China's 60th Communist Anniversary

China celebrated its 60th anniversary of communism rule on Oct.1, staging its largest-ever parade of military vehicles and over a hundred thousand marching, spurring patriotism, and unease. Although China has come a long way since 1949, today being the third-largest world economy. However, the jubilant mood of the parade glossed over its past misfortunes, as well as its current challenges.

Earthqake in Indonesia

Indonesia may be facing a trial of survival in the aftermath of the earthquake that killed at least 75 people, and caused extreme amounts of damage.

Iran: Walking the Line of the Law

Despite the fact that Iran has been accused, apparently there is no credible evidence that there is an operational nuclear weapons program in Iran.

Health Care: The Case For Killing Grandma

Compared with other countries, although America may have more health care, it does not necessarily have better health care. In the past decade alone, costs have risen by nearly 50%. Prices are not generic, however, even within the United States. Different medicare patients in different states may cost more than others, for chronically ill patients. Is Medicare really the answer to our problems? Or is it just a budget-eating mess of nonsense?

Robotics For The Future

Medicine and technology are frequently mixed, to form ideas that are beyond what people might normally associate with. However, despite the factitious reproductions of many medical techniques on popular tv shows, robotic technology is a real possibility. A possibility, at least, if we had infinite funds to support these new technologies. According to a recent article from CNN, robotics have "revolutionized surgery" over the past 20 years. Although 'micro machines' and 'pill cameras' may not be accessible items yet, these ideas may yet be visions for the future.

The Green List

Newsweek recently published the 2009 list of the Top 500 Greenest Companies, essentially an envioronmental ranking of America's 500 largest corporations. Some of the names listed were familiar to me, but others, even in the top of the list, were very suprising to me.

Is There Still Hope For Retirement?

Many people have been hit hard by recent economic trends. For some, this could mean questioning their goals about retirement. Despite the economy, these goals may still be possible, however, depending on two factors: how old you are, and how much money you started with. Younger people may have a better chance at recovering faster and more easily, because they generally have saved less in the time they've been working than some others. According to this article from Newsweek, the best way to regain purchase with your old standards is to save more, and spend less. Is this really the answer to our problems, though? What the economy really needs is a boost to get it rolling again. If, as people being to regain a little of their profit, they hoard it mercilessly, then the economy will become even more stagnate, because nobody will be spending at all. What people need to do, is be smart about their money. Save a little, spend a little. As long as there is a balance, then as your nest egg begins to grow again, so will the economy.

Sum Total

"Green" may not be a new concept for the world, but the facts still show an overwhelming amount of waste being produced. Keeping the environment safe is everyone's responsability. Despite possibly limited resources, new ideas and inventions are continuing to sprout up. Make it your job to do something good for the environment.

Energy Conservation, or lack of it

It seems like the United States is trying to find ways around its own laws, rather than finding alternative routes to make more energy-efficient cars. According to Tom Friedman in his book Hot, Flat, and Crowded, the introduction of sport-utility vehicles, or SUV's are just a small example of this. In 1979 when these were introduced, they were successfully lobbied as 'light trucks', so that they would not have to meet the 27.5 miles per gallon gas standard that was set for cars in teh 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act. I think this is an example of how the United States is shying away from its responsibility of being a leader in the world's energy conservation.

New Fool-Proof Health Care Options?

It seems that Obama has a new option for persuading non-believers to accept his health care plan. The "trigger" option, which would give insurance companies a defined period of time to make changes that would allow them to cover more people, is being received with mixed reviews. If those changes failed to occur, a "trigger" would allow for public option to force change on the insurance companies. The public option would be government-run and government-funded, like medicare, and with this plan, people would pay 10-20% less than private insurance. However, the question still remains whether President Obama will side with the public option or not. I think that this "trigger" option could be a good idea, as not only is it new and different, but it gives the companies a chance to make changes themselves, without being forced to through the public consensus. However, this would also give the government a backup plan, in case the insurance companies proved to be in bigger trouble than originally realized.

The Survival of the Republic

We live in times of animated games, personal gain, and a supposedly exponential amount of credit. As we live now, however, the economy is unsustainable. If we think we are in a serious crisis now, then wait 30 years, until our children and grandchildren will be paying for the mistakes we are making now.

Is Free too Expensive?

Hedge funds have been always been seen as bad, but are they actually a good thing?

New Energy Star label possibilities: A holy crusade?

In addition to new enhancements on specifications of green power generation, the EPA has a new goal: Energy efficient houses of worship.