Thursday, May 3, 2007

Smoking Ban Outline

Introduction:

According to Gannet News Service, secondhand smoke is responsible for 38,000 heart disease and lunch cancer related deaths.
-Smoking and secondhand smoke is a problem
-Should be banned in the Twin Cities
-Reasons why people smoke
A ban of smoking in public places in the Twin Cities will keep the air clean, and save many lives by preventing secondhand smoke.

Body One:
A smoking ban in St. Paul and Minneapolis public places will improve the health of Minnesotans.
There should be a smoking ban.
-Improve health
-Clean air
-Less deaths
-Attract more people to the cities if clean and smoke-free
-Smoking is an unneccesary danger

Body Two:
Cigarettes and secondhand smoke is costing our economy unnecessary dollars, a smoking ban will prevent these costs and save Minnesota money.
-According to Gannet News Service, secondhand smoke is costing th economy $10 billion in lost wages and medical costs.
-Save money for state

-Smoke damages electronics, costing money

Body Three:
Smokers feel that it is their right to be able to smoke
-They want places to smoke
-Some think separate bars
-Smoking/Nonsmoking areas in public places

Body Four:
Some people believe that it is a lost cause, and smokers will quit when they want to quit.
-Quit when ready
-Others can avoid them
-It's their choice


Body Five:
I believe that a smoking ban should be put into action in the Twin Cities.
-Unnecessary health risks
-Costs state and citizens too much money
-Save lives
-No secondhand smoke

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Annotation - Eight

SIRS
St. Paul Pioneer Press
David Hanners
Jan 25, 1998
Tobacco's Effects Historically Given Little Media Coverage

The damage that tobacco and nicotine does to a person is incredible. And the fact that it is not publicized everywhere all the time is even more incredible. Tobacco companies have not been criticized enough. They need to let everyone know all the information about cigarettes and take the responsibility for what cigarettes do to people. The state of Minnesota and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota have been trying to get reimbursed for the large amount of medical costs. They have been sueing large tobacco companies. Tobacco companies have artificially increased the amount of nicotine in their brand of cigarettes. When this was discovered, the government charged a company with a criminal case, yet the case was not publicized much at all. More situations like this need to be out in the public for people to see and understand.

Annotation - Seven

SIRS
United Press International
Peggy Peck and Edward Susman
Jan 30, 2004
Smoking: Habit Persists Despite '64 Report

Peggy Peck and Edward Susman describe the history of the use of cigarettes and how the tobacco company manipulated and still controls smokers. In 1964 the information was let loose into the world that should have changed peoples' smoking habits. It was well known that tobacco and smoking can cause lung cancer and other horrible diseases and symptoms. Everyone was aware of this fact. However, people did not stop smoking and about 450,000 lives are lost each year thanks to tobacco. Tobacco companies know all of the ways to get a person hooked on smoking. Nicotine is addictive, and it is one of the main ingredients in a cigarette. Also, in the 1960s cigarettes made the user look sexy and intelligent and happy. Ads glorified cigarettes. The amount of smokers has decreased over the past decades, but it is still too high.

Annotation - Six

Infotrac
Life Science Weekly
Editors from staff
Nov 23, 2004
Smoking Among University of Minnesota Students Declines

This article states facts about the amount of students from the University of Minnesota that smoke. In the late 1990s the smoking rates were much higher, at about 42%. That means out of all the students, almost half of them smoked cigarettes. Over the years, that number has gradually decreased to about 27%. That is still a high amount of students that smoke, but it is much better than the previous years. The most cigarettes are sold to eighteen to 24-year-olds, which is about the main age group that attends this university. Officials are attempting to have a public smoking ban at the University of Minnesota. Some students strongly support this idea, while others strongly disagree with it. One student explained that he thinks it is a waste of time and that people will quit if they want to on their own time. People that are for the smoking ban believe that it is extremely important to ban smoking to avoid the many health risks and dangers from secondhand smoke.

Annotation - Five

Infotrac
Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week
Editors from staff
Nov 6, 2004
Minnesota County Approves New Restriction on Smoking

The editors from the staff of Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week discuss the debate of a state-wide smoking ban. Hennepin County has already taken action on the ban. A smoking ban has been activated, and violators have a price to pay. Smokers caught in the non smoking area will recieve a misdemeanor. Putting a ban on smoking in a large county will put pressure on the state to go forward with a smoking ban. Commissioner Gail Dorfman thinks that the smoking ban is unnecessary and overcontrolling. Some agree with the idea that smokers have the right to smoke in public. Others feel strongly for a smoking ban to reduce all of the health risks and dangers that comes from secondhand smoke.

Annotation - Four

Infotrac
American Academy of Family Physicians
April 1, 2007
Caroline Wellbery
Smoking Ban Has Health Benefits for Bar Workers

A study was done on a large group or workers from a bar. Tests and surveys were given one month before the smoking ban was put into action. Many of the workers and respiratory and sensory problems. The ban was put into place and tests were taken on the workers one month after. Symptoms had drastically decreased and the bar workers felt more healthy. The workers with asthma were effected the most by the secondhand smoke. Results of the smoking ban showed that the bar was a healthier and cleaner environment. It was recorded that bartenders with asthma had the most improvements due to the smoking ban. Smoking bans should be put into action in more bars since there is evidence of drastic improvements in the health of people. Just one month of no secondhand smoke makes a huge difference in many of the symptoms from the smoke.

Annotation - Three

Infotrac
USA Today
John L. Indo
March 8, 2007
Ban Smoking at Public Institutions

The effects of smoking are discussed in this article. A ban on smoking at universities is now being decided on. John L. Indo explains the dangers of smoking at a university, and anywhere else in this case. Smoking is an extremely avoidable danger to everyone who smokes and everyone around people that smoke. It causes countless health problems. Smoking in a dorm is considered dangerous. There are a lot of flammable objects sitting in dorm rooms that could easily start on fire. Smoking can also easily damage electronics from the chemicals that are emitted from the smoke. Non smoking students should not have to constantly worry about the many health risks they have from the smokers in their dorm room. Also, they shouldn't have to wonder if they will come home to a burned down room or broken computer.

Annotation - Two

SIRS
Gannett News Service
Pamela Brogan
Dec 28, 2005
Smoking Bans Become More Popular to Curb Effects of Secondhand Smoke

In this article, Pamala Brogan discusses the horrible health risks of secondhand smoke. It causes many non smokers to develop heart disease, and/or lung cancer. Many bars and restaurants are beginning to ban smoking. A possible smoking ban in public places upsets many smokers, and some believe that the ban is discrimination against smokers. If more public places do put the smoking ban in order, it will save our economy billions of dollars in health costs and lost wages. One smoker suggests that the solution to this problem is that there should be smoking-only bars. This way smokers and non smokers can be separated. Many cities and states have put the ban in place and are enforcing it and many more are considering the ban.

Annotation - One

ProQuest
Science News
Nathan Seppa
Oct 14, 2006
Smoke Out

In this article, the effects of second hand smoke are described. Also the improvements from banning smoking in public and work places. Smoking was banned in public and work places in Scotland. Research was done in order to determine the difference the ban made. Workers from a pub had many tests done before the ban was in order. Wheezing, shortness of breath and eye irretation was commonly reported along with other minor symptoms. The pub workers were tested after one month of the ban, and after the second month of the ban. The health of the workers improved after only one month. By the second month, the pub workers were as healthy as could be. After the smoking ban, symptoms were almost instantly eliminated.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Favorite Place in the World

With the bright sun shining all day long and the warm sand between your toes, this will be your number one place to go. After walking down the short concrete trail through the forest, you will find yourself at a vast area of white, soft sand to relax at. People of all ages meet here daily for parties, barbeques, family gatherings and just for fun. Towels and chairs are spread out throughout the sand. The air smells of barbequed meat and laughter can be heard throughout the day. If you get too hot from bathing in the sun, you can take a dip in the clear-blue water just 100 yards down the sand. The water is warm from the sun beating down on it all day. You can see the soft ground of sand through the water easily. Kids float on plastic toys and they play catch with foam footballs and rubber frisbees. Others prefer to snorkle around and investigate deeper areas of the water. This place is great for relaxing in a warm, welcoming environment.

Monday, March 19, 2007

RAFT Assignment

I stayed in town over spring break. Most of my time was spent hanging around with friends. I went to shopping a few times, and I also went out to eat a lot. I stayed up late and slept in late the entire break. I took my dog on walks when the weather was nice. Even though I didn't go anywhere over the break, I still enjoyed it. I hope third trimester goes well. I want to do more online assignments, it is easier to finish them at home on my computer.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Day Eight - Problem/Solution Outline

Introduction

Attention-getter: _The large amount of greenhouse gases being emitted into our atmosphere is destroying the Earth.

The U.S. has a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Scientists’ records have shown an increase in the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. Predictions state that CO2 emissions will increase 33.6% from the year 2000 to the year 2020. We are the largest contributer to greenhouse gasses. Cars, mining, and cow manure all release gas into the air. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions is too high, and will eventually cause large change in our atmosphere. This will really hurt the Earth. We can stop it by reducing the amounts of greenhouse gases we release into our atmosphere everyday.

Body

The amount of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases has increased largly over the last decade. This caused from burning fossil fuels. Everyday things release greenhouse gases. Scientists from the National Climatic Data Center state that the temperature of Earth is consistently heating up at a rate of 5.4 to 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit per century.

A lot of the reason greenhouse gases are such an issue is because of things we do. Fuel for cars are pollutants to our air. Still, cars are obviously essential to transportation. The demand for driving cars everyday is high, but they hurt the atmosphere and we should get hybrids instead. Cows are also a large part of our society. Their manure releases methane into the atmosphere.

Electricity is inevitably going to be in our lives, and it really should be. There is such a high need for electricity, thats its unavoidable. But that doesn't mean that we can't do something about it, and reduce the amount we use. The mining of coal releases a large amount of gases into the atmosphere. High amounts of methane hurt the environment. Landfall decomposition is also a large contributer to the release of methane.

Conclusion


The Earth’s atmosphere is being destroyed due to the extremely high amounts of greenhouse gases. There is a definate increase in the amounts of these greenhouse gasses. If nothing is done, by either changing daily procedures like driving and heating, then we will soon face some serious consequences. The high amounts of greenhouse gases being released needs to be reduced or our planet Earth will be destroyed.Soceity needs to wake up. People could also start buying environment friendly vehicles to reduce the amount of electricity they use. If we don’t reduce the amounts of gases being released, Earth will soon be destroyed.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Day Five - Worldwide Climate Problem/Solution

Alarmist:
You may choose your role to be of someone who is an alarmist in the area of Global Climate Change. Alarmists wish to alarm individuals that something is imminent and dangerous. They feel action needs to be taken immediately on a problem or warn the problem could be severely escalated, harmful or even deadly.





Some of the top climate scientists are worried about harsh climate changes. They think that there is global warming throughout Earth, which is an average increase in the Earth's temperature. These scientists have come to conclusion that people do things to cause this global warming. Certain gasses emitted into the air that cause the climate to heat up are known as greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases are needed to keep the climate warm, but if too many greenhouse gases are released into the air it could heat up the Earth too much. Some scientists and people believe that if we don't act on this problem now, the climate will heat up drastically throughout the next 100 years, disturbing sea-levels, human health, crops, and weather everywhere. People want the government to take costly actions now to lower the amount of gas emitted into the atmosphere to prevent future damage. Reduction in the amount of pollution will save money. Less pollution means people spending less money on gas for their cars, or other greenhouse gas emitting things. Volcanoes let off halide acid, which damages the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects the Earth from direct sunlight, without the ozone layer the Earth would be destroyed by the sun. Burning coal and oil put twice as much CO2 into the air than at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The climate is heating up, the ozone layer is being destroyed and people need to take action now.


Problem:
A major problem causing the environment to warm up is greenhouse gases being emitted into the air. Greenhouse gases are gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, hydroflourocarbons, nitrous oxide, and methane. These gases are harmful to the Earth's atmosphere, and they increase the heat of the Earth's climate. This is a problem because if the climate is heated up too much ocean levels will rise. It will disrupt human health and ecosystems.


Evidence:
Evidence can be found on the U.S. Climate Report at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/ch5.pdf. It shows that the amount of atmospheric CO2 (carbon dioxide) and other greenhouse gases has dramatically increased over the last decade. The report predicts that CO2 emissions will increase 33.6% from the year 2000 to the year 2020. Scientists use weather balloons that float high in the air to track information about the weather. These balloons have recorded increase temperatures. Scientists from the National Climatic Data Center state that the temperature of Earth is consistently heating up at a rate of 5.4 to 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit per century. The temperatures are increasing because of the increased amounts of greenhouse gases emitted into the air that were recorded in the Climate Report from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/ch5.pdf. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the climate.


Contributing Factors:
Greenhouses gases are commonly emitted into the air. Daily procedures let off these gases into the atmosphere. The mining of coal, decomposing of landfills, and manure management contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. These are things people do everyday in the world. Mining needs to be done, but it let's off methane into the air. Landfills and manure also give off methane. Gasoline and diesel fuels are pollutants when let off into the air. These gases are used in cars and trucks, which are needed daily. Many of these common needs must be done, but they contribute to the destruction of the Earth's atmosphere.


Solution:
A solution to this problem is to find more efficient, less polluting forms of technology to do these common procedures. People could cut back on uses of gas emitting products. They could also by advanced, environment helping vehicles such as solar cars. Getting the information about greenhouse gases and the damage it can cause out to people will also start to solve this problem. If people are informed, they may start taking action by cutting back on pollution.

Friday, February 9, 2007

Day Three - Problem At Tartan

The passing time between classes has been shortened this year which resulted in more tardies. The passing time needs to be longer in order to reduce the high tardy counts. Charlie, a senior at Tartan High School, says that he's tardy at least once every couple of days because of the shortened passing time. The excessive number of tardies shows that there is not enough time between classes. Sitting in class, I notice more kids than last year trickling in to class after the bell. Some students think that passing time is for talking to friends and hanging around in the hallway. I see many groups of kids standing in the halls when they should be heading off to class. Some classes are far away from each other, so it's hard to stop at your locker and make it to the next class. These reasons contribute to why students get so many tardies. There are more than one ways to fix this problem. One way is that the time between classes could be lengthened. Another way is that students could stop chatting with friends in the hall way and walk quicker to their classroom. Students could also bring the books they need for several classes with them at one time.

Monday, February 5, 2007

Day One - Problem Solution Analysis

A family wants to spend more time together, but no one can agree on the types of activities to do. Each person probably has a busy schedule and different interests. The family could sit down and choose a day of a week to spend time together. They could make a chart that lists what activity they will be doing together that week. Each person in the family could get to decide what they will be doing on some of the weeks. The family can draw names for the order that the activities get to be chosen. Each family member could pick an activity they enjoy for their week. The members could do the things that everyone else loves in their family.

RAFT Assignment

In Katherine Kersten's article, she explains how children in society today are rude and demanding. I somewhat agree with her. Many kids are extremely rude to everyone around them, but there are also many kids who are polite. Kersten claims that children who are disruptive are that way because their parents didn't not say "no" enough. This is true, but you also have to take in other considerations such as their personalities, the type of people they live with, or life experiences that make them that way. Saying "no" to children all the time won't make them perfectly polite. Kersten's solution to this problem is to make the children realize they can't always have what they want.

I think that it is going to take more than just constantly telling a child "no" to get them to behave. Adults and teenagers around children should always be good role models. Kids look up to older people, especially teenagers, so showing them how to be polite would help them. Denying children what they want will help, but only a small bit. Kids need to be taught proper etiquette at a young age. Families should also demonstrate how to be polite so that children can grow up that way. All of those methods should be used to teach children the correct way to behave.