Objects in Mirror: December 20, 2007 Archive

Is it beginning to look a lot like a sustainable holiday?

Posted at 8:53 AM on December 20, 2007 by Julia Schrenkler

MPR's Sea Stachura reports on the options in: The Christmas tree debate: Real or fake?

"Nearly everyone MPR spoke with chose a real or artificial tree because of convenience or tradition."

Funny, I remember someone else wondering why saving the earth can't be easier. As for tradition, we're human and do a lot of things under the tradition banner. So if we move past that, what is left? Which tree should you choose?

Publish an article with your take on the real vs. fake debate Minnesota Life discussion group.

Streaming now: Live coverage of President Bush news conference

Posted at 9:07 AM on December 20, 2007 by Julia Schrenkler

We're streaming live coverage of President Bush's news conference.

Can we fully understand and prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Posted at 10:11 AM on December 20, 2007 by Julia Schrenkler

Today Midmorning discusses Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the brain. The guests cover an interesting span of perspectives and experience: Professor Eugene Hoyme is chairman of pediatrics at the Sanford School of Medicine (University of South Dakota), Sara Messelt is the Executive director of Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and guest Monica Adams was diagnosed with FASD - she works to promote awareness FASD.

I revisited our Gather discussion: Can we fully understand and prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Sue T.'s personal experience speaks for itself,

"...My 18 year old son was exposed to alcohol prenatally. I asked my DR specifically about using alcohol during pregnancy, and he told me casual use was not a problem. My son has had many struggles as a result of my ignorance, including his own battle with chemical dependency.

I will always wonder about what impact my alcohol use had on his addiction (and other) issues. This could have been prevented..."

Tune in or stream Midmorning to find out about the science - and social impact - of FASD.

Links about food for the lunch hour

Posted at 11:50 AM on December 20, 2007 by Julia Schrenkler

If you must eat at your desk and you've already checked out that little book about beer, consider some of these links over lunch:

* No loafing for this Minneapolis baker (MPR)
* NYC Pricey Food Trend Leads to $1,000 Bagel (NPR)
* Duluth, MN: Northern Waters Smokehaus (The Splendid Table)
* In The Kitchen With Farmgirl Susan: Homemade Bread For The Holidays (foodtalk.gather.com)
* Weenie Royale: Food and the Japanese Internment (NPR)

Not exactly from soup to nuts, but there you have it.

Some teens are supercommunicators

Posted at 2:56 PM on December 20, 2007 by Julia Schrenkler

Jon Gordon of Future Tense reports that teenagers are creating more Internet content but are abandoning e-mail:

"A new study classifies more than a quarter of online teens as 'supercommunicators,' meaning they use all available electronic tools available to them, from the land line to text messaging to social networks."

Gordon spoke with Amanda Lenhart, a Senior Research Specialist for The Pew Internet & American Life Project. While she described how teens use multiple channels of communication - indeed, the supercommunicators use all they can - she also stated that e-mail is, "the least popular of all options for all teens" when it comes to messaging.

I have to wonder how that perception of e-mail will change business communications, or how the work world will change that generation.