New vaccines would immunize people against bad habits
July 10, 2009
Ronald Kotulak - Chicago Tribune
Published: October 11, 2006
CHICAGO _ Vaccines, the most potent medical weapon ever devised to vanquish deadly germs, are now being called on to do something totally different and culturally revolutionary _ inoculate people against bad habits like overeating, cigarette smoking and drug use.
Whether this new era of vaccine research can actually subdue many of the poor lifestyle choices that are today’s biggest threats to health _ causing obesity, cancer, heart disease and other problems _ has yet to be proved.
But the evidence is promising enough to persuade the federal government to put millions of dollars toward finding out if two of the vaccines can end nicotine and cocaine addiction.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse, which has spent $15 million on clinical trials for the vaccines and plans to spend more, predicts that one of the nicotine vaccines may be available for marketing in three years.
“The American Cancer Society has projected that we will have one billion people die from smoking in the world in this century,” said Frank Vocci, director of medications development for the institute. “If you had a vaccine that helped people quit and stay quit, or prevent them from smoking, that’s where you’d get the greatest public health benefit.”
Meanwhile, results from a major obesity vaccine trial under way in Switzerland are expected later this year and company officials are hopeful that the vaccine could be ready for use in a few years if all goes well.
To tamp out deleterious behavior, the new vaccines employ the body’s natural immune system in an innovative way. Instead of building antibodies to destroy germs as traditional vaccines do, they construct antibodies that lock onto nicotine and cocaine molecules, preventing them from reaching the brain.
“What we’re seeing is a renaissance in vaccine technology,” said Dr. Gary Nabel, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center. “It’s only natural that when you have a technology that’s this powerful it can be applied to other medical problems.”
Normally, nicotine and cocaine molecules are too small to be seen by the immune system. So to make the vaccines, scientists attach these molecules to big target proteins, like harmless viruses or bacteria, which the immune system can recognize and attack with specialized antibodies.
When the person later smokes a cigarette or takes cocaine, the antibodies wrap up and neutralize the molecules before they can trigger feelings of euphoria and pleasure in the brain. Smokers and cocaine users given the vaccines say their pleasure is diminished or they no longer get as high, which decreases the desire for the drug.
“I’m trying to cut back because cigarettes don’t taste so good anymore,” said James VanHall, a truck driver for the City of Minneapolis who is participating in a trial of the anti-nicotine vaccine at the University of Minnesota. Although he doesn’t know if the three shots he has received since June are the vaccine or a placebo, VanHall says he can tell they are having an effect.
“Cigarettes pretty much tasted good all my life, but right now it seems like I’m smoking a light cigarette or something,” said Van Hall, 50, who has been smoking since his early teens and went through a pack or a pack and a half a day. “There’s hardly any flavor there. I’m hoping the vaccine works because this is the worst thing I’ve ever tried to quit in my life.”
Several months into the study VanHall stopped smoking altogether. It’s hard, he said, but he has less craving for cigarettes now than when he tried to quit in the past.
National Geographic offers homework help
July 10, 2009
Eric Goodwin - McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Published: October 11, 2006
National Geographic magazine offers access to some of its vast resources on its Homework Help Web site (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/homework/index.html). While it has its shortcomings, the site has a few things going for it that could help you out in a crunch.
One Homework Help’s best features is its “One-Stop Research” search tool. Enter your search term, and the tool returns links to related National Geographic maps, photos, articles and video clips all on one convenient Web page. One-Stop Research is great for looking up info on animals, places, natural phenomena (like earthquakes) and a few ancient cultures such as the Incas. However, if you use it to search for historical figures (such as Napoleon or Thomas Jefferson) or time periods (like the French Revolution), you’ll find the results spotty at best.
Homework Help also offers links to the magazine’s older specialized Web packages, covering such subjects as sharks, the Underground Railroad and hurricanes. The site also offers informative country profiles with links to printable maps you can use to enhance your reports or presentations.
While it won’t cover all of your schoolwork needs (like math, which the site doesn’t cover at all), National Geographic Homework Help is a solid reference tool to have at your disposal.
Heating bills will likely be lower, trade group says
July 10, 2009
Kevin G. Hall - McClatchy Newspapers
Published: October 11, 2006
WASHINGTON _ Worried that falling fuel prices might lead consumers to draw the wrong conclusion, a trade group for the nation’s natural-gas utilities said Monday that home heating bills should be lower this winter but warned against expecting them to plunge anywhere near as much as gasoline prices have recently.
The American Gas Association, which represents utilities that sell natural gas, painted a much more positive winter outlook Monday than it did a year ago.
“We believe that in most cases consumers will paying less for (natural) gas this winter,” said Paul Wilkinson, the association’s vice president.
How much lower?
The association would say only “somewhat lower,” offering no range for homes heated by natural gas, roughly 52 percent of U.S. households.
“How much will depend to a great extent on the weather,” Wilkinson said, noting that a mild winter would reduce demand for energy and ease prices. A nasty winter would have the opposite effect. “It’s highly likely that it won’t be as mild this year” as last, he added.
After the hurricanes of summer 2005, contracts for future deliveries of natural gas soared to above $15 per thousand cubic feet. Then last winter turned out to be one of the mildest on record, easing energy consumption. Home-heating prices were predicted to rise by almost 50 percent but rose 17 percent, a still-substantial jump.
Since then, Gulf Coast natural-gas production has returned to normal and this year’s hurricane season has been unusually mild. The price for natural-gas contracts fell below $5 per thousand cubic feet in September, only about one-third the record prices of 2005.
Falling natural-gas prices will help bring down home heating costs, but don’t expect your power bill to fall by two-thirds.
Here’s why. Natural-gas utilities guard against wide swings in natural-gas prices by purchasing a portion of their supplies months and even years in advance at a locked-in price. This practice is called hedging. Some utilities purchase as much as 40 percent of their natural-gas supplies in advance locked-in price contracts, according to the American Gas Association.
If the price they pay turns out to be lower than the price on the spot, or daily, market, their consumers benefit. However, if they lock in a price that’s higher than the seasonal daily price, as is the case now, then they and utility customers are stuck.
This is a key reason that heating bills won’t drop sharply like gasoline, which has fallen to a national average of $2.26 per gallon from a high of $3.03 on Aug. 7.
Despite falling market prices, several million Americans could see their fuel bills rise because the federal government is on track to roll back last year’s big increase in energy assistance to the poor and elderly.
The House and Senate Appropriations committees propose slashing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from $3.1 billion in fiscal 2006 to about $2 billion for fiscal 2007, which began Oct. 1.
That would return the program’s funding to about its average annual level; Congress boosted spending on the program last year in the face of soaring home-heat cost projections. Advocates say the program is underfunded, because some 33 million qualify but only 6.3 million households got the benefit last year. The average subsidy was $318 to offset household winter-heating bills that averaged $800 to $1,400.
If Congress cuts the funding, it’ll mean sharp reductions in assistance to families in states such as California and Minnesota, which had seen funding rise by 25 percent and 12 percent, respectively, in the past fiscal year.
“The overall picture is one of concern,” said Mark Wolfe, the executive director of the energy assistance association.
For a state-by-state look at proposed Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding online, go to www.neada.org/appropriations/2006-07-20(underline)table.pdf.
Minder Florida player of the week
July 10, 2009
Published: October 11, 2006
Elizabeth Minder, a freshman on the PJC volleyball team, was voted as the defensive player of the week on Oct. 5, by the Florida Community College Athletic Association.
Minder has been playing volleyball for seven years and said this was the first individual honor she has ever received.
“I think it’s really cool,” Minder said about being chosen. “It’s such an honor to be voted for it, let alone be picked.”
She was selected thanks to a match against North West Shoals at the Gulf C oast Invitational Tournament in Panama City, held during the last week of September. Minder had 35 digs during that game alone, setting a record for PJC. She is also the first person to reach the 30-dig mark in one game in the FCCAA this year.
Lady Pirates volleyball team advances to State
July 10, 2009
Lindsey Chavers
Published: October 11, 2006
The PJC volleyball team secured a place at the state competition with a conference victory against Gulf Coast Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
The Lady Pirates defeated the Lady Commodores 3-0, with scores of 30-28, 30-27, and 30-20, becoming the 2006 Panhandle Conference champions
“I know last year they had a harder more intense time,” said freshman player Elizabeth Minder. “I think it’s awesome that we won in just three games.”
The state competition will be held at Polk Community College in Lakeland, FL, from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4.
“We’ve got time between now and then,” said Pena. “We have got to keep getting better.”
“This one is really special,” said Pena, about winning the conference, “because of all the adversary we’ve had to overcome.” The Pirates have had many injures throughout the season. “Hopefully Margo will be back because she deserves to be there,” said Pena about Margo Yates who was out earlier in the season with a knee injury.
The Lady Pirates still have a few games to play before state, but they have guaranteed themselves a spot in Lakeland.
“We’ve punched our tickets,” Pena said.
Pirates baseball holds on for a victory
July 10, 2009
Lindsey Chavers
Lindsey Chavers
Published: October 11, 2006
The PJC baseball team defeated Gulf Coast Community College Sunday, Oct. 1, with a 4-2 win.
The Pirates scored all four runs in an eventful third inning, which ended in a Gulf Coast double play. An error in the fifth inning at first base gave Gulf Coast Community College two runs. But they never caught up to PJC.
With many hits, and a few successful steals, the Pirates held the lead to the end to claim a victory.
Big time racing coming to the Gulf Coast
July 10, 2009
Brent Scott
Published: October 11, 2006
Last month’s announcement of plans to build a racetrack in the Gulf Coast area that will more than likely host NASCAR events was music to the ears of many PJC students who follow the series.
On Sept. 12, Gulf Coast Entertainment, LLC, announced plans to build a major motor sports facility at one of two proposed locations in southern Alabama, scheduled to open in late 2009. Gulf Coast Entertainment has some star power on its side with the participation of NASCAR’s famous Earnhardt family and former Mobile Mayor Mike Dow.
The group plans to build a 7/10-mile paved oval track, a 3/8-mile dirt track, a 3.5-mile road course, and a 1/4-mile drag strip. The drag strip particularly sparks the interest of PJC student John Webb.
“I’m looking forward to making some runs down the strip in my car,” Webb said, standing by his electric blue 1992 Camaro RS Heritage. “All of the drag strips around here are 1/8-mile strips, and I want to see what it will do on the quarter mile.”
Pharmacy major Alton Wilson looks forward to seeing some NASCAR action as well as going to the drag strip.
“It will be nice not having to drive all the way up to Talladega to watch a NASCAR race. I wouldn’t mind making [a] run down the drag strip against John [Webb], too.”
Many students at PJC are involved in racing one way or another - legal or illegal. Racing at the new road course or drag strip is a much safer and ultimately less expensive alternative for students than racing to the next stoplight with every person who stops beside them and revs their engine. There is also no risk of a ticket.
Possibly the most exciting part of the deal to local racers is the potential of gaining notice from NASCAR or NHRA owners and becoming the big stars of tomorrow.
For more information about the Alabama Motorsports Park, visit the website at www.alabamamotorsportspark.com.
Working for the silver lining
July 10, 2009
Jennifer Rich-Neal
Published: October 11, 2006
Anyone who has ever lost someone close to them knows the feeling of emptiness that follows. Last year, I lost my mother very suddenly to pnuemonia. It is obvious that I would miss her; she was my mom. However, after she died, I realized that more was missing than I thought.
My mother’s side of the family has always been very small. Just a grandma and an uncle and a bunch of stories with no faces to match. I heard of a first cousin that I had when I was growing up. His name is Andy and he belongs to my mother’s brother that went missing back in 1978. After Uncle Peter “disappeared,” the family lost touch with Andy and his mother, Pam.
As an adult, I began to wonder more and more about this flesh-and-blood connection roaming out there. Where is Andy? What is he like?
I decided to kill my curiousity and locate him via the Internet. It turned out to be one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done. Since I made that call, I have gained a new friend and an aunt that has sort of “adopted” me.
However, underneath this joyous union still lurked a mystery. Here we are now over two decades later and still no one knows what happened to Uncle Peter.
The family speculated many things. Maybe he wanted to disappear, maybe he was murdered, maybe he was battling some demons that we would never undertand.
As tenatious as I can be, I started digging around on the Internet again and found a death record that matched Uncle Pete’s name.
Not wanting to subscribe to the genealogy Web site, I took the name, date of death, and county the death was registered in and made my own phone calls.
After about 20 calls to the medical examiner and police department, I found out Peter’s fate. He had been murdered in 1998 in Miami, beaten to death by a homeless guy.
Learning this was another dose of tragedy that no one was prepared for but needed to know.
Out of my loss, I gained a whole new family. It may not be easy, but sometimes you have to work hard for the silver lining.
Our View: Parenting comes first
July 10, 2009
Published: October 11, 2006
As many know, a former Corsair staffer was convicted for viewing child pornography. Many of the Corsair employees are parents as well as students, and this event definitely shook up the office morale.
The job of parenting is one that comes first and foremost in the lives of many PJC students and staff.
The idea that there are people out there who are addicted to child pornography is nauseating. The sad part is that some of these individuals feel like they should be accepted for the urges that they “can not control.”
There are online networks where pedophiles congregate and support one another. This is obviously one of the draw backs of free speech and online anonymity.
Computers seem to provide so many opportunities for pedophiles to prey on our children. They do this by trading obscene photos, cruising chat rooms, stalking kids via MySpace, and atempting to reach children “on the outside” once an online connection has been made.
Children and teens are enticed, brainwashed, and even threatened to silence them when abuse and sexual advances are being made.
The fact remains that parents need to start talking about what types of behavior are inappropriate with their children when they are young. Instead of waiting for them to become interested in the opposite sex, the times call for a more proactive approach.
This can include something like explaining to your four year-old that no one besides [you fill in the appropriate individuals] should be touching anything covered by a bathing suit.
And communication is so important! Keeping the lines of communication open will help ensure that your child will speak up if abuse ever occurs.
Audio: Joe Roberts comes to PJC
July 10, 2009
Ricky Di
Published: October 11, 2006
On October 10, Joe Roberts dropped by the PJC Student Center to chat with students about his campaign. Studnets got to know Roberts and hear about the issues he plans to address.
Corsair Editor-in-Chief, Jennifer Rich-Neal, sat down with Roberts to further discuss these issues.
