NY Times (15)

Adding Foods and Subtracting Calories

This article gives information on foods you can actually eat more of and still lose weight.  I know a lot of people who think it's better to skip meals to lose weight, but that actually just slows down your metabolism.  These foods have also been known to speed up your metabolism, thus causing you to lose more weight. 

"While hot red pepper has been studied before as an appetite suppressant, this study was notable in that it compared people who liked spicy food with those who did not. At various times, diners were given a bowl of tomato soup laced with a half teaspoon of pepper, plain tomato soup, or plain tomato soup with a supplement of red pepper in pill form.

The effect was greater among diners who didn’t regularly consume spicy meals. Among that group, adding red pepper to the soup was associated with eating an average of 60 fewer calories at the next meal compared with when they ate plain soup. For both groups who ate red pepper in food, the spice also appeared to increase the metabolism and cause the body to burn an extra 10 calories on its own."

NY Times (14)

Asthma Rate Rises Sharply in U.S., Government Says

"Nearly one in 10 children and almost one in 12 Americans of all ages now has asthma."


“We don’t know exactly why the number is going up, but, importantly, we know there are measures individuals with asthma can take to control symptoms,” said Ileana Arias, principal deputy director of the centers.


This article was very surprising! My Mom just found out she had asthma in the last year.  My oldest sister also has asthma.  As I get older, I would not be surprised if I had it either because I have a very hard time breathing in general.  
According to this article, the cause isn't from things like it used to be - including smoking.  They're not sure why it is rising.  
I think it's from the crazy amount of pollen that is in the air! 

NY Times (13)

The Next Step for Researchers Is Not Finding Brain Trauma

There have been a few suicides from past NFL players.  They're saying this could be something that is actually caused by playing football and receiving brain trauma from that.

“It makes you worry as a player — I would imagine all of us have it,” said Chidi Ahanotu, 40, who played defensive lineman mostly for Tampa Bay from 1993 to 2004. “To what degree, I don’t know. But I don’t know how you can’t think that.”


Families of retired players that passed away have been donating their brains to be studied.  This is how they are tying together the unique factor that all of the brains do have trauma in them. 

NY Times (12)

Pitzer College in California Adds Major in Secularism

I found this article really interesting.  As an art major, I often question what I am going to do when I get out of school.  After reading this article, I can't really imagine what someone with a major in Secularism will do when they get out of college.  Someone studying religion can go on to become a pastor or do something surrounded around the religion they believe in.  But what about those that do not believe in God?  What do they go on to do?
On the positive side, I do think it's really great that new majors are being added.  As time goes on, everything is changing.  It's great that we are going outside of the box and offering studies in an array of subjects.

NY Times (11)

US Raises Pressure on Pakistan in Raid's Wake

It has been said that Pakistan is being forced to let American investigators interview all of bin Laden's three widows.  This will hopefully shed some new light on how he lasted living in Pakistan unnoticed for years. 

NY Times (10)

Obama Elaborates on bin Laden Raid

This article hinted into a little more information involving the bin Laden raid.  I think it's very crazy that they were going into this with just circumstantial evidence.  They didn't even know if he was really in this home or not.

"Obviously it entailed enormous risk to the guys that I sent in there. But ultimately I had so much confidence in the capacity of our guys to carry out the mission." -Barrack Obama 


From this interview, I learned that the next step is to find out who was helping him in Pakistan.  What kind of support networks did Osama bin Laden have?

NY Times (9)

The Most Wanted Face of Terrorism

I feel that with the events that have happened in the last week or so because of the humongous impact that it has on the United States of America.  Osama Bin Laden was killed.  I can still remember being in 6th grade gym when I found out about the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01.  The crazy thing is that I learned that Osama Bin Laden was killed by seeing it on Twitter and Facebook.  This made me realize how much the world has changed in the past almost 10 years since 9/11 happened.
It also impacted families that lost loved ones on September 11th.  These people finally can rest easy because the man who harmed so many innocent people is finally gone.
But, it makes me worry.  What is going to happen next?  Just because Bin Laden is gone, that doesn't mean he didn't have other people following in his footsteps.  It makes me hesitant and nervous for the future and what is to come.