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Does Having a Dietary Restriction Equal Zero Sweets?

Andrew — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:29:24 +0000

Celiac diseases is “an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food”. In Layman terms, this means that the body is attacking itself every time a person who has celiacs disease eats gluten products.

My friend Gabe, along with most of us, was an avid fan of ice-cream growing up. At the age of 17, Gabe contracted Celiac disease and dairy intolerance which currently affects 1 in 105 Americans .

After experimenting with dairy-free alternative “ice creams” in supermarkets (made mainly from rice milk or soy milk) Gabe found the rice milk products to be too bland, and the soy milk options loaded with sugar, resulting in some serious sugar highs and lows. That was no way for him to pretend to enjoy dessert while attempting to stay awake enough to study for PSYC 101.

What was the obvious solution? Well for Gabe, it was to start making his own ice cream. He had a little personal ice cream machine and experimented with various milk substitutes (soy and almond-based milk) and various sugar substitutes (the stuff with aspartame).

After experimenting with the recipe some more, Gabe realized that his product could be enjoyed by more than just dairy intolerant individuals. People that suffer from nut, soy allergies, and diabetes would also have a desirable desert as well. So Gabe set out to create a tasty ice cream that no one could refuse. Dietary restriction was no longer a question (be it an allergy, disease, or simply a diet), everyone could enjoy his product.

Presently, Gabe finalized the recipe, created a company, and now spends his day creating made-to-order ice cream. Check out his website, winkfrozendesserts.com and try some great healthy ice cream!!

*If you wish to learn more about this subject please check out Lawline.com

15 Critical Facts Everyone Should Know About Summer Learning Loss

Andrew — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:08:47 +0000

Summer vacation is a long entrenched tradition for American schoolchildren and their families, but new research is showing that this practice may not be the best when it comes to helping kids get the most out of their educational experience. In fact, for some kids, a few months off in the summer can lead to major setbacks in school, including loss of knowledge and lowered test scores. Many schools, aware of the growing body of evidence that points to the educational problems summer vacations pose, are switching to year-round schedules, but there are many more around the nation that are finding it hard to make the switch due to resistance from teachers, students, and parents alike. Here, we share some facts that can help make understanding why extended summer vacations should be a thing of the past for modern students, especially those who are in high-risk communities where every moment in the classroom counts.

Students score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do at the beginning of summer vacation
While having a few months off for rest and relaxation might seem beneficial to students, it can actually have some serious consequences. The traditional long summer vacation often results in serious learning loss, something researchers have known for more than 100 years now. A century of study has shown that students routinely score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they did just a few months earlier, with low-income and at-risk students seeing the biggest drops, the exact groups so many schools are trying so hard to push to have better test scores.
Students will lose about two months of math computational skills over the summer
When it comes to summer learning loss, math takes one of the biggest hits. On average, students lose about 2.6 months worth of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills during their summer break. With many schools struggling to meet state and federal standards in math, these kinds of losses aren’t doing anything to help matters.
Reading and spelling abilities are also affected
Math isn’t the only subject that takes a knock over summer vacation. Losses in reading and spelling abilities may also occur, though income may play a significant role in how severe these losses are, or whether or not they occur at all. While middle-income students usually see a rise in reading performance during the summer months, lower-income students may lose two or more months worth of reading achievement. Students at all income levels, however, were likely to lose a month or more of spelling learning skills, the second highest loss in any area.
Students with the biggest losses over the summer are in already higher-risk low income groups
Sadly, the students who see the biggest drops in test scores and educational achievement are those who are in lower-income groups. Income plays a major role in determining just how much learning loss will occur over the summer, with students from middle- or upper-class families undergoing much lower levels of learning loss than their poorer counterparts.
Summer learning loss can follow students through high school, college, and beyond
Summer learning loss isn’t a temporary phenomenon. Losses can accumulate over years, eventually resulting in students who perform below their grade level. Low-income students, those who lose the most from time away from school, see the biggest impact, not only reporting lower test scores but higher drop-out rates and lower numbers of students who head to college.
Only 9.2% of America’s 48 million students attend summer school
Today, just under 10% of students nationwide participate in summer school or attend schools with non-traditional calendars. That means that more than 90% of students in America will be at risk for potentially damaging summer learning loss.
Parents play a key role in filling in the gaps over the summer
When it comes to helping stanch summer learning loss, parents have a key role to play. Learning loss is much less pronounced, if there at all, in families that enrolled children in classes, took trips to local libraries, participated in reading programs, or took advantage of other, often free, learning opportunities. Numerous studies have shown that children have much better reading outcomes when parents are involved in learning about and helping their children with literacy.
The current 9-month school calendar was established to suit demands that no longer exist
Having a nice, long summer vacation may be an American tradition, but it isn’t one that really reflects the needs and demands of the modern world. The traditional academic calendar used in most schools was developed when most families worked in agriculture and air conditioning systems had yet to be invented. Since neither of these are realities in much of America these days, many have argued that long summer breaks simply aren’t necessary anymore, especially because they take such a hefty toll on test scores and academic performance.
Much of the achievement gap between disadvantaged youths and their peers can be explained by summer learning loss in elementary school
Because students who are from low-income families have unequal access to summer learning opportunities, many fall behind in their studies and cannot keep up with their wealthier peers. While it might not seem that the summer months would have a big impact on students, it’s estimated that as much as two-thirds of the achievement gap is the result of summer learning loss. As a result of these early losses, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or to enter college.
Many parents and students want to engage in summer learning programs but do not have access to them
A 2010 report by the Afterschool Alliance found that, while only 25% of students were currently participating in summer learning programs, many more would like the opportunity to do so. A full 83% of parents supported spending public funds on summer learning programs and 67% of low-income parents said their children would enroll in a summer program if they could.
What students lose in knowledge, they often gain in weight
Students get more than book learning from time spent at school; they also learn to eat a healthy diet. Many depend on the nutritious meals given to them by their school to be able to maintain a healthy diet. When these federally subsidized meals are no longer available to them, students often make poorer food choices, especially when left unsupervised by working parents. Currently, only one in five of the 15.3 million children who participate in the free or reduced lunch program get federally sponsored lunches over the summer. A 2007 study found that most children, especially those already at risk of obesity, gain weight more rapidly over summer break.
Research shows that teachers typically spend between four to six weeks re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer
Summer learning loss isn’t just bad for students, it also makes things more difficult for educators. In order to come back from losses caused by an extended time away from school, teachers must spend a month or more re-teaching or reviewing material students have already been taught. It goes without saying that this is a huge waste of valuable classroom time that could be better spent teaching students new material.
More than 11% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 care for themselves over the summer months
This means that they are unsupervised, a situation that is not only dangerous but that often leads to greater summer learning losses, as children are not being guided through learning opportunities like trips to the library, museums, or educational vacations. Low-income children are much more likely to be left unsupervised (likely due to the high costs of childcare), a fact that is reflected in greater levels of learning loss.
Out-of-school time can be dangerous for unsupervised children and teens
Students who are alone for most of the day over summer vacation aren’t just losing important educational information, they’re also being put at a higher risk for dropping out altogether. Unsupervised children and teens are more likely to use alcohol, drugs, and tobacco; engage in criminal and other high-risk behaviors; receive poor grades; and drop out of school than those who are supervised and engaged by adults over the summer months and after school during the school year.
Most summer learning programs are remedial
Sadly, students today have few options for federally- and state-sponsored summer school programs. Summer school has a negative connotation which can make students reluctant to take classes and parents unwilling to enroll them. Why? More than 90% of summer school programs are remedial, targeting only students who are not performing at grade level. While these kinds of programs can be positive for students, studies have shown that year-round education programs and extended school years are far more effective methods of stemming the summer learning loss phenomenon.

*This blog post was written on May 15th, 2012 written by a Site Administrator for the website www.onlinecollege.org

College Students on Cheating!

Andrew — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:07:25 +0000

May 2nd, 2012

*This blog post was written by the staff writers at Onlinecollegecourses.com. The direct link to the full article is http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/05/02/college-students-cheating/

Apple’s Dance With Tax Evasion

Stephanie Paeprer — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:29:58 +0000

It seems that Apple really does have it all, including a way to legally evade billions of dollars in taxes. According to The New York Times, Apple paid $3.3 billion in taxes, a mere 9.8% of it’s $34.2 billion in profits. This is made in comparison to the average tax rate of 24%, similar to that of most companies, including Walmart. Apple is not the only company to use outside sources to shrink tax numbers, but because of it’s outstanding profit margin Apple is permanently in the spotlight.

The bigger question people are asking is, how is can Apple do this legally? The answer involves a change of scenery, quite literally. Apple implements what is know as the “Double Irish with a Dutch Sandwich“, where domestic and international sales are routed through subsidies in both Ireland and the Netherlands. Apple also has offices in Reno, Nevada, Luxembourg and the British Virgin Islands. By opening offices in these locations (with little to no taxes), Apple and many other major corporations all over the world, are able to dwarf their taxes.

Apple’s dance with tax evasion seems to have angered tax payers all over the country, including Senator Tom Coburn. Coburn was described as livid over Apple’s “special treatment” and plans to work with Senator Carl Levin to further study and investigate tax havens and loopholes. Like Coburn, many feel that Apple’s evasion effects the financial state of California.

But, it could also be said that Apple (based in Cupertino, CA) brings more business and better presence to the bay area than any other company. With this and the idea that Apple is not the only major company to implement such evasion tactics, does Apple really deserve this heat?

What do you think, should Apple’s tax dodge be frowned upon or accepted?

Interested in learning more about this topic? Check out our courses on tax havens and overseas accounts.

Sources:

NBA Negotiations in Sacramento

Andrew — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:47:39 +0000

Marty Latz

Watching parties engage in high profile negotiations is, for us, one of life’s great pleasures. A current example is the negotiation between the Maloof family, owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, and Kevin Johnson, the Mayor of Sacramento and a former star player for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, to keep the team in Sacramento.

Last spring, the Maloofs engaged in discussions to move the team to Anaheim, California but decided not to file a required request with the NBA to move the team. By agreeing to voluntarily limit their leverage (by putting on hold their Plan B of moving the team to Anaheim), the Maloofs sought to generate some positive momentum which they hoped would result in more movement and dollars from their Plan A counterpart – Mayor Johnson and the City of Sacramento.

With much fanfare, the parties recently announced they had reached a tentative deal, which then subsequently fell apart as they negotiated the details – and which some have suggested was due to nibbling by the Maloofs. Last Friday Mayor Johnson accused the Maloof’s of backing out and stated, “We can’t do more than we’ve done. It’s impossible.”

In response, George Maloof mentioned on Monday that, while “[o]ur intention is to stay in Sacramento,” another city had reached out to the family over the weekend in an effort to persuade them to move (an attempt to ratchet up the pressure by publicly putting their Plan B back on the table).

What do you think will be the next move here?

If you are interested in learning more about this subject please visit Lawline.com

*Marty Latz is the founder of Latz Negotiation Institute, a national negotiation training and consulting company, and ExpertNegotiator, a Web-based software company that helps managers and negotiators more effectively negotiate and implement best practices based on the experts’ proven research. He is also the author of Gain the Edge! Negotiating to Get What You Want (St. Martin’s Press 2004). He can be reached at or Latz@ExpertNegotiator.com.

Yom Hashoat

Andrew — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:06:11 +0000

Today is Holocaust Rembrance Day “Yom Hashoat”. To the few survivors that are still alive today the Holocaust seems as if it occurred yesterday. To many others, there is a sense of disconnection since the Holocaust occurred over sixty years ago. Many of us tend to forget, that we could only be one or two generations at most removed from the holocaust. So even though the Holocaust occurred over 60 years ago, we interact with people every day whose lives were dramatically altered by the Holocaust.

Throughout the year we educate ourselves and teach others about the terrible events that occurred during the Holocaust. Whether it is through reliving the events through Hollywood, or having the privilege to listen to a survivor’s story, we ask the questions of why and how did it happen. So In 1951, the Israeli Knesset (legislature) declared that on the sunset of the 27^th day of the month Nisan to be Yom Hashoat. This day would be a commemoration for the Jews who were lost in the Holocaust. While at the same time it reminds us of the horrific actions that humans are capable of.

Yom Hashoah is a relatively new holiday. So there are no set rules or traditions that are implemented when observing the holiday. In theory, “what kind of tradition/ritual could represent the Holocaust”? Some people observe this day by lighting candles. Many people light six candles to represent the six million Jews that perished. Others may attend a seminar which can be given by survivors. At these seminars it is typical that people read from the Book of Names for periods of time in an effort to recall those that died and to emphasis the large number of victims. It is common to find seminars of this sort to be held in a cemetery or in the proximity of a Holocaust Museum.

In Israel, a law was passed in 1959 that made Yom Hashoah a national holiday. On this day, at exactly 10:00 am, a siren can be heard nationwide. It is accustomed that everyone stops what they are doing and takes a moment of silence to remember those who were lost in the Holocaust. Additionally, Yom Hashoat falls on the anniversary of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprsising. This was the single largest revolt by the Jews against the Germans. This uprising displayed extreme courage in the face of defeat. Thousands of Jews would not comply with Nazi deportation orders without a fight.

The message to be taken from this is that any form of observation will ensure that those who perished will not be forgotten.

* If you wish to learn more about this topic Lawline.com has an excellent course that follows two attorneys who fought for the rights of their World War II war victim client(s) by reclaiming Jewish assets that Nazis seized.

Sources

1) Jennifer Rosenberg, Yom Hashoah http://history1900s.about.com/cs/holocaust/a/yomhashoah.htm

When Social Media Compromises Your Career

Casey — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:15:22 +0000

Sergeant Gary Stein found himself in a public relations quandary after posting a remark on The Armed Forces Tea Party group’s Facebook page, that he monitors regularly. Stein, a 9 year Marine Corp veteran, posted on the group’s wall: “As an Active Duty Marine I say ‘Screw Obama, I will not follow orders from him.’” Within days after posting, the U.S. Military requested that Mr. Stein be put on “other than honorably discharged” status from the Marines. Not only will he be discharged from the army, but he will not be able to receive any type of benefits. Stein’s enlistment was due to end July 28th.

However, Gary Stein and his defense argue that he was only voicing his First Amendment right. He acknowledges what he said was not the best word choice, but he does not believe that he did anything wrong, and neither does his defense. One of Stein’s lawyers, J. Mark Brewer was quoted saying, “We were very disappointed… we feel [that] the Department of Defense regulation that was used to oust Sergeant Stein is not constitutional because the law is really clear that the person does not give up their First Amendment right of free speech when they go into the military.” When enlisting into the U.S. Military future soldiers must agree to certain rules that “prohibit certain partisan political speech.” Regardless of Stein having a disclaimer on his Facebook page saying that the views of this site do not reflect his employment, this type of disclaimer is deemed invalid. He broke the rules of his contract when he posted that statement.

Dean Obedallah, columnist for CNN.com brings up a very interesting argument. Would you write on Facebook about how much you don’t like your employer? Would you post how you will not follow any orders? I wonder how long one would expect to keep their job once an employer or any immediate supervisor saw that post. In this social media crazed world we live in there is no longer a divide between your internet identity and personal identity. It is important to be careful what you post on the internet. Although it may be your own person view points, if you mention anything regarding your place of work you are now indirectly representing them. Always think before you post.

*If you would like to read more about this issue, please visit Lawline.com

SOURCES

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/14/opinion/obeidallah-marine-obama-facebook/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
http://abcnews.go.com/US/federal-judge-rejects-marine-injunction-stop-discharge/story?id=16139979#.T47Uw9kw9st

Peter Thiel v. College Education

Ryan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:13:18 +0000

Educational standards, skyrocketing tuition costs and extreme student loan debt are three hot button issues when it comes to the pitfalls of trying to achieve the American dream through earning a college degree. Peter Thiel believes he has a better solution, at least for the best and brightest of our country’s young men and women. Through his brand new “20 Under 20 Thiel Fellowship,” Mr. Thiel is trying to bring together the brightest students under 20. The Fellowship offers these young men and women a $100,000 grant for skipping college and instead pursuing their own research and entrepreneurial ideas.

The first group of Fellows, announced last May, actually included 24 members due to the extraordinary applicant pool. Ten of the Fellows have since started their own companies, and one of them has released his own product. In light of their success as well as the Fellowships newfound notoriety, Thiel has received a massive influx of applications in advance of the announcement of the 2012 class next month.

CNN’s William Bennet makes some excellent points about this new initiative. While the Fellows have certainly excelled, a question still remains: Would these students have succeeded without Mr. Thiel? One of the more successful members of the group, Andrew Hsu, had already dropped out of Stanford University before the completion of his neuroscience doctorate. He was 19 at the time, and clearly outpacing nearly every other student his age. Additionally, the program is specifically tailored to people with much the same credentials as Hsu.

While Thiel, among many others, raises cogent points about the current state of our education system, particularly at the university level, this Fellowship leaves out the vast majority of college bound students. Additionally, it doesn’t address the problems in the education system for those who might not qualify or be interested in his program. While I respect Thiel’s general idea, I hope he turns his creative processes towards the same system that gave him his education at Stanford.

*If you would like to hear more about entrepreneurial exploits, click here.

Sources:
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/18/opinion/bennett-thiel-education/index.html?hpt=us_mid)

Breivik ‘Stands His Ground’ in Norway

Ryan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:59:15 +0000

The trial of the admitted Norway massacre mastermind, Anders Breivik, began in Oslo yesterday. While he acknowledged he perpetrated the mass murder from last summer, he plead not guilty, on the grounds of “necessity”, which would be somewhat analogous to self-defense in America, although the circumstances behind Breivik’s reasoning are far different. While claiming to oppose Marxist tyranny, Breivik stated he committed his horrific crimes “because offenses against my people and my fellow partisans are as many ways as bad,” and that he would do them again if he had the chance.

One of the main points that Breivik will try to make through his lawyers over the next ten weeks is that, not only is he not guilty of any wrongdoing, but that he was completely sane at the time of the attacks. Breivik’s extreme political leanings have already created controversy on multiple fronts, both in the media and in the trial itself. The defendant was permitted to give a statement this morning, however his testimony was not allowed to be testified by the judge, on the grounds that the court did not want to provide a platform for his radical political views.

Defending a person like Anders Breivik, given the severity of his crime and his extremist political perspective, provides an interesting look into criminal defense. In Norway, the reaction to the trial and to his crimes has been as measured and fair as possible. One might think defending such a man would be an impossible task. Instead, Breivik’s lawyer Geir Lippestad feels he is just doing his part to make sure the system works. In an interview with reporters a month ago, Lippestad said “I remember I woke up my wife, or she woke up by the same telephone call…She’s a nurse and she said ‘if he had arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds, the doctors and nurses would have helped him, they’d do their job. You are a lawyer, so don’t you want to do your job?’” It would seem that no matter what Lippestad feels about his client’s political leanings, the ethical thing to do would be to represent Breivik’s interests to the best of his ability.

*If you’d like to find out more about the ethics of criminal defense, click here.

This post used research from the following sites:

CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/17/world/europe/norway-breivik-court-magnay/index.html?hpt=ieu_t4 ; http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/17/world/europe/norway-breivik-trial/index.html?hpt=ieu_c1)

Brain Drama: The Case Against the NFL

Ryan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:15:45 +0000

You might only know Alex Karras as a TV star, and you might not know who Dave Duerson was at all. However, if the exploding number of class action lawsuits against the NFL has anything to do with it, these two former NFL stars may become household names for all the wrong reasons. The wounds of the suspensions of Sean Payton and Gregg Williams are still fresh, and the ill feelings caused by the bounty scandal have yet to go away. But now, many former players, from draft busts to Hall of Famers are not only claiming that concussions sustained in the NFL are affecting their lives in extremely detrimental ways, but also that the NFL lied to them about the severity of brain injuries.

One former player that you may know that is involved in the case is Jim McMahon, the former Bears quarterback. In an interview on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines”, McMahon said, “We knew what was going on with pretty much every other part of the body. But we didn’t know about the head trauma. And they did. And that’s the whole reason for this lawsuit. … That’s just like flat-out lying to you. That’s looking you in the face and lying to you.” Alex Karras, one of the stars of the 1980′s sitcom “Webster” and a former defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, knows all too well the affects of the constant brain trauma caused by some of the more vicious action during an NFL career. Karras is now 76 and has been diagnosed with dementia. In an interview with the AP, his wife Susan Clark said, “This physical beating that he took as a football player has impacted his life, and therefore, it has impacted his family life,” Clark said. “He is interested in making the game of football safer and hoping that other families of retired players will have a healthier and happier retirement.”

Unfortunately, it is too late for Dave Duerson to work towards a healthier and happier retirement. Just over a year ago, in February of 2011, Duerson took his own life after violent mood swings and erratic behavior had estranged him from his ex-wife and children. He purposely did not point the fatal shot at his head, in hopes that his brain could be studied after his death. It was, and the findings were startling. Duerson was found to have suffered from chronic traumatic ecephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by concussions. While CTE is difficult to diagnose without direct brain imaging, symptoms include confusion, headaches, poor judgment, dementia and depression, all of which Duerson displayed in the final years of his life.

Traumatic brain injuries have been an increasingly sore subject in the NFL, but it is only recently that it has received consistent media coverage. Between bounties for dangerous hits and class action lawsuits, the NFL has its hands full combating decades of covered up research and knowledge. Commissioner Roger Goodell has made great strides to change the attitude of the game, but years of battered players is finally catching up to the league.

If you would like to hear more about Traumatic Brain Injury cases, click here.

This article was written with research from:

ESPN (http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/id/7721921/nfl-concussion-issue-explains-roger-goodell-harsh-saints-punishment, http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/page/munson-120302/dave-duerson-concussion-lawsuit-put-nfl-defensive)

CNN (http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/13/football-tv-star-alex-karras-latest-to-sue-nfl-over-head-injuries/?iref=allsearch)