The search for missing survivors is called off in Indonesia

According to abcnews.com, just five days after the 7.6-magnitude earthquake devastated Sumatra Island, rescue workers have called off the search for the missing. Rescue officials say that the chances of survival without food and water for this length of time is impossible, so; instead, they will put their efforts towards aid for survivors. Authorities are using helicopters to take the wounded to the hospital and drop food in isolated locations. According to the Indonesia Disaster Management Agency, more than 88,000 houses and 285 have been destroyed. The cost for estimated repairs is around $600 million. The death toll is expected to be in the thousands once all the missing people are officially declared dead.

My Take: After an awful tragedy, officials are trying their hardest to restore order in a country struck by natural disaster. Rescue workers are making the tough call to aid those who still have a chance of survival.

Verizon vs. Time Warner

According to Syracuse.com, Verizon announced Monday that it will offer cable services to eight communities in the Syracuse area. These will include the towns of Camillus, Clay, Cicero, DeWitt, Fleming and Salina and the villages of East Syracuse and North Syracuse. Verizon will bring competition to alternate cable provider, Time Warner. Verizon will offer new customers incentives including a $150 gift card for customers who get at least two FIOS services and $30 off a month for the first six months for customers who purchase all three services including, voice, internet and TV. Currently Time Warner has 630,000 customers in Central New York and claims that it has superior local news and sports programs as well as start over ability and on screen caller ID. On the other hand Verizon says it will offer a shaper image and superior interactive program guide.

My Take: In the end I think the competition will all boil down to money. Although the companies say that their individual features will help customers to choose between their products, in this economy I think the cost will ultimately be the determining factor.

3 Americans Win the Nobel Medicine Prize

Three Americans won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine. According to msnbc.com, Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak discovered a DNA sequence that protects chromosomes for degradation. The three explained how telomeres, the caps on the chromosomes, add protection. CNN.com reports that the findings give insight for both cancer and aging research. The new information will be used in the development of several new forms of therapy. The three winners will share a 1.4 million dollar prize for their research.

My Take: This story brings hope for new cancer research and aging research. It shows the medical community is continuing to make major strides to improve health for people around the world.