Epigenetics: Resolutionary New Spin on Nature vs. Nurture

Epigenetics: Resolutionary New Spin on Nature vs. Nurture

05 January 2012

The human genome is comprised of 20-25,000 genes, but by far the majority are turned off in differentiated cells through various epigenetic means. Significant progress has been made in recent years in understanding two particular epigenetic mechanisms and how they relate to human diseases. In humans, evidence is accruing that diet – in this case the availability of food – early in development influences whether a person develops schizophrenia. Parts of China experienced a severe famine affecting tens of millions of people from 1959 to 1961. An epidemiological study has shown that babies born during this period were at more than double the risk for eventually developing schizophrenia.

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Posted in Environment, Headlines1 Comment

Water Boarding: Has Ocean Desalination’s Swan Song Been Sung in Orange County?

Water Boarding: Has Ocean Desalination’s Swan Song Been Sung in Orange County?

23 December 2011

Although local water officials rarely dissent on the topic of desalination, Irvine Ranch Water District Director Peer Swan is personally opposed to both proposed Orange County ocean desalination plants, but not for any of the environmental reasons often listed by other opponents, who are concerned that, especially in the case of Poseidon, marine life will be killed by the associated intake and outflow systems. He is opposed because he believes that neither project will fulfill its intended purpose—to provide a needed or cost-effective water supply. Swan's critique and a recent poll reveal the potential vulnerability of local desalination projects to a turn in public opinion.

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Posted in City, Environment, Headlines, Poseidon, Water1 Comment

Microplastics: Avoid polyester fabrics to help prevent ocean pollution

Microplastics: Avoid polyester fabrics to help prevent ocean pollution

06 November 2011

Human population went from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 6.6 billion in 2005 and is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. We probably can’t do anything about the microplastics that are already contaminating our oceans and other environments, but we can stem the flow of further microplastics by making smarter, more responsible choices of what we purchase and throw into the washing machine on laundry day.

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Posted in Environment, Headlines, Water0 Comments

Surf City’s Mayor Will Take Heavenly Flight

Surf City’s Mayor Will Take Heavenly Flight

24 October 2011

Surf City’s number one pilot, the Honorable Mayor Joe Carchio, who has been dubbed by the Voice as “the best mayor Surf City has ever had,” may very well reach the peak of his political career on Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. when he jumps into the city’s police helicopter, HB1, and is carried to the heavens for a two-hour fact finding and brainstorming tour.

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Posted in Candidates, City, Headlines1 Comment

Investigation: Mayor Carchio stands in line at Albertsons for free knife

Investigation: Mayor Carchio stands in line at Albertsons for free knife

03 September 2011

Curious about an announcement for the free giveaway of one paring knife per customer, provided the would-be recipients arrived “within three minutes in the center of the deli section,” this reporter, who has no desire for another paring knife if he even has one already (I have no idea), walked slowly from the ice cream freezers to the deli section out of curiosity only, wanting to know what kind of people would rush from one side of the store to the other within three minutes to get a free paring knife and what devious corporate scheme was under way.

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Posted in City, Headlines5 Comments

Mayor, Harper, Go After Mobile Home Board Without Public Input

Mayor, Harper, Go After Mobile Home Board Without Public Input

28 August 2011

To the exclusion of the city’s mobile home park residents, a government review committee has worked quietly in the background to produce proposals that would either officially eliminate the city’s Mobile Home Advisory Board (MHAB) or probably cause it to die by atrophy, the Surf City Voice has learned. Carchio told the Voice that he didn't know that mobile home owners and the general public hadn't been informed of the meetings. "If the message didn't get out, we were wrong," he said. "Everything we do should be transparent and if we don't do that, shame on us."

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Posted in City, Headlines3 Comments

HB City Council to Consider Plastic Bag Ban

HB City Council to Consider Plastic Bag Ban

14 August 2011

A proposal to develop an ordinance to ban flimsy, disposable plastic carryout bags is on the Monday, August 15 HB City Council meeting agenda. Californians consume more than 12 billion single-use plastic bags per year. Plastic bags are rarely included in curbside recycling programs. A floating plastic bag resembles a jellyfish, which probably explains why plastic bags are found clogging the digestive tracks of dead sea turtles and marine mammals like whales and dolphins. If HB does establish its own ban, it would be the first in both Orange and San Diego Counties.

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Posted in City, Environment, Headlines, Water3 Comments

Councilman Harper’s Plan to ‘Liberate’ Mobile Home Owners from ‘Big Brother’

Councilman Harper’s Plan to ‘Liberate’ Mobile Home Owners from ‘Big Brother’

09 August 2011

Harper went into a sophistic, snappish and almost obsessive-compulsive mode. He kept scouring the Internet on his laptop for websites of Orange County cities, trying to make the point that if cities nearby (Anaheim would be too far, for example) and with like mobile home populations didn’t have a mobile home advisory board there is no reason for Huntington Beach to have one. The city’s mobile home park residents would be better off if the board was independent of the city and able to make its own rules, he said.

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Posted in City, Headlines2 Comments

Commentary: Why Huntington Beach Shouldn’t Partner with Costa Mesa

Commentary: Why Huntington Beach Shouldn’t Partner with Costa Mesa

25 July 2011

Why partner with Costa Mesa? Sure, take their money to provide helicopter services, but trust them to provide accurate information and make a good decision? Of all the senior managers for the city, only one, the public works director, has been in place for more than six months. Their city manager retired in March, and an assistant was promoted. Their long-time city attorney was replaced at the same time. A new police chief was just hired from a support staff position in Newport Beach. Their finance director, fire chief, assistant city manager, development services director, and human resources manager are all temps.

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Posted in City, Headlines7 Comments

Meat Lovers Guide to a Friendlier Climate Change Diet

Meat Lovers Guide to a Friendlier Climate Change Diet

25 July 2011

The good news for either lapsed vegetarians or meat eaters with an environmental conscience is that meats and dairy products are not all created equal when it comes to the quantity of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced. In fact, a study just released by the non profit organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) and titled “Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change + Health” reveals that by avoiding just the three worst GHG offenders – lamb, beef and cheese – even hardcore meat eaters can make a sizable dent in their diet’s climate change footprint.

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Posted in Energy, Environment, Headlines1 Comment

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