Cristine Russell

The small island states that could slowly go underwater from climate change had mixed reactions to the weak international accord that came out of Copenhagen. The US-led political deal hammered out at the end by President Obama and the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa fell far short of what the vulnerable islands and other developing countries had pushed for in terms of setting binding commitments to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and holding… More »

Like canaries in the coalmines of yore, low-lying islands in the midst of the world's vast oceans face the possibility of extinction. Rising waters from global warming could literally drown many of them in the decades to come. At the climate change conference in Copenhagen, voices from these vulnerable island nations--places like Tuvalu in the Pacific and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean--are singing loudly and persistently to be heard at the 12 day United Nations… More »

"Put your right hand in, put your right hand out..." Okey dokey. Before you "wiggle all about," how about a moment of silence for the Hokey Pokey and one of the songwriters credited with coming up with it? Guitar and banjo player Robert Degen, who died recently on his 104th birthday, did not exactly create a cure for cancer, hunger, or war. But amidst all the world's troubles, it's worth considering how much his Hokey Pokey could contribute to global happiness and… More »

PART 1: Miscommunicating the Mammography Message. The recent blitz of media coverage of controversial new mammography screening guidelines from an expert advisory panel has left many women confused and anxious about what they should do now and how best to navigate the maze of numbers about the risks and benefits of testing. As one California friend wrote:I am fretting over the new mammogram guidelines. We all know women who were stricken in their 40s. Would love… More »

Don't get me wrong. I love deviled eggs on a Fourth of July picnic. But I can't imagine eating them on Thanksgiving when I'm stuffing myself with, well , stuffing, turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, and leaving some room for pumpkin pie. But apparently some 16,000 people, on Thanksgiving Eve, actually searched for recipes for "deviled eggs" on the popular Website, Allrecipes.com. In a fun and fascinating look into what Americans may have been cooking up… More »

A new public opinion poll out today shows a backlash among American women against controversial new breast cancer screening recommendations. Three-fourths of those participating in the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll said they disagree with the experts' advice and even more younger women said they will disregard it. The cacophony of angry, confused, accusatory reactions continues to drown out the fundamental message that a prestigious science advisory panel unsuccessfully… More »

With hopes largely dashed for completing a comprehensive global climate change treaty agreement in Copenhagen next month, the spotlight will shift toward 2010 and upcoming international gatherings such as the United Nations climate change summit scheduled for next December in Mexico City. The greening of this gridlocked, sprawling metropolis is underway, so delegates to the meeting--or any visitors to the city--should consider doing their own small part to combat… More »

I remember jumping Double Dutch on the sidewalk outside my house in West Covina, CA, with my best friend Chrissie Mallon and my middle sister Shelly, while my youngest sister Diane sat on the grass watching. I was in junior high, young enough to still enjoy playing outside in our suburban southern California neighborhood and old enough to care whether I did well in front of my younger sisters.Although Double Dutch has been elevated to a competitive sport in some… More »