her own will.

This tragedy of Alzheimer's amounts to a person's inability to remain themselves. It is enough for a disease to take a person's life; it is another for it to shatter their sense of self.

In light of this colossal toll, a variety of methods exist to keep the disease at bay. One of the common conceptions of preventative measures remains to engage in social activities. Several studies and theories reveal that people who do not regularly socialize, or do not, in some way, engage in reciprocity, are more susceptible to an early onset of Alzheimer's. So those who ritually remain in solitude, who give their brains very little new information to process, should make the effort to "exercise" their frontal lobes. The point here is stimulation of the brain; and any activity not rote and preordained should in turn be stimulating.

Intellectual challenges may be the most refined way to stimulate the lobes of your brain. This kind of "agitation" can be seen as a physical message. It works out all the kinks. But don't confuse stimulation with frustration, as stress can make matters worse. Intellectual pursuits such as mathematics or even a simple crossword puzzle, performed daily, can work wonders on the mind of a senior citizen. This intellectual activity is merely an offshoot of social activity, designed to present new challenges to the physical prowess of the human brain, and to never allow it to grow bored and slack, like a malfunctioning couch potato. Since some folks out there consider the word "intellectual" to be frightening, maneuver around the matter to fit the lifestyle. From computers or, to the computer-illiterate, pick-up-and-play peripherals like the Nintendo DS, intellectual stimulation can be as accessible as channel surfing, and twice as fun.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown, though as of yet unproven, to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. This happens because DHA, a fatty acid present in Omega-3, reputedly interrupts the formation of tau, a protein that causes complications in the fibers of the brain, thereby being one of the two catalysts that lead to Alzheimer's. This can only be seen as a preventative measure or as therapy to slow down the disease. It is in no way a cure. And so a diet primarily made up of fish, as seafood tends to be fortified with Omega-3, as well as eggs, is a sure way to start the day.

Of course, a fortified diet and stimulation of the brain should be general practice for anybody. But in the fight against Alzheimer's, it can turn out to be a lifesaver in the effort to save one's sense of self.
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Tinnitus: The Many Ways that it Begins

While trying to determine the cause of tinnitus, recall that most all health problems have a multifactoral causation. It is important to evaluate all cofactors, direct and indirect, since these various causative agents and life situations often fit together like pieces of a puzzle to explain causation. Each potential cause of tinnitus - when considered alone - might not be sufficinet to cause this problem by itself.

Nevertheless, in combination, a more complex and multi-layered cause of tinnitus becomes apparent.

Two or more causes can interact and combine, starting a complex and unique chain of events resulting in a health problem, like tinnitus. Alone, none of them could start a problem like tinnitus.

Common medical causes of tinnitus

Typically, there are just two basic medical explanations to explain the cause of tinnitus. The first, is tinnitus often occurs as the end result of a health problem like high blood pressure or hearing loss, and is seen as an end result of a more serious preexisting health condition or disease. Second, tinnitus can often be a primary symptom related to almost any ear disorder, such as: any problem from an ear infection, to Meniere's disease, or a perforated ear drum to a sinus infection, or an ear canal blocked by ear wax to a tumor of the middle ear, or cervical spine osteoarthtitis to severe weight loss due to excessive dieting, or a whiplash injury to rapid change of barometric pressure on an airplane, or to overuse of aspirin or alcohol.

Also, there are less common causes of tinnitus that can arise as a result of other disorders: a tumor of the auditory nerve, anemia, heart and blood vessel disorders (hypertension and arteriosclerosis), or low thyroid hormone levels in the blood stream (hypothyroidism). In certain sensitive individuals, the mercury in common amalgam dental fillings can be a cause of tinnitus. Tinnitus might also be an early indicator the body is being overtaxed with work and stress.

Exercise, when taken to excess, can be a cause of tinnitus by creating micro-injury to the inner ear mechanism, from increased pressures or direct truama. resulting in abnormal auditory nerve function. To back up this idea, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, in its February 1991 issue, explained tinnitus can arise from the on-going, sudden and powerful impact forces of aggressive sports and exercise.

The typical deterioration of the cochlear part of the inner ear, and related reduced hearing ability that are a part of the natural aging process (presbycusis) are another common cause of tinnitus. Lastly, for reasons not entirely clear to medical researchers, but explained within the TTI website, general daily stress from the activities of daily living can and does worsen tinnitus.

The Tinnitus Treatment Institute has long recommended that anyone suffering from tinnitus should undergo active Alternative Medicine treatment following the therapy guidelines suggested throughout its website. The results are great and therapy will probably improve other aspects of your health while you are at it, as many peopole report.

The Tinnitus Treatment Institute specializes in using safe and effective Alternative Medicine therapies to assist healing and repair related to those who suffer from constant ear noises.
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Missing Person Search

When one is missing, people are anxious for anyone who can provide information on his whereabouts. Rare are the people who ever plan for such unfortunate circumstance that causes great problems during the investigation. The first two days are the most crucial time.

So having a plan of action and executing it quickly can make the difference between a quick and happy ending and a long, trying ordeal. The importance of having a competent evidence pick up immediately on the fresh clues before they turn cold is of unparalleled importance.

Avoid thinking negatively and stay positive, keeping high hope up. They try to take it all upon themselves, when they should be looking for help.

A good private eye with a reputable firm behind him will be able to supply invaluable information from numerous databases around the world. These private detectives who are often criticized can make a difference in the crucial moment. From fact finding and trail following to emotional support, they make life easier in a difficult situation.
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The Most Serious Health Concerns for Women and What You Can Do

These days, it seems women have more health concerns than ever. Perhaps they are greater in number than ever before or perhaps we are just more aware of women's issues as women are more comfortable having them brought to the forefront.

One issue that continually does get the attention it deserves is breast cancer. The breast cancer statistics are alarming, and almost everyone you know has a sister or mother who has suffered from this deadly disease. If caught early enough, it does not have to be deadly. In fact, there are things you can do so that you don't get it at all. Every woman (young and old) should be checking their breasts monthly to detect for any strange lumps or any unusual signs. This can be done in the shower, with one arm raised and the other performing the checking task. Any doctor can show you the specifics on how to do this. If you do sense something suspicious, make an appointment with your doctor right away to have it looked at. The other thing you can do is be a conscious consumer; every day the FDA is coming out with new information as to what may be potential carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), from food additives to plastics to environmental hazards. Becoming aware and taking the time to be educated can make all the difference in the world.

Another major health concern for women is heart disease. This continues to be the number one killer of women, actually, and it doesn't just happen to those you would suspect. When people think of heart disease, most people think of the severely obese. However, women can suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, and clogged arteries from poor food choices, lack of exercise, and stress. Believe it or not, if you eat fast food on a regular basis and skip the gym in favor of drinks after a very stressful work day that ends at 7:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m., you may be in a higher risk category than your friend who remains calm, eats a lot of healthy food choices, and practices yoga a couple times a week. If you know you are in the first group, the best thing you can do for yourself is to start making small changes. If you can't get away from a stressful job or career, make sure to step away each hour and do deep breathing exercises, and stretch your body while at work. Go to the ladies room to do it if necessary! Try to make smarter food choices, even if it means just eliminating one of your ‘junk food meals' a week. If you're not big on exercise, start with a simple walk a couple times a week and go from there. The sooner you make these changes, the healthier you will be and the less at risk for heart disease.

A third issue for women and one that has been on the rise for quite some time is obesity. The "average" American woman has increased in size to a size 12 or even a size 14, with many women reaching far beyond that size. This can be unhealthy depending on your body fat percentage. While women can take some of the same steps as with heart disease discussed above, people who suffer from obesity may need to take more drastic measures in order to get their weight down. If you are obese, it is definitely time to get your diet in check so that you don't later develop heart disease, or adult diabetes, or a host of other problems from being overweight. Eating a lot of processed, artificially sweetened, or sugar and fat-laden foods is likely a habit, and one that needs to be nipped in the bud. Hand in hand with poor eating habits is exercise habits, and if you don't have any it's time to get some! It will be difficult at first, and you are likely to be winded and tired after a very short time of exertion. However, if you keep pushing through the challenging times you will soon see and feel the difference. You will notice you have more energy, as your workout time may go from ten minutes on the treadmill to fifteen to twenty. As you benefit from this greater energy, it will not only help power you through your workout sessions, but it will put a brighter spin on the rest of your life. You will find you have more energy throughout the day, and chances are you will continue to burn calories because of this. You will probably find an easier time making healthy food choices if you incorporate exercise into your fight against obesity as well.

Women's issues can be the same as men's issues or they can be different. The good news is, women's health concerns get discussed more than they used to, and this gives us greater power in awareness.
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