Flying Underwater

Photo from: http://deepflight.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/toolbox/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/SuperFalcon_360_30-copy.png&h=435&w=980

A very interesting technology today is this DeepFlight Super Falcon that allows people to “fly” underwater. This is a personal submarine designed by an ocean engineer, Graham Hawkes. This technology enables adventurers to explore the deepest parts of the ocean. The Super Falcon can carry two passengers on undersea adventures. These are designed to dive below the surface and skillfully navigate through underwater canyons. “It is like flying in the air, but we are flying underwater”, said Hawkes. “It looks like a James Bond wild machine, but it is positively buoyant, so it’s really safe”, Karen Hawkes, the wife of Graham said.

The submarine is 21 feet long and has a wingspan that stretches at almost 9 feet. This technology represents an ultra-light undersea craft that operate on the same principles as aircraft. “By always being buoyant, and powering down using thrust and lift, Deepflight craft have the range and speed necessary to truly explore 3-dimensional space underwater.” It will also automatically float back to the surface if the power runs out.

The Hawkes Ocean Technologies was founded in 1996 and started designing submersibles for military and scientific communities. And lately they developed winged submersibles for luxury market. The Super Falcon now costs $1.7 million which includes on-site pilot and operations training. These vehicles are indeed among the latest high-tech man made that were produced. But before you experience the Super Falcon it would really costs you a lot of money.

Blogpost by: Jordan Ballaran

References:

Denise Chow. $1.7 Million Personal Submarine Lets You ‘Fly’ Underwater. Last Updated: January 27, 2014 Retrieved from: http://www.livescience.com/42877-super-falcon-submersible.html [Accessed on January 29, 2014]

“Healthy Eating”

Nowadays, a person having diet lacks fact on what should they really do or eat according to their goals. Many people do diet just for the sake to lose weight. Some skip meals and doesn’t eat and they consider it as diet, but they don’t know that it is not a healthy diet. Skipping a meal is not healthy because our body needs nutrients and other factors that will make each part or system to work well. A good or a healthy diet means consuming from all the different good groups in the right quantities. We all know that everything that is too much is not good and anything that is too less is bad as well that’s why everything should be balanced. There are different food groups, one of which is the whole grain. USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) said that we should consume at least 3 ounces of whole grains a day.

Photo from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/health-gains-from-whole-grains/

Fruit and vegetables have a high vitamin, mineral and fiber content that are essential for our body to work well. They also help us to lessen the risks of different illnesses. It is advised to intake at least nine servings or four and a half cups of fruits and vegetables a day. Many would consider potatoes as a fruit/vegetable but it doesn't and it should be taken less. It is better to make your fruits and vegetables always visible so that when you are hungry it is the first choice to eat rather than eating unhealthy foods. It is also advised to take fruits before a meal to help cleanse and detoxify our system.

Photo from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/

People need protein for the repairing of tissue in our body. Protein foods include essential minerals, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, as well as B vitamins. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and soya are good sources of protein. Also when eating meat, pork should be the least and fats should be removed. There are people who are doing Protein Diet but it said that it is not good with working out because energy gets its last supply from protein.

Photo from: http://taylorednutrition.tripod.com/pickyourprotein.html

For healthier bones and teeth we need calcium and it we can get it from dairy products and it includes milk, yoghurts, cheese, and some soya dairy products. But it said that we should intake low fat dairy products to have a healthier diet. As you decrease the fat in dairy products there will be less calories, less saturated fat, and less cholesterol.  Protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals remain and help the body to sustain its need and help to lessen cardiovascular diseases along with the right exercise and intake

Photo from: http://texaswic.dshs.state.tx.us/wiclessons/english/foodpackage/dairy-products.asp

The last would be Fats and Sugars. It is not always bad to intake fats or sugar because our body still needs it but of course it should be taken at the least. Our body needs fats as the first source of energy to do different activities especially physical activities. Too much saturated fat consumption or excess consumption increases the risk of having different sicknesses such as heart disease. It can be taken once in a while because too much fat can lead to obesity and a lot of illness can take place when someone is obese. Too much sugar can also lead to diabetes, but in the bright side, sugar is a good source of energy after a heavy workout.

Photo from: http://kkkmedicine.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Consumption and selection of foods play a great role in everyone’s diet. Along with the food selection, exercise should go along with it for a healthier and fitter body.

Blogpost by: Ted Nichol Q. Siquian

References:

Medical News Today (2013, December 1). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153998.php

Harvard School OF Public Health (n.d. ). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/

Dealing with Irritating Colds

Photo from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf3oLIvy9NUhvR3QX5TExJqUQ8I8ejR862gJhR3W7xJ5sqNGdtkZ2UcvwDru0BewEjAc-zia7MA63Gq4eoMwaAagJ4hhrTUZ-F2leAA3i_34k3enfDrjTNa2HXEq6uffK4vFtAhHG3Uip/s200/cold.jpg

One of the most irritating experience during cold or winter season is having a common cold. The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose. Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and fever are the usual symptoms of a cold. According to the study, adults can have common cold two to three times a year, while children under age of 2 normally develop colds about six times a year. Actually, there’s no vaccine or cure for the cold but it can be prevented.

Keeping our hands germ-free is one of the best ways to prevent cold. People who regularly washed their hands often suffer from cold. Zinc also works in preventing a common cold. So, eating meat, beans and nuts which contain zinc can actually help to prevent cold. Most of the studies in taking zinc to prevent cold is for the children, but the researchers said that there is no biological reason why zinc would not work similarly in adults. There is also some evidence that probiotics may help prevent colds.

Common colds are indeed so frustrating to experience. It’s so common to us Filipinos due to our climate but there are a lot of simple things to do to prevent it. Our hands deliver most of the causes of cold so we need to wash it regularly. I also think that just maintaining a healthy lifestyle would help us prevent this irritating disease.

Blogpost by: Jordan Ballaran

References:

Bahar Gholipuor. Preventing and Treating Colds: What Works? Last Updated: January 27, 2014 Retrieved from: http://www.livescience.com/42863-preventing-treating-common-cold.html [Accessed on January 29, 2014]

Exploring the depths of the South China Sea

As we all know, South China Sea has been in conflict between nations surrounding it due to geopolitical issues of claiming several islands in the area. However, geologically speaking the South China Sea is naturally subjected to several strains and stress as suggested by its location.

South China Sea is located between the Eurasian plate and the Pacific plate, as well as between the world’s highest mountains and deepest point, the Himalayas and Marianas Trench, respectively. The location of the said sea made it more interesting for scientists to research about.

Studies have shown that the crust stretches in the north-south direction creating a break in the sea floor. Following that is the releasing of magma thus giving rise to the island of Palawan in the Philippines and Borneo. However, the mechanism triggering the stretch and break of that part of the continent is still debated until now.

In line with this, scientists from China, Philippines, India, and United States will sail on board the research vessel JOIDES Resolution for the first expedition of the International Ocean Drilling Program (formerly known as the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) or IODP with the aim to determine the age of the South China Sea and also to resolve how it formed.  

Over the next two months, drilling the ocean floor up to 2 kilometres into the seabed will be done to collect rock samples. Then by using geochemical and geophysical analyses, the researchers will be able to determine the rocks’ ages and characteristics. These should yield clues to their origins. By drilling at different sites, the scientists should be able to tell precisely when the sea floor started to spread and when the process ended.

Knowing the geological history of the South China Sea will not only expose its formation but will also explain the deposits of oil and natural gases in the islands scattered there. Beyond that, researches on the geological processes related in the area will be more studied.

According to Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, a marine geologist at the University of the Philippines Diliman, also a project member, the project can also facilitate earthquake research of the Manila Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The trench came into being as the oceanic crust of the South China Sea began to sink beneath the Philippine Sea plate — a process that continues today and causes frequent quakes. “A proper understanding of the South China Sea is long overdue,” she says.

Blogpost by: Sariah Kate L. Acama

Reference:

Qui, Jane. “Sea drilling project launches.” Nature Publishing Group. N.p. 21 January 2014.

     Web. 30 January 2014. <http://www.nature.com/news/sea-drilling-project-launches-1.14562>

The Brain Map

Photo from: http://graphikos197.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brain_map.jpg

  The brain is one of the largest organs and the most complex organ in the human body, and perhaps the most remarkable. It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections. Since the brain is very complex it has not been completely investigated.

  The map above is just an illustration of the brain when it is mapped. The objective of this map is just simply to show the connections and patterns among the billions of neurons. And if we notice, we can imagine this map as a “transit” map since it shows connections and patterns. The cells may serve as the “vehicles” and the nervous system as the “pathways” in the ordinary transit map. The problem I see in this map is that it is hardly to understand without background knowledge of an ordinary reader. If you can notice, there are some symbols on the map but there were no explanations about it.

  According to Alex Konrad, author of the website where I got this map, the scientists think that the key to curing many diseases may come only when they fully understand the human brain. Since they think that way, they have to spend the next years trying to map the mind, zooming in on single neurons to study each one's genetic information, shape, and electrical signals. Also according to the author, to enable to do those things, the scientists may use robotic tools. One of robotic tools that may help the scientists are the one called “auto patcher”. Auto patcher was developed by Edward Boyden and Georgia Tech's Craig Forest. By using this tool, scientists/researchers will be able to turn off individual cells and plot patterns with its neighbors. The robot can check neurons much faster than humans, who need extensive training to do the process manually. Diagnosing the breakdowns within a neuron will allow for targeted gene therapy.

Blogpost by: Aisha Macud

Reference:

Konrad,A.(N.d.).Retrieved from http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/galleries/2012/technology/1201/gallery.zany-futuristic-ideas.fortune/images/brain_map.jpg on January 27, 2014

Public Transit Map of the Future

  

Photo from: cartographersguild.com

  The map above is originally based on a science fiction story called the “Lattice”. This map is entiled “The Venus Public Transit Map”. According to its cartographer, it is a representation of a public transit map of the future. The Lattice, by the way, is a story about a habitable world or another space that believed to be the answer of the humanity's problem. According to it, one of humanity's most poignant and enduring struggles has been the search for room in which to live. We believe that if only we had our own space, away from others who are simply too different to endure, perhaps we could find peace -- and in pursuit of just that peace, ironically, destruction has flourished, all throughout our history. But, in the far future, this myth (like many others) will be shattered.

  

  The said fictional story mentioned only some of the cities that could be found in Venus and those cities have no full-detailed descriptions. But using the cartographer's imagination, he managed to give enough (or even more than enough) details and visual similarities to the existing public transit map that makes the map believable. But other than that, he made the map with an ultra-modern twist.

  Without background knowledge of this map and since the map is all about a place which is fictional, most of the readers won't be able to understand it. But since the title of the map says that it is a transit map, the cartographer achieved his objective to show the connections of the transport system of the place. And aesthetically speaking, the map has a good layout-- no white space, perfect balance, good orientation. The only problem in the map is the colors it used and some texts are not readable.

Blogpost by: Aisha Macud

References:

Toff.(2009). “Venus Public Transit”. Retrieved from  http://www.cartographersguild.com/cartographers-choice/2393-venus-public-transit-t%F6ff.html on January 27, 2014.

N.a.(N.d.) “The Lattice”. Retrieved from lattice.mysteryandmagic.com on January 27, 2014

Shaking the stress off

Stressing yourself in reviewing can't help you in remembering everything
Photo from: http://cecemarshall.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/college-stress.jpg?w=415 

Aside from the cold weather that we’re experiencing, the midterm’s season is also fast approaching.  When I went to school last week, I saw some of my classmates sleeping and sometimes not paying attention to our professors (because they’re busy reviewing other subjects). Then I realized that even I have many exams on the coming week.

Are you feeling the pressure now? Don’t panic because here are three things you can do to shake that stress off.

1.) GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Sleeping late doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get high scores during your exams (especially when it’s scheduled on the next day). It will just make you feel drowsy and irritated. What your body needs is a good sleep which is normally consists of at least six to eight hours. This can make your mind feel refreshed and relaxed. Aside from that, having enough sleep helps in improving your concentration which in turn can help you in acing that exam.

2.) DON’T CRAM. One of the most effective things I've

 done is to not cram on your own work (especially when it comes to reviewing and doing your own paper). Cramming only ruins your state of mind which in turn can affect the result of your work. Learning how to organize and do things step by step will help you not only in doing better but also in making your mind relaxed because you’re not feeling any time pressure. Start with listing everything that needs to be done and prioritize. You’ll see after that not only you’re grades will improve, but also your relationship to others (because you’ll have much time to talk and interact since your work is done).

3.) EAT WELL AND EXERCISE. A balanced diet and a short period of exercise is a good way in order to avoid stress. Skipping meals will only make you weaker since you need nutrients, carbohydrates and proteins for your mind to function well. On the other hand, having a short time allotted for exercise can help your body and mind more attuned and sound. A simple walk can make you feel relaxed and also to burn those fats that you have.

So don’t stress yourself off and I hope this can help you in doing well in your exam.

Blogpost by: Hiedi Martinez

Sex with love leads to a healthier baby

Photo from: sciencedaily.com

    Are you a sickly child? Do you have a weak immune system? If yes, maybe there is a possibility that your parents don't love each other that much at the time you were created. That will be the case if the conclusion of Dustin Penn’s experiment appears to be true and can be also applied in human beings.

    Penn together with his researchers experimented female house mice. Some female mice are partnered with the mouse of their choice while others are partnered with non-preferred male. The test is to find out if the female preference of a sexual partner affects the health of their offspring. After the test has been conducted, it was found out that females mated with their preference produced more offspring. Their babies are also found to be healthier than those with non-preferred partners. Their babies have a higher resistance against infection from Salmonella (a common mouse pathogen). They tend to have a higher resistance due to the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes. There are doubts with the hypothesis that love preference affects the health of their offspring. The health benefits can also be affected by genetics, parasite loads, and other cases.

    In my opinion, the result of the experiment is doubtful but I am not saying that it is impossible. The experiment might be only true in the cases of mice. I also believe that the health condition of a parent can be genetically affecting the health of their offspring. I think genetic influences are the greatest factor here. A sickly offspring for me does not really reflect that his parents do not have enough love for each other. It is easier to believe that one or both of his parents are unhealthy or the mother has been living an unhealthy lifestyle while the offspring is inside the womb. A sex done with love might just make a baby healthier than what it’s supposed to be but does not guarantee a healthy one. How about you? What are your opinions?

Blogpost by: Stephen Ko

Reference:

Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien. (2014, January 23). Choose your love: Sexual selection enhances ability of offspring to cope with infection. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com//releases/2014/01/140123075535.htm

The Horror of Orcas in Captivity

Orcas, the killer whales

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are large, powerful predators.  Killer whales are mammals that can be found in all of the oceans in the world.  They were first captured live and displayed in exhibitions in the 1960s and soon became popular attractions at public aquariums and aquatic theme parks due to their intelligence, trainability, striking appearance, playfulness in captivity, and sheer size.

However, the issue of keeping these majestic creatures in captivity raises a lot of controversies.  Organizations such as the World Society for the Protection of Animals and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society are against the captivity of killer whales.  This is because they say that killer whales in captivity live a stressful and hard life due to the lack of swimming space, chemically altered water, and the fact that they are being starved in order for them to perform.

Killer whales suffer reduced lifespan in captivity since they are forced to live in unnatural living conditions for a long period of time.  Female orcas normally live up to 50 years in the wild; however, in captivity, they mostly only live up to 20-30 years.   Male orcas usually live up to 30 years in the wild, but in captivity, most of them live up to only 20 years.  The amount of stress that killer whales suffer from in captivity is also much larger than the amount of stress that they experience in the wild.  This stress causes their nervous system to break down easily which could be the cause of their death.  Pneumonia is also a common illness of killer whales in captivity, which also leads to their death.

Almost all male captive orcas suffer from having a collapsed dorsal fin.  Scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) say that collapsed dorsal fins result from an irreversible structural change in the fin’s collagen over time.  This can be due to alterations in water balance caused by stresses of the captive whale’s dietary changes (this is because the fish being fed to the orcas is not fresh unlike the fish in the wild, but only frozen), lowered blood pressure due to lack of physical activity (the tiny space that the killer whales live in in captivity does not give them much room to swim in), and overheating of the collagen since the captive whales spend too much time on the surface of the water.

Lastly, some killer whales in captivity have attacked human beings (look at the page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale_attacks_on_humans for more details).   An example of this is the orca Tilikum, who killed his trainer Dawn Brancheau at the end of a show at SeaWorld Orlando.  Witnesses say that Tilikum grabbed Dawn by the left arm and pulled her into the water, drowning her.

The story of Tilikum and Dawn Brancheau’s death is the main point of ‘Blackfish’, a documentary that exposes SeaWorld and the horrible truths behind the death of Dawn.  According to this documentary, Tilikum killed Dawn because of the stress and frustration he has felt because of his being separated from his family and ocean home, and spending over the past 20 years in intense confinement and isolation lacking emotional and intellectual stimulation.

All of these points are tackled in the film ‘Blackfish’, and quite prove that orcas should be set free since they have no place in theme parks.  It is just simply inhumane to keep wild animals in captivity and train them to perform tricks for food.  It is also gruesome to think that these amazing creatures are forced to swim in tiny circles to amuse tourists and spend the majority of their lives virtually motionless in concrete tanks that are the human equivalent of a bathtub.  Their important matriarchal bonds are broken when babies are taken from their mothers and sold or transferred to other parks, and captive orcas live only a fraction of their average life span.

Blogpost by: Elaine Lee Ramos


References:

PETA. 'Blackfish': The Documentary That Exposes SeaWorld. Last Updated: January 2014 Retrieved from: http://www.seaworldofhurt.com/blackfish.aspx

Breeanna Hare. 'Blackfish': A chilling doc on captive killer whales. Last Updated: October 29, 2013 Retrieved from: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/12/showbiz/movies/blackfish-documentary-exclusive-clip/index.html

Wikipedia.org. Killer whale attacks on humans Killer whale attacks on humans. Last Updated: January 24, 2014 Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale_attacks_on_humans

Wikipedia.org. Captive Killer Whales. Last Updated: January 21, 2014 Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_killer_whales

Wikipedia.org. Killer Whale. Last Updated: January 12, 2014 Retrieved From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_killer_whales

It’s possibly The Weather

Photo from: richters.tumblr.com

     Weather has always been and will always be and will always be a part of our daily lives. Thus, it is unlikely that it doesn’t affect us in one way or another.

     If we imagine the beginning of the civilizations, they all live nearby rivers and the water levels are affected by the amount and duration of rain and sunlight, aside from the changing tides. Whether children are let out to play may as well be determined by weather. How we plan our day to day activities is partly, if not largely, dependent on weather. It is common to hear the phrase “Basta hindi umulan (as long as it doesn’t rain” whenever we plan to do something. Also, some people even get sick due to the sudden change of the weather. Also, a part of our mood can be affected by the weather. Even our level of tiredness can somehow be affected by the amount of sunlight (Koots et al, 2011). But, did you know that weather has an impact on productivity as well?

    In a study by Lee, Gino, and Staats (2013), they have found that productivity is somehow affected by the weather. Specifically, there seems to be a higher level of productivity during bad weather such as rainy days.  The reason may be is that during sunny days, people get more distracted. For example, as in the said study, during sunny days, outdoor activities are more attractive. Or maybe it’s like spending more time planning our trips to the beach during summer than doing school work.

      But, the weather doesn’t exactly affect everyone in the same manner (Klimstra et al, 2011). The rain will affect people differently, depending on how a person perceives rain. Also, it was suggested that how we react to the weather may also be passed on to us by our parents. It looks like weather affects us so much it is carried in our genes. Therefore, the explanation of “depende sa panahon (depends on the weather” to how we feel or behave has some validity to it. We can even reason out our DNA. 

Blogpost by: Glessa Francesca Garibay

References:

Lee, J. J., Gino, F., & Staats, B. R. (2014, January 13). Rainmakers: Why Bad Weather Means

Good Productivity. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. doi:

10.1037/a0035559

Klimstra, T. A., Frijns, T., Keijsers, L., Denissen, J. J., Raaijmakers, Q. A., van Aken, M. A., et al. (2011). Come Rain Or Come Shine: Individual Differences In How Weather Affects Mood.. Emotion,11(6), 1495-1499.

Kööts, L., Realo, A., & Allik, J. (2011). The Influence of the Weather on Affective Experience. Journal of Individual Differences, 32(2), 74-84.

Food Addiction and Impulsive Personality

   Researchers observed that persons with impulsive personalities tend to be more addicted on food, an addiction which is similar to drug addiction. This food addiction will eventually lead to obesity. The impulsive personality is shown when a person does something in a hurry without considering the consequences the person will encounter which results to unsuccessful acts.

 

    According to a professor in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, they could study the impulsive personality and food addiction with the same techniques used in studying alcohol, and other forms of drug addiction. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s statistics, more than one thirds of adults are obese in U.S. population. These adults are more likely to have diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart attack, etc. In 2008, $147 million was spent for medical costs due to obesity and obese people spend $1429 more (average) in medical expenses than people with normal weight. The study could help in making better treatments and interventions for food addiction.

    The researchers used two different scales in the study which are the Yale Food Addiction Scale and the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale which are used to determine the food addiction and impulsive personalities of the test persons. These values are then compared with the body mass index of other test subjects. The study shows that impulsive behavior is not directly related to obesity but impulsive behavior might lead to food addiction. Even though a person who has an impulsive personality will become obese, an increase in the impulsive behavior might lead to food addiction. Researchers are trying to widen the coverage of their study by observing the brain activity of people on how they make decisions about food. The wide range of food selection nowadays and the variety of nutrients and additives found in food and how these things could affect the obesity of a person will be studied. Neuroscience is a big help for understanding the concept behind drug addiction and food addiction as well.

    Eating is very essential for human beings; however, we should consider the effect of the food that we are eating in our body, whether it is good or bad so that we could have healthier and better life. 

Blogpost by: Jocel Tonido

References:

Hataway, J., 2014. Science Daily. [Online]
Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140124161245.htm
[Accessed 26 January 2014 ].

Pychyl, T. A., 2009. Psychology Today. [Online]
Available at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200906/why-are-you-so-impulsive
[Accessed 26 January 2014].

28 Weeks Later

Last week for our MBB1 class, we were asked to watch a movie in preparation for our new topic about pathogens. 28 Weeks Later is a science fiction thriller that chronicles the spread of a virus in England called the Rage Virus.

Photo from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Weeks_Later

Infection of the virus is almost instantaneous-- blood starts pouring out of eyes, mouth and nose, muscles spasm and twitch violently, turning the victim into a rabid flesh and blood hungry creature with just one drop of infected blood or saliva. Because of its virulence, an outbreak can quickly spread and infect a whole city in a matter of hours, and as seen in its prequel 28 Days Later, seven weeks to wipe out a whole country and decimate civilization as we know it.

Seven months after the initial outbreak, the United States Army steps in to disinfect and quarantine England. In London, they rebuild a community and facilitate repatriation. A possible cure to the rage virus infection is found when two minors, Andy and Tammy, escape the barricade only to find their mother still alive after an attack of the infected. The mother appears to be heterochromic, a genetic mutation that leads to two different eye colors, and a scientist hypothesizes that this genetic anomaly is the key to a vaccine.

All hell breaks lose when the husband visits the woman and kisses her, only to be infected with Rage. The Army tries to quarantine everyone but some of the infected manages to infiltrate the quarantine, prompting the Command Center to implement Code Red, an order which initiates non-targeted killings to eliminated everyone on the ground.

The scientist and a rogue sniper tries to save Andy and Tammy in hope of eventually finding a cure for the virus. The last few minutes of the movie however do not reveal the fate of the two.

28 Weeks Later is directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, starring Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Mackintosh Muggleton, and Imogen Poots.

Blogpost by: Criselle David

Top 5 Hang Out Places College Students Should Go To

     There are different hangout places a barkada or friends can go to, but there are certain and best places to chill out and solidify friendship. Most college students go to parties and some go to clubs. Social drinking is always present in a college life of many, when you didn’t pass through that part, then you are missing one of the happiest way to get out from stress in school works with friends.

     As many say, college life is the best part of their lives where exploration about everything happens. Social drinking is just one of the many ways you can get out of school works and to hang out with friends. One of the best hangout places of barkadas or with friends is the Maginhawa street or what they call the eat street. Different kinds of resto are present with a lot of selections of food. Hangout wouldn't be complete without eating. Most college students hang out through eating together. It is also a way to remove stress and have a break with friends. Maginhawa street is a place to go when you and your friends are hungry and want to have lots of selections of food. 

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maginhawa-Street-Culture-Music-Food-and-Tricycle/268978843983

     Another famous place would be BGC, Bonifacio Global City. When you want a Yolo life, as the youth would say, just go to this place and you will find a lot of famous clubs and have a wild night. BGC is an advanced city where technology and urban life could really be felt. A city with a lot of opportunities, huge buildings, and an entrepreneur land.

Photo from: http://business.inquirer.net/111407/bgc-safest-place-to-invest-say-experts

     One of the best places to chill with a cool weather with friends is Tagaytay. A perfect way to have a nature trip and appreciate the weather while looking at the Taal volcano, a complex volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.  It is the second most active volcano in the Philippines with 33 historical eruptions. All of these eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Taal Lake. Looking in a great scenery would make all the hassle and stress in school go away. With the great weather, there are lots of activities to do in there like eating the famous bulalo of tagaytay. You can also visit the recent Sky Ranch, an Enchanted Kingdom like where there are different rides and enjoy the scene through its huge Ferris wheel.

Photo from: http://www.viamigo.com/posts/view/265/PAGSANJAN-FALLS-TAAL-VOLCANO-TREK-TAGAYTAY

     Another hang out place when you want it in a simple place and no money needed is to sit in a bench or a spot in your college/university where all of you enjoy and always go to or meet with friends. A simple place where most of the time you spend with college friends/blockmates during your breaks. This is where usually new ideas are found and new hobbits are enjoyed like guitar jamming where all of you would sing or just to relax and talk about different stuff. You can also appreciate how great your university is and just look at the trees and relax your eyes.

     According to research,” hanging out with upbeat people increases your happiness by approximately 15%. Meeting your friends , the happy ones, at least once a week is also excellent for mental health.” It is important to spend time with friends because they are the ones who you will be with maybe for a life time. They are the ones you could tell secrets or the ones who will help you with your academics or problems. Spending time with happy friends could ease loneliness, most of the time college students are stressed with papers and lots of requirements but with the presence of friends you will not feel you are left behind.

Photo from: http://www.adamwilliamson.com/project/oxford-university-sculptural-bench/

     And lastly, a great place to hang out with friends is your house or your friend’s houses if possible. Many students do group works and projects, an ideal place to do this would be in someone’s house. A lot of fun stuff can happen in any friend’s house unless their parents are that strict for you not to have fun in their place. Doing projects could just lead you and your friends to play video games like for guys that love to play PS3 or the reccently released PS4 and play 2k14. Even friends that are girls are fond of playing video games nowadays. Enjoy each others stories and jokes and just laugh out loud because you are free to express your real attitude when you are not in public anymore. Almost anything could happen in someone’s place and real barkada bonding could be developed in a condo, apartment, house of your friends. Most often, money prevents us from enjoying going out with our friends. But as time goes by together we can find a way to just have fun without bringing out cash. When any one is almost out of cash we make sure that it wouldn’t stop them from eating or have fun with all of you and just do nothing while you and your other friends are enjoying with what you bought or paid for. Busy schedules hinders friends to go out a lot, but they will make sure that they will find time during breaks to see you and hang out even just for a while.

Blogpost by: Ted Nichol Q. Siquian

Reference:

IRefuse2Age (n.d.). Retrieved January 21,2014, from http://irefuse2age.com/benefits-of-hanging-out-with-happy-friends/