Prince Charles said NO to genetic modified food!

I just read this article where the author explains Prince Charles's opinion about genetic modified food. The prince says that the genetic modified food could be "the biggest environmental disaster of all time" because it affects not only small farmers but also the whole humanity because this is not a sure science yet so the companies have to try different methods to manipulate the food, but if one of this method fail, there could be several consequences.

At the end of the article there are a little debate about the genetic modified food. One side says that there are a lot of benefits. For example, less cost, improve production, and feed more people in the world. But the other side says that there could be problems to the people who eat that kind of food. This food also can affect the ground, water or the environment in general.

A woman who is working in Hybrid cars!

This weekend I read an article for the IHT about hybrid cars. In this article the author talks about a woman from California who owns a special garage for hybrid cars. The owner is Carolyn Coquillette and she works only with hybrid cars. But something more special about her job is that she offers the option of making the hybrid cars completely electrical. She adds a set of batteries to substitute the energy provide for the gasoline. The idea of the hybrid vehicles is exciting because this is the clear opportunity to decrease our dependency to fuel combustible, but if there is any option of make our cars 100% electric, I think that big companies would have to be working on that. Why if this woman can swift the cars to electrical the big companies haven't done it?

Windows 7

Yes I didn't make a mistake in the title of this post. Microsoft has in beta phase the new version of his operative system and they will call it "Windows 7" because it's the seventh version of Windows. I read this article in the IHT and I chose to write about it because I think that Microsoft has a huge influence in every technological aspect. Something that surprised me is that they are developing this new operative system when Windows Vista the actual version is actually new. I remember that between Windows XP and windows vista they waited like 3 years, but I am not sure about it. I think that this is a result of that people don't like Vista or say that it has a lot of problems, so Microsoft is developing another operative system quickly to keep it customers.

Multitask!

Have you ever noticed how many things you do at the same time? I read the article Multitasking can make you lose...um...focus from the IHT. I have to tell you that while I was reading this article, I was listening to music (In English of course). I also was chatting with some friends, checking frequently Facebook and texting messages to others friends in Honduras. I can bet you that you are doing about the same. This is the main point of the article because nowadays must people have to be doing more than one thing at the same time and this is not only in their free time but also in the work or doing homework. The author talks about different scientific point of views about what happens in our brains when we are multitasking. Many doctors say that we lose the focus when we shift quickly between activities. Sometimes this is not dangerous but others it could be. For example driving and texting messages at the same time. I have to confess that I used to do that and you really lose the concentration in what you have to be doing. I stopped to do that one day that I almost had an accident, then I used to leave my cellphone in the back seat of my car to avoid the temptation. Another problem trying to multitask is that you do that things slower. For instance at the time that I am writing this post I have received 4 email, and I have to check them in the moment so I lose my point and I waste time. I really liked this article because made me think about something that I do unconsciousness.  I would like to know more about this topic, maybe I'm gonna read more articles about it... but first I need to answer those emails.

The story of stuff

I just watched the video The story of stuff by Annie Leonard. In this video, she talks about the different steps of the lives in the products and how every step affects our environment. She also explains about the consumerist American society and how they behave. I've always thought that american people is the best example of consumerism and since I'm here I know that it is truth. I think that is part of the environment here in the US because when I was in my country I really didn't buy many things but since I came to the US I have bought a lot of things. For example, I had an Ipod nano from the first generation, and it was working really well, but when Apple released the new generation I thought that I had to get one of this. There are a few changes between them, but the main function is the same. After bought it, I thought I made a wrong decision, also I thought that I was a product of the capitalist system. I think that this video make me think about that and I'll try to not buy things that I know that I don't need. I also think that there is a clear relation between the production of goods and global warming. As Annie says, producing all those things generates a lot of pollution, also it consumes a lot of natural resources.

Debate's day

I'm watching the presidential debate right now but at the same time I'm remembering our debates today in topic in the media class. For me, today's class was one of the most interesting classes that we have taken because we had the opportunity to follow the guidelines of a real debate and each of us showed that was prepared to defend our side. I think that for some people was difficult to defend something that they don't believe, but this is part of the process of debate. We did an excellent job! 

Have you ever thought about your computer??

When I bought a computer I really don't have idea what I am going to do with the old one. I've had three computers. I gave the second one to my brother, and the second one is in my house as an antique product because it was old. All these thoughts came to my mind when I read the article How green is your computer? by Azadeh Ensha. In this article Ensha explains three different points of view that we have to consider about our computer and its relation with the environment. First of all, Ensha argues that we have to turn off the computer as a way to save energy, and the best way to do it is configure our energy-saving preferences to turn off the elements that are inactive in a shorter time. The second point and I think is his/her main point is the factors that you to consider when you are going to buy a new computer. And finally, Ensha describes the different efforts made for the companies to recycle the components of the computers. I agree with that article because we have to think in our environment, and how can we generate less waste. For example, when I decided to buy my new laptop, I checked the energy performance and actually I bought a laptop with a excellent performance.