a healthier life

UK funds for S Africa Aids fight

The UK is to give South Africa’s new Health Minister Barbara Hogan £15m to help combat Aids in the country.

Source:UK funds for S Africa Aids fight

The Awful Truth About Television: The little box that transformed society

by Katherine Westphal

Introducing TV

Based on how engrained the television is in our society, one might think that it had been around for centuries. With the ubiquitous presence of TV’s in houses, schools, banks, cars, cell phones, and more, people wonder how they ever survived without their daily dose of Oprah and Monday Night Football.

Yet, television was not officially introduced to the world until in 1939 at the World’s Fair. At that time, many people did not think that families would have enough time or patience to sit down for long periods in front of a flickering screen. “The average American family hasn’t time for it,” said one commentator.

TV ownership explodes

World War II stalled the development of television. After the war though, TV sales took off faster than you could say “Hi Ho Silver, Away!” By 1950, about 9% of American homes had a television set. By 1953, half of all households had a TV. By 1962, 90% of all households had a set . Today 98% of American households have at least one TV set and 76% of families have more than one set.

Initially, only two networks distributed television programming for approximately 3½ hours per day . Today there are hundreds of channels providing entertainment twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, people are glued to their screens for an average of 4½ hours per day. This is more than half of people’s leisure time. Many people cannot even imagine life without TV. This phenomenal transformation occurred within only three generations.

Trend for TV viewing still rising

Now television technology is exploding in other manners. No longer confined to the home, TV’s are popping up everywhere in public and private life: in schools, banks, stores, public transportation, cars, cell phones. It is now possible to turn your computer into a virtual television set and download programs from the internet.

The trend for TV viewing is rising higher as well, propelled by new technology. For example, a recent study showed that people who had digital video recorders (DVRs), like TiVo, watched 12% more TV than those who did not have DVRs. The growth of “on demand” programming will also likely increase viewing time for the average family.

Many people see TV as a necessary part of life. For example, when I announced to my mother that I was getting rid of our TV, she responded, “What am I going to do when I come to visit?” She, like most people, still cannot imagine living without TV.

“No Couch Potato Left Behind”

In November 2005, there was a huge debate in the US about cutting food stamp benefits. At the time this debate was proceeding, Congress was also considering a law that would help the poor transition to HDTV. Congress was concerned that millions of poor families might not be able to watch TV after the networks switched from analog to digital TV. Unlike food stamps, this entitlement received bi-partisan support.

Columnist George Will aptly named it the “No Couch Potato Left Behind” entitlement. President Bush signed the “No Couch Potato Left Behind” bill into law in February 2006. The final version earmarked $1.5 billion to pay for converter boxes for older television sets. Society is a long way from “the average American family hasn’t time for it”.

It is time to ask, “What is the cost of this transformation?”

About ‘The Awful Truth About Television’ Series: What happens when the average American spends 4 hours 32 minutes every day watching television? Trash Your TV’s ‘The Awful Truth About Television’ Series explores the multifaceted problems with TV in eleven hard-hitting articles. Read the full series and you will never look at your television set the same way again.

Mouse Down's 'eased in the womb'

A mouse experiment has raised hopes of halting some of the effects of Down’s syndrome before birth.

Source:Mouse Down's 'eased in the womb'

'Bright future'

School return for girl who had life-threatening tumour

Source:'Bright future'

Windpipe transplant advance

Surgeons in Spain claim a major breakthrough by giving a woman a new windpipe with tissue grown from her own stem cells.

Source:Windpipe transplant advance

Buy Diet Pills

When dieting and working out aren’t giving you the weight loss results that you want, it may be time to buy diet pills. If you’ve reached the point where you are considering adding prescription-based weight loss medications to your life, you might want to consider another option. Dietrine Carb Blocker is a great new supplement that is available without a prescription.

You may be familiar with Phase 2, which was very popular among those finding it difficult to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. Derived from the white kidney bean, Phase 2 neutralizes the enzyme alpha amylase produced in the pancreas, normally used to break down carbs. Starches are then able to pass through your digestive system without being broken down into glucose and fat, decreasing your net caloric intake, even with foods such as bread, pasta, and cereal.

By simply clicking around our website, you can safely and securely order Dietrine Carb Blocker from the comfort of your own home. And, because this is a 100 percent stimulant-free, botanical supplement, you don’t have to worry about harmful side effects or drug interactions. And, as if that wasn’t enough, when you order Dietrine Carb Blocker, we add in some great bonus material that will help you lose the weight even faster!

Free with any purchase of Dietrine Carb Blocker is a lifetime membership in our online weight loss program, which will keep you posted on new developments in the industry and provide great tips on exercise and
diet programs you might want to try. We also include a weight loss hypnosis download and an e-book with 71 weight loss tips that contains all the tricks you need to promote real fat loss! With such a great supplement and a fantastic package of extras, you’ll be on your way to the body you want in no time!

For more information visit: Dietrine Carb Blocker

Hairspray linked to birth defect

Boys born to women exposed to hairspray in the workplace may have a higher risk of being born with a genital defect.

Source:Hairspray linked to birth defect

Hidden dangers

How seagulls may contaminate your kitchen

Source:Hidden dangers

Unlicensed tanning drug use rises

A growing number of people in the UK are injecting themselves with an unlicensed tanning drug, a BBC investigation finds.

Source:Unlicensed tanning drug use rises

Chinese 'living longer than ever'

The lives of China’s people have vastly improved in the last 30 years but the gap between rich and poor is growing, the UN says.

Source:Chinese 'living longer than ever'