Something encouraging in the wake of Gaza's conflict: Some make blooms

Mother of peaceful protester plants a memorial which re-purposes used tear gas shells into pot holders for hundreds of flowers.

Abbas Momani/AFP/Getty Images

Many are calling for peace in regards to the Gaza conflict. Some protest from their home towns. Some speak to the public, carrying on an ongoing mission, which teaches the importance of reaching a point in communication that promotes mutual respect and understanding. Some carry on social media campaigns and others still, circulate images which seem to reflect upon the same cause.

One such circulation appeared on July 22 at the Facebook page for Artparasites Magazine. The page posted images of a Palestinian gardener who arranges rows of used tear gas containers and uses them to plant flowers. The images have been trending on Facebook and on Twitter, many months after the story had initially surfaced, renewing interest in these potent photographs as the Gaza conflict continues. The results of the gardener’s efforts are impressive and memorable.

The gardener is a villager of Bilin who plants flowers into the tear gas containers and places them, by the hundreds, on recently reclaimed Palestinian land. Because she is so close to the tumult, as the land is still disputed, there is no lack of little pots. Many of the canisters are planted in the ground while others are hung on the fence which marks the Israeli barrier.

The tear gas shells are remnants from efforts to break up Palestinian protests along the barrier. The Guardian reported that the repurposing of the tear gas shells into receptacles for living flowers serves as a memorial for a protester who was killed in an earnest declaration of peace in 2009. “The powerful imagery evokes hope in the face of challenge and reminds us all to appreciate the beauty of life,” stated The Guardian.

“The use of a weapon as a plant vessel is a powerful comment on a region in which many people on both sides are tired of the seemingly never-ending violence and conflict,” wrote BoredPanda. The site went on to note that an Israeli artist has been doing something similar by crafting metallic roses made from Palestinian rocket remains. “I take the Kassam Rocket, the instrument of death and I change it, I transfer it into something of beauty,” the sculptor, Yaron Bob stated on his website.

The artist’s aim is to continually create these roses which “symbolize Israel’s desire for peace, while helping terror victims.” By sending a portion of the proceeds from his roses to aid the city of Ashkelon, the artist helps in the building “above-ground, portable bomb shelters.” His reasoning for choosing Ashkelon is because the city is large, has very few bomb shelters, and is within close range to missiles fired from Gaza. Also, because of their lack of precision, the missiles fired endanger not only those civilians who happen to be near targeted objects, but also endangers the civilians who are near the rocket from where it is fired.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Safer sex: Condoms that protect against and also kill STDs

Condoms soon to be coated with VivaGel, a substance that kills 99.9% of all STDs

Photo by China Photos/Getty Images

The condom could very well become an even more valuable tool in the practice of safe and even safer sex. A report released July 23 stated that an Australian biotech firm (Starpharma) created and received the go ahead from regulators to produce a condom that not only creates a preventative barrier between partners but also has been proven to kill 99.9% of viruses transmitted sexually, including HIV, HPV and Herpes.

Starpharma has created a gel called VivaGel which will coat the condoms it produces. The gel-coated condoms will be manufactured by an Australian company called Ansell. Starpharma and Ansell have received the proper certifications through the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (similar to the FDA). Manufacture of the condoms could occur in less than a year.

Excitement could take hold, with the knowledge of these special condoms pending possible sale and distribution in only a matter of months. The news is indeed groundbreaking; nothing like this has been created to date. However, some medical experts warn that we shouldn’t get too excited about the news just yet.

A pediatrics professor and HPV expert at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Anna-Barbara Moscicki reported the results of a study she did on VivaGel with women who wanted to prevent themselves from contracting STDs without having to use a condom. She found that when the VivaGel was used as an intravaginal cream for two straight weeks, two times a day, “irritation and low-grade inflammation” occurred in study participants. This inflammation calls on the body’s defenses and battalions of white blood cells travel to the point of inflammation. In the case of HIV, the white blood cells are the cells on which the virus multiplies and spreads. Pretty scary. Further, since inflammation also breaks down the skin layer, it can allow easier access to the basal skin cell layer for HPV to settle. The expert also conducted another study that reigned in similar results.

According to the Huffington Post, the CEO of Starpharma said that though these results may have been true in the 2011 studies, the concentration of VivaGel has been modified for the condoms to be produced for market. Further, consistent use of condoms significantly reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, even HIV.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Something encouraging in the wake of Gaza's conflict: Some promote peace

“Martin Luther King of the Middle East,” Izzeldin Abuelaish continues forth with messages of peace for the Middles East despite the great losses he has faced.

en.wikipedia.org

Earlier this month, news broke about an encouraging Twitter campaign that was launched by two Hunter College students in the wake of the Gaza conflict. The students wanted to have a hand in changing the tone of the conversation concerning the war, as the comments in both of their Twitter feeds had become increasingly hate filled. The message that the students wanted to promote was that despite disagreements, communication was possible as was mutual respect and understanding.

There are other calls for an end to this violence, as well which call upon the powers of communication. Rabblerecently reported that, despite seeing the blown apart bodies of his daughters and niece in 2009, Doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish is staunch in his refusal to hate. “Palestinians and Israelis must work together to build a new generation that believes in humanity and freedom,” he wrote on July 21 for The Guardian.

Abuelaish had written a memoir called I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey after his experience in which he reiterated his refusal to let the seemingly deliberate killing of his family members deter him from his belief that peace and understanding are necessary and possible.

After the killing of my three daughters by an Israeli shell in January 2009, I concluded that if my daughters were the last sacrifice on the road to peace between Palestinians and Israelis, then I accept their loss. I promised that I would continue to fight with the only means available to me: wisdom, courage, strong words and meaningful action.

The war continues and Dr. Abuelaish also persists. Despite having so much that was dear to him violently taken away, the doctor moves forward with deep spiritual faith and determination. He continually travels the world and speaks to others about this non-violent action and why it is more powerful in his view than violence upon violence upon violence.

Holding true to his mission and plea of "build[ing] a new generation that believes in humanity and freedom," Abuelaish has also founded an organization in memory of his daughters and niece called the Daughters for Life Foundation which carries on his vision and states that “lasting peace in the Middle East depends on empowering girls and young women through education to develop strong voices for the betterment of life throughout the Middle East.” The organization provides scholarships to aspiring young women from Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, who would not otherwise be able to pursue a college education.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Something encouraging in the wake of Gaza's conflict: Some refuse to be enemies

I cannot be enemy of myself: One photo from the #jewsandarabsrefusetobeenemies campaign at twitter.com

twitter.com

Earlier this month, Ynet News reported that, “Some 300 people protested in Haifa [...] in a demonstration titled “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies,” in the midst of many others who screamed out their respective and patriotic hate. Despite the power of those screams, as of July 21 the slogan mentioned above has become “an international social media campaign” that speaks out against the slaughter that is occurring on both sides. The campaign consists of people taking selfies, pictures with lovers, friends, families and acquaintances while holding messages demanding that the violence stop.

The campaign was initiated by two Hunter College students, Abraham Gutman, aged 23 and Dania Darwish, aged 21 after a large scale violent attack was made over Gaza. The #JewsandArabsRefuseToBeEnemies campaign still has new pictures and messages trickling in.

This is important news and encouraging. It’s taken for granted, perhaps. The news is not as immediate as for those an ocean away from us in Gaza. It can be easy to overlook how deep this conflict runs for the people of Israel and Palestine. Americans can forget the terror and bloodshed of the renewed combat and not fully understand that this war is something most Israelis and Palestinians begin preparing for from birth.

But then again, it could be that we care too much. All of this news of such terrible and prolonged violence is hard to take for many onlookers. For those outside the conflict, the death and hatred can be difficult to watch and understand. What can we do? Is there anything we can do?

What this campaign shows is that the conflict is not solely controlled by those who can't see a resolution to the war. It’s not just the holders of mainstream media, or the loud and militant initiates of their respective causes shouting over the net and causing further ripples of this violence that are received. The net is still somewhat open and the opportunities exist to spread messages of all kinds and sometimes, encouraging messages make it through and they ring just as powerfully, despite their simplicity. They tug at our hopeful hearts, give hope that hatred does not need to reign king, and inspire by example.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Taking note from the Queens of Facebook and Twitter, Shakira and Katy Perry

Two Queens of Social Media, Katy Perry and Shakira, show us how it's done.

Tameca L Coleman

In social media, a lot can be learned from mega-stars. Take Shakira, for example. Just last week, news broke that she had surpassed 100 million likes on her Facebook page by being personable and by interacting regularly with her fans. This event made her literally the most popular person (and brand) on Facebook, surpassing some of the most longstanding household names like Coca-Cola (with just over 86 million Facebook likes) and RedBull (with just over 44 millions Facebook likes). Although the artist did not beat Facebook itself in number (which rang in on Monday morning to the tune of just over 161 million likes), news reported last week that Shakira’s page was second to none, with the exception of one of Facebook’s own. That’s pretty impressive, especially since many artists whose names are mentioned more in the media don’t even come close to these numbers. On Monday, July 21, The Telegraphreported that the artists who came closest were Eminem (almost 92 million), Rihanna (89 million), and Katy Perry (72 million), though they still lagged quite a bit behind Shakira.

This landmark in social media seems to beg the question of who might be the queen or king of other social media platforms, such as, perhaps, Twitter:

Looking at a list of Twitter’s top 100 most followed accounts, gives the answer. While Katy Perry’s Facebook page racked in only 72,571,699 Facebook likes by July 21, her Twitter account on Monday topped the list. Katy Perry’s Twitter beat Lady Gaga’s, YouTube’s, Barack Obama’s, and Justin Beiber’s in numbers with 54,574,261 followers by Monday. Shakira’s Twitter account only had about half that amount of followers. No one can win them all or should, for that matter, according to many social media pundits.

As hard as some artists, like Kim Kardashian (whose Facebook and Twitter numbers hit on Monday in the range of about 22 Million) try to nab more attention by way of stunts and ploys, it's really social interaction that increases a following. This is a perennial bit of advice from many social media gurus. “Build a relationship,” writes Drew Hendricks, a contributor to Forbes Magazine. “Create a community of insiders,” writes Stephanie Walden on Mashable. Writes Wendy Maynard of LKR Social Media Marketing,

Your customers and prospects want an opportunity to get to know you, so go ahead and “let your hair down” a bit more. Show people the fun side of yourself and don’t be afraid to get a bit personal. Step out of your comfort zone and take some risks! Even the big brands are learning that “unexpected bursts of humanity” make you stand out.

The Queens of Facebook and Twitter seem to take these things into account and their social media results are proof. Shakira’s Facebook often features personal videos to fans, pictures from her own life, as well as notes mentioning and celebrating personal landmarks with photographs from her point of view (giving followers a sneak peak or behind-the-scenes look). Katy Perry’s Twitter account does the same, with wit and personality. To boot, she retweets and frequently gives shouts out to her followers.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Beyonce may be 'Queen Bey' but Shakira is the Queen of Facebook

Shakira is one who is personal with her fans on social media and it just makes us adore her more.

Getty Images

Queen Bey may be at the top of the news these days with her new teaser out this week for “Fifty Shades of Grey” and for her philanthropic endeavors, but Shakira made the news on Friday as, officially, the most popular person onFacebook, reported the Wall Street Journal. WSJ dubbed the ‘hips-don’t-lie’ performer as the “The Queen of Facebook,” and it certainly seems to be true. On Sunday morning, the count on her page rang in to the amount of 100,606,102 likes, while Beyonce’s page rang in to a mere 63,163,874 likes. Shakira's numbers mark a new milestone in social media.

Shakira’s page wasn’t always so hoppin’. According to WSJ, just a short time ago, Shakira’s page saw posts that only received one or two likes, despite her popularity. Often, the pictures that were posted on her page were amateurish, but they were personal and real. It seems that the artist posts on the site as many Facebook users do, intimately, personally, celebrating with followers of her page life landmarks like the arrival of her new baby boy, Milan, in 2012 and her appointment as one of UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassadors (2003).

The artist doesn’t just advertise or promote through hired arms who do these things for her. She personally takes part in posts on her page. “I can interact meaningfully with [fans] on a regular basis and the response is immediate,” she related to the Huffington Post. She further said that reaching such a landmark (and being the very first to do so) was never an intention. It was “a really welcoming and heartwarming surprise,” she said.

Keeping with her habit of personally interacting with fans, Shakira immediately thanked her Facebook followers in avideo that was full of warmth and gratitude. By Sunday morning, the video had received almost 700,000 likes, had been shared close to 16,000 times and had received more than 25,000 comments.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Japanese artist arrested for distributing blueprints based on her privates

Megumi Igarashi floating down the Tama River in peach.

REUTERS/Eigo Shimojo/Handout via Reuters

The 42-year-old Japanese sculptor and manga artist Megumi Igarashi, who works under the moniker Rokudenashiko (which translates roughly as “good for nothing girl”), posted to a crowd-funding site to fund an artistic venture that could go down in history as something that might begin changing the conservative views and hush-hush attitude about female genitalia in Japan. “Support MK Boat Project! -- The World's First 3D Scanned Peach on the Beach,” reads the heading.

The artist was already known for her work surrounding vaginas and was trying to make a name for herself by way of that work, reported Kotaku on Monday. Igarashi’s aim was to try to break down Japanese taboos about female genitalia with her art which included books, toys and dioramas.

According to Kotaku, many playful words abound for male genitalia and are used pretty freely in Japan. However, the words used to describe the female anatomy are discreet (like asoko, or “down there”) or are seen as downright vulgar, distasteful or offensive to speak out loud. The artist wanted to change the consciousness about these things.

The project was essentially smooth sailing for Igarashi, despite upturned noses from many conservative onlookers. She had successfully raised approximately $10,000, which was more than enough to fund the making of the boat. Last year, she rowed the replica of her own peach across the Tama River.

But, when she had sent more than 30 supporters of her fundraiser blueprints that could be converted into a 3D image of the boat’s shape, she was arrested on the grounds of breaking Japanese obscenity laws which prohibit the display of male and female genitalia.

The Sydney Morning Herald noted that

Japan has a notoriously vibrant pornography industry that caters to a vast array of tastes. But obscenity laws still forbid the depiction of actual genitalia, which usually appear censored or pixelated in images and videos.

Needless to say, Igarashi’s “Pussy Boat,” was not pixelated and it was more than suggestive. The data that she had sent to her supporters would allow them to take the blueprints to a 3D printer and create their very own Rokudenashiko vagina boats.

Many are angered over the event of Igarashi’s arrest and protests have developed. Supporters of the artist claim that this event marks a direct attack on the freedom of expression. TheVillage Vangaurd reported that supporters were “shocked by what they described as the police’s unusually broad use of Japan’s obscenity laws in this case.”

Activist Minori Kitahara said police raided Igarashi’s office and seized 20 of her artworks. “Japan is still a society where those who try to express women’s sexuality are suppressed, while men’s sexuality is overly tolerated,” she said.

And the artist herself is enraged, as well, and is determined to fight the charges against her. “I cannot agree with the police’s decision to label the data as obscene,” she told the police. “To me, my vagina is like my arms and legs. It’s nothing obscene.”

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Child sex stings find theme park employees guilty in sex crimes against minors

Mickey's image is being tarnished in the news as child sex offenders who are also employees of the theme part are being outed by child sex stings.

Getty Images

Disney World may seem less like “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” as results from child sex stings, that have been underway since 2006, have become public. Reports Tuesday related that thirty five members of the Magical Kingdom’s staff, along with some from Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, have been arrested for their involvement in meeting minors for sex and for possessing child pornography.

Of the staffers arrested, 32 were found guilty, eight not-guilty, and two have not yet entered their pleas. Many of them were caught in the act through child sex stings. The accused thought that they were going off to meet a minor for sexual contact, but instead were met by undercover detectives. One of the staffers who had been arrested, Robert Kingsolver, was “busted for allegedly trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.” Kingsolver told the press, “My life is ruined. My family’s life is ruined. My kids’ life is ruined. I’ve devastated my parents because of bad judgment.”

Disney defended their pre-screening process and said that not only is their employment pre-screening extensive but it is also ongoing. Employees receive intermittent background checks just as they did when they applied.

While the press seems to point a harsh finger in the theme park’s direction, perhaps connoting some sort of negligence on their part, it seems that the cases logged did not involve minors who were visiting the parks. Only two cases, which were possession of child pornography cases, occurred on theme park premises.

To further their defense, Disney stated that:

The numbers reported by CNN represent one one-hundredth of one percent of the 300,000 people we have employed during this time period. We continue to work closely with law enforcement and organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as we constantly strengthen our efforts.

Despite these defenses from the theme park, the president of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Ernie Allen added that although there were small numbers found on theme park premises for these crimes, the results should not be dismissed. Awareness is called for and

should signal to all of us that this is a real threat. It's a threat to Disney, it's a threat to a lot of companies and a lot of settings because these offenders will attempt to defeat the barriers that you put in place that deny them access to children.

Allen related to the press that he feels Disney does work very hard at safeguarding visitors and their reputation, and is more than aware of its position as “a magnet that is sort of America's symbol for children” which also attract predators. However, because of the theme park’s magnetism, the seeking out and arrest of such predators must continue. Allen added, that it's important to remember that “there is that interest present, that there are people who have sexual interest in children, and will be at risk of offending against a real child."

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

New smart contact lenses from Google will monitor blood sugar and help vision

Smart lens from Google will be a reality soon

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Last June, there was word that Google [x], a subcompany of Google Glass, had developed a smart contact lens. Using micro-mini electronics and wireless technology, the company had successfully put together a functional prototype that could monitor blood sugar levels and send information to a readable device such as a smartphone or tablet. Tuesday, July 14, news broke that Google had struck a deal with Alcon, the largest subdivision of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, Novartis, in order to make the lenses a reality.

Alcon is the leader in eye care and per their website specializes in “surgical, pharmaceutical and vision care products.” The company operates in 75 countries and serves 180 markets with the aim of improving sight (and therefore quality of life) for customers.

The lenses will not only keep track of blood sugar levels read from the fluid of the eyes but would also help patients with farsightedness. The companies also seem to have plans to move towards developing lens implants.

Google will develop the tiny technology (with microchips the size of glitter and antennae the size of one human hair strand) necessary for the lenses. Alcon will in turn take the prototype and develop versions of the lenses that can be sold to the public.

Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin told the press that

Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people. We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true.

While plans for these lenses are underway, the technology is still in it’s infancy and getting FDA approval will take many years, some pundits say but Novartis Chief Executive Joe Jimenez said that it is possible to have a commercial product ready for the market in five years time.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Bats are dying at an unprecedented rate in North America and may become extinct

White Nose Syndrome has been ravaging bat populations in North America since at least 2006.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Bloomberg / Getty

On Sunday, a report from Buffalo’s WGRZ indicated that the bat population in North America has been dwindling significantly. While for many this may come as a bit of a relief, the fact that myriad species of bats may very well be close to extinction is cause for alarm.

Bats have been faced with many threats to their survival including other diseases and the presence of wind turbines, but the effect of a fungal infection called White Nose Syndrome (Pseudogymnoascus destructans), which was first detected by researchers in 2006, has been nearly destroying whole populations of bats. If bat populations are devastated, there will be direct “consequences for agricultural and human health,” related an article some months ago from the New York Times.

White Nose Syndrome affects cave-dwelling bats during hibernation and is difficult to slow, let alone stop. One researcher related that “up to hundreds of thousands of bats [can be hibernating] in a cave, and if this fungus gets a hold of this, it spreads very quickly, you can have virtually no bats left."

The fungus surrounds bats’ noses, wings and bodies with a white substance, interrupts their hibernation patterns (tagged bats have been tracked, leaving their caves in the middle of winter in some cases) which causes them to burn up their fat stores (meant for the long sleep) and starve to death, as they are unable to find food.

Science journalist Russell McLendon with the Mother Nature Network reposted an article at the Huffington Post on Sunday relating that there are hints of hope in the presence of what is now being dubbed a plague in bat populations:

About 6 million American bats have died from white-nose syndrome since its mysterious 2006 debut, and the disease's rapid spread still threatens the survival of some species. But if scientists are right about a few little brown bats in the U.S. Northeast, there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel.

This is good news for the little brown bats but many other species may not be able to recover from this plague as it will take decades for certain bat populations to recuperate from their losses.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

If you don't change your contacts, amoebas could eat out your eyes

Two microscopic one celled Acanthamoeba interacting

www.freestockphotos.biz

It’s not just a marketing ploy in which the makers of contact lenses and doctors are in cahoots. Changing your contact lenses as directed could very well save your eyes. In mild cases, waiting too long to change your lenses could cause redness, itchiness and foggy vision. In more serious cases, amoebas could live in your eyeballs and while housed there, they could eat your eyes to live and make you blind.

Take 23-year-old Taiwanese undergraduate Lian Kao, who has become an extreme example of someone who was under a lot of pressure from her college studies, reported Daily Mail. She’d left her contact lenses in for six whole months, never once taking the lenses out to follow proper maintenance of the contacts. She wore them to sleep, throughout her day and even to the swimming pool.

Most eye doctors tell their patients that the recommended amount of time to keep contacts in is approximately eight hours. It is not a good idea to keep contacts in during sleep, let alone during showering and swimming.

"A shortage of oxygen can destroy the surface of the epithelial tissue, creating tiny wounds into which bacteria can easily infect, spreading to the rest of the eye and providing a perfect breeding ground,” stated Wu Jian-Liang of Taipei’s Wan Fang Hospital.

According to Digital Journal, the one-celled amoeba, Acanthamoeba, normally doesn’t have much of a chance to breed and survive in the human eye, even though eyes provide the moistness and warmth bacteria need to thrive. Leaving the contacts in for six months, Lian Kao attracted and helped along the growth of Acanthamoeba, which then fairly quickly ate away at her cornea and caused her to become blind. The results are horrendous.

Contact lens wearers should take the proper precautions and make sure they use proper hygiene in the care of their contacts. Because of the space between the eyeball and the actual contact, many bacterium can get trapped and cause issues. Symptoms can include redness, itchiness and cataracts and although chances of contracting the same kind of bug that Lian Kao got are slim, proper care of the eye and contacts will help keep away any other eye dysfunctions that could occur from improper contact lens care.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com