Ascaris Lumbricoides

1) description of the organism
-giant roundworm of humans, belongs to the phylum Nematoda. Responsible for the disease ascariasis in humans. Most common parasitic worm in humans.

2) description of the life cycle
-infections occur when an ingested infective egg releases a larval worm that penetrates the wall of the duodenum and enters the bloodstream. From there it is carried to the liver and heart, and enters the pulmonary circulation to break free in the alveoli, where it grows. In 3 weeks, the larvae pass from the respiratory system to be coughed up, swallowed, and returns to the small intestine, where they mature to adult worms. Can persist in soil for 10 years or more.

3) description of the part of the world where people are affected.
-prevalent worldwide and more so in tropical and subtropical countries.

4) treatment (if any) for the resulting disease

-Ivermectin, Nitazoxanide

Trichinella Spiralis

1) description of the organism
-nematode parasite, occurring in rats, pigs, and humans. Causes the disease trichnosis

2) description of the life cycle
-has a direct life cycle, which means it completes all stages of development in one host. The lavae are encapsulated as a small cystic structure within the infected host. Humans typically become infected when they eat improperly cooked pork. The larvae are released due to the stomach pH and migrate to the intestine where they burrow into the intestinal mucosa, mature and reproduce. The larvae can access to the circulation and migrate around the body of the host. Can cause myocarditis or encephalitis.

3) description of the part of the world where people are affected.
-Unites States

4) treatment (if any) for the resulting disease

-Mebendazole or Albendazole

Borrelia Burgdorferi

1) description of the organism
-Gram Negative Bacteria of the Spirochete class of Borrelia.

2) description of the life cycle
-Vector-borne transmitted by ticks

3) description of the part of the world where people are affected.
-found in North America and Europe

4) treatment (if any) for the resulting disease

-Doxycycline

Global Warming

Global warming is nothing more than a hoax in my opinion. It is being used to generate fear and panic in the public. It is nothing more than a way to control people and for their own financial gain. Many are not willing to stand up on this issue for the fear of being ostracized by supporters of global warming. The new media is the rise and growth of the internet and its many websites and blogs that provide the truth about the global warming hoax. Data can be manipulated to the extent that at this time no one knows the real truth. Until all the facts are on the table I will remain being a skeptic. All I know is I've seen more snow in Georgia in the last two years than ever before.

Karen Silkwood

Karen Gay Silkwood was an American labor union activist and chemical technician at the Kerr-McGee plant near Crescent, Oklahoma. Silkwood's job was making plutonium pellets for nuclear reactor fuel rods. She discovered what she believed to be numerous violations of health regulations, including exposure of workers to contamination, faulty respiratory equipment and improper storage of samples. She also believed the lack of sufficient shower facilities could increase the risk of employee contamination. In the summer of 1974, Silkwood testified to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) about these issues, alleging that safety standards had slipped because of a production speedup which resulted in employees being given tasks for which they were poorly trained. She also alleged that Kerr-McGee employees handled the fuel rods improperly and that the company falsified inspection records.

Erin Brockovich is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who, despite the lack of a formal law school education, was instrumental in constructing a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993. She is currently working as a consultant for Girardi & Keese and the New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which has a focus on personal injury claims for asbestos exposure, and Shine Lawyers in Australia. She alleged Pacific Gas & Electric was contaminating drinking water with hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium (VI), in southern California. At the center of the case was a facility called the Hinkley Compressor Station, part of a natural gas pipeline connecting to the San Francisco Bay Area and constructed in 1952. Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium to fight corrosion in the cooling tower. The wastewater dissolved the hexavalent chromium from the cooling towers and was discharged to unlined ponds at the site. Some of the wastewater percolated into the groundwater, affecting an area near the plant approximately two miles long and nearly a mile wide. The case was settled in 1996 for $333 million, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct action lawsuit in US history. She went on to participate in other anti-pollution lawsuits.

Global Warming Commentary

There is no doubt global warming is a hot topic of discussion. Many scientist claim that they have evidence that it is occuring, while many other scientist refute it. Both seem to have stating their belief. However, data can be manipulated in order to show the desired outcomes. So called "scientific research" has propelled this into a major debate in politics today. From previous literature, there is evidence of the world being at higher temperatures, as well as the ocean. If everyone is so sure of their research, why not both sides have a debate? Then the public would be more informed to where they can make up their own mind.

NYC underwater

Not sure if this was the magazine cover but I thought it was interesting.

Science and Public Policy Institute

Here's a great article by Professor Richard Lindzen of MIT on CO2 and Climate Change. He talks about sea level change, hurricances and tropical storms, and solar activity.

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monthly_report/sppi_monthly_co2_report_july.html

The Little Ice ge and European Society

During the Little Ice Age the climate was very unstable with increased rain and floods, crop failures and very cold winters, lasting from the 14th Century to the 19th Century. People were dependent on cereal crops, like wheat, barley and oats due to the warm, stable climate. In 1314, the climate changed to extremely cold, wet weather which started abruptly. The flooding lasted for 5 years, crops failed and the land was turned to swamps. From 1315-1317 was one of the worst famines in European history. In 1348, the plague (The Black Death) led to 40% to 50% average reduction in the population of Europe. Another eventthat may have contributed to the cold climate is decreased Solar, or Sun spot activity. The coldest part of the Little Ice Age, the years from 1645 to 1715 coincide with a period of very few Sun spots known as the Maunder Minimum.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32201.asp

Solar Flares and Climate Change

This is a study done by researchers at Duke loking at the interaction between the two.

http://www.aip.org/pnu/2003/split/642-2.html

The Hockey Stick

Thhis graph shows the temperature measurements from 1000-2000 AD. Previous measurements were made from tree rings and surface temperature readings. These measurements did not include the Global Warm Period or the Little Ice Age and an increase in temperature in the northern hemisphere.

Medieval Global Temperature and The Little Ice Age

This graph looks at the temperatures from the Medieval Warm Period (700-1300 AD) and the Little Ice Age (1560-1830 AD). this states that the temperatures in the medieval period were warmer than today. Also, this states that the temperature was lower during the Little ice Age than they are today. The most probable explanation is the sun, esp during the little ice age. Direct observations of sunspots go back to 1600 AD, allowing comparisons to be made with variations to global climate. The suns radiation being greatest during a sunspot maximum and least during a sunspot minimum, both recurring on an 11-year cycle.