Media and You

Click here to see the edutainment sensation, Media and You: Convergence and the Changing Media Industry

THANK YOU, YOUR GRADES ARE IN

Thanks for the great class. I'm sorry if it ruined your summer...as I was told on my blog...

Just remember, when you get out in the real world, all of your summers will suck.

--Take care and send me an email every now and then.

Michelle

Amanda Lea & Chalmers Smith: Critter Story

Giant Salamander Home to the Ozarks Faces Extinction
An exotic animal known to the Ozarks area is drawing closer to extinction every year. The Ozark Hellbender is a known inhabitant to Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri, including Springfield areas. Many reasons, such as our growing economy, are causing the giant salamanders demise. Missouri State University and other organizations are working to find out why they are dying off and what we can do to stop it.
These interesting creatures are typically water-dwelling animals, and they can grow to be anywhere from one to two feet long. They live in steadily running streams with good water quality, and they are known to eat small fish. They hunt at night depending solely on smell and touch to find their food. Since they seek out anything that smells appetizing to them, they can potentially put themselves in danger. Not only do they depend on many different ways to scrounge for food, but they are also at a disadvantage. In contrast to fellow salamanders, the Hellbender can’t swim at all even though it dwells at the bottom of the river. Instead of swimming in the water, they crawl on the river’s bed camouflaged in the rock. Camouflage, however, is not the reason we aren’t seeing much of the Hellbenders today.

The decline was first noticed when fewer young Hellbenders were found in the streams. Professional opinion says the dropping population is due, in part, to human interference.
“Research has found that sperm counts are lower,” says Dr. Alicia Mathis, a professor at Missouri State University. “We believe this could be caused by pollutants in the water, although we’re not sure which ones.”
Not only pollutants, but logging, farming, construction, and waste are destroying their habitats. Furthermore, Mathis says that illegal collecting of the species during the 70s has made matters worse. Consequently, our growing city may be at fault.
In addition, natural causes are playing a role as well. Hellbenders do not become sexually mature until their sixth year, which allows for many to become eaten or uprooted before they can reproduce. Foreign fish such as the European Trout also play roles since they feed off the salamander. Normally, when a Hellbender senses danger they will freeze or hide, but since they do not have an instinctive trait telling them to hide from the trout, they stay put.
The decreasing population of these particular creatures may not seem important, but the loss can cause trouble in our stream’s ecosystem. For example, the salamanders eat small fish like Crayfish. Therefore, if there are not as many Hellbenders, then the Crayfish population will increase. This chain could cause other plant and animal populations to decrease as well.
So, what are we doing to help? According to Mathis, a lot is being done. For months, Missouri State University has been working on introducing a ‘threat scent’ to the species so they will recognize dangerous fish. Still, more research is needed.
“First we need to know what fish pose danger to the Hellbenders before anything can be done,” Mathis says.
This would allow Hellbenders to sense danger and give them a chance to hide. However, the Hellbenders in the wild would not have the acquired scent. Furthermore, attempts to breed Hellbenders in a controlled environment are going on now in the basement of MSU’s Temple Hall. Mathis says they are still collecting eggs, but they haven’t had much luck. To learn more go to hellbender.org or ozarkhellbender.com, and find out how you can get involved in the efforts to save these endangered species. With joint effort and more awareness, more of these endangered reptiles could possibly be saved.

Amanda Lea: Extra Credit

Drowning On Dry Land
Water, sun, and summertime fun is something that everyone can look forward to. Kids and adults everywhere flock to pools and water parks seeking cool relief from the heat. However, this particular summer activity can turn deadly. Local lifeguards say that cuts, scrapes, and sunburns could be the least of your worries. Every year children and adolescents drown from situations that could have been prevented.
“All summer long we see kids who can’t swim left alone in the pool with floaties and rings while their parents lay out,” says a lifeguard at one of Springfield’s city pools, “I’ve had to jump in twice because kids get overturned in those things and can’t get up.”
To make matters worse, lifeguards say that there is one big pool related threat that most people don’t even know about. The threat they are referring to is called a secondary-drowning, sometimes known as a “dry drowning.” This usually occurs after a near-drowning event, when a severe muscle spasm of the larynx, an area around the voice box, closes preventing aspiration of water and respiration.
“I think a dry drowning is important for people to know about because it’s not necessarily something a lifeguard can stop,” says Emilie Skarda, 22, a lifeguard at a local country club.
The reason guards can’t stop these drownings from occurring is because they usually happen long after the person has left the pool. Near-drowning happens at the pool when a person is submerged under water long enough that they require CPR after being pulled out. A person can literally drown from water left on their lungs up to 72 hours after being revived. Even though the victim may escape from drowning under water, they’re still at risk.
“The reason people cough after they nearly drown is because of fluid in their lungs,” says Skarda, “they can drown hours after they leave the pool because of the water they took in.”
Guards say that the reason people don’t notice this is because usually the person appears to be perfectly fine. However, both guards said that severe coughing, fever, cold skin, and pale appearance are all signs to looks for.
American Red Cross lifeguards are all trained to instruct someone call 911 for all drowning victims before they even enter the pool. They advise for all people who have near-drownings to be checked out by a doctor immediately, even if you appear to be ok.
“It is almost better to have a near-drowning when a lifeguard is present because we know what to do and we can warn victims of stuff that can happen after,” says Skarda, “I don’t think most people would ever know about it if it happened at a pool of their own.”

Alex Robichaud Extra Credit

Six trusting college men have been living in Springfield for three years now. These guys never lock the doors, and they welcome anyone to walk into their home without knocking. But their open-door policy may have to change due to a break-in and attempted theft that occurred last week.
“I was sitting in my room, which is right next to the only entrance into our house, and the next thing I knew a man ran down our stairs and slammed the door. I looked out my window to see him get into his old van and peel off,” said Ryan Beitler, Nixa, junior.

The man never said anything to the residents; he was not in the house for more than a few minutes.
“I never actually saw the guy. I don’t even know if he stole anything. There are a few DVDs missing, but we aren’t sure if we lost those before the break-in,” said Sam Bohling, Blue Springs, senior.
The residents have always been a trusting group, and they decided not to file a police report since they are not sure anything was stolen.
“It kind of sucks. We always had the house that any of our friends could just show up to and hang out, even if we weren’t there. Only a couple of us even had keys, let alone used them. We are probably going to have to start locking the door,” said Caleb Ebel, Blue Springs, senior.

The neighborhood around the house on National has not had any break-ins, but everyone has been given a description of the attempted burglar. A friend and neighbor, Savannah James, 29, remains on the look-out.

“Ryan came over and told me about the guy. I told all my roommates to be on the look-out for a 5’9” black man in a beat up, white Astro van, but we are hoping it was an isolated incident.”

J. Garretsons Extra Credit

Rogersville Wrapped Up in National Debate

When workers for Gulfstream Bioflex Energy, LLC, picked the location for one of their latest potential plants, they probably didn’t expect the public outcry they received. Dozens of people from Webster County communities have banded together to fight the plant for a host of reasons, and the battle is turning out to be a real David and Goliath match-up.

Normally, if a plant were being built, the business planning it would send a formal proposal to a county planning and zoning commission, where the blueprints and details would be reviewed and voted upon. That is, if a community has established planning and zoning regulations.

“According to our conversations with the county, they did not know about (GBE’s plans) until a week ago Monday,” Harry Coambes, of the Dutch Creek Neighborhood Association, told local news in August of last year. That’s because BGE wasn’t required to contact the county. The last two Planning and Zoning plans, one nearly a dozen years ago and one in 2005, have been rejected by Webster County residents.

The deal, then, is entirely private, between Gulfstream Bioflex and any landowner they choose to buy from.

Since this realization, local opposition has scrambled to piece together a new planning and zoning proposal. But, like so many legislative acts, results from the Webster County Temporary Planning and Zoning Commission – created in response to the failure of the 2005 zoning proposal – have come too slowly for some.

At least one group, calling themselves Citizens for Groundwater Protection, is doing their best to aid the official process. The group has filed post-trial motions, the first step in what they hope is an eventual journey to the Missouri Supreme Court. The motion is in response to a judges approval of the contested deal.

The main point of outrage for opponents is the plants potential use of groundwater resources. The plant could not only use over a million gallons of water a day – over 440 million annually – but there’s a potential it could pollute the surrounding areas.

Because of the nature of the areas water basin, its weak soil strength and tendency to stand water, “All of the Ozarks is considered at high risk for potential pollution,” said Bob Schultheis, a natural-resource engineering specialist at the Webster County Extension Center in Marshfield and chairman of the Webster County Groundwater Impact Committee, at an August 2006 town meeting on the subject.

But locals have other objections, as well. Ethanol plants have a distinct and unpleasant odor, for example. Any community living down wind of one can potentially see land value fall, which can eventually affect all of its citizens.

There are also many people opposed to ethanol in general. The potential negative impacts, say groups like the Energy Justice Network, could be wide and far ranging.

Mass ethanol use would probably raise the price of corn, a staple in most livestock feeds. This would inevitably lead to higher prices for meat and diary. Ethanol production also uses more fuel than it produces – to manufacture the fuel, plants usually use natural gas or coal, and requires 23% more energy than is produced.

Another potential drawback is, if an ethanol plant is established, it often seeks to sell some of its waste product, a mash of corn bits, to area farms as food for livestock. The feed has poor nutrition, so while this practice may offset any damage to feed prices, it may also attract more factory farming, and all the environmental problems that tag along, to the surrounding communities.

And so the questions swirl. Will the plant be built? Should it? How will either course of action affect the sleepy communities involved in this struggle?

The answers will only come in time.

__________

Cars for Students

Gabriel Rodriguez knows the pain of losing a friend. He says that for a year or two now, he’s watched Gladys slow down and wear out, and now he’s just waiting for the day she finally rests. But he doesn’t look forward to that day.

“It’s just getting a new one. I don’t want to go through any of that.”

Gladys is a green Chevy Malibu, and she’s pushing ten-years-old. She still works well enough, says Rodriguez, but he says he sometimes feels he’s on borrowed time.

He’s not alone in fearing the new car hunt. It can be daunting, boring, and even – or especially – expensive. A decision is made, often in the span of a day, that must be lived with for perhaps years to come. Naturally, it’s important to make the right choice.

“What’s the right car depends on the purchaser,” says Mark Stevenson, customer relations at Reliable Chevrolet.

Rodriguez says, as a student, his concerns are cost, fuel economy and safety – in that order. After a day of comparing local dealership prices, his favorite was the Honda Fit, one of the highest rated small cars of the year.

“It’s under twelve thousand,” says Rodriguez. “That’s my main concern.”

Mark Stevenson says that sticker price is only half the purchase, though. “Gas mileage is a significant cost, over the course of your vehicle’s lifetime.”

He says to pay close attention to the average miles per gallon when shopping for vehicles. But he stresses concern for gas consumption shouldn’t stop once the vehicle’s yours.

“Fuel economy depends so much more on the habits of drivers than construction (of the vehicle),” he says. Small habits – good or bad – can drastically alter fuel consumption.

For instance, he says, “All items draw power, from the air conditioning to the radio. And that power is… taken from fuel.” So, though it might not be an enjoyable solution, leaving some amenities powered off can save dollars and cents.

Driving habits can also have a major impact on gas mileage.

“Jack-rabbit starts, quick stops,” all bad, says Stevenson.

“Probably the biggest misconception here in the Ozarks,” he continues, “is using cruise control too much.” He says the hilly terrain, and the nature of cruise control, often means your vehicle uses too much fuel as it pushes you up a hill, and again uses too much fuel as you go back down.

A new car can be an exciting and even life-changing purchase, but it’s one that should be done carefully and responsibly. It seems generally agreed that when searching for a new or used vehicle, it’s important to make a list of the attributes that are most important and patiently search for the best, and most economical, solution. One shouldn’t be afraid to make phone calls, ask questions, and Google far into the night trying to find that perfect deal.

“Winning the lottery would help, too, though,” says Rodriguez.

The most recommended resource for general car, truck and SUV information was Consumer Reports, who publish an annual magazine and have an easily navigable and highly informative (though most decidedly not free) website, ConsumerReports.org.

__________

Back to School Thrift

It’s almost time for school, and as students buy books and supplies, arrange housing and transportation, or even shop for groceries, it becomes quite apparent just how quickly finances can dwindle.

“It’s crazy,” says Valerie Pikul, a Springfield resident. “Just textbooks alone costs us thousands a year. And gas is getting so expensive.”

Valerie works full time as a pharmacy technician, but her husband is a full time student. She says, to help make ends meet, she’s become somewhat of an authority on saving money to offset school costs.

“If I could offer any advice, it’s coupons,” she says. “I buy a couple papers every Sunday. Maybe five dollars (for the newspapers) and I save close to a hundred dollars.”

There are countless ways to pinch pennies, says Valerie, but the key is planning and comparing. Impulse buys can be momentarily satisfying, but they can very easily throw a budget off balance.

She admits impulse abstinence may be easier said than done, though.

“The hardest part is just buying what you need,” she says. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you need something or just want it really badly. And it really sucks having these deep, like, moral decisions in the middle of Wal-Mart.”

But she says the long term rewards can be worth the effort.

There are a couple steps to smart purchasing.

“First,” says Valerie, “the need/want decision. After that, lots of shopping around.”

It’s okay to look for exactly what you want, she says. But you can still shop smart, by deciding who might have the best deals and selection for the product you’re hunting for.

An example she gave was furniture for dorms or other student housing. Students often live nearly nomadic lives from one semester to the next, and are naturally hesitant to consider furniture that’s bulky or expensive. An often overlooked resource for suitable appointments are thrift stores like Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

“I’ve gotten most of my furniture from them over the years,” she says. “And it’s all been nice stuff.”

She stresses that “second hand” doesn’t mean “thrown out.”

“These are donations, not trash. That’s probably the biggest misconception.” She says she’s often amazed at the quality of many items donated.

If averse to thrift store shopping, there are still great ways to get good deals.

“If you just worry about cost, Wal-Mart almost always wins.” But the thrill of instant gratification can cause many young people to neglect two major outlets, both online.

“Ebay and Amazon usually beat Wal-Mart, if you buy from vendors, and especially if you by ‘used and new.’ If it’s electronics especially, you can sometimes shave off half the cost, and that’s including shipping!.”

But often, quality service can provide incentive to spend a little more.

Darren, a representative at Best Buy, says that’s what Best Buy strives for. “If you need help, just ask someone in a blue shirt,” he says. Some buyers may be willing to pay a little more per product just to talk to more knowledgeable, or even just more numerous, staff.

Even Valerie agrees it’s nice to enjoy some luxury, but warns against such splurges.

“That can be habit forming,” she says. “But I guess we all fall off the wagon from time to time.”

Dustin Pruett-Extra Credit

Bush Uses His Political Power to Commute Libby’s Sentence

Washington DC- President Bush commuted the prison sentence of former White House
aide I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby. It happened after a federal appeals board
decided that Libby would have to start serving his 2.5 year prison term now.

Libby was convicted in March for lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of the identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative.

The leak case has hung over the White House for years. After CIA operative Valerie Plame's name appeared in a 2003 syndicated newspaper column, Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald questioned top administration officials, including Bush and Cheney, about their possible roles.

Nobody was ever charged with the leak, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Karl Rowe provided the information for the orginal article.

Prosecutors said Libby obstructed the investigation by lying about how he learned about Plame and whom he told. Libby was their by obstructing justice from happening and also lying under oath.

Plame believes Libby and other White House officials conspired to leak her identity to reporters in 2003 as retribution against her husband, Joseph Wilson, who criticized what he said was the administration's misleading use of prewar intelligence on Iraq.

Libby was the former chief of staff for vice president Dick Cheney and was spared a federal prison sentence but his conviction still stands in federal court.

Bush said in a statement "The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged," Bush said. "His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant and private citizen will be long-lasting."

Libby still has to pay 250,000 and serve a two years of probation for his actions. Libby isn’t getting pardon for his actions.

The reaction from democrats was harsh. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York said "As Independence Day nears, we are reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under the law. This commutation completely tramples on that principle.

Attorney William Jeffress said he had spoken to Libby briefly by phone and "I'm happy at least that Scooter will be spared any prison time. ... The prison sentence was imminent but obviously the conviction itself is a heavy blow to Scooter."

It is still a big issue in the news if President Bush will pardon Scooter Libby after his term ends up in 2008. Critics believe that he will be pardon because of the longtime friendship between Libby and President Bush.