Car buyers can now search for a specific car or comparison shop between different models. Finally, consumers can make an informed decision!
The Ecology Center and HealthyCar.org tested the materials in hundreds of cars. They found that the "New Car Smell" is actually a toxic soup being release from plastics, foams and fabrics in our cars. Many of these chemicals, such as PVC, Phthalates, Brominated Flame Retardants, heavy metals, and many allergens, have been linked to dangerous health effects. These health hazards include birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, allergies and cancer.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Shrek: 'Good Model' For Exercise?!
Conflicting objectives: What are the fundamental objectives and what is the utility of such advertising to kids?
Because of the very high marketability of the characters from the movie, particularly Shrek and Donkey, all sorts of companies have lined up to use them in a cross-promotional effort to push their products.It was more than a bit unusual to read this FOX News story about another surprising product Shrek has been asked to represent--EXERCISE!
I can't help but think about how confusing this must be to little Johnny or Jane who sees their favorite movie characters eating junk foods like Happy Meals, Fruit Loops, or M&M's and then those same characters encouraging exercise.
"Shrek is a good model, especially for children who can benefit from more exercise," Deputy Assistant Secretary Penelope Royall responded. "He doesn't have a perfect physique, he's not a great athlete. We hope children will understand that being physically fit doesn't require being a great athlete."
Royall said Shrek is a "good model" for healthy activity and living. The character stuffs his mouth nonstop with all kinds of nasty stuff while his big ole belly and butt hang out like some kind of tumor. It's what makes Shrek the character funny, but most definitely NOT a role model for children when it comes to health.
Because of the very high marketability of the characters from the movie, particularly Shrek and Donkey, all sorts of companies have lined up to use them in a cross-promotional effort to push their products.It was more than a bit unusual to read this FOX News story about another surprising product Shrek has been asked to represent--EXERCISE!
I can't help but think about how confusing this must be to little Johnny or Jane who sees their favorite movie characters eating junk foods like Happy Meals, Fruit Loops, or M&M's and then those same characters encouraging exercise.
"Shrek is a good model, especially for children who can benefit from more exercise," Deputy Assistant Secretary Penelope Royall responded. "He doesn't have a perfect physique, he's not a great athlete. We hope children will understand that being physically fit doesn't require being a great athlete."
Royall said Shrek is a "good model" for healthy activity and living. The character stuffs his mouth nonstop with all kinds of nasty stuff while his big ole belly and butt hang out like some kind of tumor. It's what makes Shrek the character funny, but most definitely NOT a role model for children when it comes to health.
Where do I live..?
Recently I came across an article that mentioned Bangalore (India) is sitting on a potentially seismic fault. [Click here] Indian Institute of Science made an announcement of this finding in some of the widely read newspapers of the town/nation. Can the government now claim in the event of a casualty, that citizens were given a warning a`priori? Have the people been given an opportunity to move out of this "perilous" location? Should safety questions be left to the “free market” or should government enforce rules to evacuate people in the citizens' best interests? Taking action is necessary but how soon is too soon?!
Utility of Second life for education?
The debate we should be having is about whether SL is able to serve any useful educational function.
And I have to say, having spent a little time in SL over the last few months, I'm somewhat skeptical. Not that I dislike SL, far from it. I'm just struggling to see how it will be used in the near future to support real learning activities in any meaningful, large-scale way.
- The technology required is too advanced (in hardware terms) for many users.
- The ability to dynamically embed external content too clunky.
- The technology too closed.
- Even the 1 to 1 and group communication / collaboration aspects of SL, the primary area where there does seem to be real potential, is labored by being chat only.
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