Thursday, October 23, 2014
Just days away from Halloween, Wikinews interviewed Kristian Hanson, producer-director of independent slasher film Sledge. The film has been a recent source of discussion in horror fan circles, primarily due to its production budget of only US$800. Sledge is Hanson’s fourth film to direct, according to Internet Movie Database.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
A robotic system at Stanford Medical Center was used to perform a laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery successfully with a theoretically similar rate of complications to that seen in standard operations. However, as there were only 10 people in the experimental group (and another 10 in the control group), this is not a statistically significant sample.
If this surgical procedure is as successful in large-scale studies, it may lead the way for the use of robotic surgery in even more delicate procedures, such as heart surgery. Note that this is not a fully automated system, as a human doctor controls the operation via remote control. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery is a treatment for obesity.
There were concerns that doctors, in the future, might only be trained in the remote control procedure. Ronald G. Latimer, M.D., of Santa Barbara, CA, warned “The fact that surgeons may have to open the patient or might actually need to revert to standard laparoscopic techniques demands that this basic training be a requirement before a robot is purchased. Robots do malfunction, so a backup system is imperative. We should not be seduced to buy this instrument to train surgeons if they are not able to do the primary operations themselves.”
There are precedents for just such a problem occurring. A previous “new technology”, the electrocardiogram (ECG), has lead to a lack of basic education on the older technology, the stethoscope. As a result, many heart conditions now go undiagnosed, especially in children and others who rarely undergo an ECG procedure.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
John Ogilvie is running for the Green Party of Ontario in the Ontario provincial election, in the Carleton—Mississippi Mills riding. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.
Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.
By Sean Goudelocks
There have been numerous teen actors that have made it big and gone onto fame in the acting world. Teen shows also make up quite a large percentage of those that are watched by teens today, reality shows have also become a favourite viewing past time for teens as well. Many of these shows have become popular with teen like “That’s so Raven” or “Hannah Montana Forever”. The popularity of these shows has caused demand for teen actors to skyrocket in the last few years, which has spawned Disney Channel auditions for Teens.
As a teen it is important to hone your acting skills, so it behoves you to do something like join your high school drama club. Perform in plays when you can and really do anything you can to garner yourself some acting experience. Another good idea is to take a few speech classes or even help your friends with their speech classes, anything that will get you use to being in front of a large audience for any length of time so when you do have an audition or you are up on stage, you don’t get stage fright.
Now there are multiple ways to find and audition, under normal circumstances Disney has talent scouts that are out at different events that try to find talent of which they can set up for interviews and auditions with the larger corporation at hand. Another method is to seek a talent scout yourself for an audition. If you meet their standards they would be more than willing to help you get an audition to progress further up the ladder. Also be sure to have a good resume on hand when you go to your interview along with a cover letter and headshot. These are essentially so that Disney can keep you application straight and as a quick reference for directors who will be reviewing your audition.
Also be sure when you do you are auditioning, speak clearly and confidently, do not yell or raise your voice to loudly, just find a happy medium. Be sure if you get the script beforehand to memorize your lines as soon as you can. If you wait to long you run the risk of not being able to commit them to memory completely and that could prove quite a problem on the day of your audition since it is extremely doubtful that the director will let you read from a script. Be sure to be courteous to the director and everyone else at your audition since it does nothing in your favour to be discourteous to anyone.
Once your done with reading your part, be sure to thank the director for his time. Don’t try to engage him/her in small talk for it will not help you case, simply leave the stage and sign out. Afterwards go home and relax you have tried your best and you deserve a rest. From here just wait for Disney to call you. You may get the part and you also may not. Don’t be discouraged if you do not get the part, many people do not get a part their first time out.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Michael Gurian, psychologist and author of “What Could He Be Thinking?“, has claimed to identify approximately one hundred structural differences between male and female brains in a recent study. Gurian comments:
One major structural difference that Gurian has made clear is that males generally have more activity in the mechanical centers of the brain, while women have more activity in centers of the brain dedicated to verbal communication and emotion. A clear example of this is the hypothetical situation of giving a child a toy. He explains it as such:
Another expert, Dr. Marianne Legato, says it all boils down to genetics, noting that the Y chromosome (which only males carry) has “at least 21 unique genes unique to males which control many of the body’s operations down to the level of the cells.”
Gurian agrees that culture is significant in brain development, but argues that biology plays an equally important role. He makes a point of how the MRI scans show that the female corpus callosum, the center of the brain which regulates communication between the brain’s hemispheres, is larger than the male’s. On the other hand, the scans also show that information flows more freely between the hemispheres of the male brain.
The exact role that brain structure plays in behavior, however, has been an area of considerable contention in science for literally hundreds of years. Early studies in craniometry conducted by Paul Pierre Broca were used to attempt to distinguish differences between human races, though have now been dismissed as scientific racism. The nature-nurture debate has raged for centuries in a variety of forms, without yet any clear resolution as to the role in which innate biological tendencies interact with environmental conditions or willed behavior. As such, studies relating to brain structure and claims to innate behavior often generate substantial controversy.
MIT anthropologist of science Joseph Dumit’s study of brain imaging in his book Picturing Personhood: Brain Scans and Biomedical Identity, noted that the apparent “transparency” of such pictures (the appearance that they can be easily interpreted by laymen, when they are often the source of ambiguity and dispute by even highly-trained neurosurgeons) has led to their proliferation as indicators of objective truth in media and in courts of law, and that such conclusions are often knowingly exaggerated by the specialists creating the images for better visual effect.
The timing of Gurian’s book comes on the heels of another controversy over gender differences sparked by comments made by Harvard president Lawrence Summers, who blamed low numbers of women in the sciences on genetic differences. Summers has been criticized by a large number of academics and scientists, as well as by many news publications, in the wake of what he was reported as saying during a conference on January 14.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
During a seminar with students at the Mechinat Rabin in Oranim, Israeli veterans of the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict revealed accounts of the deaths of unarmed civilians. This has prompted new allegations of war crimes and a review and investigation into the rules of engagement within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
There are two accounts in which fears of war crimes have been raised. In one, an Israeli commander ordered the killing of an old woman walking down a road and coming within 100 metres of an IDF position. There was no warning that a perimeter existed, no attempt was made at a warning and no attempt was made to ascertain as to whether the old woman posed a threat.
| …we should kill everyone there…Everyone there is a terrorist. |
In a second account a woman and her two children were killed by a sniper when she was ordered to leave a building being occupied by Israeli soldiers. The commander of the unit commandeering the building however failed to inform a sniper placed on a roof top and the three were killed according to standing instructions issued to the sniper.
In addition to specific cases, the veterans spoke of a general contempt towards the Palestinians, and disregard for their lives. One squad leader speaking at the military academy said that the attitude of those both above and below was that”…we should kill everyone there [in…Gaza]. Everyone there is a terrorist.” With his immediate commanding officer advocating the clearing of buildings by shooting all within without warning.
An Israeli spokes person speaking to the BBC said that the incidents spoken of were well known within the brigade responsible and that any actions that took place were within its rules of engagement, however in response to the accusations the Military Advocate General of the IDF, Brigadier General Avichai Mendelblit has instructed the Israeli Military Police Investigation unit to investigate the allegations.
Talking to Israel Radio Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak said that the IDF is “…the most moral army in the world” though individual exceptions may have occurred, and that these would be investigated.
Others in Israel whilst not denying that these incidents might have occurred speak of lack a context in which they have been reported.
Internationally the accusations are not seen as individual soldiers being responsible for war crimes but that war crimes may have been committed by the Israeli military as a whole, that its rules of engagement were drafted and implemented in such a way that they failed to sufficiently distinguish between combatants and civilians.
In response to the allegations Richard Falk, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories, said that the Geneva Conventions required that there had to be a clear distinction between military targets and the civilian population and that “…If it is not possible to do so, then launching the attacks is inherently unlawful and would seem to constitute a war crime of the greatest magnitude under international law…”
If it is to have indeed failed to protect the lives of Palestinian civilians then the Israeli military not only violated international law but its own moral code of conduct as outlined in its tenet of purity of arms.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005A team of Australian surgeons yesterday reattached both hands and one foot to 10-year-old Perth boy, Terry Vo, after a brick wall which collapsed during a game of basketball fell on him, severing the limbs. The wall gave way while Terry performed a slam-dunk, during a game at a friend’s birthday party.
The boy was today awake and smiling, still in some pain but in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery, according to plastic surgeon, Mr Robert Love.
“What we have is parts that are very much alive so the reattached limbs are certainly pink, well perfused and are indeed moving,” Mr Love told reporters today.
“The fact that he is moving his fingers, and of course when he wakes up he will move both fingers and toes, is not a surprise,” Mr Love had said yesterday.
“The question is more the sensory return that he will get in the hand itself and the fine movements he will have in the fingers and the toes, and that will come with time, hopefully. We will assess that over the next 18 months to two years.
“I’m sure that he’ll enjoy a game of basketball in the future.”
The weight and force of the collapse, and the sharp brick edges, resulted in the three limbs being cut through about 7cm above the wrists and ankle.
Terry’s father Tan said of his only child, the injuries were terrible, “I was scared to look at him, a horrible thing.”
The hands and foot were placed in an ice-filled Esky and rushed to hospital with the boy, where three teams of medical experts were assembled, and he was given a blood transfusion after experiencing massive blood loss. Eight hours of complex micro-surgery on Saturday night were followed by a further two hours of skin grafts yesterday.
“What he will lose because it was such a large zone of traumatised skin and muscle and so on, he will lose some of the skin so he’ll certainly require lots of further surgery regardless of whether the skin survives,” said Mr Love said today.
The boy was kept unconscious under anaesthetic between the two procedures. In an interview yesterday, Mr Love explained why:
“He could have actually been woken up the next day. Because we were intending to take him back to theatre for a second look, to look at the traumatised skin flaps, to close more of his wounds and to do split skin grafting, it was felt the best thing to do would be to keep him stable and to keep him anaesthetised.”
Professor Wayne Morrison, director of the respected Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery and head of plastic and hand surgery at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital, said he believed the operation to be a world first.
One of the best ways to learn more about the different diets available and what is ideal for your dog is by taking an online vet consultation. They will be able to provide you with the best advice as to which dog food will meet the needs of your dog.
How to figure out which is the healthiest dog food?
The diet of your dog should be based on four things: age, ideal weight, activity level, and health condition(if they have any). However, for all dogs, there are some standard things that you should look out for, like:
Go through the label
Several dog food manufacturers label ingredients in descending order. Often, the first ingredient on the list is the one that has the highest proportion. So as a rule of thumb, you want the first ingredient to be animal protein. Be on the lookout for labels that have loads of ingredients.
Animal Protein
Ideally, you should go ahead with dog food that is high in protein from meat. Opt for options such as chicken, beef, turkey and other protein sources. This is because protein provides essential amino acids and every protein source varies in its availability, such as how easily it can be broken down and the amino acid that your dog should consume.
Make sure to do your research on different dog food brands
After thorough research and nit-picking, you are finally down to one brand of food that you think your dog will immensely enjoy. It is of equal importance that you do the same amount of study on the manufacturer in order to ensure quality control and appropriate sourcing of ingredients.
Now let us talk about the healthiest dog food options for puppies
Puppy food is formulated keeping in mind the growth of dogs and the ingredients in it are double the daily nutritional requirements of a senior dog. This is because our little puppies need more protein than adults to help them grow.
The healthiest dog food option for puppies consists of a higher level of proteins and some additional vitamins which are not typically found in senior dog food. It is considered best to feed them an all-dry diet or a diet that mostly comprises dry kibble. The reason behind this is that dry food is more calorie-dense and has a higher level of protein when compared to wet foods.
Healthiest dog food options for adult dogs
For healthy and active dogs, the primary thing that should be taken care of is that they absorb all the vitamins and minerals necessary and have a balanced diet. The calorie requirement changes depending on your dog’s age and how active they are. For more guidance, book a vet consultation through Supertails. They will tell you the exact amount of calories your dog should consume and make sure that you are not overfeeding.
Conclusion
It is of paramount importance that you remember that all dogs are individuals and it is completely fine that sometimes you may struggle in the beginning to find the best dog food. But, once you do find the ideal diet plan and brand, your dog will be quite happy with eating the same thing every day until their needs change after a point in time.
Monday, November 28, 2005
SpaceX called off the much-delayed inaugural launch of their new Falcon 1 rocket on Saturday from Kwajalein’s Omelek Island launch site. The intent was to launch the U.S. Air Force Academy’s FalconSat 2 satellite, which will monitor plasma interactions with the Earth’s upper atmosphere and magnetosphere.
The launch was delayed, then finally cancelled after an oxygen boil-off vent had accidentally been left open. The oxygen was unable to cool the helium pressurant, which then proceeded to evaporate faster than it could be replenished. A main computer issue, probably serious enough to cause a scrub on its own, was also discovered.
This long-anticipated flight was originally expected to be launched in January 2005, however a series of setbacks forced a series of delays, with the flight most recently scheduled to be in early 2006. It was intended to be launched from the Kwajalein atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The maiden voyage was originally intended to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with a Naval Research Laboratory satellite and a Space Services Incorporated space burial payload.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Fears of contaminated bone and skin grafts are being felt by unsuspecting patients following the revelation that funeral homes may have been looting corpses.
Janet Evans of Marion Ohio was told by her surgeon, “The bone grafts you got might have been contaminated”. She reacted with shock, “I was flabbergasted because I didn’t even know what he was talking about. I didn’t know I got a bone graft until I got this call. I just thought they put in screws and rods.”
The body of Alistair Cooke, the former host of “Masterpiece Theatre,” was supposedly looted along with more than 1,000 others, according to two law enforcement officials close to the case. The tissue taken was typically skin, bone and tendon, which was then sold for use in procedures such as dental implants and hip replacements. According to authorities, millions of dollars were made by selling the body parts to companies for use in operations done at hospitals and clinics in the United States and Canada.
A New Jersey company, Biomedical Tissue Services, has reportedly been taking body parts from funeral homes across Brooklyn, New York. According to ABC News, they set up rooms like a “surgical suite.” After they took the bones, they replaced them with PVC pipe. This was purportedly done by stealth, without approval of the deceased person or the next of kin. 1,077 bodies were involved, say prosecuters.
Investagators say a former dentist, Michael Mastromarino, is behind the operation. Biomedical was considered one of the “hottest procurement companies in the country,” raking in close to $5 million. Eventually, people became worried: “Can the donors be trusted?” A tissue processing company called LifeCell answered no, and issued a recall on all their tissue.
Cooke’s daughter, Susan Cooke Kittredge, said, “To know his bones were sold was one thing, but to see him standing truncated before me is another entirely.” Now thousands of people around the country are receiving letters warning that they should be tested for infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis. On February 23, the Brooklyn District Attorney indicted Mastromarino and three others. They are charged with 122 felony counts, including forgery and bodysnatching.