Group 2 (Krista Lefflin on the Writer's Strike)

The article “Screen Writers Dig In for an Extended Brawl,” discusses the continual struggle between the Writers Guild of America and the big companies in Hollywood. The struggles have become much larger than just negotiations for pay; it is also about respect for the writers. The writers are who make a television show come together and they feel very undervalued and underpaid. The writers feel that if Hollywood could do business without them that they would, and by this strike happening and all the TV shows stopping it proves the point that Hollywood does need them. While the writers feel that they should be paid more, the big corporations feel that the writers are demanding more than just pay. The writers also want authority over the writers in reality and animated shows, they want to eliminate the no-strike clause and many other things. All these demands are showing that the television business is in for some big changes. This strike has affected televisions shows a lot because they are a lot more sensitive to short-term disruptions. People thought that an agreement might be reached soon but it is evident that the strike is in no way close to being over.

I think that writers in Hollywood are very undervalued and that the strike is a good idea because they do need to be paid more. I love television series and the writer strike is compromising the shows but I do think that they have a point. Do you agree with the strike, do you think it will be resolved and when do you think there will be a resolution.

Group 3 (Bryanna McCarrell on Obesity Rates)

In the article, Study Sees Signs of Obesity Rates Stalling (November 29, 2007, New York Times), researchers say that obesity rates in women have leveled off and obesity rates in men are showing signs of the same. Since 1999, the obesity rate in women has remained steady at 35 percent. The rate in men has remained at 33 percent since 2003. However, obesity specialists are not satisfied with the recent findings. They find it discouraging that levels have yet to decrease. One expert even claims that there was a slight increase of 2 percent from 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 showing that the rates have in fact not completely leveled off. Madelyn Fernstrom, the director of the weight management program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says the national goal of maintaining obesity rates at 15 percent is unrealistic. She says, "When the bar is set too high, people do nothing." Instead, she encourages maintaining weight as a more reasonable goal.

I don't see how a 15 percent obesity rate is an unrealistic goal. Dr. Fernstrom is only giving the obese an excuse to be obese by encouraging maintaining a very unhealthy weight. They should at the very least be trying to lose weight to stay healthy and alive. It doesn't seem right that a doctor is telling them that it's fine to be obese as long as you don't gain more weight, rather than finding ways to improve their health and help them live a better life. In time, the steady obesity rates we are seeing may begin to decline simply by doing what we are doing right now to level them off.

Group 1 (Beau Dobson on Bacteria)

In the article titled “Man Beats Flesh-eating Bacteria: Janesville Man Survives A Frightening Battle With The Often-deadly Disease,” the author Marcia Nelesen describes Dennis Cormier’s near encounter with death. The article traces Cormier’s scare from simply feeling ill, to having to be operated on in a matter of hours.

Cormier first started to feel ill while he was on a business trip with his fellow employees. Eventually, his symptoms worsened and he was taken to the emergency room and treated. “There, staff diagnosed cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial infection - but not, it turned out, what he had.” Cormier returned home, and then was taken to a hospital once again. There he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. This is a bacterial disease that often results in death.
Cormier had surgery, and still has side effects from the bacteria which was operated on August of this year. The bacteria could possibly have been avoided if better hygiene was practiced and Cormier said. "I am a lot more conscious of washing my hands than I ever was before."

After reading this article, and thinking about my current environment where bacteria spreads rapidly, I was debating on whether or not I think that the University of Wisconsin-Madison takes enough precautions against deadly bacteria such as the one mentioned in the article. Some things I considered are fitness areas, food commons, bathrooms and other public areas here on campus and the access to products that would improve my hygiene. What are your opinions regarding this issue?

Group 2 (Jimmy Luccas on the BCS)

In the article, Still a Bunch of Losers, Josh Levin argues that there should not be a champion in college football this year. If everyone remembers Mike's presentation about the BCS, he argues that the BCS was not a legitimate way to rank football teams in college football. The article talks about the major loses just this past weekend and how they prove that there is no single champion in college football this year. Every week since October 1st, a number one or number two team in the nation lost to another unranked team. The playoff idea just seems not to work because there would have to be so many extra games played, and will all the upsets that have happened this year, nothing could be accomplished.
This article is very critical about the thought that all the ranked college teams have lost big games and have proven that there is no true champion. I totally agree with his argument, and I think it is absurd to name a team a champion after not truly proving it. Some kind of system needs to be worked out so that this cannot occur anymore.

Group 1 (Tyler Tiede on Brett Favre)

A hot topic for many “Wisconsinites” is the prospect of the Brett Favre led Green Bay Packers going to the playoffs this year. The NFC North 1st place Packers have a record of 9 – 1, which makes them tied with the Dallas Cowboys for an overall 1st place in the NFC. The Packers have already virtually knocked off the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, both division rivals, leaving only the 6 – 4 Detroit Lions standing in their way. A win on Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions will basically bury the hatchet and lock up first place for the Packers, preparing them for the for another Thursday night game a week later against the Cowboys.

This blazing start is the third best start in franchise history; behind Curly Lambeau’s 1929 team, which won ten straight games and eventually winning the NFL championship, and Vince Lombardi’s 1962 team that also won ten straight games and the NFL championship. A continued winning streak could set the Packers up to be a number one seed in the playoffs, with homefield advantage and a first round bye. I know the team consists of many players other than three-time MVP Brett Favre, but my question is: could the Packers have reached this feat under the leadership of Aaron Rogers, instead of the veteran Brett Favre?

Group 2 (Erin Banco on Why to Go to My Office Hours)

We all know how annoying parents can get, especially when they try to nag you about every little thing. In The Washington Post’s article, “New Study Gives Hovering College Students Extra Credit,” those nitpicky parents are actually praised. The article discusses the National Survey of Student Engagement. The NSSE collected data from over 24 colleges around the nation in which around 9,000 students had to answer questions about their parents engagement with their academic activities. According to the survey, students whose parents “helicopter” or “hover” over their activities actually engaged in ‘…frequent use of deep learning activities.’ These “deep learning activities” include TA office hours, writing exercises, and meetings with professors. According to Lynda Hitchcock, a career and college information coordinator at a high school said that most parents that intervene or take an interest in their children’s studies have an effect on their kid’s academic success. The “helicopter parenting” stereotype is usually negative. Most people think of hovering parenting as a nuisance and proof that the parent has issues letting their children grow as individuals. However, the NSSE has argued against the normal stereotype and put a positive spin on “helicopter parenting.”

This article can relate to each and every one of us. How much do your parents intervene in your studies? Do you need their help? Personally, I do not frequently rely on my parents for academic help, but when in a bind, their advice and guidance can be extremely helpful. How does “helicopter parenting” effect you?

Group 4 (Dylan Van Lith on Clutter)

Have you ever wondered if it was bad to have too much stuff in your house? Could it lead to damaging health conditions or could it even lead to your death? “The shock behind closed doors can be fixed with treatment” talks about how hoarding too much stuff in your house can lead to detrimental effects. This article takes place in our own backyard Madison, Wisconsin. The example in this article revolves around a 76 year old woman that just suffered a massive heart attack in her home. Once the paramedics reached her home, she was lying in the bathtub, unable to move because of the amount of clutter in her house. The article stated how this woman was forced to sleep on her couch because it was physically impossible for her to reach her bedroom because of all the clutter. The Madison Health Department commented to the fact that they receive about two calls a month from concerned citizens reporting the fact that they have seen an obsessive, even unhealthy amount of hoarding in their neighborhoods. Doctors have now found out that this hoarding might be related to the psychological disease Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so that would be positive because there is treatment for this disease. The treatment is help from community or family members that will help the patient deal with their obsessions. My question for you is whether or not it is unhealthy for people to have too much and if it is unhealthy what other methods can be done in order to decrease the obsession? I feel that it is important to find multiple methods of treatment in order to eliminate the hoarding because if it is leading to health issues, than it should be dealt with. Also, think of all the dirt and grime that must be filling that house and I believe that it is safe to say that the more stuff you have, the more dirt is collected. This affliction usually only affects the elderly people, so what should be done with these people if the treatment is unsuccessful? Should we put them in a n
ursing home or under guided care, or should we let them live their life to the fullest even under the clutter?

Group 5 (Luke Ehlen on the State's Health)

The article by Anita Weier, on http://www.madison.com/tct/news/255208, covers Wisconsin's decline in health rankings. Although the Badger state is still near the top, it dropped from 10th in the nation in 2006, to 12th in 2007. There are many reasons for the decline. The top include increased obesity, increased violent crime, and a rise of children living in poverty. Others include an increase of binge drinking and smoking. It also uncovered the interesting fact that African Americans in Wisconsin are much more likely to have premature deaths or die from cancer. The top three healthiest states are Vermont, Minnesota, and Hawaii. Mississippi and Louisiana were the least. As a trend, the national health rating decreased by .3%. The majority of the decline is due to the increase in obesity. Does something need to be done to restrict unhealthy foods to stop the increase of obesity?

Group 3 (Mike Preisler on Yuot)

After Walking Hundreds of Miles for Survival, a Refugee Turns to Running

Macharia Yuot will be running in the New York Marathon against our English 100’s own Matt Hooley this weekend for a chance to compete in the Olympics. Yuot, a senior at Widener, has won six Division III titles for track and cross country. But Yuot’s does not come from a running background. Actually he is more use to walking. Yuot walked an estimated 500-700 miles from Sudan to Kenya in order to stay alive. He is apart of what we know as the “Lost Boys of Sudan”. A group of 25,000 children who had to flee Sudan to escape from Arab Muslims who were murdering tribes they came across. Throughout this strenuous journey, half of the children died. Yuot found temporary shelter in Kenya until the US government decided to take care of numerous “lost boys”. Yuot moved in with a family in Philadelphia and began to run track in high school. He started to have success with running in college, and then started competing in marathons. The article talks about a trip Yuot made back to his ol
d home in Sudan and saw his family. Yuot talks about how he can see the world in a different view, and realized how well he has it in America. Yuot is not expected qualify for the Olympics, but he will be satisfied just to meet the goals he has set for himself.

This is a truly amazing story of how one’s life can change so drastically. Yuot had to sacrifice everything he had in his old life. One day he just had to pick up and leave it all behind. I could not even begin to fathom having that kind of courage. Not knowing what each day will bring, whether or not you will starve to death, be murdered, or killed by animals. I also cannot imagine how it would feel to come to a place that is everything your old life was not. I think the hardest part would be knowing that I was in a better place while my family was suffering. But on the other hand, If I was the family members I would want my son, or brother, or whatever, to be living the best life possible. The most moving part of the article is the description of his trip back home. I wonder what is was like for the family, who probably did not know if he was even alive, to see him in the shape he was in. He must have seemed like an entirely new person. I am sure he will never forget the
horrible events of his past, but now he can try and focus on a future that is bright and promising. I hope he does well in the marathon on Friday, even though Matt is going to kick his ass.

Group 2 (Cydni Chapman on Healthcare)

October 28, 2007

With the 2008 election nearing closer the debates continue and the race grows closer. Americans feel one main issue for this election is healthcare. According to the article “As Democrats Criticize, Health Care Industry Donates”, unlike previous elections, the healthcare field has donated more money to the Democrats rather than the Republicans. Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lead the pack with $2.7 million and $2.2 million respectively.

While the closest Republican candidates, Mitt Romney and Ruddy Giuliani, trail with $1.4 million. Many ask why the sudden change in policy? According to Phillip J. Blando, a political advisor to insurance companies, money is being donated due to “smart politics”. Since healthcare is a major domestic issue, healthcare providers want to make sure their interests are being protected. Similarly, Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, reports that “everybody in the industry knows that health care reform is on its way, and you have only two decisions: sit on the sidelines or get on the field.” In other words, the prediction that Democrats will take over the White House in 2008 has led to a skeptical healthcare industry that worries about their future. Democrats have made healthcare a primary issue that they promise to tackle if they get elected. Healthcare companies hope to protect themselves if in fact there is a reform in the near future. What is in store for healthcare in this country and is it even right for healthcare companies to give so much money to the campaigns in fear of their future?

New York Times

Group 5 (Carmen Coats on Menominee/UW transfers)

UW-Madison, tribal school hit deal
by Heather LaRoi

UW-Madison and the College of Menominee Nation has recently planned a transfer program that will allow students who attend the College of Menominee Nation to transfer to UW-Madison after two years if certain demands are met. The colleges believe it will benefit both schools by allowing Native American Student accessibility to a better education and and giving more diversity to UW-Madison. This program will make the transfering process for Native American Students a little easier. Like other colleges that have similar arrangements with UW-Madison there are certain requirements that are needed to qualify for the transferring process. Students need to obtain 54 credits and a G.P.A of atleast 3.0. If they meet these requirements than they are guaranteed admittance to UW-Madison.
I think that programs like these benefit our University. I think that we need more diversity in our school's population. I feel that bringing Native American students to our university will definitely increase the diversity, especially with a group of people that is not strongly represented in the population as of now. I think that transfer programs like these are good, especially for students. Transfer programs provide ways for students to get an education at a cheaper cost with also having the opportunity to go to a university that they want to attend for further education.

Carmen

Group 1 (Josh Gauger on NFL in Europe)

On a Slippery Day in London, Giants Hold On

The NFL played its first ever game outside of North America Sunday. The game was played at Wembley Stadium in London. The English fans who witnessed it firsthand saw a sloppy game between two of the NFL’s most boring teams to watch. Wembly stadium is meant to host European “futbol” games, not NFL style “football” contests. The teams sent abroad to represent American football to these Europeans were the slow and methodical New York Giants and the still winless Miami Dolphins. The NFL had no idea what these teams would be like when this game was scheduled but I’m not sure that this game will help our countries favorite sport catch on to these European people.
The pitch, as the field is called in England, was muddied by the rain and the fact that it is constructed of a grass not meant to support the trampling of 350 pound men and the cuts of powerful NFL running backs. The game itself was not an exciting one either, although this article attempts to convince the reader otherwise possible due to bias, it is a New York paper. The final score was 13-10 win by the Giants, with very little other than scrambling runs by Giants QB Eli Manning and mistakes by the mistake prone Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon. The article explains that the fans cheered on any down field pass complete or not, most of them were not. The most exciting thing for the fans may have been the streaker that the article claims ran across the field at half-time. The fans did show up in good numbers to the surprise of many sports analyzers who predicted that the NFL’s attempt to spread this sport would fall on deaf ears.
The NFL may look on this game as a successful one but I as a true NFL fan do not. This game could do nothing to hold my attention past the singing of the two national anthems. The NFL is looking to host several other games outside of the United States in years to come and possible the NFL super bowl as well. I hope that they do because I think that the world would really enjoy our sport. I do hope that when scheduling these games that they do not involve teams with a typically boring style of play or ones in which they have virtually no young talent and are in the first year of a coaching changes, as these teams were.

Group 4 (Christopher Martin on Cell Phones and Privacy)

In “Privacy Lost: These Phones Can Find You” in The New York Times, Laura Holson discusses the latest in cell phone technology. One can know where all of their friends, family, and co-workers are at any time. It is looked upon as a great advancement because no one will have to partake in the annoying task of opening their cell phone, dialing a number, and having to say “Where are you?” One can simply add this new service provided by Loopt and Buddy Beacon to their phone plan for about three dollars a month. Advocates say that the plan can be utilized to track employees and can be turned off for periods of time. College students could use it to find a friend to eat with or a fellow study buddy. But, those opposed to it say that it is an invasion of privacy and can cause conflicts in relationships. A man may want some along time and could turn the service off for a while, but then his spouse would want to know why, thus causing a fight over nothing. Or, an employee could turn the service off and wind up in trouble with their boss. The outcome could be disastrous.
I have to agree with the latter. This is defiantly an invasion of privacy. I would not want someone knowing my whereabouts at all times. It is basically a tracking device for everyone with the plan that has your number. Not only does it show where everyone is, but it also shows the exact distance away they are from you. Jealous ex-boy/girlfriends could follow someone around just to ruin the moment. Or, the girl that a guy gave his number to at a bar one night could wind up regretting the fact that she always knows where he is. Although someone could just block people, it is more of a hassle than it is worth. Picking up a phone and calling or text message would take a mere three seconds longer than trying to find someone’s homing beacon on a 2’’ screen, and it would allow for much more privacy. Plus, if you knew where someone was and wanted to meet them somewhere else, then you would still have to call them. This service is a novel idea, but is not for me. Would you seriously want everyone with your number to know where you are at all times?

Group 2 (Krista Lefflin on Wall Street)

In the article, “With Wall Street Slowing, Uncertainty Descends” the main focus is how the steady growth of the economy in New York has stalled. Many of the biggest firms on Wall Street have begun to struggle and more and more banks are making job cuts and their profit has gone down. The chief executive of Bank of America has even talked about how his company is no longer expanding like they had planed because they had huge losses in the last three months. The economy has had a steady growth for the last three years but now people are starting to realize that the growth is in the past. The Chief economist, Frank Barconi, in the comptroller’s office says he is “not sure whether the troubles in the financial markets will turn into something worse than we were predicting.” Major investment banks have already gotten rid of over 1,000 jobs and people are expecting more. Also financial firms in New York have made job cuts of 42,404 this year. While New York may become one
of the weakest economic places in America people are not sure that they will go into a total recession. One of the main questions is are major financial firms going to be able to keep their cost cutting under control or are more and more jobs going to be lost? Why has the economy slowed down? How much worse will the slowdown in Wall Street get or is it just a temporary lapse in economic growth?

Group 4 (Holly Feldman on Dumbledore)

Magical day for gays as Dumbledore is outed

JK Rowling, the author of the famous "Harry Potter" Series, recently spoke to a group of people at Carnegie Hall in New York. As she was taking questions on her final book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", she stated that one of the characters in the book was actually gay. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the school that Harry Potter attends, is homosexual and was smitten by Gellert Grindelwald, a rival who the reader learns about in the final book. When making the 6th movie, JKR actually had to edit a scene in which involved Dumbledore with another girl. Gay-rights campaigners said that they were disappointed in JKR for not making Dumbledore's sexuality explicit. As for thier disappointment, I think that JKR made the right decision in not revealing the character's homosexuality. Reading closely enough, a person could easily determine that Dumbledore is gay, by the details JKR writes about him. By openly stating that he was gay could then cause some parents to prohi
bit thier son or daughter from reading the series. She made the decision to keep it quiet for the avoidance of hositilty and I think she made a smart move. Would the books have been as popular as they are if she would have bluntly stated that Dumbledore was homosexual? Do you think that she should have addressed his sexuality?

Group 1 (Lesley Hacker on Madeleine McCann)

Tests Show Madeleine McCann's Brother and Sister Were Not Drugged

(London Times, October 20, 2007)

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been a tragic story all over the media. Her parents were named main suspects months ago. There have been allegations saying her parents drugged Madeleine and their other children the night Madeleine disappeared. Forensic tests have been ran on their two other children proving that the parents did not sedate them. “Anything that enters the blood-stream also enters the root of hairs and stays in the same position as the hair grows." Although Madeleine went missing over five months ago, there were no traces of a sedation drug in their hair. it "grows at about 1cm per month so to test for five months ago you would need a 5cm-long hair.” Once again, the parents beat another allegation, but do you think they will be able to keep on fighting?

Group 3 (Lauren Brendel on MRSA)

Schools in Several States Report Staph Infections, and Deaths Raise the Alarm
(Ian Urbina, NY Times_

Summary: MRSA or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is responsible for more deaths in the us each year than even AIDS. It is a strain of bacteria that does not respond to antibiotics but can be treated with other drugs. It can be spread by sharing towels, sports equipment, along with skin to skin contact with an open wound. Wednesday and Thursday schools in Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virgina were closed so crews could disinfect. Schools in three states have reported student deaths within the last two weeks and four others reported cases of infected students. Nearly 19,000 people died in 2005 from MRSA and 85 percent of the infections were in health care settings. MRSA is usually a mild skin infection that doesn't usually become life-threatening. Ashton Bonds a 17 year old football player from VA died Monday from the bacteria. 15 percent of invasive MRSA cases originated in the community without any health care risk factor.

Response: I think that since we had an outbreak two years ago killing nearly 19,000 and we are in the process of having another outbreak, we really need to crack down on hygiene standards. Locker rooms, bathrooms, classrooms, lunch rooms, everything in the schools need to be clean. I was lucky i went to a really nice and clean school where I don't think there has ever been a staph infection, but many schools aren't as nice, and there really needs to be a standard. Janitors need to sanitize everything and make sure bathrooms have everything for kids to wash their hands. Also, everyone needs to be informed about the chances, what happens when you get it, how you get it and how to prevent from getting MRSA. We didn't learn from our history and we are paying for it again. We need to get hygiene standards for schools and public places set in stone. Hospitals and nursing homes have inspectors, this would be a good idea for schools too.


Lauren Brendel

Group 5 (Casey Christian on Cold Medicine for Kids)

The article F.D.A. Panel Urges Ban on Medicine for Child Colds, written by Gardiner Harris (New York Times, October 20, 2007), describes how an advisory panel from the Food and Drug
Administration voted to ban over-the-counter cold medicine for children under age 6. There were actually two votes taken. The panel voted 21-1 to ban medicine for children under two, and 13-9 for children between two and five. The reasoning of this panel was that medicine is not effective and can actually have negative effects. This ban will have a drastic effect on pharmacies and companies nationwide if put into effect. However, manufactures of the medicine claimed they would fight against this ban. The FDA then has the choice to accept or decline this ban. The second vote was close, so the agency might feel there was too much uncertainty and may decline the ban. Therefore, the FDA is clearly in a predicament, being pressured from both sides. The panel obviously wants this ban to be put into actions, whereas companies will strongly oppose the ban because it will cause a loss in sales. The issue presented here is whom should the FDA agree with to make this decision. Should the FDA agree with the advisory panel or the companies and doctors?

Group 1 (Beau Dobson on School Violence)

Adults egged on boys in fight inside school, police say
Karen Rivedal-Wisconsin State Journal

Recently a fight broke out inside Madison La Follette High School. Arguments and small fights are common in schools across the United States but in an article from the Wisconsin State Journal it tells of adults egging on the three boys involved in the fight. The fight took place last Thursday and seven police officers along with 30 staff members were needed to stop it. Apparently two boys and two women approached another boy and the adults promoted the boys to fight. The mother of one of the boys actually “stomped on” one of the security guards. The article goes on to say how the Madison area is seeing a rise in violence at schools. Luis Yudice, the safety coordinator for the Madison School District commented on incidents like this reoccurring. "But sometimes you do your best and it's not enough," he said. "Obviously we're very concerned any time that kind of violence takes place in our schools." Do you think security needs to be increased at schools in the Madison area
so incidents like these become less frequent?

Group 5 (Luke Ehlen on Drinking in Wisconsin)

State Ranks High For Responsible Drinkers

Scott Milfred's article in the Wisconsin State Journal addresses the drinking statistics in the state of Wisconsin. While the state ranks very highly in some positvie categorires, its is also leading a very negative one. Milfred begins the article with a visit to the doctor. When the doctor asked how much he drank, Milfred replied, "two beers a day." The doctor suggested that he was an alcoholic. Scott Milfred's claim is that small amounts of alcohol every day actually promote a healthy heart. His high levels of good cholesterol supported his claim.

The article the moves on the state some startling statistics. Wisconsin leads the nation in binge drinking and adult drinkers. This brings up disturbing issues of drunk driving and alcohol abuse. Although that is a very negative statistic, the state tries to make up for it by ranking 8th in the nation for adults that consume alcohol, but do not binge drink. Also, 31% of the adults surveyed in Wisconsin claimed they had not had a drop of alcohol in the last month. This just shows that while Wisconsin has a drinking problem, it does not apply to the entire population.