My Capstone - First Three Sources

     Belluz, Julia. "Will the doctor see you know? They're cheaper and often more effective, but old fashoined manual exams are on the decline tahnks to an ever-growing reliance on diagnostic technology." Maclean's 24 Jan. 2011: 44+. Gale Power Search. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

     Medicine is relying more and more on the power of diagnostic technology and less on the tactile perception of doctors, the healing power of touch as it's called. With the increase on technology in every area of human life, it only makes sense that medicine should follow suit, but is this helping or harming patients?


     Sherman, Carl. "3-D ultrasound visualizes even minor defects." Family Practice News 1 June 2005: 43. Gale Power Search. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

     Sonography is a very common diagnostic tool and it's been in use for a relatively long time. There are many advancements being made in the field currently as computers have allowed for more powerful rendering of the information provided by the ultrasonic waves. One such recent change is the introduction of 3D ultrasound images. These machines are now in widespread use.

    

     Stevens, MD, Mark B., Ruby Montefalcon, RN, and David A. Lane, MD. "The Maternal Perspective on Prenatal Ultrasound." Family Practice 49.7 (2000): 601-04. EBSCO. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

     Research into ultrasound technology is usually aimed at the technology itself or the people who run the machines. This article gives an intersting perspective into what's it's like on the other end of the machine, most often pregnant women. Whether they feel that these scans are necessary, whether or not they want these scans, and how many they want are all questions discussed in this article.

REVISED - Rubber Duck Review

     Reviews are across the board for this book on the internet. Amazon finds most of the 39 reviewers at five stars, all with praise for this "eye-opening" book. Many reviewers in their post were left wanting more in depth information. One reviewer in particular wished that the authors had tested their children for chemical in their bloodstreams since the entire chapter was about chemical exposure in children. Overall, the book was well recieved on Amazon.
     On GoodReads.com, review are a bit more sparing, with mostly three and four stars for the book. Many reviewers praised it as an excellent introduction into the world of everyday chemicals that affect out bodies. A few reviewers focused on the quality of the writing as well as the content. It seems that they did not feel it was a captivating book , but an entertaining read.
     Personally speaking, this book was fine, but not extraordinarily good in any way. The authors aren't scientists, and they shouldn't pretend to be. What they did was more for shock value than anything. Too bad that approach works on some people. What they presented was interesting, but much of the infromation could have been found with a few minutes of independent research.
Amber Spaeth
  

Example Capstone - Rubber Duck Post #2

    

     Human activities are the major reason for exposure to mercury. It's one of the most toxic elements we can be exposed to. Triclosan is used in antibacterial products.  It's use is generally blamed on industries, not individual consumer.

     Talking about Triclosan, for a "culture [that] is germ obsessed" (p. 267). Compared to what sanitary condition are in parts of the world, this is pretty true about the US. I myself have a bottle of hand sanitizer in my backpack. I take supplements to boost my immune system because I'm in contact with so many people everyday and I still get sick every 3 or 4 months. I routinely call the world a "petri dish" so I do foster this attitude more than I thought I did. That's why this passage struck me.
     This book gets a shrug from me. It's certainly not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst either. I generally have a harder time reading nonfiction on my own because it's usually faster for me to look up information in online databases. That way I can find exactly what I'm looking for without wasting 5 hours reading an entire book. So take my reaction with a grain of salt. This book didn't really hold my attention or interest. A lot of the information I already knew because everyone in my family, including myself, is a health nut. So Mercury, BPA, Teflon, Flouride, Pesticides, yada yada yada, is old news. I suspect the authors of this book we're going for the shock factor with their information, but, since I knew a lot of this info, I wasn't lured in. I'm less than lukewarm for this book, but not freezing cold. In one word: Meh.

Example Capstone - Position Paper

     The environment is an indelible part of human life, so it's important to worry about it. Whether it is everyday chemicals, large scale pollution, or endangered species, every single person on this planet has a stake. To be hands off is just unreasonable. Not everyone should be a picketing activist though, that's crazy talk.
     Everyday items contain many chemicals that the average Joe can barely pronounce. A hundred years ago, if someone bought beef, it was just that: Beef. No hormones, no antibiotics, free range, and grass fed. The same cannot be said today. It's a lot of work to find food that contains only what is expected with no unpronounceable surprises. The same goes for everyday, around-the-house items like soaps, cleaners, shampoos, Tupperware, etc. Sure, there is a point where it becomes a waste to try and avoid certain chemicals and whatnot, but why not put forth the utmost effort? We're given one body to take care of, so we should treat it like our most prized possession.
     There are many relatively new chemicals and compounds permeating our everyday lives of which the long term effects are unknown. People used to play with Mercury with their bare hands until it was found out that Mercury is uber bad. People also used to think tanning beds would give you skin cancer from one use, but it has been decided that they're no more of a carcinogen than the Sun. My point is, things change. If all the chemicals floating around are definitively proved harmless, good for us. The worst case scenario is I'm out a few bucks from buying believed "safer" items. Big deal. So I have to wait a couple years to buy a new car. At least I'll be here to drive it. Any price is a small price to pay for a healthy body. If the opposite proves true and these chemicals are deadlier than a drunk grandma texting and driving, well then, I'm ahead of the curve. The choice is easy: the environment is part of us all, so taking care of it and watching what new compounds we, as humans, introduce into the world is a necessity.

Amber Spaeth

Example Capstone - Slow Death By Rubber Duck review

     Reviews are across the board for this book on the internet. Amazon finds most of the 39 reviewers at five stars, all with praise for this "eye-opening" book. Many reviewers in their post were left wanting more in depth information. One reviewer in particular wished that the authors had tested their children for chemical in their bloodstreams since the entire chapter was about chemical exposure in children. Overall, the book was well recieved on Amazon.
     On GoodReads.com, review are a bit more sparing, with mostly three and four stars for the book. Many reviewers praised it as an excellent introduction into the world of everyday chemicals that affect out bodies. A few reviewers focused on the quality of the writing as well as the content. It seems that they did not feel it was a captivating book , but an entertaining read.
     I tend to fall more toward the GoodReads.com camp. This book was fine, but not extraordinarily good in any way. The authors aren't scientists, and they shouldn't pretend to be. I think what they did was more for shock value than anything. Too bad that approach works on some people. What they presented was interesting, but it was all stuff I could've found out reading for five minutes online.

Amber Spaeth