Friday Roundup

Here is a listing of articles of interest published within the last 7-10 days:

Health
1. Bill Gates gives another $100 million to fund polio vaccination, PC World, February 2, 2011
Brief Intro:"At last week's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Gates pledged an additional US$100 million to a global effort that seeks to wipe out wild polio virus transmissions by the end of next year."

2. Americans not doing enough to control cholesterol and blood pressure, All Headline News, February 2, 2011
Brief Intro:"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says two out of three U.S. adults with high cholesterol and half of those with high blood pressure are not being treated properly.

Heart attacks, strokes and other vascular diseases kill about 800,000 Americans every year. Of these, 150,000 are younger than 65 years old. Cardiovascular disease costs the United States about $300 billion every year.

3. California ranks near bottom in kids' health care, SFGate, February 2, 2011
Brief Intro:"The study, by the Commonwealth Fund, ranked the state 44th in comparison with the other 49 states and the District of Columbia. The study found California especially inadequate in delivering affordable care for children. The scorecard was based on 20 measures, including access to care, prevention and treatment."

4. EPA to set limits on chemicals in drinking water, Cnn.com, February 2, 2011
Brief Intro:"The Environmental Protection Agency will set a limit on the amount of the chemical perchlorate, as well as other "toxic contaminants," in drinking water, it announced Wednesday.

The national regulation on perchlorate will reverse a 2008 decision made by President George W. Bush's administration, the agency said in a statement. It comes after EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson ordered agency scientists to review "the emerging science of perchlorate."

Race
1. Readers debate the concept of race, NYT.com, January 31, 2011
Brief Intro:"Is race an imaginary category that should be thrown out? “Yes,” proclaimed many readers who commented on Susan Saulny’s article about the increasing number of Americans who identify as mixed-race. "

2. More young Americans identify as mixed-race, NYT.com, January 29, 2011
Brief Intro:"The crop of students moving through college right now includes the largest group of mixed-race people ever to come of age in the United States, and they are only the vanguard: the country is in the midst of a demographic shift driven by immigration and intermarriage.

3. Census shows big gains for U.S. minorities, MSNBC.com, February 3, 2011
Brief Intro:" U.S. racial minorities accounted for roughly 85 percent of the nation's population growth over the last decade — one of the largest shares ever — with Hispanics accounting for much of the gain in many of the states picking up new House seats."