- Cohen, J. (2010, July/August). Can AIDS be cured? Technology Review, 113, 44-51.
This article addresses the newest ideas on the eradication of HIV in infected individuals. While the article's main focus surrounds one specific ongoing experiment involving mice at the University of Southern California, it touches on a specific patient's story in beating the odds. Covering aspects of research from cost to biologic and genetic influences, Cohen visits in depth the recurring trials and tribulations facing finding a cure to this devastating disease. The article also explains the zinc finger nuclease enzyme designed by Sangamo Biosciences and how it specifically targets and disrupts responsible genes utilized by the virus to establish infection. In addition, Cohen briefly highlights research conducted throughout the United States, undoubtedly giving hope to those who suffer as well as edifying those who diligently seek to find a cure.
- Ming, C., Chul-Su, S., van den Dool, H.M., Wanqui, W., Saha, S., & Kumar, A. (2009, August).
The role of long-term trends in seasonal prediction: implication of global warming in the
NCEP CFS. Weather & Forecasting, 24, 965-973.
Written by a collaboration of authors from Florida State University's Department of Meteorology, and NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Climate Prediction Center, this article is directed at a scientific community with at least a moderate familiarity with and background in meteorology and its associated jargon. It thoroughly and very technically addresses the analysis of "retrospective seasonal climate predictions" covering a 25 year period between 1982 and 2006. The central point is to highlight a trend in the data and suggest a correlation between greenhouse gases, volcanic eruptions, and the 1997-1998 El Niño event as well as cover the significance of these events in future weather predictions.
- All possible worlds. (1997, January 25). Economist, 342, 71-73.
The introduction of this article includes a formula written in 1961 by Dr. Drake. This formula was devised specifically to answer the question, "What is the likelihood of life on other planets?" It is a simple calculation, with a half-dozen or so variables designed to project the number of planets in the universe sustaining life. In addition to this, the article covers some of the common techniques of predicting life-sustaining planets based on the composition of stars, chemical composition of rocky planets, and ratios of elements commonly known to support life on earth (such as liquid water) coupled with the distance each planet is located from their respective star. It also outlines some of the methods used for locating these systems, like radio transmissions or infrared.
- Horn, M. (2010, March/April). Roadmap to the electric car economy. Futurist, 44, 40-45.
With a background in material science research at Northrop Grumman's corporate center, Michael Horn has an excellent perspective on this issue from sheer experience. That is evident in his article about evolving the electric car economy. He begins with the problems of America's oil dependency and continues with a stark contrast of the benefits of the electric car. The article then goes into further detail describing what it will take to overcome the challenges of making the electric car a viable alternative - such as feasibility of charge stations and standardization. Overall, his outlook is positive and progressive. There is no question where he stands on the issue, and this article displays the research to back him up.
- Keller, G. (2005, August/October). Impacts, volcanism and mass extinction: random coincidence or cause and effect? Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 52, 725-757.
From the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University, Keller writes this lengthy and in-depth article about the correlation or coincidence between mass extinction and large impacts in Earth's history. Keller confronts the debates about the five major mass extinctions in history, challenging commonly accepted explanations regarding extinction as a direct result of impact and suggesting the possible secondary and tertiary explanations such as ecologic crises involving volcanism, changing climate and plate tectonics. Decidedly written for the scientific community, this article offers technical data corresponding to pre-historical geologic events as well as the errors inherent in the measurements of such cataclysms.
- Gangadharbatla, H. (2008, Spring). Facebook me: Collective self-esteem, need to belong, and internet self-efficacy as predictors of the iGeneration's attitudes toaward social networking sites. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 8, 1-28.
I chose this article to represent the topic for two reasons: because Gangadharbatla is a Ph.D. and assitant professor in the department of advertising at the College of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University, and because it directly addresses the underlying generational psychological issues of why social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook are so successful. The article highlights the common denominator in such sites - the ability for users to "connect and communicate with one another," the provision of each users' own unique "space," and how these aspects interact with the generation's need for a sense of belongingness and social self-esteem. Furthermore, it draws the conclusion that since these sites fill the strong needs of this generation in those arenas, more subscribers are likely to spend money on services that continue to fulfill these needs. This in turn draws popularity as well as monetary success to those who endeavor to provide these sites.
- Recio, B. (2009, November/December). Psyche and the winter solstice. Organic Spa Magazine, 3, 100-102.
There are a lot of sub-conscious factors to the way we feel and behave. Recio takes an introspective stance in this article by daring the admission of the effects of natural phenomenon in human experience. He covers the subtle effects of winter; the onset of the cold, the loss of leafy green life, migration of songbirds and the ever-growing darkness are portrayed as natural symbols of dormancy and death- a dark rest from growth. The article acknowledges the natural rhythmic cycle of life and death, spring and winter. It recognizes the humanistic attempt to combat this depression with the fiery warmth of the yule log as a gesture of "rekindling the sun with sacred fire." It clearly expresses that though we may "blame the holidays" for this innate feeling, we simply fail to see that it is in fact the holidays we created as an attempt to bring joy as a means of coping with this natural but lonely feeling of alienation.
- Gerardi, K., Lehnert, A., Sherland, S., & Willen, P. (2009, February). Making sense of the subprime crisis. Working Paper Series (Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta), 2, 1-74.
Gerardi, Lehnert, Sherland and Willen compose a thoroughly comprehensive article exploring foreclosures in 2007 and 2008 stemming from loans in previous years and whether or not lenders unnecessarily risked loans even though "analysts, on the whole, understood that a fall in prices would have disastrous consequences for the market but assigned a low probability to such an outcome." Economically coherent but written to an audience technically grounded in the language of home-marketing, this article proposes detailed charts, graphs and other statistical evidence supporting its point. It provides a well-thought out and researched explanation to the question of the 2008 housing market decline.
- Pollard, T., Chesbro, J, & Studinski, D. (2009, November/December). The role of the internet in presidential campaigns. Communication Studies, 60, 574-588.
I chose this article to represent the subject for one reason: it specifically "examines the various roles and functions of the Internet predominantly in the Democratic primaries from January 1, 2008 through June 3, 2008." It covers how the internet evolved how the general public interacts with politics and politicians. For the first time in history, a significant part of the voting community was researching and addressing politicians directly - online. In addition, candidates were cognizant of and proactively utilizing the benefits of this mass-media device (such as social networking sites) for the profit of their campaign. Wading through the mountainous statistics in this article, you can recognize and appreciate how each of the primary candidates developed the internet to their own respective campaign purposes.
- Esbeck, C. (2004). Dissent and disestablishment: the church-state settlement in early American republic. Brigham Young University Law Review, 4, 1385-1592.
In order to fully answer the question of whether religion is playing a bigger or smaller role in American society, I must first appropriately depict society's religious atmosphere and influence in early America. I found this review comprehensive; it cites multiple specific court cases as well as a vast spectrum of literature throughout the history of the country. This article leaves no doubt that our country's struggle for separation of church and state has been just that - filled with strides and setbacks. It is sometimes difficult to see the progress we've made in sloughing the yoke of religious governance because of our relatively small window of observation compared to the life span of America, and because of the dilation of situational gravity inherently experienced given distance in time from the events of the past. However, this historical perspective balances that blindness by clearly refreshing those pivotal moments in early America as well as bringing to light information we may have never been exposed to otherwise.
- Ahsenfelter, Orley, and Kathryn Graddy. "Auctions and the Price of Art." Journal of Economic Literature 41.3 (2003): 763-787.
The question "what makes art valuable" is a difficult one whose answer is mired in statistics, speculation, and the fickleness of fad. I like Ahsenfelter and Graddy's attempt to answer this mystery because their approach is much like the art that makes the most at auction: it is avant-garde. This 26 page read is long enough to deliver a thorough understanding of the auction system and methods for determining valuation of art without achieving the dullness of over-analysis. Even while the article delves into the mathematical equations involved in the pseudoscience (or "art" if you will) of projecting worth onto unique pieces of creativity, it retains the character and readability necessary to address audiences unfamiliar with the art auction world. In addition, this article is well-peppered with interesting demonstrations and easy-to-read tables which effectively support the facts and opinions presented.
- Thompson, Ayanna. "Rewriting the 'Real': Popular Shakespeare in the 1990s." Journal of Popular Culture 40.6 (2007): 1052-1072.
Although I don't particularly agree with the author and I dislike the specificity of addressing Shakespeare's works solely in terms of a particular decade, I find this article to have some redeeming qualities that make it an applicable and worth-while resource. Firstly, the fact that it was written at all and in such a specific way only underscores Shakespeare's ability to write themes relevant to times centuries in the future. Secondly, it discusses how the success of modern films which revisit these themes is connected with the modern-day audience's ability to identify with the situations and characters. Finally, Thompson makes a curious proposition: perhaps Shakespeare's timelessness is correlated to the public's desire for the romanticized "reality" his screen-plays provide in contrast to the stark absence of it on the day to day stage of life - even if it is a tragedy.
- Markels, Alex. "Fighting the Status Quo." Mysteries of History: The Ancient World (January 2004): 36-39.
In one simple saying, Socrates defines the essence of and reason for philosophy - "the unexamined life is not worth living." This is one of the many examples Markels uses to make an excellent argument for why Socrates could be considered the greatest philosopher of all time. This exposition displays how Socrates' approach to understanding life has greatly influenced, if not built, the philosophic community. Along with a brief biography, the article outlines some of his most famous questions and views, cap-stoning with the important symbolism of his willingness to pay for his beliefs with his life.
- Ross, Alex. "The Storm of Style." New Yorker 82.22 (2006): 66.
Certainly, "the best composer of all time" is purely a matter of opinion. However, an exceptional argument can be made for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, if only for the prodigy of his technical ability. "The Storm of Style" artfully portrays his life and influence on classical music ranging from the novelty and ingenuity that swept his time by storm to the creativity of his work that still captivates the world today. It is evident from the article that Ross has done his research. I particularly like the excerpts from letters written by Mozart and those who knew him because they draw you in to the time; they eloquently depict of the deep and vibrant impression that Mozart made on those around him.
- Steffensen, Ingrid. "Frank Lloyd Wright and the 'Gift' of Genius." Journal of American Culture 32.3 (2009): 257-266
Steffensen does an admirable job of what many authors do: explaining why Frank Lloyd Wright's creations deserve celebration and accolade. However, what sets this article apart from the numerous other pieces praising his genius is that, as Steffensen posits, "He got that way not merely by dint of his revolutionary ideas, Herculean output, and sheer, undeniable talent, but also because he was one of the first architects to harness the modern media machine for his own purposes." It is a brilliant admonition that artistic "genius" is more than a matter of merit and talent - to a large degree, it involves selling yourself. This is something Wright was as successful at as being an architect; he knew how to make people believe he was great.
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