Cell Phone Fury

 We use them every day. They help us communicate to anyone in the world. Oh, and one more thing, they could possibly give off harmful radiation to damage your brain. Can you guess what it is? If you guessed a cell phone, then you are correct. Recent studies have shown that all cell phones could possibly be giving off harmful radiation. According to Kate Murphy of the New York Times, cell phone radiation can be caused while holding the phone up to your ear during a phone call, and even direct contact such as placing the phone in your pocket (Par 5). Murphy also says that some studies have shown that “there is a link between cell phone use and cancer, bone density loss, and infertility in men.” (Par 6). According to Dr. Valcow, a scientist in the study of these phones, the flip phone that she used in her experiment gave off radiation. She also discovered that since the technology in these phones have gotten so much more advanced; more radiation is likely in the recent smart phones (Par 7).

There have been some great discoveries in how to decrease the amount of radiation exposure. One option to limit the amount of radiation one receives with their cell phone is to carry it in a purse or a belt clip in order to avoid direct contact with the phone. Another option to limit the amount of radiation exposure is to hold the phone away from you when on a call and putting the phone on speaker. Another alternative similar to this is to use a wired headset to talk on the phone. If none of these options are available, one alternative that still puts off a smaller amount of radiation is using a wireless Bluetooth device. Even though this puts off some radiation, it still is less than the cell phone.

I am aware that people could not live or communicate near as efficiently as having a cell phone. Even I would probably freak out if I did not own a cell phone. I recommend that everyone that frequently uses a cell phone for any purpose to find a different means of carrying this device than a pocket and to use a different mode of talking on the phone than pressing your ear up to the phone. I am just trying to inform every one of the dangers of these cell phones and wish to offer these positive alternatives to use in order to limit radiation exposure.

Photograph: Cell Phone originally uploaded by BFS Man

Works Cited



Murphy, Kate. "Cellphone Radiation May Alter Your Brain. Let’s Talk." New York Times. New York Times, 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <Cellphone Radiation May Alter Your Brain. Let’s Talk.>.

Fisher, Mike. Cell Phone. 2010. Photograph. Flickr, Houston, TX.

Unexpectedly Unhealthy?

                Nobody goes to McDonald’s with the intentions of eating healthy and saving themselves a few calories for lunch. People go to McDonald’s fully aware of the unhealthy ingredients that they add to their food. The public just cannot help to satisfy the unhealthy craving of sweet and fattening foods. This is a challenge that every American faces.

                While McDonald’s has tried to add “a selection of balanced choices,” according to New York Times’ Mark Bittman (Par 5), they have completely failed in their attempt to incorporate oatmeal into their breakfast menu. Bittman says that rather than just keeping oatmeal as it comes, McDonald’s compliments the normally healthy meal with sugar, sweetened dried fruits, cream, and brown sugar (Par 6). This just goes to show that McDonald’s cannot stay true to their word of creating a more nutritional option to their breakfast menu. Not only is the new food option that people can now choose unhealthily filled with artificial sweeteners and sugars, but according to Mark Bittman, in New York the meal costs $2.38 per serving in New York (Par 5)! This is more than the double cheeseburger that McDonald’s sells on the dollar menu! This is ridiculously outrageous compared to the healthy oatmeal that one can find at a local Wal-Mart for around 75 cents to a dollar!

                The insanely modified oatmeal is shown to be unhealthy according to Bittman. He claims that the oatmeal has “more sugar than a Snickers bar and only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger or Egg McMuffin.” He goes on to say that this is even without the brown sugar added! (Par 10).

                I cannot believe that McDonald’s would make such false claims to try to appeal to customers. A healthy choice is definitely not what they have created for people. They have only created another item for people to feed their addiction with and possible even obtain obesity. I believe that if McDonald’s truly wanted to create a healthy option for a meal, they would not add any artificial preservatives; rather they would just leave it alone and allow the meal to speak for itself. McDonald’s either needs to tell  the public the truth in their advertising or begin to add items that are truly healthy to their menu.

 Photograph: Oatmeal originally uploaded by theimpulsivebuy

Works Cited

Bittman, Mark. "How to Make Oatmeal . . . Wrong - NYTimes.com." Opinion - Opinionator - NYTimes.com. New York Times, 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/how-to-make-oatmeal-wrong/?src=me&ref=general>.

McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal Closeup. 2010. Photograph. Flikr.