"I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole."

Though I think I've mentioned him in one or two of my other posts, I have never formally introduced my brother Evan.

And now I have.

I'm featuring Evan for this week's topic mainly because he inspired this week's topic. Although he is not a full-fledged germaphobe, nor OCD about germs and cleaning, he is rather acutely aware of other people's less than hygienic habits.

"I'm grossed out by things easily. In general, other people gross me out." That's how he put it. And believe me, just because I'm family doesn't mean I'm excluded from that statement in any way. Nor my dad. Nor my mom. All people gross him out.

So this week I'm letting him tell his side, partially because it was rather fascinating to hear what bothers him exactly and why, and partially because I owe it to him for all those times I teased him (to my shame) about the way he wouldn't drink or eat after us. (Maybe this is a good time to confess that I even drank out of his drink once or twice and didn't tell him. I won't rat my dad out though...)

Excuse me, exactly how many germs are on that?

Apparently, I'm always one day behind. During my last week of blog posting, I found out about America Recycles Day the day after this national go green day. This time, I found tips for staying germ free during Thanksgiving...on Black Friday. Oh, well. Today is Thanksgiving in my mind. My mom was sick yesterday, so we decided to postpone the big feast one day.

The fact that my mom got sick at such an "inconvenient" time (Isn't that what always happens?) made me think about what caused her 24 hour virus. Germs obviously. But could she have avoided getting sick by being a little more OCD about germs? Perhaps so.

Now just a little clarification, in this week's topic I'm not exactly arguing for full-fledged germaphobia, which is actually considered a mental condition. (You should read some of the online germaphobe chat rooms where people advise other people how to calm themselves from a traumatic germ experience by sitting down and taking deep calming breaths for 15 minutes. And here's a funny article about "Confessions of a Germaphobe.") Actually, I'm arguing for being more germ-aware.

Maybe you're wondering, "Am I a germaphobe?" Chances are, you're not. But to find out how germaphobic (or germ-aware) you actually are, take this short quiz.

After researching germs for a while, I've been enlightened about the billions of germs waiting out there. If you wish to remain ignorant about how much grossness lurks on everyday items, don't watch this video.  

Scary isn't it? You'll probably be repulsed forever now by your toothbrush and ice and lemons from restaurants.

So what are some ways to keep those germs away?

Week 9: Obsessed with Sanitation vs. Building your Immune System

I took a week off, but now I'm back with a new and exciting topic! I tend to be the one who eats/drinks after (almost) anyone, with the reasoning that I'm building up my immune system with every new little germ I intake. This philosophy typically works too. I rarely get sick, and I definitely get sick less than my friends who are extremely careful to avoid germs.

But I know plenty of people who are the opposite. They avoid eating or drinking after others (even family), use hand sanitizer or wash their hands frequently. Some people I know do this because they are trying to avoid getting sick, but others are simply grossed out by the thought of sharing other people's germs.

So this week I'll be taking the position of what most people affectionately call "germaphobes."

On this issue, people sometimes have a very difficult time understanding the other side. Non-germaphobes find the obsession annoying, and often rather rude and snobbish. Germaphobes are often repulsed by the "nons" habits/practices of sharing and supposed "lack of sanitation." Hopefully, this week I can help share how germaphobes really feel, and why they obsess about sanitation. 

Jess Meyer: Advice about recycling from Down Under

Meet Jess Meyer, a senior international studies major, who grew up Australia. Beside the fact that Jess grew up speaking a with a different accent in a country 8-9,000 miles away, she said there is one major difference between Australia and the United States. Australia is clean.

She said that in Australia, you never see trash anywhere, whether in the streets, the mall, or wherever, on the ground. "People are very quick to pick trash up."

According to Jess, one of the main reasons Australians are so conscientious about littering has to do with the fact that Australians love animals. "If you threw a piece of trash on the ground an Australian would probably come up and give you a lecture about what animals could possibly eat the trash and die," she said. A website about Australia said, "Australia has more than 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal."

Since Australians don't leave trash laying around, it naturally follows that they'd be in favor of recycling, which they are. Jess said the Australian government really pushes recycling, but Australians are already very conscientious about it.

Jess gave several reasons in favor of recycling:

Give that plastic bottle a chance.

America Recycles Day was yesterday, November 15. RecycleSpot.org defines it as "a national campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and buying products made with recycled materials."

Millions of people across America took part in this day, many joining or hosting "recycling events."

Recycling has many benefits. Saving the environment (i.e. the ocean, animals, and trees), reducing the use of toxic chemicals and the need for landfills, saving money/good for the economy.

I'm not going to attempt to argue for all of it, but I will show how one small thing can make a great impact for good or bad.

So let's take the recycled plastic bottle, for example. You might think a plastic bottle can only be recycled into more plastic. Not true! Although many recycled plastic bottles are molded into "new" plastic shapes, like lawn chairs and CD cases, many of the bottles are cut down into little flakes, turned into fibers, and then used to make fabric. That fabric is then turned into various articles of clothing, such as, t-shirts, hats, and bags, or insulation for sleeping bags or bedding. Amazing isn't it? Take a look at the exact process of turning a plastic bottle into a t-shirt.

I was thinking about the comment my friend made in my last post, "Everything we have or make comes from the earth, and it's going to decompose back into the earth at some point." So I decided to research if what she said was accurate. The first article that appeared after I Google searched, "How long does it take a plastic bottle to decompose?" refuted my friend's statement. 450 years at least. That's how long most plastic bottles take to decompose. So if I throw a bottle on the ground, it would take 5 or 6 generations after me for that bottle to biodegrade. The article went on to say, "Bottles made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) will never biodegrade."

I've only focused on one small aspect (plastic bottles) of recycling, but many other materials, such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, etc., can also be recycled.

You don't have to wait until Nov. 15 next year to start recycling. Taking care of the world God gave us starts with each individual making a difference each day. So take time to recycle that plastic bottle because, after all, plastic bottles dream big too.

Week 8: To Recycle or Not to Recycle?

Recycling, upcycling, "going green." Society today is consumed with saving the planet and bettering it for future generations.

I used to adamantly say, "What's the point of recycling? This world can't perish until God destroys it." Honestly, that is true. Also, I know that we should care about and for the earth—God "put (Adam) in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it," (Gen 2:15 ESV) and Genesis 1:28 says that God told man to subdue and have dominion over the earth—but failing to recycle some plastic bottles won't destroy the planet.

I heard one friend put it this way, "Everything we have or make comes from the earth, and it's going to decompose back into the earth at some point."

So while I'm not as flippant or dogmatic in my stance "against" recycling as I used to be, I'm still not crazy about "going green." And I'm sorry, but I don't go out of my way to recycle.

This week however, I'm going to learn more about recycling and why people do it. I'm going to defend and support recycling. And just maybe, I'll come out of it wanting to "go green."

Apple "follower" Josh Hilliard: Apple is easy to use

The extent of my knowledge of Apple products like Macs and iPhones consists of me checking Facebook or calling from those devices for, at the most, five minutes. So in order to argue fairly for Apple, I knew I needed to talk to someone who actually owned those products.

Meet Josh Hilliard, one of my fellow journalism and mass communication majors. When I asked him if he considered himself an Apple follower, he replied, "Yeah, I am." He owns not only a Mac, but also an iPhone and an iPad mini.

Josh wasn't always hooked on Apple, though. He actually grew up using Windows. I asked him what made him switch, and he said it was because at home, they used an old Windows desktop, and he was always frustrated with it. He had never really tried the Apple operating system, but figured it had to be better than Windows. So when it was time to go to college, he decided to make the switch to Apple.

He started off with the Macbook, and then got the iPhone for his music and iPad mini to put books on it. Josh said one of the best things about it is that they're all connected wirelessly, so he can sync his files, music, etc. if each device is connected to WiFi.

And for the past two or three years, Josh has continued to stick with Apple products mainly because it's so easy to go back and forth between his iPad mini, iPhone and Mac. He has "pages" or Google docs where he takes notes on his iPad in class, and then transfers the notes to his other Apple devices later.

Also, Josh likes his Mac more than other PCs because the interface  seems easier to use. He especially likes the trackpad and its multi-touch gestures, which you use to tap open apps and swipe to different desktop screens. "It was intuitive for me to learn (it)." he said.

According to Josh, since Macs are easier to use, they save you lots of time and stress that Windows wouldn't. For Josh, this is what makes the Mac worth the higher price-tag.

His summary: "In general, Apple seems easier to use."

What's so appealing about Apple?

I admit. I came extremely close to titling this post with a very cheesy play-on-words..."Apple-ealing"...or something like that. So close, in fact, that I had to include it in my opening paragraph. "You're welcome" or "I'm sorry." Whichever applies.

Anyway, on to the real point of this post. As I mentioned in my last post, more than 55 million homes in America use Apple products, and they must have a pretty good reason for doing so, especially since Apple products come with such a high price tag. Following are just a few of the reasons people love Apple products:

1) Simplicity--"Macs are easy to use" is the general consensus by most. And since Mac's operating system hides most of the "unnecessary" stuff (for us non-tech savvy people) and provides nice little apps to click on instead of making users search through hidden files, many people prefer it.

2) Safety--i.e. Minimal viruses. Though there is always a possibility for your computer to get a virus, Computer Hope says, "the likelihood of an Apple Macintosh user getting a virus when compared to a Microsoft Windows user is very little to none."  Why is this? One site said the reason for the security of Apple products is because not many viruses have been designed for Macs yet, and also, because most of the viruses that have been created are designed not to penetrate Mac's operating system (OS), but for gullible users. Many Apple users don't even have antivirus software and can ultimately save money in the long run because just removing one virus can cost several hundred dollars. Computer savvy people advise that the best way to keep viruses out of your Mac is to keep your computer's system updated. That and don't click on things that look even remotely suspicious.

3) Consistency and Predictability--This site says, "OS X's (Macs operating system) logical, minimalist interface simply involves fewer things that must be learned and relearned." And Mac users typically have less trouble with their computers crashing or slowing down. This consistency can be very helpful at crunch-time for that English paper or project.

4) Compatibility--One of the coolest features of Apple is that all of it's products can be synced to one another. Also, according to this site, Apple products are more compatible with Microsoft Office than people realize, and Apple products continue to grow in compatibility with other "peripheral" products.

There are other reasons people choose Apple products, but these are some of the most appealing ones.

Week 7: Mac vs. PC

I know. I know. Mac is a PC (personal computer). For all you computer geniuses--I did it on purpose for the rest of the us because that's how everyone differentiates between Apple and anything with Windows, Linux or other operating system.

I'm taking a big risk choosing this topic. My brother would probably joke that I'm crossing some sort of line. He's one of those computer geniuses, and ever since I can remember he's disliked Mac/Apple. Hence, to this day, when someone asks one of those top 10 make-or-break relationship question, "Mac or PC?" I always answer, "PC."

This week, however, I'll lay aside my familial bias toward PC and argue for Mac.

No one doubts the fact that Apple has become a great company. Not when half of American households own an Apple product. "More than 55 million homes," USAToday and CNBC reported last year.

So this week, bring on the iWorld.

P.S.--Please forgive me for typing these posts on a non-Mac PC. It would take me twice as long if I tried to learn how to operate a Mac just for one week of blogging.

Cameron Hall: (unofficial) Coffee Connoisseur

On a college campus, it's quite easy to find people who love coffee, but I was looking for someone a little more specific. Someone who could defend the cause of coffee for a higher reason than caffeine addiction. Someone who appreciated the nuances of coffee like I appreciate the nuances of tea.

So let me introduce you to Cameron Hall, a senior business major here at my university. He started drinking coffee for the caffeine his sophomore year of college. During finals week, he was really tired and decided to start drinking coffee. "There were peppermint mochas, so that's what I got started on," he said.

However, it was when I asked Cameron to describe drinking a cup of coffee that I knew I was talking not to a coffee drinker, but a coffee connoisseur (like my dad.) How did I know? He didn't answer with one description, but instead said the experience varies based on what type of coffee he's drinking at the time. By types of coffee, he meant origins--or where the coffee is from--and roasts. (Here's a comprehensive list of different roasts.)

Taking a sip: first the body, which is the the feel of the coffee, hits your tongue. And depending on the origin or roast, the body is always different . Then you dissect the different notes or flavors that come from the beans. Some coffees are more acidic, others have chocolate or fruity or spicy notes.

To savor the full effect, Cameron drinks his coffee in small sips so he can taste each one of the notes that particular cup of coffee has.

But why does Cameron prefer coffee over tea? Simpy because he prefers the flavor of coffee better. "I don't like the plant notes you get out of tea. And also, tea has a lot lighter flavor to me than coffee," he said.

He also just enjoys the learning process. "There are different things you can experience (with coffee), and the ways you can be hands on with your coffee are almost endless." Like different kinds of brewing methods for instance. He said it's pretty easy even to start roasting your own coffee beans. "It's just fun to experiment with it. Plus, you don't have to pay four bucks to go buy a cup at Starbucks once you've gotten good at making coffee."

Can't top that argument!

Drink More Coffee!

So I thought about proving how coffee is better than tea health-wise or something, but apparently, they're about equally beneficial.

If you're looking to add to your list of reasons to drink coffee, this guy gives some other possible benefits of coffee, like providing antioxidants, making you smarter, helping you burn fat, decrease your risk of liver problems, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. (I have to disagree with his "lower your risk of death" point since I'm pretty sure that there isn't anything humanly we can do to lower our risk of dying.)

So instead, I thought it'd be fun to just pick several of the coffee "types," tell a little bit about each, and Starbucks gives some nutrition facts and fun facts under each category.

1) Espresso is the base for all other coffee drinks. It's a higher concentration of coffee and has more caffeine per unit volume, so it's served in a smaller "shot-glass" sized coffee mug.

2) Caffè macchiato is just one step up from espresso because it just adds a little bit of milk and foam on top. The name literally means "espresso stained/marked with milk." Try a Caramel or Hazelnut Macchiato (hot or cold.)

3) Lattes or caffellatte (in Italian) which means "milk coffee" because it's a mixture of coffee and steamed milk. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of lattes is, of course, Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte. Need I say more? Lattes are probably my favorite coffee drink, especially when "over-ice" or chilled (crushed up ice). Oh, and since Starbucks is about to move on to other holiday drinks, here's a way to keep that pumpkin spice going year-round. aka-diy! (Let me know if it's any good.)