As a pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (or PAH’s as we call them in the business), are of concern because they have been identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic (not good things if you were wondering). PAHs are created as a byproduct of the burning of coal, oil, and fossil fuels. Often they are of concern in urban areas where there is a higher carbon footprint, and it forms that nice cloud of yellow smoke you see floating over some of your major cities.

Now, new research out of Columbia University is showing that exposure to PAHs, can reduce neonate’s intelligence. The study performed in New York city where PAHs are in no short demand, showed IQ scores that were 4.31 and 4.67 points lower, respectively than those of less exposed children.

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I’m headed to Warner Robbins for PCOM-GA aka GAPCOM. Should be interesting. I will be working at a hospital which is what I wanted to do. Seems like my legal career has slowed down some which is awesome.

GreenOptions is going through some changes. Virgance is selling off GreenOptions while retaining the 2 most viewed blogs. Don’t know what is going to happen with my writing “career” or the book at this moment. I shot the new editor a lot of ideas on how to make the relaunch successful, and frankly I really have not been working on the book at all. PCOM has taken up all my time lately.

I have also started re-publishing all my articles here. So they can be saved for an eternity.

-Daniel

July 20th, 2009 was the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic flight to the moon, where astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first human beings to walk on the moon. 40 years ago, space flight inspired such awe that astronauts were hailed as heroes and celebrities by men, women, and children alike. 40 years later none of us, besides the most avid space fanatic, would likely to be able to name one astronaut in service today.

Despite the tragedies of Space Shuttle Challenger, and later Columbia, where the world is shocked into being reminded of the inherit dangers of sitting on 1 million gallons of rocket fuel, or re-entering the earth’s atmosphere at 1,870 miles per hour. We all see space flight as mundane because the vast majority of space flights since Apollo 11, have been mostly conducting seemingly routine scientific experiments. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in the importance of science in space, but these experiments don’t exactly inspire awe in the general population like, oh say, a manned mission to Mars would. We also don’t have the fever of beating those damned Ruskies because they might go to space and blow us all up, which we had during the height of the cold war when Apollo 11 touched down on the lunar Sea of Tranquility.

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Most of us know the sad and destructive history of former widespread pesticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane for you chemists). It’s egg shell thining properties have famously taken out many a generation of bald eagle, as well as many other bird species. The once heralded solution to malaria, DDT was sprayed everywhere without a thought. This attitude of pesticide being “a-ok” lasted into the 1980’s, and lead to this most hilarious and sad poster (seen above) of two attractive young ladies having a pesticide fight. Try suggesting that one these days as a fun game for the whole family.

When environmental and health concerns were raised in the scientific community, an out cry called for the banning of DDT, and in 1972 the ban went into effect. Unfortunately for all of us, the half life of DDT is 30 years. So for those of us scoring at home, there is still almost half the DDT left floating around in our environment that was sprayed the year of the ban… 37 years ago!

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In 2003 “Nature” published a study showing that 90% of the large fish living in our oceans were fished out of existence. A group of scientists recently predicted, major seafood stocks will collapse by 2048. This is a staggering number, considering the technology and amount of people needed to cause overfishing is a relatively new phenomenon, starting really only in the late 19th century.

Most governments have shrugged these claims off, and continued their fishing practices. Alaska has shown to be the only sovereign state willing to self-police their fishing practices. Sarah Palin jokes aside… Threatened with the loss of one of its top industries, Alaska began limiting the number of fishing vessels, restricting the size of their catches; and perhaps most importantly, giving incentives to fishermen. Alaska currently gives fishermen a stake in the long-term viability of salmon and other fish.

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Lottery is today. Lottery is picking where I want to spend the next year of my life. No pressure. My friends birthday is today. Will be going out later to celebrate. I think I might date a model. Being a child model myself. I know how the biz works

So I have been featured in Forbes now, offered free products from various environmentally friendly companies, been in Wikipedia, and now wrote an article for MSNBC… And this is JUST my hobby.

I’m good… Real good.

Sorry for not updating often, I have been mighty busy with school and writing. I haven’t made a whole lot of progress on the book. Life has been really good though. Just got back from DC a few days ago, seems like happier times are now ahead Keep your fingers crossed.

I decided to take the leap and start outlining the book I want to write. I’m not making an promises here, but I’ll write what I can in what spare time I have. Maybe in a year or so, I can have something readable. I decided to do something a little different… Part history, part science, part autobiographical. If I can pull this amalgamation off, I do not know, but I’m going to try.

I just got off the phone with the publisher’s legal department because I was concerned about using people’s real names. Apparently I can use people’s real names as long as what I write is factual or my opinion. I’m not out to bury anyone, but I do want to be truthful and honest. I think that is one of my draws here on the internets.

I have always wanted to write a book, so I am pretty excited. Hopefully if I can get this one off the ground there are a few anthropological books in me. I did always want to be an anthropology professor.

Anyway, I’ll keep you all updated with any progress this makes. Right now there isn’t much but a very tiny embryonic skeleton, and with school, and boards, and my commitment to work for Virgance, I don’t expect this to move along very quickly… but, ya got to start somewhere.

http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/09/05/locks-of-love-the-evolution-of-my-hair-and-a-statement-to-make-a-difference/