Fighting AIDS in the 21st Century It may seem hard to believe, but AIDS has only been a major human disease since it was first identified in 1981. After the initial scare of an impending epidemic and a series of international programs designed to educate populations to combat the spread of the debilitating disease, many nations settled into a period of complacency about AIDS despite the fact that it has... (11 views)
Precious Design Meets Precious Crystal Parents are notorious for believing with all of their hearts that their child is the smartest, cutest, and most talented around. This explains why cars are plastered with ''My child is an honor student at...'' bumper stickers, Little League games are so loud, and handmade cards with accompanying poems quickly head to the top of the ''best presents ever received'' list. (13 views)
Flounder Never Had It So Good Aquarists take note: the ideal aquarium for your home is now available. It's classy, so it hasn't been fashioned into a toilet; it's innovative, but not to the extent that you wonder why it is you're cooking on a counter filled with fish; and it's large enough to let numerous people enjoy the beautiful view, unlike those tanks that are fashioned out of lightbulbs, making... (59 views)
Domestic Violence and the Influence of Feminism on Healthcare Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in America, residing in every conceivable demographic and across all boundaries of race, religion, and class. Protection of victims has historically faltered for a myriad of reasons, though the most oft-cited culprit is the unwillingness of the victim to tell others of her or his abuse. (126 views)
Teen Pregnancy: What Are the Real Costs? The reproductive tendencies of Americans have been in the spotlight in recent weeks in light of a new report which claims that abortion rates have fallen in the United States to their lowest levels since 1976. The report from the nonprofit Alan Guttmacher Institute also mentions something which might startle casual observers of the abortion debate: one in five American... (1159 views)
Valentine's Day: Don't Forget Your Loved Ones! Valentine's Day is quickly approaching us, whether we're ready or not. Walking past those grocery store aisles of heart-shaped chocolate boxes and stuffed teddy bears with roses in their mouths, who can possibly avoid this mushy but thoughtful holiday? Some may try, but there's something to be said for embracing it. (57 views)
Childhood Reimagined Every now and then every person needs some comfort food that reminds him or her of childhood. However, the fact that a dish is notorious for being unglamorous and, depending on how your mom made it, sometimes unappetizing does not mean that it has to maintain that reputation forever. (25 views)
Taking a great vacation break to exotic locations. ''Oh, the weather outside is frightful...''I can't help still humming that song, even with winter coming slowly but surely to an end in the next couple of months. With the Northeast still tackling snowstorms and the West Coast dealing with rain and floods, it's no wonder that the song still rings true today. (13 views)
The Love Tub Welcome to February, the season of love, and the official start of the countdown to the month's most important event: Valentine's Day. With that also comes the ultimate question: what do you buy for your significant other? (24 views)
Healthcare Challenges for Gay and Lesbian Americans The unique challenges presented to gay and lesbian Americans in search of quality healthcare on par with that of their heterosexual counterparts reveal a myriad of issues which, at present, seem without resolution. (81 views)
Politics: Getting All the Facts The world of politics — some loathe it, and some can't live without it. Yes, it's time to discuss the controversial topic that is our political system. An important question still exists, though: are we getting it all straight, or are we only hearing what we are getting? Makes sense...not really. (8 views)
Swing Some Gold on the Green There are few events that can bring the world together like the Olympic Games. While the underlying cause of this ''togetherness'' is competition, it unites people around the world for one common goal: to represent their country and show that they are the best in the world. (19 views)
The Impact of Obesity on Healthcare By now it's common knowledge that America is home to the heaviest citizenry in the world, earning it the dubious distinction of being ''the fattest nation on Earth.'' Certainly, questions about how it got to be the global leader in obesity are many and complex, often with few or no answers, leaving both the average citizen and the healthcare industry in search of new ways... (18 views)
Listen to the Sound of Perfection The five senses — sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing — are all vital components of a person's neurological network that work in tandem in order to impact perception and alter experience. Thus, when any of these senses is enhanced or diminished, one’s experience can be drastically impacted for better or worse. (4 views)
New Study Ranks U.S. Healthcare System Worst Among Industrialized Nations It seems that the current topic du jour in American public and political discourse is no longer terrorism or war but healthcare. But while the discussion is growing ever more expansive and the din of political promises crowding the airwaves, the U.S. healthcare system turns out to have a whole host of new challenges to face apart from universal health coverage. (25 views)
Holiday Recovery: Weight Loss It's happened: the holiday season has come to an end — to some people's dismay, to others' happiness. Sadly, no more presents, no more eggnog, no more days or even weeks off; it's now time for the hustle and bustle of work and real life. Joy. Although it pains us to return to our mundane schedules, it is nice to go back to the routine we are used to. (3 views)
Dining in Style Some of the best experiences are those that are simple. And enjoying a great meal with a loved one definitely falls into that category. However, the fact that the experience isn't as elaborate as jetting off for a weekend in Paris doesn't mean it will come cheaply. Enjoying a fabulous meal can come with a hefty price tag — just ask the patrons of New York's MASA. (309 views)
Recognizing and Treating Drug and Alcohol Addiction Drug addiction and alcohol abuse remain very serious problems in America, where despite declines in overall drug use, addiction to new and specific types of drugs has skyrocketed. This has naturally brought with it a wide array of new problems and challenges for not only law enforcement and addicts' loved ones but also healthcare professionals and rehab facilities. It... (69 views)
Study Finds Uninsured Cancer Patients Twice As Likely to Die Within Five Years In what is not especially surprising news, a recent study by the American Cancer Society found that uninsured cancer patients are twice as likely to die within five years of diagnosis as those who are properly insured. The study, which was the first of its kind on the link between insured status and fatality rates, not only found that individuals without insurance are... (75 views)
On the Road Again Willie Nelson may have said it best when he sang ''On the Road Again.'' Even though we may not all be country music stars, traveling, whether across the state or across the country, is in many ways endearing and highly enjoyable. Packing up and ''hitting the road'' to experience all the country has to offer, and to learn about what makes each place unique, is an... (29 views)
New Year's Resolutions: Cheers or Jeers? Take out the pen and paper; it's that time again — the time when many decide to place their bets on themselves. How many of us have done this? Come on; let's be honest. You've secretly made a New Year's resolution or two yourself at some point in your life. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but how realistic are the expectations you are putting on yourself? Sure, we would... (11 views)
Health Insurance for Victims of Child Abuse Despite recent nationwide efforts to reduce the number of children abused physically, emotionally, or sexually by parents and primary caregivers, the incidence of child abuse in America remains a rampant and unfortunate fact. According to a report released by Medical News Today last year, a full 60% of healthcare professionals say they have treated an abused child, though... (213 views)
Don't Know Thyself? Knome Yourself How well do you know yourself? How well, really? Of course you may recognize that your favorite color is red, that you hate scary movies, and that you prefer to sleep on the right side of the bed, but do you understand how your biology works? (27 views)
Insuring America's New Epidemic: Autism Official estimates of the rate of occurrence of autism in American children a decade ago stood at one in 1,000. Today, the numbers have increased to an alarming one in 150, indicative of a full-blown autism epidemic. Indeed, recent studies have established that over 1 million children in the U.S. are currently living with autism, with a new child diagnosed every 20... (7 views)
Vacation Pay Policies Come Under Fire ''The United States is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation,'' the introduction to the study ''No-Vacation Nation'' reads. This fact, that there is no federal law guaranteeing paid vacation in the United States, means that the average American worker receives only 14 days off per year. Workers in European countries —... (385 views)
Vrooming Your Way through the Holidays Here's hoping you're on Santa's ''nice'' list this year, because Christmas is right around the corner, and there is one shiny and fabulous must-have gift this holiday season that you will want to find parked in your driveway come December 25. (294 views)
Depression and Healthcare Mental health issues continue to be the most problematic and least disclosed of all health concerns in America, though they remain a common ailment. A full 16% of Americans will experience some form of depression at some point in their lifetime, though other estimates put this number at almost double. This means that between 50 million and 100 million Americans will be... (11 views)
Countdown to Midnight: Single Life on New Year's Kiss me at midnight! Sure, we all want to declare those words to our significant others, but what about the singletons around the country...those not quite as fortunate? (25 views)
Long-Distance Relationships: Working to Connect You've decided to go to law school, which in a lot of cases means a new city, a new apartment, and a whole new group of people to meet. Perhaps you've left the city of your past behind and moved on to a better place. You've found a better apartment and said goodbye to your family members or roommates. You've said your farewells to your boyfriend or girlfriend…or have... (39 views)
A Christmas Feast There are some Christmas gift staples that are better off left in Christmases past. Often, these presents fall into two categories: bad clothing, such as a homemade sweater or scarf, or bad food, such as the oft-mentioned fruitcake or Christmas basket. Of course we all understand that ''it's the thought that counts.'' However, sometimes we just wish that the thought came... (269 views)