Best Restaurants

S. Pellegrino's annual "World's 50 Best Restaurants" list was released on Monday at a celebrity-chef-studded event in London, England. The event marks the best restaurants all around the world. Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark apparently takes the cake as the best restaurant in the world but Spain wins in the shear quantity of it's number of restaurants on the top ten list of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants". The United States doesn't even hit the list until number 7 for the famous restaurant in Chicago, Alinea. However, Noma reigns supreme as the new greatest establishment after dethroning El Bulli in Spain, the first place winner for four consecutive years.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/27/fifty.best.restaurants/index.html

Laser Energy

Scientists in Livermore, California are trying to create a star out of a highly powerful laser beam. The laser spans the length of three football fields and the energy to create the star travels approximately one mile before it is turned into the star. The energy of the star is increased a quadrillion times before it exits in its star form (that's a one with fifteen zeros). The reason for creating an earth-made star is to rid of the current energy crisis. If the energy from the star is harnessed.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/science/04/28/laser.fusion.nif/index.html?hpt=C2

Healthy Movie Treats

A switch to healthier fare at the movie theaters may be something around the corner for movie goers. You will no longer have to sneak in a healthy treat in order to be given the option. In a recent speech at ShoWest -- the country's largest tradeshow for the movie theater industry -- Sony Pictures Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Lynton called upon concessionaires to supplement classic, soda, candy and popcorn options with more healthy options like fruit, granola, yogurt and vegetables with dip. It's "the right thing to do for our industry, for audiences and for our country," said Lynton.

H1N1 Still Alive

Although H1N1 Hasn't been talked about as much in the recent months, it is still alive, especially in the southeast. Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina have reported a regional flu activity. While eight other states in the south and midwest regions of the nation have reported a local flu activity. The outbreaks have begun to elscalte, returning to the conditions they were once at in October. It is important to stay healthy and avoid contact with un sanitized surfaces. Washing hands periodically is paramount to the success in avoiding the disease. H1N1 can attack even the healthiest of people so it is crucial to remain aware of this sickness and repect how serious it is.



http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/29/cdc.flu/index.html

Healthcare Plan

It is official, President Obama has signed the Healthcare Bill. This bill is the biggest change in our nations healthcare plan in the past four decades. Obama and Democrats celebrate the bill, but there maybe underlined problems. John Stossel used and example of comparing healthcare to grocceries, if you wern't paying attention to the price of the food that you are buying then you wouldn't take consideration the prices or sales of those foods. Same goes for healthcare, if people are granted healthcare they are unlikely to "shop around" for cheaper physisians. There is no urgency for competition. Another logical solution to the healthcare debate would be a Health Savings Account (HSA), an account the takes 2% from an individual's pay to cover medical expenses. This forces hospitals and healthcare services to be competitive with pricing, similar to the competitive prices in Lasik surgery. However not all of the healthcare bill is bad. Individuals are less likely to rush to the emergency room for small issues. The price of a physician is within reach for everyone and frivilous expendetures to the E-R will be reduced dramatically. Just like every other bill passed, healthcare has its pros and cons. Overall the benefical good for our nation seems to be overwhemling. Hopefully America doesn't get too much of a good thing.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.main/index.html

Too Much Help For Haiti?

Dollars, aid and volunteers all being sent to Haiti. America has their country's need for help in mind, but could that help be hurting them?

Haiti is affraid to lose their independence. With millions of dollars being sent to this impoverished country the help is somewhat overwhelming. Haiti's history is a formation of slaves that revolted against their masters during the 19th century. The spirit of independece is still fresh in the blood of Haitian people and the fear of losing that independence sends tension between societies. Haiti is becoming somewhat reliant on other countries to serve as a crutch to their economic system. If we don't let this nation walk on its own two feet it maybe possible that they will never develop into a stable nation. It is a vicious cycle for poor country struck by a natural disaster. There needs to be balance between help and letting Haiti take pride in their independence.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/12/recovery.dangers.haiti/index.html

Coffee Shop Politics

People all over the country are in a buzz about a political group created on Facebook. Over 100,000 people across the nation gather in local coffee shops to discuss politics, individuals span across every ethnicity and religion. It is meant to be an open minded group that doesn't discriminate other's views on our nation, but rather embraces the many ideas and solutions that they may offer. Designed to be approachable, even to people who have never been interested in politics, the "Coffee Party" is a great way to learn about the people in your community, as well as learning about our country.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/12/coffee.party.people/index.html