Walk to the nearest window, throw open any curtains or cheap aluminum blinds that block your view of the outside world and crane your neck upward. What do you see?
Oregon hospitals report errors
Since January 2011, at least 82 violations have been reported in Oregon hospitals, according to a report by KATU News. These violations include a surgeon mistakenly operating on a child’s left eye instead of the right and a nurse accidentally connecting a nasogastric tube to oxygen instead of suction, sending the patient into cardiac arrest.
‘Full-figured’ mannequins make the news
The Internet was all abuzz over a photo Women’s Rights News posted on its Facebook wall a couple of weeks ago. Thousands of people have since “liked” it and, no, it wasn’t another cute cat photo.
Piracy or privacy?
Once again, the federal government is considering legislation that could have a huge impact on our daily lives. Shrouded in the cloak of national security and brandishing the sword of fighting cyber-attacks, legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would give government agencies the authority to share Internet traffic information with private entities and utilities, i.e., your Internet service provider and other “concerned” private businesses.
When words do more than sting
No shock here: We’ve become relatively shock-proof. With the parade of trashy reality TV shows, exorbitantly violent video games and cringe-inducing political coverage, we seem to be immune to almost everything shocking. But last fall I started noticing the comeback of a word that generally makes most people do a double-take: cunt. This reemergence wasn’t occurring in colloquial conversation with my friends; I was hearing it more and more frequently on television.
Pilling up
I’m sure I’ve said it many times before, but I am so, so grateful for the existence of contraceptives, and not just for my own use. I’m grateful for the ready availability of many different kinds of contraceptives for so many people in the U.S.
Who is Pope Francis?
There’s a quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi that goes, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Pope Francis appears to be one of a very few religious people I’ve seen who could change Gandhi’s mind.
Brew your own certificate
Portland State’s School of Business Administration has created a beer-brewing certificate program called The Business of Craft Brewing. It’s the first such program in the U.S. and is aimed at helping craft-brewing entrepreneurs navigate the business end of making and selling beer.
Political polarity
The recent Oral arguments regarding same-sex marriage once again brought to light the political divisions in America. Laws like the Defense of Marriage Act that originated as political plays are once again being used politically in an attempt to maintain animosity along party lines.
Sunshine and the great outdoors
Now that the sun seems to be sluggishly making appearances around campus again, there’s no excuse for all the ghostly pale, vitamin-D-deprived Portland State students to not get outside. Luckily for Portlanders, there are quite a few amazing options available that are scenic, inexpensive and close enough to take advantage of after classes.
On beauty
Over the last year I’ve had to come to a somewhat painful realization regarding my body: I will never have a thigh gap. No matter how many hours I spend at the gym on a weekly basis or what foods I banish from my diet, my thighs are going to touch. And that’s OK.