I checked yahoo and google and they were all abuzz with the news, but disbelief was still lodged within me. So I put

my ear to the street (so to speak) and went to the one place I knew I would get the answer: Facebook. All of my

friends’ status messages were Michael Jackson related. There were R.I.P messages, profile pictures changed to his

image, and new “R.I.P. Michael Jackson” Facebook groups had already been created.

I left from inside of the laundromat and went to sit in my car to collect my thoughts. When I turned on the radio,

EVERY station was playing Michael Jackson songs back to back. That is when the weight of it hit me: The King of Pop

was surely dead.

I can’t explain the melancholy I felt over the next few days. I was actually embarrassed and surprised that I cared so

much. In my everyday life I didn’t think much about him, but his passing reminded me just how important he was to

the soundtrack of my life.

FROM THE DESK OF B.DAOn June 25 I was happily at the laundromat, washing all of our

comforters and feeling really domestic when I received a text from my

friend that said simply, “Michael Jackson has died. He was 50 years

old.”

The weight of that statement didn’t hit me immediately. I figured it

was a random text, a joke of some sort, but decided to check the

Internet to see what thus sayeth the newsfeeds.(Me paying my respects at the birth home of

Michael Jackson)

the soundtrack of my life.

When I returned home that evening and turned on the television, it seemed that all of the major stations were

paying tribute to Michael Jackson and his musical legacy. Not even 7 hours after he had been pronounced dead, NBC

debuted a special tribute program for Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, who had also recently died.

Elsewhere in television-land, VH1 and MTV were playing all of Michael Jackson’s videos. As I watched them, I was

taken back to different periods of my life. For each video played, there was something in the music, something in

the movements, something in the dance steps, something in the song lyrics, something in the outfits, that took me

back.

The Sunday after his death I attended church service and the Pastor preached a sermon entitled, “The Man in the

Mirror.” He tied in the lyrics of the song to James 1:19-25. They even showed Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”

video during the sermon. I was moved to tears. The IMPACT this man had on the world!

On my way home from church service, I found myself in a prayerful and tearful conversation with the Lord

and I prayed ever so fervently that God bless me to have that kind of impact in life on the world. It’s not

merely for my own gain that I look to be successful. I choose to be successful in the hopes of

positively impacting others…and my prayer is that I get closer to that goal;

issue by issue…page by page.

Read and be blessed,

BB..dada OsoOso StarChildStarChild

Items appearing in StarChild are protected by federal copyright laws. Material found in StarChild may not be copied or reprinted

without prior written authorization from the Editor and/or writer of the article. Send all requests to starchild.pub@gmail.com.

July 2009 | Volume 6 Issue 18

REMEMBERING THE TIMES: A timeline of the life of Michael Jackson 4

Q&A: Quincy Jones gives insight into the man behind the music 6

THE JACKSON 6: Six-word obituaries for the King of Pop 7

THRILLER GRILLER By: Chef Eric B. Lewis 9

The 2009 BET Awards Tribute to Michael Jackson By: B.da 10

2300 Jackson Street: The Memorial 12

THE KING OF POP

2300 Jackson Street: The Memorial 12

The Comfort Zone By: Angela Ratcliffe 14

Five Best Cities For Jobs 15

Diabetes in African Americans By: Tyra T. Ellis 17

8 Eargasms

19 StarChild Ink

20 Bday Shout Outs

Cover art provided by Kate Baker © 2009

DEPARTMENTSDEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

1958 Michael Joseph

Jackson is born

August 29, in Gary,

Indiana.

1962 Michael becomes a

member of the Jackson 5

along with his brothers

Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and

Marlon. He is lead singer.

Their father, Joe, is their

manager. There first

playing gig is at a place

called Mr. Lucky's.

1970 The Jackson 5

release ‘I Want You

Back’, ‘ABC’, ‘The Love

You Save’ and ‘I'll Be

There’ – they all top the

charts

1972Michael Jackson

scores his first

number 1 single as a

solo artist with ‘Ben’

– he also earns an

Oscar nomination

1977

Jackson stars in the

movie ‘The Wiz’ with

Diana Ross and meets

Quincy Jones. During

filming, rumor has it

he would leave the

set without removing

his makeup.

Jackson’s album, Off the Wall,

produced by Quincy Jones, launches

him to superstar standing. Sells over

nineteen million copies worldwide.

The album goes platinum while

1982Jackson releases ‘Thriller’.

The album goes on to

become the biggest-

19791979

Michael Jackson:Michael Jackson:

The album goes platinum while

singles ‘Don't Stop 'til You Get

Enough’ and ‘Rock With You’ top the

charts.

become the biggest-

selling album of all time

with over fifty million

copies sold worldwide.

The album stays on the

charts for 2 years and hits

number one worldwide.

1985 Co-writes "We Are

the World" with Lionel

Richie. The single supports

the all-star famine relief

effort for Africa. 1986 1986 Photos of him in a hyperbaric chamber

are published in the National Enquirer. Jackson

later says it's part of his plan to extend his life

beyond its "natural span."

Cont’d…

1983 Performs "Billy Jean" at the

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

Special and for the first time does the

moonwalk, later to become his signature

move.

‘Bad’ is released - once again

produced by Quincy

Jones. Singles ‘I Just Can't Stop

Loving You’, ‘Bad’, ‘The Way You

Make Me Feel’, ‘Man in the Mirror’

and ‘Dirty Diana’ all debut at

number 1. The world tour

supporting the album becomes the

highest-grossing tour of all time.

198719871991

New album

‘Dangerous’ is

released. First single

‘Black Or White’

debuts at number one.

19931993Jackson is accused of Jackson is accused of

molesting a 13 year old molesting a 13 year old

boy. He denies the charges boy. He denies the charges

and settles out of court, and settles out of court,

paying an estimated $20 paying an estimated $20

million.million.Jackson releases

‘HIStory: Past,

Present and

Future, Book 1.

Singles ‘Scream’

and ‘You Are Not

Alone’ top the

Michael Jackson

marries Lisa Marie

Presley, the

marriage breaks

up 19 months

later.

19951995

19961996

Michael Jackson:Michael Jackson:

Alone’ top the

charts. 19961996

2001Michael Jackson is

inducted into the Rock

and Roll Hall of Fame,

and releases the album

‘Invincible’.

The star’s

Neverland ranch is

searched and he is

arrested on

charges of child

molestation.

2005 2005 Jackson’s child

molestation trial begins

and he is acquitted on all

counts. The singer moves

to Bahrain.

Jackson announces his

comeback with a 50

date run of shows at

London’s O2 arena

called ‘This Is It.’

Michael Jackson dies

June 25th in California.

20092009

Q: Q: I've heard you say that you wanted Michael to sing "She's Out of My Life," the great pop ballad fromI've heard you say that you wanted Michael to sing "She's Out of My Life," the great pop ballad from Off Off

the Wallthe Wall, in part because you felt like he had to deal with reality., in part because you felt like he had to deal with reality.

A: I just wanted to hear him deal with a romantic relationship with a human being rather than a rat. I'm saying

that facetiously, but it's true. I saw him at the Oscars very emotional about

"Ben." I wanted to hear him get in touch with a real human relationship.

"She's Out of My Life" was written by Tommy Bahler from a very

bad ending to a marriage. So it was very real. I

was saving it for Sinatra. But I gave it to

Michael. And Michael cried during every take,

and I left the tears in.

Q: At root, what do you think killed Q: At root, what do you think killed

Michael Jackson?Michael Jackson?

A: I don't know, man. I'm a musician. I'm not a

psychiatrist. I would think that the pressure of the

concerts and the debt and everything else . . .

look, I've been in the hands of Nobel doctors for

the last five years, in Stockholm, at the

Karolinska hospital, which you can't even pay to get in.

I've learned so much about the human mind and the

body, and the doctors talk all the time about how you

The hit-making producer behind the King of Pop's rise discusses Jackson's life…

Q&A: Quincy JonesQ&A: Quincy Jones

body, and the doctors talk all the time about how you

become your thoughts. It's true. With one thought it

starts, you know, and if you sit there and just stay hung up

on one negative thought, you will become that thought.

I know that Lisa Marie Presley said that she always thought

he was going to die like Elvis. You sit and think about that

stuff, it'll happen to you. If you start thinking about

darkness instead of light, or fear instead of love,

you'll get in trouble. I really believe that.

Q: With so many people asking you about Michael Jackson, is it hard to find the private space in which to Q: With so many people asking you about Michael Jackson, is it hard to find the private space in which to

mourn his death?mourn his death?

A: Yes, it is. It's surrealistic. I don't know how to process it at all. Because everybody's reacting to it, and making

up their own answers.

Q: You've said that you don't attend funerals anymore because you've lost so many friends. Do you plan to Q: You've said that you don't attend funerals anymore because you've lost so many friends. Do you plan to

attend Michael Jackson's funeral?attend Michael Jackson's funeral?

A: No, not at all, not at all. Because it's going to be, like, 9 million people there, and it's not what I want to see.

Q: You're not going to be there?Q: You're not going to be there?

A: No. I can't be there, anyway. I'm going to Wales the day after tomorrow, I go to Montreux, I go to Marbella, I

go to the south of France. My condolences and love I've already sent to the family. But being there with 10

million people is not my idea of a tribute to somebody you were so close to—who's got a part of your soul. Our

souls were joined, you know. And a piece of it goes with him.

Photo: Corbis Article: Details.com

THE JACKSON 6: Six-word Obituaries for the King of Pop

"From ABC to PYT to R.I.P.""From ABC to PYT to R.I.P."

My first schoolgirl

crush…is gone.We are the world.

Shocked, grieving.King of Pop. Died too

young.

It was never about

his appearance.

Dazzled many but

never grew up.

Amazingly talented

artist…sadly troubled

person.

Heal The World.

Honor The Man.

Looks like Prince

won this battle.

No more Man in the

Mirror.

He’s teaching angels

how to moonwalk.

Michael’s gone. Just

remember the good.

Black man. White

man. Dead now.

Mourning Jackson

travels around the

globe.

Imagine heaven with

Elvis, now Michael.

He came, he saw, he

moonwalked.

Wall. Thriller. Bad.

Dangerous. HIStory

Invincible

Shocked, grieving.

We somehow forgot

the genius there.

Michael, you beat it

too soon.

Thrilled, healed, and

rocked our world.

He made dancing

zombies super cool.

Peter Pan or King of

Pop?

Lost childhood,

meteoric stardom,

tragic end

A comeback we

won’t ever know

Courtesy of Smith Magazine / 6 Word Memoirs

To read more entries, click here: http://tinyurl.com/StarChild-Jackson6

Michael Jackson had 13

number one hits on the

Billboard Hot 100 charts

•1972: "Ben”

•1979: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough”

•1980: "Rock with You”

•1983: "Billie Jean”

•1983: "Beat It”

•1983: "Say Say Say”

•1987: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You”

•1987: "Bad”

•1987: "The Way You Make Me Feel”

•1988: "Man in the Mirror”

•1988: "Dirty Diana”

•1991: "Black or White”

•1995: "You Are Not Alone”

1. Maria (You Were The Only Love)

2. Born to Love You

3. Good Times

4. Take Me Back

5. Love Song

“My 5 Favorite Yet Obscure Jackson 5 Songs” “My 5 Favorite Yet Obscure Jackson 5 Songs” by: m.dot

Michael Jackson had nine platinum singles in the United States, trailing only Elvis Presley (27) and

Mariah Carey (10).

Michael Jackson's Thriller album remained at number one for thirty-seven weeks.

On November 14, 1991, Michael Jackson’s music video, Black or White was broadcast simultaneously in

27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people. It is the largest audience ever to view a

music video.

In March 1991, Jackson signed a new record-breaking $890 million contract by Sony. It is still the largest

recording contract of all time.

Michael Jackson had the fastest ticket sales in history with 700,000 tickets sold in about four hours for

the now-cancelled "This Is It" tour that was set to take place this year.

DID YOU KNOW…?DID YOU KNOW…?

5. Love Song

Thriller Griller Thriller Griller Thriller Griller Thriller Griller Thriller Griller Thriller Griller Thriller Griller Thriller Griller by: Chef Eric B. Lewis

Grilled Shrimp & Pesto PizzaGrilled Shrimp & Pesto PizzaGrilled Shrimp & Pesto PizzaGrilled Shrimp & Pesto Pizza1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F) 1 3/4 to 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading and dredging 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon for greasing the bowl Cilantro Pesto, recipe follows 8 ounces buffalo mozzarella, thinly sliced Grilled Shrimp, recipe follows Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Whisk together the yeast and 1/4 cup of the water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to proof. Place 1 (3/4 cups) of the flour in a large bowl with the salt. Add the yeast mixture, the remaining water, and oil and stir until combined.

Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth. Grease a large bowl with the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil, addthe dough, and turn to coat. Cover and place in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat the grill to high. Once the dough has risen, divide it in half. Divide each half into 2 balls. Roll each ball into an 8-inch circle. Brush with oil and grill on both sides until golden brown. Spread a few tablespoons of the Cilantro Pesto over inch circle. Brush with oil and grill on both sides until golden brown. Spread a few tablespoons of the Cilantro Pesto over each pizza, top with a few slices of buffalo mozzarella, and then top with 4 shrimp and cilantro leaves. Place the pizza on the grill until the cheese melts.

Serve hot.

Cilantro Pesto: Cilantro Pesto: Cilantro Pesto: Cilantro Pesto: 3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons pine nuts 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1/2 cup olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepperCombine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Grilled Shrimp: Grilled Shrimp: Grilled Shrimp: Grilled Shrimp: 16 large shrimp, peeled and deveined Olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepperPreheat the grill to medium-high.Brush each shrimp with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side or until just cooked through (shrimp will be opaque and turn pink).

They say death and tragedy affects everyone differently. For me, the

death of Michael Jackson provoked me to do something I had never done

before. In memory of the King of Pop, I purposely tuned in to the BET

Awards.

Since I became an adult, BET has left a bad taste in my mouth. I think

when Donnie Simpson left BET, I did too. So that let’s you know how long

I had been a staunch BET avoider.

The buzz on the ‘net was BET changed up the entire show to be a tribute

to Michael Jackson. This I had to see!

The show had some highlights such as New Edition’s performance with

Bobby Brown, BBD performing Poison, Jamie Foxx and Neyo’s rendition

of “I’ll Be There”, Maxwell’s finale and Janet Jackson ‘s tear-jerking

remarks.

The show also had some lowlights; Beyonce’s Ave Maria, Ving Rhames

horribly re-enacting his “Baby Boy” character and the very hard to look at

(and even harder to listen to) Tiny .

What I loved mot about the BET Awards, really had nothing to do with the

show. The true highlight for me was being on Facebook and seeing all of

my friends’ status messages as they were watching the show. It

seemed that every one of my African-American Facebook buddies was

tuning in and weighing in. The comments ran the gamut from sheer

accolades to un-repeatable disses.

Whether we liked the show or hated it, the fact remained we were all

tuned in. and very full of opinions; that we rapidly shared. I felt like I was

watching the BET Awards surrounded by 518 of my rowdiest friends .

And each time a new status message was posted, it was akin to someone

in the theater yelling out stuff at the screen that would make everyone

else holler with laughter.

There was a unity that I hadn’t personally felt since our recent

presidential election and the celebrations that followed. The death of

Michael Jackson was the catalyst that enabled BET to single-handedly

turn Facebook into a Twitter-esque atmosphere. And though only for

one night, it was very memorable.

Here we’ve compiled just a few

of the commentary made by

StarChild’s Facebook buddies

during the BET Awards Show:

5 QUESTIONS THAT 5 QUESTIONS THAT

WENT THROUGH MY WENT THROUGH MY

MIND WHILE MIND WHILE

WATCHING THE BET WATCHING THE BET

AWARDS SHOW:AWARDS SHOW:

5.5. Who greenlighted Tiny and Who greenlighted Tiny and

Toya’s show?Toya’s show?

4.4. What was Joe Jackson What was Joe Jackson

thinking during Janet’s thinking during Janet’s

remarks?remarks?

Joe Jackson

said “We just

lost the world’s

greatest

entertainer.”

Ummm., that

was your son!

– Ryan Hodge

I wish

Beyonce

would

Ava

Maria off

the

stage -Angelique

3.3. Why were there underage Why were there underage

girls on stage during girls on stage during

Drake’s performance?Drake’s performance?

2.2. I wonder who had to clean I wonder who had to clean

up all the feathers from up all the feathers from

Maxwell’s performance?Maxwell’s performance?

1. Guns is Michael Jackson?1. Guns is Michael Jackson?

2300 Jackson Street

"We find comfort among those who agree with us and

growth among those who don't.“

The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone The Comfort Zone by: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffeby: Angela Ratcliffe

When I started my own business, I believed that I was right about most things and that anyone who didn't agree with me, had a

problem. That is where I was most comfortable. In my way of doing things. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We may

feel that other people are difficult to deal with when in fact, it may be our own self that is the difficult person. I had to learn that

my personal growth in all areas of my life were perfected by and practically depended on me coming out of my own "comfort

zone" which I discovered were my perceptions or my feelings of being content. It made for a very unhappy me.

I realized that what I thought was comforting was, in fact, very uncomfortable. I had to accept that the limits to my abilities are

endless as long as I was willing to step out of what was familiar and to always seek alternative ways even if they were not my

ways. It is easier to stay in a situation that is familiar and I discovered that I should never be comfortable in any one situation for a

long time. This proved true in my relationships, my employment and my living environment. Often times, if I didn't move out of a

situation that I had become use to that was either too good or too bad, I was forced out one way or another. I was fired from a

job of 12 years back in 2003 that paid very well. I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened to me, when actually it was

one of the greatest blessings of my life. The experience, which was very uncomfortable catapulted me to a whole new level of my

career and success.

While I rely on God to guide the order of my steps, I would like to share some practical thoughts to those of you who have found

yourselves 'too comfortable' in your situation. These will work in most every area of your life (relationships, employment/career,

health & well being, friendships);

1: TRUST YOUR GUT (IT'S USUALLY 1: TRUST YOUR GUT (IT'S USUALLY

GOD TALKING) GOD TALKING) If you feel like

something is wrong, it probably is. If it

feels like a burning desire where you

feel like something requires action,

move on that thought as long as it

won't cause harm to the next.

Remember...this is for the betterment

of YOURSELF. God gave us all a

conscious. It's a gift from Him that let's

you know when it's time to move on or

move along.

2. DON'T BE AFRAID 2. DON'T BE AFRAID Fear hinders the

soul. We were not born afraid. It is an

emotion that tricks the mind into

believing you cannot achieve. Never be

afraid to try a new thing because you

have never experienced the

consequences. Consequences are not

always bad and are often building

blocks to growth and understanding.

Failure is an event, not a person.

3. LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK3. LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK

I have always gotten along better

observing others and listening. Most

people just want to be heard, anyway.

We don't have to agree with

everything we hear, but we do learn

more by listening. My business is

successful today because I listened to a

supervisor whom I couldn't stand. She

told me "God gave you two ears and

one mouth for a reason." I was insulted

at the time but it turned out to be one

of the most brilliant statements I've

ever heard!

4. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO 4. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO

LEARN LEARN Most of us are comfortable

when everyone agrees with us and

thinks we are perfect or when our

situation is perfect. The truth of the

matter is, you can learn from your

critics. Ask other people how they see

you, not only at your best but even at

your worst. Business Owners....your

most unhappy customers are your

greatest source of learning!

5. THE LAW OF RECIPROCITY5. THE LAW OF RECIPROCITY

You draw to yourself what you put

out. The measure of your success will

be determined in how you treat other

people.

6. NEVER GIVE UP 6. NEVER GIVE UP If success is your

goal, TRY! If you tried one thing, try the

next. If you tried the next, try

something you never tried. If you try

something you never tried, ask for

help. If you asked for help, try that.

7. BE PATIENT 7. BE PATIENT We have been taught

for years that patience is a virtue. Just

because your blessings may appear to

take forever to come to fruition

doesn't mean they aren't coming. Use

the time to discover the hidden

message in the experience. It may be

practical knowledge in the preparation

for the ultimate task.

Top Five Best Cities for JobsTop Five Best Cities for Jobs

No. 5: Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas Dallas should actually be called one of the ‘least worst’ places to live. The city has actually

experienced negative growth, by 0.1%, since 2007. The biggest gains came from

government (3.4%) and education and health services (4.6%). Natural resources, mining and

construction saw the biggest downward trend; that sector reversed from 18.1% cumulative

growth between 2003 and 2007 to a 3.4% decline in 2008.

No. 4: Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas The metropolitan area surrounding Fort Worth has been slowing down but still looks

relatively healthy. Cumulative growth in employment from 2000 to 2008 was 30%.

Transportation employment held mostly level with 0.1% growth, but that's a relatively

robust figure compared with huge losses among rust-belt cities in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois

and Wisconsin.

No. 3: San Antonio, Texas

Most of the cities listed below have shown that they have what it takes to survive in tough

times. If better days are coming, these areas seem best positioned to be the next drivers of

the economic expansion this nation sorely needs.

No. 3: San Antonio, Texas Cumulative growth between 2000 and 2008 for

education and health care in San Antonio was

34.2%; so far, no slowdown is reflected. Still,

overall jobs increased only 0.5% in 2008, down

from cumulative growth of 10.8% between 2004

and 2007.

No. 2: Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas Houston - and its surrounding areas, Sugar Land and Baytown - didn't see any single

sector of employment rise dramatically in 2008, but modest growth across many

categories, including natural resources, mining and construction; education and health

services and wholesale, prevented losses. During the first half of 2008, Texan cities

supported comparatively high numbers of manufacturing jobs as construction boomed

and oil prices rose.

No. 1: Austin-Round Rock, Texas Of all the large cities with the best employment prospects, Austin is the leader. Job

growth between 2004 and 2008 was a whopping 14.8%. In some ways Austin is

representative of nationwide changes in employment. For example, as manufacturing

waned jobs in that sector decreased by a third. But service sectors like education and

health, leisure and hospitality, and others grew tremendously.

To see all 10 of the best cities for jobs, click here: http://tinyurl.com/JulyStarChild-bestcities

(Courtesy of Forbes.com)

Prototype Prototype

Nokia Phone Nokia Phone

Recharges Recharges

Without WiresWithout Wires

Nokia has invented a cell phone that

recharges itself using ambient radio waves

from the air, and turning that energy into

usable power.

While "traditional" wireless power systems

are specifically designed with a transmitter

and receiver in mind, Nokia's system is flexible

about where it gets its wireless waves. TV,

radio, other mobile phone systems energy

bounce around the air and most of it is

wasted, absorbed into the environment or

scattered into the ether. Nokia‘s phone picks

up all the bits and pieces of these waves andup all the bits and pieces of these waves and

uses the collected electromagnetic energy to

create electrical current, then uses that to

recharge the phone's battery. A huge range of

frequencies can be utilized by the system .

Currently Nokia is able to harvest all of 5

milliwatts from the air; the goal is to increase

that to 20 milliwatts in the short term and 50

milliwatts down the line. That wouldn't be

enough to keep the phone alive during an

active call, but would be enough to slowly

recharge the cell phone battery while it's in

standby mode, theoretically offering infinite

power -- provided that the phone is not in a

place where radio waves can't penetrate.

Nokia says it hopes to commercialize the

technology in three to five years.

The National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) show thatAfrican Americans have a rising prevalence of diabetes.

Most African Americans with diabetes have Type 2 (noinsulin-dependent diabetes). Type 2 diabetes usuallydevelops after age 40. However, in high-risk populations,susceptible people may develop it at a younger age. A smallnumber of African Americans have Type I or insulin-dependent diabetes, which usually develops before age 20.NHIS conducted a survey from 1991 to 1992 that indicateshigher rates of diabetes among African Americans thanamong white Americans. At age 45 or older, the prevalenceof diabetes is 1.4 to 2.3 times as frequent in blacks as inwhites. The greatest difference seen in NHIS was amongpeople aged 65 to 74. Within this age range, 17.4 percent ofblack Americans had been diagnosed with diabetes,compared to 9.5 percent Of white Americans.

Type 1 DiabetesType 1 diabetes is a complex disorder caused by the body'sinability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormonemanufactured and secreted by the pancreas. Specifically, itis produced by cells called beta cells, which are located in aregion of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans.

African immigrants to America have inherited a "thriftygene" from their African ancestors. Years ago, this geneenabled Africans, during "feast and famine" cycles, to usefood energy more efficiently when food was scarce. Today,with fewer "feast and famine" cycles, the thrifty gene thatdeveloped for survival may instead make weight controlmore difficult. This genetic predisposition, along withimpaired glucose tolerance (IGT), often occurs togetherwith the genetic tendency toward high blood pressure.

Obesity is a major medical risk factor for diabetes in AfricanAmericans. The National Health and Nutrition Survey(NHANESII), conducted between 1976 and 1980, showedsubstantially higher rates of obesity in African Americansaged 20 to 74 years of age who had diabetes, compared tothose who did not have diabetes. Although AfricanAmericans have higher rates of obesity, researchers do notbelieve that obesity alone accounts for their higherprevalence of diabetes. Even when compared to whiteAmericans with the same levels of obesity, age, andsocioeconomic status, African Americans still have higherrates of diabetes. Other factors, yet to be understood,appear to be at work.

Physical activity is a strong protective factor against Type 2

An Eye on Public Health in the African American Community

Diabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African AmericansDiabetes in African Americans

region of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans.Insulin is essential for the cells of your body to metabolizeglucose properly and function normally. Type 1 diabetesaccounts for only 5 percent to 10 percent of all cases ofdiabetes. The other forms are type 2 diabetes andgestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes has also been knownas insulin-dependent mellitus (IDDM), juvenile onsetdiabetes mellitus, ketosis-prone diabetes mellitus andimmune-mediated diabetes. It usually begins in childhoodor adolescence, but is a lifelong disease, since there is nocure. However, effective treatment allows most people withtype 1 diabetes to live long lives. Type 1 diabetes has aprevalence rate of approximately 8% in African-Americans.

Type 2 DiabetesThe frequency of diabetes in black adults is influenced bythe same risk factors that are associated with Type 2diabetes in Americans. The first is genetics, which includesinherited traits and group ancestry. The second is medicalrisk factors, including impaired glucose tolerance,hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, and obesity. Thethird is lifestyle risk factors, including physical activity.

Inherited TraitsResearchers suggest that African Americans and recent

Physical activity is a strong protective factor against Type 2diabetes. Researchers suspect that a lack of exercise is onefactor contributing to the unusually high rates of diabetes inolder African-American women.

Compared to white Americans, African Americansexperience higher rates of three diabetes complications -blindness, kidney failure, and amputations. They alsoexperience greater disability from these complications.Some factors that influence the frequency of thesecomplications, such as delay in diagnosis and treatment ofdiabetes, denial of diabetes, abnormal blood lipids, highblood pressure, and cigarette smoking, can be influenced byproper diabetes management.

Does Diabetes Cause Excess Deaths in African Americans?Diabetes was an uncommon cause of death among AfricanAmericans at the turn of the century. By 1993, however,according to the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention's National Center for Health Statistics, deathcertificates listed diabetes as the fifth leading cause ofdeath for African Americans aged 45 to 64, and the thirdleading cause of death for those aged 65 and older in 1990.Diabetes is more dangerous for African-American women,for whom it was the third leading cause of death for all agesin 1990. Diabetes death rates may actually be higher thanthese studies show for two reasons. First, diabetes mightnot have been diagnosed. Many doctors don’t list diabetesas a cause of death even when the person was known tohave it.

Published by Tyra T. Ellis, M.S.P.HMember, American Public Health AssociationDoctoral Candidate - Walden University School of Public Health

At age 45 or older, At age 45 or older,

the prevalence of the prevalence of

diabetes is 1.4 to diabetes is 1.4 to

2.3 times as 2.3 times as

frequent in blacks frequent in blacks

as in whites.as in whites.

Cockroaches may be tiny enough to slip through the smallest of

cracks, but just like humans, these eternal pests can get fat on an

unhealthy diet.

As part of a decade's worth of research on cockroaches, Patricia

Moore of the University of Exeter studied how female cockroaches

change their mating behavior in response to their diet, specifically

what they eat when they are young. "We already knew that what

they eat as adults influences reproductive decisions," Moore said.

But just how the food they consumed early in life shaped these

decisions wasn't known.

To find out, Moore and her colleagues picked young female

cockroach nymphs and divided them into two dietary groups. Half

were fed a good-quality balanced diet of protein-rich fish food and

high-carbohydrate oatmeal, while the rest were raised on fish food

only. Both groups were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. The

difference in diets "was not quantity but variety," Moore said.

After the last molt, when the nymphs became adults, the team

switched the diets of some animals. Half of the cockroaches raised

with good quality diet lost their oatmeal, while half of the bugs fed

Children who are overweight and wet the bed

at night may have obstructive sleep apnea

(OSA), researchers report.

Both being overweight and wetting the bed are

associated with the nighttime breathing

disorder, they found. However, overweight and

bedwetting are not associated with each other.

In a "case-control" study, Dr. Joseph G. Barone,

of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New

Brunswick, New Jersey, and colleagues

performed overnight sleep studies in 149

children between the ages of 5 and 15 with

OSA, and 139 matched control children.

Obesity and bedwetting linked

to Sleep Apnea in Children

Let’s Learn From the Pests: Even Cockroaches Get Fat When

They Eat Bad Food

with good quality diet lost their oatmeal, while half of the bugs fed

poorly were promoted to a good-quality diet. Eighteen days after

the switch, the diet control ended and some of the surviving

cockroaches were dissected. The rest were allowed to live on and

reproduce.

The results: While the lifespan of the members of both groups was

about the same, the cockroaches on the poor diet were fatter and

took longer to mature. Moore suggests that the poorly fed bugs

were storing up excess fat at the expense of their growth in case

their dietary options got even worse. "This was a surprising result,"

Moore said, "but it shows the importance of a balanced diet for

healthy development."

The effects of unbalanced meals continued throughout the

cockroaches' lives, even for the few that were switched to good-

quality food. Females that ate a poor-quality diet were less willing

to mate and less likely to produce offspring. They were also more

picky and spent more time considering possible mates.

The findings suggest that "poor diets [during early life] have an

effect on the way cockroaches respond to their environment and

cannot be reset later on," Moore said.

OSA, and 139 matched control children.

They combined that data with information from

medical records, including age, gender, height,

weight, frequency of bedwetting, history of

snoring, diabetes, nasal allergies, and/or

enlarged tonsils.

According to Barone and colleagues, there was

a significant association between both

bedwetting and overweight and OSA.

Bedwetting raised the likelihood of OSA more

than fivefold and being overweight raised the

likelihood of OSA more than fourfold. However,

their associations are independent of each

other, the researchers note. Barone's team

suggests that doctors consider OSA in

overweight children who wet the bed,

especially when they display other symptoms of

OSA or fail to respond to standard bedwetting

treatment programs.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, July 2009.

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