Literacy Blog 10

1) What are the benefits of global warming, according to the author?

Governments are benefiting from it financially, which is allowing people to have the necessary precautions for storms, drought, and disease. 


2) How will increasing wealth enable us to adapt to climate change in the future?

 "Global warming has so far cut heating bills more than it has raised cooling bills. If it resumes after its current 17-year hiatus, and if the energy efficiency of our homes improves, then at some point the cost of cooling probably will exceed the cost of heating — probably from about 2035, Prof Tol estimates."


3) Why should we care if climate change has caused a 1.4% increase in global economic output?

 Because For some people, this means the difference between survival and starvation.


4) Is it possible to compare the costs and benefits of global warming? If so, what does this tell us about what policies we should make? If not, what does this tell us about the policies we should make?

I don't think it's really possible to completely lay our the overall costs and benefits of global warming. 

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9057151/carry-on-warming/

Literacy Blog 9

I feel that this is pretty crazy, but also very believable because many people in this country are obese and this may be one of the reasons why. Many people no good and well that these kinds of foods, whether they be cakes, crackers, ice cream, candy, etc, are bad for them... but they don't stop eating them. Other people keep away freom them but see them as a reward. If i run 4 miles today, I get five oreos. That would be my grattification for acheiving that goal. Either way, these foods fill a significant place in our brains- a place that creates pleasure. The taste of sugary and fatty foods seem to create a pleasurable feeling neurologically for us. I think its because if its something that we aren't suppose to have, we want it. And the fact that our taste buds react positively to sweet things also goes along with that. This is probably why we find these foods as a reward. I thing it is slightly different from taking drugs, however, because it seems to me that drugs feel like such a need. They have to have it, or that is what their body is telling them. But food is more of a want. Food is more of a comfort thing and drugs are more of a'trip'. Drugs are used to forget pain and reality. But I feel like in extreme cases of food addiction, food can have the same effects as drugs. I know that "Even though we associate significant health hazards in taking drugs like cocaine and morphine, high-fat/high-sugar foods may present even more of a danger because of their accessibility and affordability." The risk of extreme obesity is way higher, because debbie cakes and oreos are a lot cheaper than cocain, or crystal meth. I feel that this is a serious problem.