Candace Rowell

There are no rules.

March 26, 2012

The only rule is that there are no rules. There may be guidelines. But there are no rules. I like rules, even if it’s just for the principle of breaking them. I enjoy rules. Communication, especially through social media, is not bound by rules. It’s an art not an exact science. It’s subjective and dynamic. [...]

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Using banana peels to remove metals from polluted water: an aPEELING option

March 19, 2012

Researchers have found banana peels can remove toxic metals from contaminated water just as well as many expensive laboratory methods.  Access to Clean Water: A Basic Human Right  A simple turn of the faucet delivers an endless supply of clean and refreshing H2O – in our homes, our offices, and even water used to flush our [...]

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Status Update: Facebook Makes Us Happy

March 12, 2012

It’s scientific. Facebook actually improves our mood. I don’t consider myself “plugged-in” or “connected,” but even I tend to check my Facebook account about 5 times a day. This is considerably less than many people who check their accounts more than 5 times an hour. Why do we do this? What is it about Facebook [...]

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Sleeping Pills: A Risky Night’s Sleep

March 5, 2012

My family loves sleeping pills. At least the women do. My mom, my grandma, and I’m pretty sure at least one of my aunts [the other one is secretive about her medication usage] all take a sleeping pill several nights a week before they hit the sack. Ambien is their drug of choice. Until now, [...]

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The Great Depression: Working Overtime

February 27, 2012

We work hard. We go to work or we go to school [if we’re really lucky we do both] and we work hard. We put in our eight hours a day and then most of us just keep going. Maybe we’re chasing dreams. Maybe we’re just working to make ends meet. But we’re working long [...]

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Arsenic: The Unwanted Ingredient

February 20, 2012

I wouldn’t knowingly eat arsenic every day. It’s just not something that sounds appetizing. Unfortunately, I unknowingly ingest arsenic on a daily basis.  And so do millions of others. Maybe you’ve heard concerns regarding arsenic in drinking water. Emerging evidence is now indicating our diets may be exposing us to harmful arsenic compounds. Arsenic is [...]

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The EPA’s New Mercury Regulations, a Pro-Life Move?

February 13, 2012

In the News: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues the first national standards for mercury pollution from power plants. The rules are expected to publish in the Federal Register on February 16, 2012. The EPA is pro-life. Wait. What? For the past year, the Environmental Evangelical Network (EEN) has been heavily supporting the EPA’s movement [...]

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Cure for HIV? Traditional Healers and Global Health

February 6, 2012

In Swahili he is called Babu wa Loliondo. English translates to Grandfather of Loliondo, and he can cure HIV/AIDS- according to many. They travel from miles around. They flood in from all over the country. They are seeking the care of Babu. The medication comes from a native tree known as Mugariga. Prepared by boiling [...]

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No Silver Lining: Lead Exposure and a Pessimistic Outlook.

January 30, 2012

What if you lost the ability to “look on the bright side?” Or, found it increasingly difficult to “see the glass half-full?” And, what if you found out this was related to a life-time exposure to lead? A recent study found a direct and independent link between long-term lead exposure and pessimism. This study is [...]

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Hydraulic Fracturing: It’ll ROCK your world

January 23, 2012

It’s not a touching story. It’s not going to move you to tears. But hydraulic fracturing can affect water quality, water quantity, and just might shake you up. Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is not a new concept. In fact, the technology can be traced back as far the 1860’s. Why, then, is there so much fracking hype today? Hydraulic [...]

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Silent Discrimination: Issues of Environmental Justice

January 16, 2012

Poor air quality. Close proximity to hazardous waste sites. Increased asthma rates. Urban black neighborhood. As Americans we are promised certain rights regardless of race. But science shows the right to breathe clean air can have racial boundaries. Health studies indicate low-income, predominantly black neighborhoods experience the highest burden of pollution in the United States. [...]

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