So this is my last blog post of the semester. It's been a long, arduous journey thus far but I can say I have learned many things. Mainly, I have learned that, at 17, I was just not ready to start my freshmen year of college. After taking some time off and returning at 21, I think I'm at just the right age/time in my life where I'm ready to take this thing seriously.
This semester has proven trying to my patience and certainly my mental well being but I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. And although I did have a tendency to put off my blog posts until the end of the week (and sometimes right down to the last hour!) I always enjoyed writing them. I learned so much from doing the necessary research to write about many of my topics.
I will walk away from this English class, and this blog, with a better understanding of children, the food I eat, the things I like to do, and the country in which I live. I hope to be able to keep posting, at least every now and then, as I continue to further my education. I would definitely like to read some of my classmates blogs and am hoping that many of them continue to write regularly. I certainly cannot promise two posts a week (I mean who am I kidding? If they aren't mandatory I probably won't do them :D) but I think I would still like to have this blog as an area in which to express myself creatively.
They, although I'm unsure who "they" are, say that keeping a diary helps to enrich one's life. According to "them", if you keep a diary you are more likely to take mental notes of moments as they are happening, to better remember them so you can write about them later. Perhaps this blog will no longer serve as an arena for me to write about food, perhaps now I can use it as a place to express my feelings. To write about my daily comings and goings.
I've had a wonderful semester and I have appreciated everything that I've learned from my teachers, my classmates and myself. I hope everyone in ENG 102 can say the same.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Caleb
When I was nine years old, in the fourth grade, I met my best friend. I was the resident "new kid" at school that year and then, after Christmas break, there was another "new kid." He was tall and gangly with brown hair and brown eyes. He was goofy and outgoing and we were both relatively friend-less in this strange new school. We instantly became inseparable. During that time, I was a painfully shy, very quiet little girl. Caleb, my new best friend, was not. He had no trouble at all talking to people and I must credit him with bringing me out of my shell.
As time passed, our bond grew stronger. I remember in the sixth grade, we had a lot of big fights on the playground. Sometimes we'd go a couple of days without talking, but we always found our way back to one another in a short amount of time. Then we entered Junior High, perhaps one of the most awkward phases in a young person's life. As we both went through puberty, I watched my best friend grow tall, handsome, and his voice got deeper. Girls started noticing Caleb more but we only had eyes for each other. We tried "going out" once or twice, but our soul mate connection was deeper than your average romantic, Junior High boyfriend/girlfriend thing.
As high school approached, we were still the best of friends. Driver's licenses, boyfriends, girlfriends, new friends; none of that could come between us. Our bond was only growing stronger. In our very conservative, close minded (see also: redneck) hometown, we clung to each other. Our friendship was a life preserver in an ocean of people who didn't understand us. We became "Sam and Caleb", the two class clowns with the sense of humor that no one else ever really "got." Our weekends consisted of seeing all the new movies together, discussing books, crushes, teachers, and life.
When we graduated, we both went to different colleges in different states, but remained just as close. We were in constant contact throughout these new, scary phases of life. We shared our first loves, first heartbreaks, first losses, and every new victory. Short trips to see each other over long weekends and extended breaks were always fantastic. To this day, when we see each other, no matter how many months have passed since our last visit, it's as if nothing has ever changed. In this crazy thing called life, my friendship with Caleb is constant. I know that he will always have my back and he knows that I will always have his. We have a history. We've known one another for thirteen years. We've known each other not just in that casual high school friend way, but in a way like no other. We understand each other like no one else can.
This weekend, Caleb will be graduating college. Tonight, I will take the six and a half hour long trek to see him, to be there for him in this milestone moment. In our lives, there will be many more milestones, and for all of them, we will be right there by each other. We will continue to share in our losses and our victories. Time has proven that nothing can come between us. No matter what troubles we face, our friendship has always been a beacon in the night, beckoning us home to a place of familiarity.
Caleb is truly one of the best people I know. He's kind and considerate, sensitive and hilarious, handsome and not at all arrogant. He cares deeply for his family and his friends. He is smarter than he even knows. He is organized and driven. He has the best sense of humor. He makes me laugh like no one else can, when no one else can. I know that, whatever he decides to do with his life, he will be very successful. I feel extremely lucky to be so close to him, to truly call him my "best friend." Sometimes, we tend to throw that phrase, "best friend", around loosely, but not me. When I think of "best friend", it's Caleb's face I see, it's his laugh I hear. I love him and I'm so proud of him. He was the first boy to ever tell me that I am beautiful. I would like to dedicate this post to him, because he, too, is beautiful. Inside and out, Caleb is a beautiful person with the kindest soul I've ever known. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.
As time passed, our bond grew stronger. I remember in the sixth grade, we had a lot of big fights on the playground. Sometimes we'd go a couple of days without talking, but we always found our way back to one another in a short amount of time. Then we entered Junior High, perhaps one of the most awkward phases in a young person's life. As we both went through puberty, I watched my best friend grow tall, handsome, and his voice got deeper. Girls started noticing Caleb more but we only had eyes for each other. We tried "going out" once or twice, but our soul mate connection was deeper than your average romantic, Junior High boyfriend/girlfriend thing.
As high school approached, we were still the best of friends. Driver's licenses, boyfriends, girlfriends, new friends; none of that could come between us. Our bond was only growing stronger. In our very conservative, close minded (see also: redneck) hometown, we clung to each other. Our friendship was a life preserver in an ocean of people who didn't understand us. We became "Sam and Caleb", the two class clowns with the sense of humor that no one else ever really "got." Our weekends consisted of seeing all the new movies together, discussing books, crushes, teachers, and life.
When we graduated, we both went to different colleges in different states, but remained just as close. We were in constant contact throughout these new, scary phases of life. We shared our first loves, first heartbreaks, first losses, and every new victory. Short trips to see each other over long weekends and extended breaks were always fantastic. To this day, when we see each other, no matter how many months have passed since our last visit, it's as if nothing has ever changed. In this crazy thing called life, my friendship with Caleb is constant. I know that he will always have my back and he knows that I will always have his. We have a history. We've known one another for thirteen years. We've known each other not just in that casual high school friend way, but in a way like no other. We understand each other like no one else can.
This weekend, Caleb will be graduating college. Tonight, I will take the six and a half hour long trek to see him, to be there for him in this milestone moment. In our lives, there will be many more milestones, and for all of them, we will be right there by each other. We will continue to share in our losses and our victories. Time has proven that nothing can come between us. No matter what troubles we face, our friendship has always been a beacon in the night, beckoning us home to a place of familiarity.
Caleb is truly one of the best people I know. He's kind and considerate, sensitive and hilarious, handsome and not at all arrogant. He cares deeply for his family and his friends. He is smarter than he even knows. He is organized and driven. He has the best sense of humor. He makes me laugh like no one else can, when no one else can. I know that, whatever he decides to do with his life, he will be very successful. I feel extremely lucky to be so close to him, to truly call him my "best friend." Sometimes, we tend to throw that phrase, "best friend", around loosely, but not me. When I think of "best friend", it's Caleb's face I see, it's his laugh I hear. I love him and I'm so proud of him. He was the first boy to ever tell me that I am beautiful. I would like to dedicate this post to him, because he, too, is beautiful. Inside and out, Caleb is a beautiful person with the kindest soul I've ever known. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman
After a long day of writing papers, studying for finals, and pondering the meaning of life, I get a headache. It's only natural, using all that brain power, all that intense concentration. Headaches are a part of life and ever since I was a young girl, I have suffered from chronic headaches. So what do I do when I have a headache? Yeah, like almost everyone in the world, I reach for a bottle of Tylenol or ibuprofen, basically I go for the Acetaminophin. Pop a couple of those and relief is on the way! But wait! What about the other effects that this drug can have on me? Now back in the 1970's long term usage of Tylenol was linked to liver disease, but this research is outdated. According to this Medicine Net article, Tylenol's long term usage rarely causes liver disease in people with normal, healthy livers, but (yes there's always a but) Tylenol (Acetaminpohin) can cause an elevation of liver enzymes, causing injury to the liver. This gives me pause about reaching for the Tylenol next time I have a headache. But what else can I do, you might find yourself asking. Well, let me tell you about some natural remedies to everyday aches, pains, and sleeping problems.
One of the most easily found herbs that can remedy a headache is ginger. Ginger can be found at your local super market and even at your favorite Japanese restaurant. According to the research I found here, ginger inhibits platelet aggregation and, as a result, drinking ginger tea can help cure a migraine. Not only is ginger helpful in the prevention and treatment of headaches, ginger can help with a plethora of different ailments. For instance, ginger, because of its volatile oils and phenol compounds, can help cure motion sickness and nausea in pregnant women. Preliminary studies have even shown that ginger may help lower cholesterol and prevent blood from clotting.
So what about those of us who have trouble sleeping? I don't know if you know this, but chronic use of sleep aids can cause dependency and even insomnia. There is hope, though, with this herbal remedy! That herb is melatonin. Melatonin is found in the brain and its secretion in the body spikes at night, allowing us to fall asleep. Melatonin can also be found in health food stores and, sometimes, your local supermarket. This research shows that melatonin induces sleepiness and even lowers one's body temperature which could further aid in sleepiness. Taking melatonin about two hours before your usual bedtime can help you fall asleep, and stay asleep, easier.
Echinacea is another natural remedy to many common aches, pains and even bug bites. Echinacea is a plant found in North America and has been used for many years. This website informs me that it was even used to treat scarlet, blood poisoning, and syphilis in the past. The wonderful thing about echinacea is that it can be used in place of antibiotics. This is good new for people, like myself, who do not like to take antibiotics. Echinacea has been approved to treat urinary tract infections, broncitis, hay fever, and even hemorrhoids.
So maybe you're a skeptic when it comes to natural remedies, but I swear by ginger! Echinacea and melatonin, too! Next time you're feeling sick, anxious, or you're having trouble sleeping, instead of reaching for Tylenol PM or other similar medications, try a natural remedy!
One of the most easily found herbs that can remedy a headache is ginger. Ginger can be found at your local super market and even at your favorite Japanese restaurant. According to the research I found here, ginger inhibits platelet aggregation and, as a result, drinking ginger tea can help cure a migraine. Not only is ginger helpful in the prevention and treatment of headaches, ginger can help with a plethora of different ailments. For instance, ginger, because of its volatile oils and phenol compounds, can help cure motion sickness and nausea in pregnant women. Preliminary studies have even shown that ginger may help lower cholesterol and prevent blood from clotting.
So what about those of us who have trouble sleeping? I don't know if you know this, but chronic use of sleep aids can cause dependency and even insomnia. There is hope, though, with this herbal remedy! That herb is melatonin. Melatonin is found in the brain and its secretion in the body spikes at night, allowing us to fall asleep. Melatonin can also be found in health food stores and, sometimes, your local supermarket. This research shows that melatonin induces sleepiness and even lowers one's body temperature which could further aid in sleepiness. Taking melatonin about two hours before your usual bedtime can help you fall asleep, and stay asleep, easier.
Echinacea is another natural remedy to many common aches, pains and even bug bites. Echinacea is a plant found in North America and has been used for many years. This website informs me that it was even used to treat scarlet, blood poisoning, and syphilis in the past. The wonderful thing about echinacea is that it can be used in place of antibiotics. This is good new for people, like myself, who do not like to take antibiotics. Echinacea has been approved to treat urinary tract infections, broncitis, hay fever, and even hemorrhoids.
So maybe you're a skeptic when it comes to natural remedies, but I swear by ginger! Echinacea and melatonin, too! Next time you're feeling sick, anxious, or you're having trouble sleeping, instead of reaching for Tylenol PM or other similar medications, try a natural remedy!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Short Story
Okay so I never ever let anyone read my short stories and, hey, no one really ever comments on my blog so I figured, what a great place to post a part of a story I'm working on! Any feedback would be much appreciated. I'm not sure where this story came from or where it will end up and, as of yet, it doesn't have a title but this is what I have so far. And please, if you do have feedback, be gentle. Also, be aware that there is some coarse language:
Jack Baker, 32 years of age, took the warm, Pyrex casserole dish from his aunt Myra’s shaky, fragile old hands. His dark, red-rimmed brown eyes met her sad gray ones and she let her small fingers graze his hands as he accepted her condolence gift of green bean casserole.
“Kamron was so beautiful, Jack. She was an absolute doll,” Myra said softly. Jack nodded patiently.
“Yes, she was an incredible woman,” he replied quietly. She had been his best friend. The mother of his only daughter and his soul mate, if there was such a thing. She had been 30 years old the night she was hit, head on, by a truck diver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, his truck veering quickly through three lanes of traffic. She had died instantly. Probably felt no pain, according to the officer who delivered the news to Jack. Deputy Wilkins. Jack had wondered if he had had to deliver news like that before. If this Deputy Wilkins had ever had to crush a man’s dreams for his future on his front stoop.
Jack spent most of the next week in a daze. He wondered how he would take care of their precious daughter alone. He wondered how he would take care of himself alone. Now that Kamron was in the ground he knew it would be a whirlwind of sympathy cards and condolence casseroles that would probably go uneaten. But a casserole could not raise a little girl. A little girl with the biggest blue eyes Jack had ever seen. A little girl who had just lost her first tooth. A little girl who had just lost her mother.
“She’s up in heaven now, looking down on you and Jane,” Myra explained to Jack as she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a ratty piece of tissue. Jack smiled weakly but could not reply. Over the past few days he couldn’t count the number of times that people had told him Kamron was in heaven and that this was “God’s plan.” Some fucking plan. Jack now had to learn how to put a little girl’s hair in pigtails. How to coordinate her outfits for school and how to navigate the treacherous waters of raising a teenage daughter without his wife, his best friend.
Jack excused himself and went looking for Jane. He found her in his brother, Peter’s lap, she was giggling at something. He stood a few feet away, watching his younger brother hold his daughter tenderly. A lump formed in his throat. His eyes stung with tears. Kamron was gone and every day Jack would have a tiny version of her to look after. He was scared for Jane. Scared for himself. Peter looked up and noticed Jack, pointed to him and whispered something in Jane’s ear. She jumped off of his lap and ran towards Jack, hugging his legs.
“You doing okay, Daddy?” she asked softly, pressing her face into his side. He smiled down at her.
“Doing good, sweetheart. How you doing?” he asked her, kneeling down to look into her huge, clear blue eyes. She smiled at him, revealing her missing tooth. Her bottom front tooth. Kamron had been so excited when she lost it. Leaving her not only a dollar under her pillow but a small note made out of pink construction paper. “Your mommy and daddy are so proud of you!” it had said. Jack’s heart ached thinking of that small, pink note tacked up on Jane’s wall, written in Kamron’s handwriting. Just one of several small pieces of her all over the house they had shared.
“Good. Uncle Pete tells good jokes,” she answered, smiling over at her uncle. Jack nodded.
“He always has. He’s always been a better joke teller than me.”
“Daddy, you don’t tell jokes.” Jack pulled Jane close to him and smelled her citrus shampoo as he held her tightly. She squeezed him back, hard as she could. She knew her daddy would need lots of hugs from her. She knew she’d need some from him too.
“Hey Janey, why don’t you go see if Aunt Myra brought any cookies. She makes the best cookie you’ll ever eat!” came Peter’s voice from above them. Jack stood up and watched as his small, dark haired daughter ran towards his frail, old aunt Myra in search of cookies. He looked at his brother. Four years younger and taller than him by at least two inches. Pete’s hair was shoulder length, straight and light brown. Jack found it very odd seeing his free-spirited, longhaired brother in a black suit. With Jane out of earshot, Pete asked his brother how he was feeling, honestly. Jack shrugged.
“I think I’ll throw up on the next person to tell me that Karmon is in heaven, looking down on me and Janey,” he replied wearily. Pete chuckled.
“But Jack, this is God’s plan,” Pete said sarcastically, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder. Both brothers were tall and thin. Both had the same thick bottom lip and lopsided smile that their father, Marvin, had had. Jack, though, had always been the more stoic brother. He had been the star student. The shy one. Peter had been the outgoing one. The one who had all the friends and the girls chasing after him. Although they were both very different, they had always been good friends and Jack knew he’d be leaning heavily on Peter during this time of mourning. During this time of being so god damn alone.
Jack absent-mindedly ran a hand through his straight, shaggy dark hair. He suddenly felt panicky. He wanted all these people out of his house. He was tired of them milling about, picking at the condolence casseroles that were laid out, buffet style on a long table set up by one of Kamron’s cousins.
“I think I need some air. Could you keep on eye on Janey? Make sure Myra doesn’t try to save her soul or anything.”
“Sure thing, brother. Take your time. It’s fucking depressing in here,” Pete replied, smiling sadly at Jack.
So that's what I've got so far. I'm not sure where to take it next, but I have some ideas. If you're interested, let me know and I'll keep you posted.
Jack Baker, 32 years of age, took the warm, Pyrex casserole dish from his aunt Myra’s shaky, fragile old hands. His dark, red-rimmed brown eyes met her sad gray ones and she let her small fingers graze his hands as he accepted her condolence gift of green bean casserole.
“Kamron was so beautiful, Jack. She was an absolute doll,” Myra said softly. Jack nodded patiently.
“Yes, she was an incredible woman,” he replied quietly. She had been his best friend. The mother of his only daughter and his soul mate, if there was such a thing. She had been 30 years old the night she was hit, head on, by a truck diver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, his truck veering quickly through three lanes of traffic. She had died instantly. Probably felt no pain, according to the officer who delivered the news to Jack. Deputy Wilkins. Jack had wondered if he had had to deliver news like that before. If this Deputy Wilkins had ever had to crush a man’s dreams for his future on his front stoop.
Jack spent most of the next week in a daze. He wondered how he would take care of their precious daughter alone. He wondered how he would take care of himself alone. Now that Kamron was in the ground he knew it would be a whirlwind of sympathy cards and condolence casseroles that would probably go uneaten. But a casserole could not raise a little girl. A little girl with the biggest blue eyes Jack had ever seen. A little girl who had just lost her first tooth. A little girl who had just lost her mother.
“She’s up in heaven now, looking down on you and Jane,” Myra explained to Jack as she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a ratty piece of tissue. Jack smiled weakly but could not reply. Over the past few days he couldn’t count the number of times that people had told him Kamron was in heaven and that this was “God’s plan.” Some fucking plan. Jack now had to learn how to put a little girl’s hair in pigtails. How to coordinate her outfits for school and how to navigate the treacherous waters of raising a teenage daughter without his wife, his best friend.
Jack excused himself and went looking for Jane. He found her in his brother, Peter’s lap, she was giggling at something. He stood a few feet away, watching his younger brother hold his daughter tenderly. A lump formed in his throat. His eyes stung with tears. Kamron was gone and every day Jack would have a tiny version of her to look after. He was scared for Jane. Scared for himself. Peter looked up and noticed Jack, pointed to him and whispered something in Jane’s ear. She jumped off of his lap and ran towards Jack, hugging his legs.
“You doing okay, Daddy?” she asked softly, pressing her face into his side. He smiled down at her.
“Doing good, sweetheart. How you doing?” he asked her, kneeling down to look into her huge, clear blue eyes. She smiled at him, revealing her missing tooth. Her bottom front tooth. Kamron had been so excited when she lost it. Leaving her not only a dollar under her pillow but a small note made out of pink construction paper. “Your mommy and daddy are so proud of you!” it had said. Jack’s heart ached thinking of that small, pink note tacked up on Jane’s wall, written in Kamron’s handwriting. Just one of several small pieces of her all over the house they had shared.
“Good. Uncle Pete tells good jokes,” she answered, smiling over at her uncle. Jack nodded.
“He always has. He’s always been a better joke teller than me.”
“Daddy, you don’t tell jokes.” Jack pulled Jane close to him and smelled her citrus shampoo as he held her tightly. She squeezed him back, hard as she could. She knew her daddy would need lots of hugs from her. She knew she’d need some from him too.
“Hey Janey, why don’t you go see if Aunt Myra brought any cookies. She makes the best cookie you’ll ever eat!” came Peter’s voice from above them. Jack stood up and watched as his small, dark haired daughter ran towards his frail, old aunt Myra in search of cookies. He looked at his brother. Four years younger and taller than him by at least two inches. Pete’s hair was shoulder length, straight and light brown. Jack found it very odd seeing his free-spirited, longhaired brother in a black suit. With Jane out of earshot, Pete asked his brother how he was feeling, honestly. Jack shrugged.
“I think I’ll throw up on the next person to tell me that Karmon is in heaven, looking down on me and Janey,” he replied wearily. Pete chuckled.
“But Jack, this is God’s plan,” Pete said sarcastically, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder. Both brothers were tall and thin. Both had the same thick bottom lip and lopsided smile that their father, Marvin, had had. Jack, though, had always been the more stoic brother. He had been the star student. The shy one. Peter had been the outgoing one. The one who had all the friends and the girls chasing after him. Although they were both very different, they had always been good friends and Jack knew he’d be leaning heavily on Peter during this time of mourning. During this time of being so god damn alone.
Jack absent-mindedly ran a hand through his straight, shaggy dark hair. He suddenly felt panicky. He wanted all these people out of his house. He was tired of them milling about, picking at the condolence casseroles that were laid out, buffet style on a long table set up by one of Kamron’s cousins.
“I think I need some air. Could you keep on eye on Janey? Make sure Myra doesn’t try to save her soul or anything.”
“Sure thing, brother. Take your time. It’s fucking depressing in here,” Pete replied, smiling sadly at Jack.
So that's what I've got so far. I'm not sure where to take it next, but I have some ideas. If you're interested, let me know and I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Breasts: for more than just ogling.
On April 23rd, 2010, my brother Michael and his wife Melissa welcomed their baby girl, Sophia, to the world. At seven pounds five ounces, she was healthy and sporting a shock of reddish blonde hair. Words cannot express how excited our whole family is about this newest, tiny addition. With a new baby comes many new responsibilities and lessons in life that one cannot be prepared for until the baby is actually here. While I myself have never had children, I have had quite a bit of experience taking care of babies and young children and I've known, and been close with, many parents. The main concern of most of the parents? The health of their children. In this week's blog, I would like to discuss one way in which a parent, namely a mother, can greatly benefit her baby's health now and in the future.
Breastfeeding has, in the past, been something that is taboo in our culture. We never really talk about it and certain celebrities have even been scolded for breastfeeding in public. This is sad, in my opinion. Breastfeeding is a natural act that benefits both mother and child and should be viewed as such. It is not a "peep show" or "gross" or "weird" and I have heard it described as all of the above. Quite the contrary, you may be surprised to learn about all of the benefits of breastfeeding.
For one, breastfeeding does not only benefit the baby, breastfeeding also benefits the mother. According to this womenshealth.gov literature, breastfeeding can lower the risk of Postpartum depression and even certain cancers such as ovarian and breast cancer. Not only that, but breastfeeding allows a mother to take some quiet time with her newborn baby to bond and to relax together. Breastfeeding can also increase confidence in a woman and it can save up to $3000 dollars a year, depending on your formula brand!
There are also numerous benefits for babies who are breastfed. These facts state that breast milk provides the perfect amount of proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins that newborns must have to be healthy. Not only that, but information found here states that premature infants who received breast milk has greater mental development than those who were not. Also, infants who are fed breast milk are less likely to be re-hospitalized after discharge than those who are not. This is because breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight diseases and viruses. Breast milk is also the easiest food for a new born baby to digest, which is important for a baby's sensitive stomach.
Not only is breastfeeding good for mother and child, but also for our environment. With breastfeeding, there is little need for plastic waste from bottles and formula containers. Another benefit? Because breastfed babies are sick less, the mothers of these babies can miss less work. Also, because of breast pumps, a mother can store her breast milk to be fed to the baby later, so that even if the mother can't be around to breastfeed, her baby can still enjoy the healthy benefits of her breast milk. This also helps dads and partners get in on the act of feeding the baby, too.
In conclusion, the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous for mothers, babies, families and the environment. Breastfeeding is a natural, wonderful thing for a mother and her new baby to share and should be encouraged by all.
Breastfeeding has, in the past, been something that is taboo in our culture. We never really talk about it and certain celebrities have even been scolded for breastfeeding in public. This is sad, in my opinion. Breastfeeding is a natural act that benefits both mother and child and should be viewed as such. It is not a "peep show" or "gross" or "weird" and I have heard it described as all of the above. Quite the contrary, you may be surprised to learn about all of the benefits of breastfeeding.
For one, breastfeeding does not only benefit the baby, breastfeeding also benefits the mother. According to this womenshealth.gov literature, breastfeeding can lower the risk of Postpartum depression and even certain cancers such as ovarian and breast cancer. Not only that, but breastfeeding allows a mother to take some quiet time with her newborn baby to bond and to relax together. Breastfeeding can also increase confidence in a woman and it can save up to $3000 dollars a year, depending on your formula brand!
There are also numerous benefits for babies who are breastfed. These facts state that breast milk provides the perfect amount of proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins that newborns must have to be healthy. Not only that, but information found here states that premature infants who received breast milk has greater mental development than those who were not. Also, infants who are fed breast milk are less likely to be re-hospitalized after discharge than those who are not. This is because breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight diseases and viruses. Breast milk is also the easiest food for a new born baby to digest, which is important for a baby's sensitive stomach.
Not only is breastfeeding good for mother and child, but also for our environment. With breastfeeding, there is little need for plastic waste from bottles and formula containers. Another benefit? Because breastfed babies are sick less, the mothers of these babies can miss less work. Also, because of breast pumps, a mother can store her breast milk to be fed to the baby later, so that even if the mother can't be around to breastfeed, her baby can still enjoy the healthy benefits of her breast milk. This also helps dads and partners get in on the act of feeding the baby, too.
In conclusion, the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous for mothers, babies, families and the environment. Breastfeeding is a natural, wonderful thing for a mother and her new baby to share and should be encouraged by all.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Top 5 Books
Admittedly, I have struggled with what to write my second blog post about for this week. I thought maybe I could do another one about Jamie Oliver, and how much I just absolutely adore him, and how tonight is the season finale of "Food Revolution" and how, if you haven't done so yet, you should sign this petition for better lunches in elementary schools. Then I thought, since I've already done one blog post over Jamie and his revolutionary vision for the food future of America, I could probably find a better, more creative topic.
Then I thought "AHA! I know what I'll do my second topic over! The financial aid office and how friggin' irritating they can be!" Then I checked my mail and found a check in my mailbox from said financial aid office. My heart softened and I thought "ah well, I'll give the financial aid ladies a break for now."
I've already done topics of movies, television, songs and bands. Basically those are all my favorite things. Then I realized, books! I could do a blog post over my top 5 favorite books! So, here we go!
1. "Rats Saw God" by Rob Thomas- No not that Rob Thomas. The writer Rob Thomas. He probably doesn't have as good of a singing voice but his literary voice is wonderful. I read this book for the first time when I was in the 8th grade and have read it at least fifteen times since. To me, this book really captures what it's like to be a teenager; to feel love and subsequently heartache, for the first time, to struggle with your identity, and your parents. This book covers it all with depth and poignancy. Even now that I'm almost 22, I still read this book at least once a year. I love the journey on which it takes me.
2. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky- This is another one of those books I first read in high school and I absolutely fell in love with it. It is written through a series of letters to an anonymous recipient. The letters are written by a young boy entering high school named Charlie. Charlie talks of his struggles with life, family and friends. Honestly, the characters in this book feel like real people, people I would hang out with. While it is a bit of a downer, this book has a certain magical quality that I'm reminded of every time I read it.
3. "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck- Okay yeah, I had to put one stereotypical popular "Oprah's Book Club" book in here, but only because I really do love it. The comparisons to the Bible, specifically Cain and Able, and the struggles that the two brothers of the book (Adam and Charles) face are fascinating. Steinbeck is, of course, one of the most well known writers of our time and this book has convinced me that he isn't just overrated. Steinbeck really writes these characters with a sensitivity that shines through in the entire novel. It's interesting, dramatic, and hard to put down.
4. "Mississippi Sissy" by Kevin Sessums- Aside from fiction (which is probably my favorite genre) I love a good memoir and this is definitely that. Sessums talks of his struggles growing up as a young boy in Mississippi, the respective deaths of his parents, and his struggles with sexuality. He writes with poise and humor that's both charming and entrancing.
5. "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb- Lamb is probably most famous for his popular book "She's Come Undone" and, while I have read "Undone", my favorite work by Lamb would have to be "I Know This Much is True." For one, this book is long, topping almost nine hundred pages. To some, that may seem intimidating, to me, it's a dream! I love settling in with a huge book, especially if it's as engaging as this one. Our protagonist, Dominick Birdsey, must deal with being the identical twin of a schizophrenic who cuts off his own hand, the death of his mother, and of his infant daughter, all the while trying to figure out who he is and who his biological father is. The end wraps up nicely, which I like, tying up all of the loose ends. Lamb really got it right with this book and if you enjoy reading a nice, long book, I certainly recommend this one.
So there you have it. My top 5 favorite books. These books all hold a very special place in my heart and, most of them, I've read multiple times. Reading an old favorite book is like slipping into a warm bath. It's comfortable and familiar. It's like seeing old friends that you haven't seen in a while, they haven't changed and they are just as welcoming as they always have been.
Then I thought "AHA! I know what I'll do my second topic over! The financial aid office and how friggin' irritating they can be!" Then I checked my mail and found a check in my mailbox from said financial aid office. My heart softened and I thought "ah well, I'll give the financial aid ladies a break for now."
I've already done topics of movies, television, songs and bands. Basically those are all my favorite things. Then I realized, books! I could do a blog post over my top 5 favorite books! So, here we go!
1. "Rats Saw God" by Rob Thomas- No not that Rob Thomas. The writer Rob Thomas. He probably doesn't have as good of a singing voice but his literary voice is wonderful. I read this book for the first time when I was in the 8th grade and have read it at least fifteen times since. To me, this book really captures what it's like to be a teenager; to feel love and subsequently heartache, for the first time, to struggle with your identity, and your parents. This book covers it all with depth and poignancy. Even now that I'm almost 22, I still read this book at least once a year. I love the journey on which it takes me.
2. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky- This is another one of those books I first read in high school and I absolutely fell in love with it. It is written through a series of letters to an anonymous recipient. The letters are written by a young boy entering high school named Charlie. Charlie talks of his struggles with life, family and friends. Honestly, the characters in this book feel like real people, people I would hang out with. While it is a bit of a downer, this book has a certain magical quality that I'm reminded of every time I read it.
3. "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck- Okay yeah, I had to put one stereotypical popular "Oprah's Book Club" book in here, but only because I really do love it. The comparisons to the Bible, specifically Cain and Able, and the struggles that the two brothers of the book (Adam and Charles) face are fascinating. Steinbeck is, of course, one of the most well known writers of our time and this book has convinced me that he isn't just overrated. Steinbeck really writes these characters with a sensitivity that shines through in the entire novel. It's interesting, dramatic, and hard to put down.
4. "Mississippi Sissy" by Kevin Sessums- Aside from fiction (which is probably my favorite genre) I love a good memoir and this is definitely that. Sessums talks of his struggles growing up as a young boy in Mississippi, the respective deaths of his parents, and his struggles with sexuality. He writes with poise and humor that's both charming and entrancing.
5. "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb- Lamb is probably most famous for his popular book "She's Come Undone" and, while I have read "Undone", my favorite work by Lamb would have to be "I Know This Much is True." For one, this book is long, topping almost nine hundred pages. To some, that may seem intimidating, to me, it's a dream! I love settling in with a huge book, especially if it's as engaging as this one. Our protagonist, Dominick Birdsey, must deal with being the identical twin of a schizophrenic who cuts off his own hand, the death of his mother, and of his infant daughter, all the while trying to figure out who he is and who his biological father is. The end wraps up nicely, which I like, tying up all of the loose ends. Lamb really got it right with this book and if you enjoy reading a nice, long book, I certainly recommend this one.
So there you have it. My top 5 favorite books. These books all hold a very special place in my heart and, most of them, I've read multiple times. Reading an old favorite book is like slipping into a warm bath. It's comfortable and familiar. It's like seeing old friends that you haven't seen in a while, they haven't changed and they are just as welcoming as they always have been.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Home Cooking
About a year ago, the thought of cooking anything besides scrambled eggs would have sent me into a panic. I was so scared of cooking, no actually I was scared of screwing up or catching something on fire, that I never even attempted it. This turned out to have been a big mistake. These days I cook myself and my family a delicious dinner just about every night. And I absolutely love it! Cooking is as much of a creative outlet as writing or painting. Not to mention, there are several health benefits of eating meals that you yourself have cooked. So if you are afraid of cooking, like I once was, read on and find out just how beneficial it is.
This USA Today article says that, when people eat out, they consume 50% more fat, calories and sodium. Not to mention that when dining in a restaurant, people often end up with less vegetables and whole grains in their meal and, ultimately, their diet. Couple that information with the fact that a diet rich in red meats and lacking in vegetables can cause cancer and you've got some pretty jarring facts to chew on.
Another problem with restaurants? Portion control. The plates and the portions are larger at restaurants. According to this Smallstep article, people actually do consume more calories when they are served a larger portion. So you may think that you're eating healthy at a restaurant by ordering your favorite salad, but in reality you probably aren't simply because of portion alone. One way to control this is to order an appetizer instead of an entree.
The major problem that I, personally, have with eating out? The ingredients. In America, we already have a problem with consuming processed foods and paying no attention whatsoever to the ingredients in these "foods." When you are eating something that a restaurant has provided, you have no idea what you are consuming. There is no way of knowing how much butter, salt or other ingredients are used in the food you are eating and it's definitely important to be aware of this.
Another benefit to home cooking? It's cheaper and, in this recession, saving money is what really counts. This NY Times article confirms that nearly half of the average family budgets goes toward eating food outside of the home. Imagine the savings of simply cooking a few more meals a week at home.
So we now know some of the many benefits of home cooking, but what about the time factor? Cooking at home can be time consuming, right? Well I've done some research for you and I have found some quick, easy recipes that can be prepared at home with little preparation and cook time. If you are so inclined, you can check these out here.
I cannot sing the praises of home cooking enough. Not only is it important for your personal health, but the health of your family as well. Cooking at home can be a fun task, especially if others, such as children, are involved. Not to mention, cooking at home with your children can teach them about health, food and how to cook for themselves which can be an important life skill that will serve them well down the road in life. So here are the facts: cooking at home can be cheaper, it's certainly healthier (depending on what you cook, of course), and it can create some much needed family time in our crazy society. So next time you're pondering what to have for dinner, put down that take out menu and pick up a recipe book. It could save your life.
This USA Today article says that, when people eat out, they consume 50% more fat, calories and sodium. Not to mention that when dining in a restaurant, people often end up with less vegetables and whole grains in their meal and, ultimately, their diet. Couple that information with the fact that a diet rich in red meats and lacking in vegetables can cause cancer and you've got some pretty jarring facts to chew on.
Another problem with restaurants? Portion control. The plates and the portions are larger at restaurants. According to this Smallstep article, people actually do consume more calories when they are served a larger portion. So you may think that you're eating healthy at a restaurant by ordering your favorite salad, but in reality you probably aren't simply because of portion alone. One way to control this is to order an appetizer instead of an entree.
The major problem that I, personally, have with eating out? The ingredients. In America, we already have a problem with consuming processed foods and paying no attention whatsoever to the ingredients in these "foods." When you are eating something that a restaurant has provided, you have no idea what you are consuming. There is no way of knowing how much butter, salt or other ingredients are used in the food you are eating and it's definitely important to be aware of this.
Another benefit to home cooking? It's cheaper and, in this recession, saving money is what really counts. This NY Times article confirms that nearly half of the average family budgets goes toward eating food outside of the home. Imagine the savings of simply cooking a few more meals a week at home.
So we now know some of the many benefits of home cooking, but what about the time factor? Cooking at home can be time consuming, right? Well I've done some research for you and I have found some quick, easy recipes that can be prepared at home with little preparation and cook time. If you are so inclined, you can check these out here.
I cannot sing the praises of home cooking enough. Not only is it important for your personal health, but the health of your family as well. Cooking at home can be a fun task, especially if others, such as children, are involved. Not to mention, cooking at home with your children can teach them about health, food and how to cook for themselves which can be an important life skill that will serve them well down the road in life. So here are the facts: cooking at home can be cheaper, it's certainly healthier (depending on what you cook, of course), and it can create some much needed family time in our crazy society. So next time you're pondering what to have for dinner, put down that take out menu and pick up a recipe book. It could save your life.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Top 5 songs.
So because I have procrastinated and, inevitably, waited until the last minute to write my final blog post for the week, I've made a bit of a rushed decision and I've decided to write about my top 5 favorite songs. So, without further ado, these are the five best songs that I know as of this point in my life.
1. "Dear Prudence" The Beatles- This song reminds me of simpler times. I really fell in love with this song when I was in high school. The melodic guitar compliments John's haunting voice as he beckons Prudence. As Ringo joins in for the first chorus, the tempo picks up a bit, but John's voice stays just as mellow and cool. I love this song. Picking a favorite Beatles song is like picking your favorite child, but I think for me, it's got to be Prudence.
2. "Jolene" Cake- Cake has been one of my favorite bands for a long time and this song is definitely my favorite by them. The guitar in the beginning is addictive and the sound that the lead singer makes after singing "push my face into your hair" is, I think, the most human sound I've ever heard in an auto tuned song. Just that simple noise makes this song, to me, totally real.
3. "Hang Me Up to Dry" Cold War Kids- This song is totally catchy. The bass line is, for lack of a better word, wicked and the percussion is by far my favorite part of the song. The lead singer's voice is haunting as he bellows out "you rang me out too, too, too many times" and as he sings this, it's almost like you can physically feel his frustration.
4. "Coconut Skins" Damien Rice- Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to "Coconut Skins." To me, this song perfectly describes the way that first love feels. I love the way Damien's Irish accent subtly slips in during some lyrics and the way you can hear his fingers sliding up and down the chords of his guitar.
5. "Beautiful Way" Beck- Talk about another haunting vocalist. The guitar intro to this song is easily identifiable and it gets stuck in my head like no other. With eclectic lyrics and melodic singing mixed with the addictive instrumental makes this easily in my top five.
So there you have it. My top five favorite songs, as of right this second. This is subject to change from day to day, but as of today, this are the ones.
1. "Dear Prudence" The Beatles- This song reminds me of simpler times. I really fell in love with this song when I was in high school. The melodic guitar compliments John's haunting voice as he beckons Prudence. As Ringo joins in for the first chorus, the tempo picks up a bit, but John's voice stays just as mellow and cool. I love this song. Picking a favorite Beatles song is like picking your favorite child, but I think for me, it's got to be Prudence.
2. "Jolene" Cake- Cake has been one of my favorite bands for a long time and this song is definitely my favorite by them. The guitar in the beginning is addictive and the sound that the lead singer makes after singing "push my face into your hair" is, I think, the most human sound I've ever heard in an auto tuned song. Just that simple noise makes this song, to me, totally real.
3. "Hang Me Up to Dry" Cold War Kids- This song is totally catchy. The bass line is, for lack of a better word, wicked and the percussion is by far my favorite part of the song. The lead singer's voice is haunting as he bellows out "you rang me out too, too, too many times" and as he sings this, it's almost like you can physically feel his frustration.
4. "Coconut Skins" Damien Rice- Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to "Coconut Skins." To me, this song perfectly describes the way that first love feels. I love the way Damien's Irish accent subtly slips in during some lyrics and the way you can hear his fingers sliding up and down the chords of his guitar.
5. "Beautiful Way" Beck- Talk about another haunting vocalist. The guitar intro to this song is easily identifiable and it gets stuck in my head like no other. With eclectic lyrics and melodic singing mixed with the addictive instrumental makes this easily in my top five.
So there you have it. My top five favorite songs, as of right this second. This is subject to change from day to day, but as of today, this are the ones.
Video Games and Violence.
Video games are hugely popular these days. With addictive games like World of Warcraft rising in popularity, and pop culture references, video games have probably become more popular than ever. In fact, according to this CNN article, roughly 90% of U.S. kids between the ages of 8 and 16 play video games for about 13 hours a week, and more with some boys. It only makes sense that exposure to violent video games will, over time, make a person numb to seeing that violence, it will normalize that much violence in one's life, leading quite possibly to a rise in aggressive behavior.
In one case, it's quite possible that repeated exposure to the violent video game, Grand Theft Auto, led to a murder. This CBS News article tells the story of an 18-year-old named Devin Moore, who was a big fan of the game. In fact, he played the game day and night for months. Then one summer morning in 2003, Moore was brought into the local police station on suspicion of stealing a car. Apparently, Moore was cooperative as he was being booked and then, suddenly his behavior took a turn for the worse. Moore tackled an officer, stole his gun and shot him twice. Then he shot two more police officers, killing them all. According to police, after he was captured Moore stated "Life is like a video game. Everybody's got to die sometime."
Now maybe blaming Grand Theft Auto for this violent behavior is grasping for straws. I mean, it was noted that Devin Moore had a troubled past and spent some time in foster homes. Of course that played a factor in this case. But it could also be true that, due to repeated rehearsing of violent situations via video game, Moore resorted to violent behavior when he felt panicked.
There is still the other side to the coin. The argument for this is that, most kids who play violent video games do not actually ever commit violent acts. According to this article by MIT professor, Henry Jenkins, the studies linking violent video games to aggressive behaviors are not completely reliable because the environment where the subjects are playing the games are very different from the environment in which they'd be normally playing, at home.
There's also the possibility that people who are already naturally aggressive are drawn to violent video games. Thus making them susceptible to violent behavior anyway, because of their aggression. So whichever side of the fence you fall on, it must be noted that video games these days are increasingly violent, and it certainly seems easy for kids to get their hands on them. Although there is no concrete, long term evidence that shows kids are prone to more aggression due to violent video games, there are the short term studies that have proven this to be true. There's also the case of Devin Moore, which could or could not have been linked to his habitual playing of Grand Theft Auto, a notoriously violent game. I'm not making a call to arms, I just think we should start paying more attention to how jaded our society is becoming towards extreme violence. What, exactly, could this lead to in our future?
In one case, it's quite possible that repeated exposure to the violent video game, Grand Theft Auto, led to a murder. This CBS News article tells the story of an 18-year-old named Devin Moore, who was a big fan of the game. In fact, he played the game day and night for months. Then one summer morning in 2003, Moore was brought into the local police station on suspicion of stealing a car. Apparently, Moore was cooperative as he was being booked and then, suddenly his behavior took a turn for the worse. Moore tackled an officer, stole his gun and shot him twice. Then he shot two more police officers, killing them all. According to police, after he was captured Moore stated "Life is like a video game. Everybody's got to die sometime."
Now maybe blaming Grand Theft Auto for this violent behavior is grasping for straws. I mean, it was noted that Devin Moore had a troubled past and spent some time in foster homes. Of course that played a factor in this case. But it could also be true that, due to repeated rehearsing of violent situations via video game, Moore resorted to violent behavior when he felt panicked.
There is still the other side to the coin. The argument for this is that, most kids who play violent video games do not actually ever commit violent acts. According to this article by MIT professor, Henry Jenkins, the studies linking violent video games to aggressive behaviors are not completely reliable because the environment where the subjects are playing the games are very different from the environment in which they'd be normally playing, at home.
There's also the possibility that people who are already naturally aggressive are drawn to violent video games. Thus making them susceptible to violent behavior anyway, because of their aggression. So whichever side of the fence you fall on, it must be noted that video games these days are increasingly violent, and it certainly seems easy for kids to get their hands on them. Although there is no concrete, long term evidence that shows kids are prone to more aggression due to violent video games, there are the short term studies that have proven this to be true. There's also the case of Devin Moore, which could or could not have been linked to his habitual playing of Grand Theft Auto, a notoriously violent game. I'm not making a call to arms, I just think we should start paying more attention to how jaded our society is becoming towards extreme violence. What, exactly, could this lead to in our future?
Friday, April 9, 2010
T.V.
Television these days sucks. We're bombarded with shows like "Dancing with the Stars", "So You Think You Can Dance", "Tool Academy", "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" etc. It seems that these days, quality television just doesn't exist. Unless, that is, you know where to look. If I may, I'd like to talk in this blog about some of my all time favorite television shows.
1. Weeds- The thing about Weeds is this, it's heartwarming, it's funny and it's so real. I mean sure, the premise is a bit out there; a widowed woman selling marijuana to keep her family afloat, but honestly the characters feel so real. Nancy Botwin, our protagonist played by Mary-Louise Parker, seems like a woman that you know. She struggles to raise her two boys, Silas and Shane, right while still being a drug dealer. Uncle Andy played by the brilliantly talented Justin Kirk provides us with some great comic relief. As the seasons have progressed some of the plot lines have been a bit "out there" but I still keep coming back for more. I absolutely love Weeds.
2. Arrested Development- This was a show that came out way before its time, hence why it only lasted three seasons. I absolutely love this show. The lovable, dysfunctional Bluth family is full of characters that you really root for. Despite some of this shows more outlandish premises, it's really quite heartwarming sometimes too. My favorite character would have to be Gob, played by comedic genius Will Arnett. The other thing I love about this show? It's narrated by Ron Howard. What's not to love about that?
3. Mystery Science Theatre 3000- You may have never heard of this show. Most of the people I encounter, in fact, have not. It may not even be your taste, but I absolutely love this show. The premise is that a guy and a couple of robots live in a space station and are forced to watch awful B movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s. The robot puppets accompany our guy, Joel, while he watches these movies and they provide a hilarious commentary. It is pretty damn funny and actually makes these atrocious movies watchable.
4. Nip/Tuck- This show got pretty outlandish in the last few seasons, but man season one of this show was probably one of the best seasons of any show that I've seen. It's definitely a guilty pleasure and if you have a weak stomach, you probably want to fast forward through the plastic surgery scenes. All in all, a great show.
5. Dexter- Dexter is brilliant. The dialogue, the characters, and the story lines are all so smart. This show is funny, it's incredibly dark and it actually, somehow manages to make you root for a serial killer. I highly recommend it.
1. Weeds- The thing about Weeds is this, it's heartwarming, it's funny and it's so real. I mean sure, the premise is a bit out there; a widowed woman selling marijuana to keep her family afloat, but honestly the characters feel so real. Nancy Botwin, our protagonist played by Mary-Louise Parker, seems like a woman that you know. She struggles to raise her two boys, Silas and Shane, right while still being a drug dealer. Uncle Andy played by the brilliantly talented Justin Kirk provides us with some great comic relief. As the seasons have progressed some of the plot lines have been a bit "out there" but I still keep coming back for more. I absolutely love Weeds.
2. Arrested Development- This was a show that came out way before its time, hence why it only lasted three seasons. I absolutely love this show. The lovable, dysfunctional Bluth family is full of characters that you really root for. Despite some of this shows more outlandish premises, it's really quite heartwarming sometimes too. My favorite character would have to be Gob, played by comedic genius Will Arnett. The other thing I love about this show? It's narrated by Ron Howard. What's not to love about that?
3. Mystery Science Theatre 3000- You may have never heard of this show. Most of the people I encounter, in fact, have not. It may not even be your taste, but I absolutely love this show. The premise is that a guy and a couple of robots live in a space station and are forced to watch awful B movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s. The robot puppets accompany our guy, Joel, while he watches these movies and they provide a hilarious commentary. It is pretty damn funny and actually makes these atrocious movies watchable.
4. Nip/Tuck- This show got pretty outlandish in the last few seasons, but man season one of this show was probably one of the best seasons of any show that I've seen. It's definitely a guilty pleasure and if you have a weak stomach, you probably want to fast forward through the plastic surgery scenes. All in all, a great show.
5. Dexter- Dexter is brilliant. The dialogue, the characters, and the story lines are all so smart. This show is funny, it's incredibly dark and it actually, somehow manages to make you root for a serial killer. I highly recommend it.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Food Revolution
So, over the course of this English class I have written many blogs about food. Namely about my opinion about certain foods. I've written blogs over High Fructose Corn Syrup, the nutritional value (or lack thereof) of public school lunches, organic food, and diets. I think it's safe to say that food is something that I am passionate about. For a while now, I've known that I'm not the only one passionate about the food I eat, and the food others eat. Yet now, I have concrete evidence and I think that I have found my soul mate. I found said soul mate in the form of an adorable Brit named Jamie Oliver. Perhaps you've heard of him? He's had quite a bit of success on television with shows such as The Naked Chef and now, his new show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. In The Naked Chef, Jamie shows us that food can be enjoyed in it's rawest state, without adding tons of flavoring or preservatives. In Food Revolution, Jamie is really changing the game.
His major task in this show is to take on Huntington, West Virginia which, based on government statistics, is the unhealthiest city in America. Basically, Huntington is the worst of the worst. Jamie has a huge task ahead of him, literally. He takes on local elementary school lunch programs first after seeing the atrocious foods these children are served. Pizza for breakfast? Chicken nuggets for lunch? French fries count as a vegetable? And yet, these kids don't even know where French fries come from. Or even what a potato looks like! To me, this is pretty damn sad. It also says a lot about our eating habits in America. If it's processed, pre-cooked and full of ingredients we can't pronounce, bring it on! It's not enough that we're eating these foods at home, but now our schools are serving them too. Honestly, it's time someone stepped in and gave us a wake up call. Jamie is just the guy.
With his lovable nature and surprising sensitivity Jamie is boldly going where no chef has gone before. He's not just telling us we need to change our habits, he's showing us how to do so. The brilliant part is that Jamie is not just educating adults about the awful choices we're making, he's focusing on the kids too. He takes under his swing several high school students, giving them the confidence to prepare a meal for several "higher ups" in hopes of receiving funding for his revolutionary program. He teaches a young, morbidly obese boy named Justin how to prepare healthy meals for himself and his family.
I think what Jamie is doing is absolutely brilliant, and he's not a moment too late what with diabetes, heart disease and other complications with obesity running rampant in the United States. If you're interested in watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, you can watch it on Friday nights at 8pm (Central Standard Time) on ABC. More importantly, if you want to sign Jamie's petition for better school lunches in the united states, you can do so here. I greatly urge you to do this. Even if you're not a parent of a school child. It's important that we start teaching healthier eating habits to our future. It's simple, takes only a minute and every signature counts. I say we rally behind Jamie and show him that yes, America is ready for a revolution of the food variety!
His major task in this show is to take on Huntington, West Virginia which, based on government statistics, is the unhealthiest city in America. Basically, Huntington is the worst of the worst. Jamie has a huge task ahead of him, literally. He takes on local elementary school lunch programs first after seeing the atrocious foods these children are served. Pizza for breakfast? Chicken nuggets for lunch? French fries count as a vegetable? And yet, these kids don't even know where French fries come from. Or even what a potato looks like! To me, this is pretty damn sad. It also says a lot about our eating habits in America. If it's processed, pre-cooked and full of ingredients we can't pronounce, bring it on! It's not enough that we're eating these foods at home, but now our schools are serving them too. Honestly, it's time someone stepped in and gave us a wake up call. Jamie is just the guy.
With his lovable nature and surprising sensitivity Jamie is boldly going where no chef has gone before. He's not just telling us we need to change our habits, he's showing us how to do so. The brilliant part is that Jamie is not just educating adults about the awful choices we're making, he's focusing on the kids too. He takes under his swing several high school students, giving them the confidence to prepare a meal for several "higher ups" in hopes of receiving funding for his revolutionary program. He teaches a young, morbidly obese boy named Justin how to prepare healthy meals for himself and his family.
I think what Jamie is doing is absolutely brilliant, and he's not a moment too late what with diabetes, heart disease and other complications with obesity running rampant in the United States. If you're interested in watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, you can watch it on Friday nights at 8pm (Central Standard Time) on ABC. More importantly, if you want to sign Jamie's petition for better school lunches in the united states, you can do so here. I greatly urge you to do this. Even if you're not a parent of a school child. It's important that we start teaching healthier eating habits to our future. It's simple, takes only a minute and every signature counts. I say we rally behind Jamie and show him that yes, America is ready for a revolution of the food variety!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Spring sprang.
Spring has finally friggin' sprung! I was beginning to worry that Spring had lost its way. After a brief trip to the East Coast, I was convinced that cold weather would reign supreme for another...oh who knows how long! My fears, though, have been assuaged with the return of Spring's pleasant warmth.
What I love about Spring is that it's not too hot. Man nothing is worse than being all sweaty in the summer. That sweat that gathers at the back of your knees and the small of your back. Sticking to a leather car seat. Waking up in the morning, sun stabbing your retinas, covered in a thin film of sweat. Ugh. With Spring, though, the warmth never seems unpleasant. Sometimes you can even bust out a light jacket! Not only that but every thing comes back to life. Flowers are blooming and deciduous trees are looking less halloween-ish with the return of their leaves. It feels like after a several month long hiatus, life has picked back up where we left off.
Another great thing about Spring? The storms. I love nothing more than to be inside a house listening to the elements go crazy outside. The sound of falling rain works better than Ambien for me! Okay maybe not better than Ambien but it's certainly more natural. I love watching those sometimes menacing clouds roll in and preparing for a huge storm of apocalyptic proportions.
Something about the sights, sounds and smells of Spring just transfer me to a simpler time and place. Spring reminds me of being a kid and of playing outside until dark, having no worries aside from who's "it" during a game of tag. Spring reminds me that Summer is just around the corner and that a much needed vacation from school isn't far behind. Spring reminds that even though Winter sucks, it will always eventually come to an end. Most of all, I think, Spring reminds me to stop and look around. It reminds me to appreciate the beauty of the world in which I live. It's a pretty cushy world, despite my petty complaints. I have a lot to be thankful for and happy about and Spring seems to reiterate this point for me.
Winter ushers in a period of indoor activities, of slushy shoes, and of heaping piles of blackened snow in the corners of parking lots. Spring ushers in a period of rebirth, the return of the attic fan, and open windows. Spring is the upbeat Paul McCartney chorus to a moody Winter John Lennon verse. While Paul is my least favorite Beatle (although Ringo is a close second) I must appreciate Spring for the happy feelings it brings.
What I love about Spring is that it's not too hot. Man nothing is worse than being all sweaty in the summer. That sweat that gathers at the back of your knees and the small of your back. Sticking to a leather car seat. Waking up in the morning, sun stabbing your retinas, covered in a thin film of sweat. Ugh. With Spring, though, the warmth never seems unpleasant. Sometimes you can even bust out a light jacket! Not only that but every thing comes back to life. Flowers are blooming and deciduous trees are looking less halloween-ish with the return of their leaves. It feels like after a several month long hiatus, life has picked back up where we left off.
Another great thing about Spring? The storms. I love nothing more than to be inside a house listening to the elements go crazy outside. The sound of falling rain works better than Ambien for me! Okay maybe not better than Ambien but it's certainly more natural. I love watching those sometimes menacing clouds roll in and preparing for a huge storm of apocalyptic proportions.
Something about the sights, sounds and smells of Spring just transfer me to a simpler time and place. Spring reminds me of being a kid and of playing outside until dark, having no worries aside from who's "it" during a game of tag. Spring reminds me that Summer is just around the corner and that a much needed vacation from school isn't far behind. Spring reminds that even though Winter sucks, it will always eventually come to an end. Most of all, I think, Spring reminds me to stop and look around. It reminds me to appreciate the beauty of the world in which I live. It's a pretty cushy world, despite my petty complaints. I have a lot to be thankful for and happy about and Spring seems to reiterate this point for me.
Winter ushers in a period of indoor activities, of slushy shoes, and of heaping piles of blackened snow in the corners of parking lots. Spring ushers in a period of rebirth, the return of the attic fan, and open windows. Spring is the upbeat Paul McCartney chorus to a moody Winter John Lennon verse. While Paul is my least favorite Beatle (although Ringo is a close second) I must appreciate Spring for the happy feelings it brings.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Social Anxiety
Do you know what social anxiety is? You may have some clue, the name alone seems pretty self explanatory, right? What I bet you didn't know was that social anxiety/social phobia is the third largest psychological problem in the United States. It's true. According to socialphobia.org and this information that they have provided, social anxiety affects 15 million Americans and, almost 90% of the time, these Americans are misdiagnosed. It seems that health care professionals and us average Joe Schmoes without a PhD do not, on the whole, understand or know much about social anxiety.
The important thing to note is that there is a difference between social anxiety/social phobia and simply feeling nervous. It is perfectly normal to feel nervous in certain situations such as a first date or before an exam. In fact, this is an important part, I think, of being human. These "first date jitters" or the nervousness we get before a test help keep us on our toes. With social anxiety/social phobia, though, every day interactions with people can cause extreme self-consciousness and fear in a human being. Simple tasks like calling a business on the phone about an electric bill or even going to the grocery store can cause a person with social anxiety to panic. There are many symptoms of social anxiety, as found here on mayoclinic.com. Some of which include: fearing that others will notice you look anxious, anxiety that disrupts your daily work and life routines, avoiding situations where you may be the center of attention, as well as blushing, profuse sweating, nausea and confusion. Now these symptoms may seem like the normal feelings of just being nervous, right? We have all felt these feelings at some time or other but imagine, if you will, feeling these feelings before doing something completely normal that we do every day such as using a public restroom or even making eye contact with someone. This is social anxiety.
It can be crippling. It is part of our lives, and sometimes our jobs, to do things such as make small talk or interact with strangers. If you can imagine having such an intense fear of these situations that you avoid them at all costs then you can know, to an extent, what it's like to suffer from social anxiety. It can make a person feel less than adequate, to say the least.
The good news is that there are ways to live with social anxiety and still have a somewhat normal life. This helpguide.org website provides us with some techniques in reducing general anxiety (which can make dealing with social anxiety more manageable) and those include: avoiding caffeine, drinking in moderation and getting adequate sleep. There are other, more intensive, treatments for social anxiety which include therapy and medications. While these techniques do not serve as a cure for social anxiety/social phobia, they have been proven affective in the treatment and management of social anxiety/social phobia.
It is important that we understand social anxiety. Not only because it's effecting so many American people but because so many people who are misdiagnosed do not realize that they have social anxiety and that it is indeed a common problem. For support and to further research the topic, you can go here.
The important thing to note is that there is a difference between social anxiety/social phobia and simply feeling nervous. It is perfectly normal to feel nervous in certain situations such as a first date or before an exam. In fact, this is an important part, I think, of being human. These "first date jitters" or the nervousness we get before a test help keep us on our toes. With social anxiety/social phobia, though, every day interactions with people can cause extreme self-consciousness and fear in a human being. Simple tasks like calling a business on the phone about an electric bill or even going to the grocery store can cause a person with social anxiety to panic. There are many symptoms of social anxiety, as found here on mayoclinic.com. Some of which include: fearing that others will notice you look anxious, anxiety that disrupts your daily work and life routines, avoiding situations where you may be the center of attention, as well as blushing, profuse sweating, nausea and confusion. Now these symptoms may seem like the normal feelings of just being nervous, right? We have all felt these feelings at some time or other but imagine, if you will, feeling these feelings before doing something completely normal that we do every day such as using a public restroom or even making eye contact with someone. This is social anxiety.
It can be crippling. It is part of our lives, and sometimes our jobs, to do things such as make small talk or interact with strangers. If you can imagine having such an intense fear of these situations that you avoid them at all costs then you can know, to an extent, what it's like to suffer from social anxiety. It can make a person feel less than adequate, to say the least.
The good news is that there are ways to live with social anxiety and still have a somewhat normal life. This helpguide.org website provides us with some techniques in reducing general anxiety (which can make dealing with social anxiety more manageable) and those include: avoiding caffeine, drinking in moderation and getting adequate sleep. There are other, more intensive, treatments for social anxiety which include therapy and medications. While these techniques do not serve as a cure for social anxiety/social phobia, they have been proven affective in the treatment and management of social anxiety/social phobia.
It is important that we understand social anxiety. Not only because it's effecting so many American people but because so many people who are misdiagnosed do not realize that they have social anxiety and that it is indeed a common problem. For support and to further research the topic, you can go here.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Passive/Aggressive
You know what I hate? I hate when conflict. I am so non-confrontational that it's insane. I will let people walk all over me. I will push my passive nature to the limit just to avoid conflict with a roommate or a friend. I will side step any issue; sweep it under the rug neatly and hope it doesn't rear its ugly head at a later date. It just seems easier sometimes.
Sure there are pros to being passive. Some people like a passive person. Some people mistake this as "easygoing" or, often times "good listener" and will tell you anything about themselves that you may or may not actually care about. They will reveal intimate personal details that, many times, I'd rather not know. But do I take the time to stop them? Do I tell them "actually buddy, I'd rather not hear about what this girl did to...oh..you're going to tell me anyway, huh?" No, of course not, because I wouldn't want to interrupt my friend. Maybe I'm the only person that he can talk to about this particular issue. So, I put his feelings before mine and listen to awful, graphic stories that I am probably still too young to be hearing.
There are most certainly cons to being passive, too. All of these repressed feelings of frustration and resentment can only be bottled up for so long. Eventually they must all come to the surface in an often times surprising explosion of anger and hostility. Whoever happens to be in the path of this verbal destruction? Take cover! There will be months of repressed anger fired your way, whether it was your fault or not. The other cons include, getting involved in long-term relationships that you never wanted in the first place (I know from firsthand experience) and taking shifts at work so other people can just have a free Saturday (because you can't say no...because, ya know, you're passive).
Seems like being aggressive would be so great. I could finally say "no!" to all those people I've wanted to say no to for so long. I could finally say what I think! But I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. There are probably many aggressive people who wish that they could just keep their mouths shut when, instead, they blow up.
I guess part of growing up and maturing is learning how to be passive without being a doormat. How to get what you want without being overly aggressive. And the biggest part of growing up? I guess that's figuring out how to be at peace with the fact that yeah, sometimes you're passive but deep down, you're a good person.
Sure there are pros to being passive. Some people like a passive person. Some people mistake this as "easygoing" or, often times "good listener" and will tell you anything about themselves that you may or may not actually care about. They will reveal intimate personal details that, many times, I'd rather not know. But do I take the time to stop them? Do I tell them "actually buddy, I'd rather not hear about what this girl did to...oh..you're going to tell me anyway, huh?" No, of course not, because I wouldn't want to interrupt my friend. Maybe I'm the only person that he can talk to about this particular issue. So, I put his feelings before mine and listen to awful, graphic stories that I am probably still too young to be hearing.
There are most certainly cons to being passive, too. All of these repressed feelings of frustration and resentment can only be bottled up for so long. Eventually they must all come to the surface in an often times surprising explosion of anger and hostility. Whoever happens to be in the path of this verbal destruction? Take cover! There will be months of repressed anger fired your way, whether it was your fault or not. The other cons include, getting involved in long-term relationships that you never wanted in the first place (I know from firsthand experience) and taking shifts at work so other people can just have a free Saturday (because you can't say no...because, ya know, you're passive).
Seems like being aggressive would be so great. I could finally say "no!" to all those people I've wanted to say no to for so long. I could finally say what I think! But I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. There are probably many aggressive people who wish that they could just keep their mouths shut when, instead, they blow up.
I guess part of growing up and maturing is learning how to be passive without being a doormat. How to get what you want without being overly aggressive. And the biggest part of growing up? I guess that's figuring out how to be at peace with the fact that yeah, sometimes you're passive but deep down, you're a good person.
Diets: Do's and Don'ts.
We've all heard of these famous diets. Atkins, The Zone, South Beach Diet. And chances are we've tried at least one of these, if not another diet that we heard about from some various source or another. Diets are like ex lovers. We cheat on them, we break up with them, we tell ourselves that after this one binge, we'll go back to them. Most of the time, we never do. The word diet itself seems to have a negative connotation. In reality, a person's diet, is just the food that that person habitually eats. Yet in our strangely obese, yet weight obsessed culture, we've taken a simple word, "diet", and given it a twist. A meaning. A connotation.
According to this eatingdisorders.org article, dieting is the number one risk factor for developing an eating disorder and approximately 68% of 15 year old girls are dieting. The question I'm left with is why? Why diet when it's proven that these "crash" diets do not work. All these diets do is restrict one's eating. Most of the time leaving a person feeling groggy and hungry. Not only this but dieting can reduce the body's metabolic rate, which would defeat the purpose of the diet, yes?
This CNN article about the dangers of dieting sheds light on what should be avoided when dieting such as skipping meals. Skipping meals is always a bad idea as it leaves one feeling hungry and much more tempted to splurge their daily caloric intake on a high calorie snack. Instead try having many small, healthy meals throughout the day. Your metabolism stays up and you won't have to spend all day feeling hungry.
What about detox diets? They seem like a good idea, flushing your body of toxins and excess fat, but in reality detox diets, which are skyrocketing in popularity thanks to extremely skinny actresses and models, are dangerous for your health. This MSNBC article warns of the unpleasant side affects of a detox diet such as frequent liquid bowel movements and blood sugar problems. To me, this just does not seem to make sense. The whole purpose of a detox is to emerge healthier, not deficient in important vitamins and liquid.
The logical, and safe way, to diet includes drinking plenty of water, exercising and consuming the right amounts of foods high in vitamins and proteins and low in bad fats and carbohydrates. Also, avoiding foods with ingredients that are unrecognizable in nature helps. Not only is it better for your insides but it just tends to make you feel better, knowing what you're putting in your body. A diet that works shouldn't be a diet that starves you or places extreme limits on your eating habits. The human body needs fats, proteins and sugars to thrive. We need carbohydrates for energy. So denying yourself those based upon the rigid rules of some of these crash diets makes no sense and, ultimately, you'll end up breaking up with another bad diet and be left feeling unsatisfied.
According to this eatingdisorders.org article, dieting is the number one risk factor for developing an eating disorder and approximately 68% of 15 year old girls are dieting. The question I'm left with is why? Why diet when it's proven that these "crash" diets do not work. All these diets do is restrict one's eating. Most of the time leaving a person feeling groggy and hungry. Not only this but dieting can reduce the body's metabolic rate, which would defeat the purpose of the diet, yes?
This CNN article about the dangers of dieting sheds light on what should be avoided when dieting such as skipping meals. Skipping meals is always a bad idea as it leaves one feeling hungry and much more tempted to splurge their daily caloric intake on a high calorie snack. Instead try having many small, healthy meals throughout the day. Your metabolism stays up and you won't have to spend all day feeling hungry.
What about detox diets? They seem like a good idea, flushing your body of toxins and excess fat, but in reality detox diets, which are skyrocketing in popularity thanks to extremely skinny actresses and models, are dangerous for your health. This MSNBC article warns of the unpleasant side affects of a detox diet such as frequent liquid bowel movements and blood sugar problems. To me, this just does not seem to make sense. The whole purpose of a detox is to emerge healthier, not deficient in important vitamins and liquid.
The logical, and safe way, to diet includes drinking plenty of water, exercising and consuming the right amounts of foods high in vitamins and proteins and low in bad fats and carbohydrates. Also, avoiding foods with ingredients that are unrecognizable in nature helps. Not only is it better for your insides but it just tends to make you feel better, knowing what you're putting in your body. A diet that works shouldn't be a diet that starves you or places extreme limits on your eating habits. The human body needs fats, proteins and sugars to thrive. We need carbohydrates for energy. So denying yourself those based upon the rigid rules of some of these crash diets makes no sense and, ultimately, you'll end up breaking up with another bad diet and be left feeling unsatisfied.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Text Talk: It's robbing u of basic knowledge. lol.
You know what I hate? Text talk. And it is rampant these days. It seems I receive at least one text message a day with "lol" in it. Or "g2g!" or "u" instead of "you." People use the letter "b" instead of simply adding ONE MORE freaking letter to make a real word. And I am fed up with this!
Now yes, I feel that it is important to know the differences between "your" and "you're" and "there", "they're" and "their." Also important is realizing when it is appropriate to use "to", "too" and "two" but these seem like common sense problems that can be fixed with a little bit of grammatical, and spelling, knowledge. It's this damn text talk that really gets my goat.
Not only is it lazy but it's irritating. In my opinion, it makes me think that the person sending me a text message is either lazy or illiterate. I will always take the time to spell out the words I'm using to get my point across because it's the right thing to do. When we get into the habit of abbreviating everything, it becomes simply that; a habit. This habit is harmful. It's important, in my opinion, to have a basic knowledge of spelling and appropriate grammar. When we ignore this because we don't feel like typing out words, it can be harmful.
If I were someone's boss and I read an email from my employee in which they used the phrase "lol" or they used "u" instead of "you" I would be disgusted. This is not professional behavior. Now I'm not saying that just because one uses text talk in every day life means that that person uses text talk in a professional setting, but it is possible to slip in said text talk when it has become habitual.
I also realize that text talk is mostly used in a casual conversational setting, mostly with friends and relatives, but still it's gotten to a point where it's taking over! A high school English teacher once told me that she had to actually tell her students that "lol" is not an acceptable word or phrase to use in a formal English paper. I was baffled upon hearing this. And, according to this teacher, it hasn't just happened with one student. Many students are using text talk in English papers that they are handing into teachers. To this I say, we need a change!
With the use of spell check we've become totally lazy when it comes to spelling and grammar. Maybe that's okay because technology has basically taken over and rarely do we need to turn in a formal document that hasn't been spell checked, but still it's important that we have some sort of knowledge of spelling and grammar because what if, god forbid, one day we won't have the use of spell check? And Microsoft Word doesn't always correct every error. Blasphemy you say! Well it's true. Sometimes there are errors that are not caught by spell check. In these cases, it's up to us to know what we're trying to say and to get our point across in an educated manner. So, bring an end to text talk! Or at least try to curb your text talk. Next time you feel tempted to type "u" instead of "you", go the extra mile. Say what you really mean. Show your friends that you are still capable of basic spelling. For my sake.
Now yes, I feel that it is important to know the differences between "your" and "you're" and "there", "they're" and "their." Also important is realizing when it is appropriate to use "to", "too" and "two" but these seem like common sense problems that can be fixed with a little bit of grammatical, and spelling, knowledge. It's this damn text talk that really gets my goat.
Not only is it lazy but it's irritating. In my opinion, it makes me think that the person sending me a text message is either lazy or illiterate. I will always take the time to spell out the words I'm using to get my point across because it's the right thing to do. When we get into the habit of abbreviating everything, it becomes simply that; a habit. This habit is harmful. It's important, in my opinion, to have a basic knowledge of spelling and appropriate grammar. When we ignore this because we don't feel like typing out words, it can be harmful.
If I were someone's boss and I read an email from my employee in which they used the phrase "lol" or they used "u" instead of "you" I would be disgusted. This is not professional behavior. Now I'm not saying that just because one uses text talk in every day life means that that person uses text talk in a professional setting, but it is possible to slip in said text talk when it has become habitual.
I also realize that text talk is mostly used in a casual conversational setting, mostly with friends and relatives, but still it's gotten to a point where it's taking over! A high school English teacher once told me that she had to actually tell her students that "lol" is not an acceptable word or phrase to use in a formal English paper. I was baffled upon hearing this. And, according to this teacher, it hasn't just happened with one student. Many students are using text talk in English papers that they are handing into teachers. To this I say, we need a change!
With the use of spell check we've become totally lazy when it comes to spelling and grammar. Maybe that's okay because technology has basically taken over and rarely do we need to turn in a formal document that hasn't been spell checked, but still it's important that we have some sort of knowledge of spelling and grammar because what if, god forbid, one day we won't have the use of spell check? And Microsoft Word doesn't always correct every error. Blasphemy you say! Well it's true. Sometimes there are errors that are not caught by spell check. In these cases, it's up to us to know what we're trying to say and to get our point across in an educated manner. So, bring an end to text talk! Or at least try to curb your text talk. Next time you feel tempted to type "u" instead of "you", go the extra mile. Say what you really mean. Show your friends that you are still capable of basic spelling. For my sake.
Prom
Ah prom night. It's a right of passage for most high school seniors, right? The giddy excitement of picking out your dress. Finding a date who will look good next to you in the pictures. Getting just the right corsage or boutonnière. This is something that many American teenagers start thinking about around this time of year. But, what about gay teenagers? There are many, many schools that do not allow same-sex prom dates.
According to this Sex, Etc. article, this is not a new issue. In the year 1980 teenager, Aaron Fricke sued his Rhode Island high school for not allowing him to bring his boyfriend to prom. Many schools' defense is that they are worried that same sex couples may be harmed at prom and prom is meant to be safe for every student. While this is a valid point, isn't this kind of behavior, this side stepping of the homophobia issue, only reassuring the homophobic teenagers that their behavior is valid? Wouldn't it be a great example of acceptance to allow same sex couples to attend their prom?
Although it is not a new issue, there are new cases of this popping up quite often. Just today in fact I saw this USA Today article about a Mississippi high school canceling its prom after a lesbian student requested that she get to bring her girlfriend, also a student at the school. The school claims that they have chosen not to have prom this year because it is a distraction to the educational process. The school did encourage the public to plan their own prom-like activity for the high school students, but does this make their blatant homophobia okay? Now, Constance McMillen, the student who wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom, is worried about how angry the other students will be at her. Did the school take this into consideration before making the hasty decision of canceling prom altogether? And what sort of message are they sending? If a gay couple wants to come to prom, well then we just won't have a prom!
In Utah, after many same sex prom date controversies, there is now a law in effect protecting the rights of same sex teenagers to attend their prom. You can read about this law here.
While homophobia is probably always going to be a problem, just as racism and ageism will always be a problem, there are actions we can take. There are examples of acceptance and tolerance that we can provide, starting in school. While I can understand that administrators want the prom to be safe and fun for everyone, it is their duty to make sure that students are safe from harassment at prom. Under federal law, it is their duty to stop the harassment of gay students.
It makes me sad when schools like the Mississippi high school I mentioned earlier simply affirm for their intolerant students that it is okay to feel a prejudice against gay students. Every high school student should feel safe at his or her school. They should feel protected. They should feel free to be who they are. That's not the kind of example that we're setting when we ban same-sex couples from attending an old, teenage right of passage.
According to this Sex, Etc. article, this is not a new issue. In the year 1980 teenager, Aaron Fricke sued his Rhode Island high school for not allowing him to bring his boyfriend to prom. Many schools' defense is that they are worried that same sex couples may be harmed at prom and prom is meant to be safe for every student. While this is a valid point, isn't this kind of behavior, this side stepping of the homophobia issue, only reassuring the homophobic teenagers that their behavior is valid? Wouldn't it be a great example of acceptance to allow same sex couples to attend their prom?
Although it is not a new issue, there are new cases of this popping up quite often. Just today in fact I saw this USA Today article about a Mississippi high school canceling its prom after a lesbian student requested that she get to bring her girlfriend, also a student at the school. The school claims that they have chosen not to have prom this year because it is a distraction to the educational process. The school did encourage the public to plan their own prom-like activity for the high school students, but does this make their blatant homophobia okay? Now, Constance McMillen, the student who wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom, is worried about how angry the other students will be at her. Did the school take this into consideration before making the hasty decision of canceling prom altogether? And what sort of message are they sending? If a gay couple wants to come to prom, well then we just won't have a prom!
In Utah, after many same sex prom date controversies, there is now a law in effect protecting the rights of same sex teenagers to attend their prom. You can read about this law here.
While homophobia is probably always going to be a problem, just as racism and ageism will always be a problem, there are actions we can take. There are examples of acceptance and tolerance that we can provide, starting in school. While I can understand that administrators want the prom to be safe and fun for everyone, it is their duty to make sure that students are safe from harassment at prom. Under federal law, it is their duty to stop the harassment of gay students.
It makes me sad when schools like the Mississippi high school I mentioned earlier simply affirm for their intolerant students that it is okay to feel a prejudice against gay students. Every high school student should feel safe at his or her school. They should feel protected. They should feel free to be who they are. That's not the kind of example that we're setting when we ban same-sex couples from attending an old, teenage right of passage.
Friday, March 5, 2010
The movies.
I've been giving a lot of thought as to what I want to write my second blog post about this week. I've decided that the topic will be the sad lack of good cinema these days.
It wasn't that long ago that we had fantastic movies coming out. "Crash", one of my all time favorite movies came out in 2004. "Crash" had a fantastic ensemble cast and a wonderful message about racism and how it can take many different forms. It was dramatic and funny, not to mention incredibly powerful. "Babel" was another movie with a great cast full of intertwining stories and characters that I thought about long after the movie was over. A few more years back, in the year 2001, my all time favorite movie (and cult classic) "Donnie Darko" was released in theatres. "Donnie Darko" is one of those movies that I catch something new every time I watch it. It's much better in the second, third or even fourth viewing. In the year 2000 we had the movie "Traffic", a fantastic and gritty film about drugs. Then, in 1999, perhaps one of the best movies in American cinema was released. This movie was "American Beauty." With fantastic performances by Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning and Chris Cooper, the Coen brothers gave us one of the most amazing pieces of cinematic achievement that we had seen in a long time, in my humble opinion.
It seems that we've been sadly lacking really good cinema since these films. Sure, there have been some decent movies to hit theatres. In 2006 we saw "Little Miss Sunshine", which showed us that Steve Carell is extremely capable of playing more than just the lovable buffoon, Michael Scott in the American version of "The Office." In 2007 we had a couple of films that stuck out, to me, as decent including "Dan in Real Life" and "Superbad." It just seems that American cinema has gone downhill steadily in the past few years.
We have awful "horror" films like the "Saw" series, which is really just capitalizing on the fact that today's teenagers like to see more gore than actual horror. In my opinion, a horror film should be disturbing like "The Shining" or, for a more recent example, "Pans Labyrinth" which was actually a Spanish film. These days, though, filmmakers are more concerned with how much blood and guts they can get away with. We seem to have lost the art of the subtle, off-camera scares. If you want to watch something that is very disturbing, although not classified as a horror film, "Little Children" will stick with you for a long time after you are finished viewing it.
I suppose I miss the days of "The Big Lebowski" and "Fargo." The films we are offered these days seem to cater more to a generation who does not know what "good" cinema is really all about. It isn't corn syrup blood dripping out of a bloody stump on some guy trying to escape from a hostel. Or sugary sweet rom-coms like "Valentine's Day." Good cinema is about a viewing experience which allows a viewer to connect with the characters. A good movie should tug on the heart strings. A good movie should make me smile, it should make me cry. Hell, it should cause some sort of emotional reaction. It should stimulate my mind, not my gag reflex. Let's hope someday soon American filmmakers will get it right.
It wasn't that long ago that we had fantastic movies coming out. "Crash", one of my all time favorite movies came out in 2004. "Crash" had a fantastic ensemble cast and a wonderful message about racism and how it can take many different forms. It was dramatic and funny, not to mention incredibly powerful. "Babel" was another movie with a great cast full of intertwining stories and characters that I thought about long after the movie was over. A few more years back, in the year 2001, my all time favorite movie (and cult classic) "Donnie Darko" was released in theatres. "Donnie Darko" is one of those movies that I catch something new every time I watch it. It's much better in the second, third or even fourth viewing. In the year 2000 we had the movie "Traffic", a fantastic and gritty film about drugs. Then, in 1999, perhaps one of the best movies in American cinema was released. This movie was "American Beauty." With fantastic performances by Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning and Chris Cooper, the Coen brothers gave us one of the most amazing pieces of cinematic achievement that we had seen in a long time, in my humble opinion.
It seems that we've been sadly lacking really good cinema since these films. Sure, there have been some decent movies to hit theatres. In 2006 we saw "Little Miss Sunshine", which showed us that Steve Carell is extremely capable of playing more than just the lovable buffoon, Michael Scott in the American version of "The Office." In 2007 we had a couple of films that stuck out, to me, as decent including "Dan in Real Life" and "Superbad." It just seems that American cinema has gone downhill steadily in the past few years.
We have awful "horror" films like the "Saw" series, which is really just capitalizing on the fact that today's teenagers like to see more gore than actual horror. In my opinion, a horror film should be disturbing like "The Shining" or, for a more recent example, "Pans Labyrinth" which was actually a Spanish film. These days, though, filmmakers are more concerned with how much blood and guts they can get away with. We seem to have lost the art of the subtle, off-camera scares. If you want to watch something that is very disturbing, although not classified as a horror film, "Little Children" will stick with you for a long time after you are finished viewing it.
I suppose I miss the days of "The Big Lebowski" and "Fargo." The films we are offered these days seem to cater more to a generation who does not know what "good" cinema is really all about. It isn't corn syrup blood dripping out of a bloody stump on some guy trying to escape from a hostel. Or sugary sweet rom-coms like "Valentine's Day." Good cinema is about a viewing experience which allows a viewer to connect with the characters. A good movie should tug on the heart strings. A good movie should make me smile, it should make me cry. Hell, it should cause some sort of emotional reaction. It should stimulate my mind, not my gag reflex. Let's hope someday soon American filmmakers will get it right.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sexting.
To say that we, in America, are heavily reliant on technology is a massive understatement. Imagine going a day without your cell phone glued to your hip. Imagine going a day without *gasp* checking your email! Or worse, your Facebook! How on earth would we manage to get through? I honestly do no know. I am just as dependent on technology as the rest of the world. If I lost my cell phone and all those programmed phone numbers, I'd probably have a panic attack. Technology is a great tool at our fingertips. It's extremely helpful and has brought us forward in leaps and bounds. Yet, like most things in life, it also has it's drawbacks.
We have less face-to-face contact with people. We've lost the personal touch in many aspects of our day to day lives. We've also made it incredibly easy to be cyber stalked. Or, for those of us who have a lot of free time, it's easier to do the cyber stalking. It has also made it easier for predators to get to children. Just look at shows like "To Catch a Predator." Twenty years ago, we wouldn't have dreamed of seeing a show like that on tv. Now we have Chris Hansen intimidating pedophiles in a model home. Must be a Wednesday.
This leads me to the point of this week's first blog: the negative impact of technology on our future generations. Namely, sexting. Now you may be asking yourself "exactly what is sexting?" Well, according this CBS news article, sexting is the act of sending nude pictures via cell phone. It's become quite common in teens. In fact, information can be found in this article that states that about 20% of teens admit to sexting. Did your jaw just drop? Because mine certainly did. A few months ago I had never even heard of sexting. Now I'm reading that 20% of teens these days are sending nude pictures to others via text message.
Of course there are obvious consequences involved with sexting. One is that, should a teenager choose to "sext" there is now a nude photograph of that teenager in circulation. We all learned long ago that teenage boys cannot be trusted. We must assume that, if a teenage girl sends a nude picture of herself to a teenage boy, he won't be the only one to see it. That's exactly what happened to this teenager, Jesse Logan. She ended up committing suicide over the torment she received after sending a nude picture to her high school boyfriend.
Not only are there social ramifications to sexting, but legal ones too. According to this CNN article, Philip Aplert will now spend years on the sex offender list for forwarding nude pictures of his then 16-year-old girlfriend to several of her friends and family members. Sexting is considered child pornography, and that's because it is child pornography. Sexting is done by regular teens and famous ones as well. Several nude pictures of a High School Musical star began to circulate a couple of years ago. Kids these days look up to these celebrities and look at the example they are setting!
Sexting is not only dangerous but incredibly stupid. And while technology has put is forward leaps and bounds, it has also set us back just as much with the dangerous consequences of the easily accessible Mutli-Media Message phenomenon known as sexting. I think we should all stop and think about what kind of world we're facing where any high school student can become a pornographic sensation overnight. Our world is a crazy place.
We have less face-to-face contact with people. We've lost the personal touch in many aspects of our day to day lives. We've also made it incredibly easy to be cyber stalked. Or, for those of us who have a lot of free time, it's easier to do the cyber stalking. It has also made it easier for predators to get to children. Just look at shows like "To Catch a Predator." Twenty years ago, we wouldn't have dreamed of seeing a show like that on tv. Now we have Chris Hansen intimidating pedophiles in a model home. Must be a Wednesday.
This leads me to the point of this week's first blog: the negative impact of technology on our future generations. Namely, sexting. Now you may be asking yourself "exactly what is sexting?" Well, according this CBS news article, sexting is the act of sending nude pictures via cell phone. It's become quite common in teens. In fact, information can be found in this article that states that about 20% of teens admit to sexting. Did your jaw just drop? Because mine certainly did. A few months ago I had never even heard of sexting. Now I'm reading that 20% of teens these days are sending nude pictures to others via text message.
Of course there are obvious consequences involved with sexting. One is that, should a teenager choose to "sext" there is now a nude photograph of that teenager in circulation. We all learned long ago that teenage boys cannot be trusted. We must assume that, if a teenage girl sends a nude picture of herself to a teenage boy, he won't be the only one to see it. That's exactly what happened to this teenager, Jesse Logan. She ended up committing suicide over the torment she received after sending a nude picture to her high school boyfriend.
Not only are there social ramifications to sexting, but legal ones too. According to this CNN article, Philip Aplert will now spend years on the sex offender list for forwarding nude pictures of his then 16-year-old girlfriend to several of her friends and family members. Sexting is considered child pornography, and that's because it is child pornography. Sexting is done by regular teens and famous ones as well. Several nude pictures of a High School Musical star began to circulate a couple of years ago. Kids these days look up to these celebrities and look at the example they are setting!
Sexting is not only dangerous but incredibly stupid. And while technology has put is forward leaps and bounds, it has also set us back just as much with the dangerous consequences of the easily accessible Mutli-Media Message phenomenon known as sexting. I think we should all stop and think about what kind of world we're facing where any high school student can become a pornographic sensation overnight. Our world is a crazy place.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tool Academy? Seriously?
What's the deal with reality television? There are new shows that I see on tv all the time and I have to stop and wonder, who the hell is watching this crap? Now, don't get me wrong. I'm certainly not trying to be Miss High and Mighty. There are definitely reality television shows that I'm addicted to, shamelessly. I will watch Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew anytime I see it on television. Something about the Dr.'s calming presence really relaxes me. And Intervention? Wow. I can easily get sucked right into an episode of Intervention. We're starting to see a pattern here, I really like to watch people with addictions spiral down, then try to pick themselves back up again.
But there are just some shows that give me pause. Take, for instance, a little show on Vh1 called "Tool Academy." That's right. Tool. Academy. Now I can honestly say that I've never actually seen an episode of "Tool Academy" but after some brief research conducted here I'm able to deduce that basically, "Tool Academy" is all about taking boyfriends who are complete, for lack of a better word, tools and try to reform them into something better. Each week one tool who is, decidedly more "tool-y" than the rest is kicked off. The winner gets a huge chunk of cash and, hopefully, keeps his girlfriend. Call me crazy, I don't see the entertainment value. Then we have a show on MTV called "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" which is another show about tools and this one doesn't even try to reform them. They just film them fist pounding, drinking bare chested, and cheating on their girlfriends for our pure entertainment. I like to see a train wreck just as much as the next guy but do we really need to reward this alpha male behavior with a thirty minute chunk of time devoted to it on television.
Maybe I'm just not in touch with my generation and what we supposedly like. I mean shows like Laguna Beach and The Hills...I just could never get into them. They seem so petty when serious things are happening around the world. At the very least, one can use television to educate oneself on some kind of subject other than how to be a douchebag.
This is certainly not a personal attack on anyone who does watch these shows. You are certainly entitled to indulge in your tool watching just as much as I'm entitled to watch celebrities ruin their lives with drugs and alcohol. I guess I just feel that there is a piece of the puzzle missing for me. I just can't seem to figure out who gave the green light to these shows. Better yet, who pitched it? "So we have these guys who are total tools..."
The world may never know.
But there are just some shows that give me pause. Take, for instance, a little show on Vh1 called "Tool Academy." That's right. Tool. Academy. Now I can honestly say that I've never actually seen an episode of "Tool Academy" but after some brief research conducted here I'm able to deduce that basically, "Tool Academy" is all about taking boyfriends who are complete, for lack of a better word, tools and try to reform them into something better. Each week one tool who is, decidedly more "tool-y" than the rest is kicked off. The winner gets a huge chunk of cash and, hopefully, keeps his girlfriend. Call me crazy, I don't see the entertainment value. Then we have a show on MTV called "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" which is another show about tools and this one doesn't even try to reform them. They just film them fist pounding, drinking bare chested, and cheating on their girlfriends for our pure entertainment. I like to see a train wreck just as much as the next guy but do we really need to reward this alpha male behavior with a thirty minute chunk of time devoted to it on television.
Maybe I'm just not in touch with my generation and what we supposedly like. I mean shows like Laguna Beach and The Hills...I just could never get into them. They seem so petty when serious things are happening around the world. At the very least, one can use television to educate oneself on some kind of subject other than how to be a douchebag.
This is certainly not a personal attack on anyone who does watch these shows. You are certainly entitled to indulge in your tool watching just as much as I'm entitled to watch celebrities ruin their lives with drugs and alcohol. I guess I just feel that there is a piece of the puzzle missing for me. I just can't seem to figure out who gave the green light to these shows. Better yet, who pitched it? "So we have these guys who are total tools..."
The world may never know.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Going Organic.
There is no doubt that you've seen the plethora of organic foods that your grocery store offers. Or, perhaps it's the other way around. Maybe you're frustrated with the lack of organic goods available near you. Or maybe you have no preference or even a clue what organic food is. Well, I think it's important that you know. As usual, my blog this week will be over food and, specifically organic food. I try to maintain a certain level of health with the foods I put into my body and I usually try to eat organic produce and other organic products and I think you should too.
Let's first talk about what "organic" means. According to this Food Wise website, organic food is produced without the use of pesticides, bioengineering and synthetic ingredients. Not only that, but organic foods are also grown from farmers who are concerned about the environment and renewable resources. So, why is this important? Well, the use of renewable resources and the conservation of water and soil is important for our future generations. If we expect to leave these generations with a usable planet, then we must focus on renewable resources and finding ways to produce our food while still nurturing our planet. Organic farmers understand the importance of this and use USDA organic guidelines when growing their produce and harvesting.
If we're focusing on organic foods, we cannot limit our focus to foods grown from the Earth. We must also take a look at livestock. Cows, by nature, are vegetarians. So it would only seem natural that we let cows forage and feed them what they have been eating since the first cow, right? Apparently, this does not hold true with many farms. Cows and poultry are being fed gelatin rendered from the hooves of other cattle, rendered horse protein and fats and oils. Not to mention, for non-organic meat, the slaughter regulations are not as strict. With organic slaughter houses, all equipment is cleaned and tested to make sure there is no co-mingling of organic and non-organic meat. You can read these regulations here.
It seems healthier, then, to choose organic meats and foods, but is it really? This Web MD article examines the possible health benefits of eating organic. According to said article, while it is proven that when eating organic food, you are ingesting less pesticides there is no evidence of what these pesticides will do to people over time. Seems like we're the guinea pigs in this experiment and the variable we can control is how much of these pesticides we consume. The conclusive evidence reached in this article is that organic food is definitely better for the environment. Even if the health benefits have yet to be seen in humans, we know organic production is a good thing for our planet.
So whether or not you feel that "going organic" is worth the extra money you may pay for that label, you have to admit the benefits are there. The organic products we receive are held to a higher standard and, ultimately, we consume less chemicals with organic produce. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are what you eat. It's time we start paying more attention to the food we put in our bodies.
Let's first talk about what "organic" means. According to this Food Wise website, organic food is produced without the use of pesticides, bioengineering and synthetic ingredients. Not only that, but organic foods are also grown from farmers who are concerned about the environment and renewable resources. So, why is this important? Well, the use of renewable resources and the conservation of water and soil is important for our future generations. If we expect to leave these generations with a usable planet, then we must focus on renewable resources and finding ways to produce our food while still nurturing our planet. Organic farmers understand the importance of this and use USDA organic guidelines when growing their produce and harvesting.
If we're focusing on organic foods, we cannot limit our focus to foods grown from the Earth. We must also take a look at livestock. Cows, by nature, are vegetarians. So it would only seem natural that we let cows forage and feed them what they have been eating since the first cow, right? Apparently, this does not hold true with many farms. Cows and poultry are being fed gelatin rendered from the hooves of other cattle, rendered horse protein and fats and oils. Not to mention, for non-organic meat, the slaughter regulations are not as strict. With organic slaughter houses, all equipment is cleaned and tested to make sure there is no co-mingling of organic and non-organic meat. You can read these regulations here.
It seems healthier, then, to choose organic meats and foods, but is it really? This Web MD article examines the possible health benefits of eating organic. According to said article, while it is proven that when eating organic food, you are ingesting less pesticides there is no evidence of what these pesticides will do to people over time. Seems like we're the guinea pigs in this experiment and the variable we can control is how much of these pesticides we consume. The conclusive evidence reached in this article is that organic food is definitely better for the environment. Even if the health benefits have yet to be seen in humans, we know organic production is a good thing for our planet.
So whether or not you feel that "going organic" is worth the extra money you may pay for that label, you have to admit the benefits are there. The organic products we receive are held to a higher standard and, ultimately, we consume less chemicals with organic produce. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are what you eat. It's time we start paying more attention to the food we put in our bodies.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Top 5 Albums.
I love music. To me, music is like a drug. It can excite me, make me feel ready to take on anything. It can soothe me and calm me after a tumultuous day. It can wrap me in it's warm, self-indulgent embrace. I can wallow in my self pity or pick myself up by the boot straps and make something of my day, all depending on what song I'm listening to at the moment.
My friends and I play this game called "Desert Island" in which we pick our top five items (movies, albums, books etc) that we would have to have if we were stranded on a, you guessed it, desert island. I will now detail for you my five desert island albums and why I have chosen them. In no particular order:
1. The Beatles, Rubber Soul: Rubber Soul is by far one of the best albums that the Beatles have put out. Unlike the obvious classics, Abbey Road and The White Album, Rubber Soul has less fan-fare and does not contain any songs that were ever #1 on the Billboard Chart. Yet this collection of ten songs is my favorite collection of all of them. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is probably one of the most simple Beatles songs of all time, but it's just so good. "Michelle" is a classic Beatles song and fun to sing. "Run for Your Life" details just how jealous John can get and I love that about him. Rubber Soul is an album that I truly fall in love with every time I listen to it.
2. Cake, Fashion Nugget: Cake is a band that truly hit their peak in the 1990s. Odds are you've heard a Cake song. Probably "The Distance" which can be found on Fashion Nugget or maybe "Never There" which shows up on Prolonging the Magic. While they are both good albums, Fashion Nugget is one that I can listen to on repeat without skipping any tracks. The guitar riffs are insanely catchy namely in "Frank Sinatra" and "Daria" and the lyrics are golden. "She'll Come Back to Me" has a very twangy, country feel and "Italian Leather Sofa" never fails to get stuck in my head. All of Cake's albums, if they are your kind of band, are worth checking out but to me Fashion Nugget reigns supreme.
3. Cold War Kids, Robbers and Cowards: Cold War Kids are a funky little band. The lead singer has an amazing voice that hits your ears like velvet. Live, he still sounds fantastic, no auto-tune necessary for this guy. The musicians too have real talent. That's so rare to find in a band from "these days" but Cold War Kids are that band. Their lyrics are bleak and sometimes depressing set to, usually, upbeat melodies. "Hang Me Up to Dry" is probably one of their best from that album but, for a slower song "Robbers" is definitely the way to go.
4. Say Anything, ...Is a Real Boy: Say Anything is that band from high school that you just can't let go of. Everyone has that one band that, as they grow and mature, they still listen to secretly. Say Anything is that band for me and ...Is a Real Boy is one of my favorite albums of all time. I know the lyrics to every song on this album and sing them very often. "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too" is catchy and fun to listen to but "Yellow Cat Slash Red Cat" is my favorite song on the album.
5. Damien Rice, 9: Damien Rice is the kind of music you want to listen to after a break up. Or, maybe not because he may drive you over the edge. You can just hear the sadness in this guy's voice as he sings. "Accidental Babies" is the best break up song I've ever heard. "Dogs" is a great one for when you're falling in love.
These are my Desert Island albums. What are yours?
My friends and I play this game called "Desert Island" in which we pick our top five items (movies, albums, books etc) that we would have to have if we were stranded on a, you guessed it, desert island. I will now detail for you my five desert island albums and why I have chosen them. In no particular order:
1. The Beatles, Rubber Soul: Rubber Soul is by far one of the best albums that the Beatles have put out. Unlike the obvious classics, Abbey Road and The White Album, Rubber Soul has less fan-fare and does not contain any songs that were ever #1 on the Billboard Chart. Yet this collection of ten songs is my favorite collection of all of them. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is probably one of the most simple Beatles songs of all time, but it's just so good. "Michelle" is a classic Beatles song and fun to sing. "Run for Your Life" details just how jealous John can get and I love that about him. Rubber Soul is an album that I truly fall in love with every time I listen to it.
2. Cake, Fashion Nugget: Cake is a band that truly hit their peak in the 1990s. Odds are you've heard a Cake song. Probably "The Distance" which can be found on Fashion Nugget or maybe "Never There" which shows up on Prolonging the Magic. While they are both good albums, Fashion Nugget is one that I can listen to on repeat without skipping any tracks. The guitar riffs are insanely catchy namely in "Frank Sinatra" and "Daria" and the lyrics are golden. "She'll Come Back to Me" has a very twangy, country feel and "Italian Leather Sofa" never fails to get stuck in my head. All of Cake's albums, if they are your kind of band, are worth checking out but to me Fashion Nugget reigns supreme.
3. Cold War Kids, Robbers and Cowards: Cold War Kids are a funky little band. The lead singer has an amazing voice that hits your ears like velvet. Live, he still sounds fantastic, no auto-tune necessary for this guy. The musicians too have real talent. That's so rare to find in a band from "these days" but Cold War Kids are that band. Their lyrics are bleak and sometimes depressing set to, usually, upbeat melodies. "Hang Me Up to Dry" is probably one of their best from that album but, for a slower song "Robbers" is definitely the way to go.
4. Say Anything, ...Is a Real Boy: Say Anything is that band from high school that you just can't let go of. Everyone has that one band that, as they grow and mature, they still listen to secretly. Say Anything is that band for me and ...Is a Real Boy is one of my favorite albums of all time. I know the lyrics to every song on this album and sing them very often. "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too" is catchy and fun to listen to but "Yellow Cat Slash Red Cat" is my favorite song on the album.
5. Damien Rice, 9: Damien Rice is the kind of music you want to listen to after a break up. Or, maybe not because he may drive you over the edge. You can just hear the sadness in this guy's voice as he sings. "Accidental Babies" is the best break up song I've ever heard. "Dogs" is a great one for when you're falling in love.
These are my Desert Island albums. What are yours?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A new silent killer: High Fructose Corn Syrup
Odds are, you'll find something in your pantry or your refrigerator with High Fructose Corn Syrup in it. Probably even items that you never thought would have HFCS in it, such as bread. Recently, HFCS seems to have gotten a new PR person because we're seeing ads on television telling us that HFCS is safe and, in small amounts, even okay to eat. Well thanks television! Without you, where would I be? Oh yeah, researching facts for myself instead of believing everything I'm spoon fed. But I digress. This website sugar coats (or maybe they use HFCS) the facts about High Fructose Corn Syrup.
You might be asking yourself why HFCS is so bad. You may be wondering why it's gotten such a bad wrap, it never did anything to anybody right? Wrong. High Fructose Corn Syrup is, as the name suggests, high in fructose which is metabolized differently than glucose. Fructose is metabolized in the liver at a much quicker rate. According to this lef.org article, the rate with which fructose is metabolized in the liver leads to increased fat storage in the liver. This can lead to many problems such as liver disease and heart disease.
Not only that, but it seems like HFCS is found in so many foods today! According to a quote on the Sweet Surprise website, whose link is found in the first paragraph, the FDA "would not object to using the term 'natural' on a product containing HFCS." Natural? I don't know about you but I try to eat natural foods. Organic produce, especially if it's grown locally, and other organic foods as well as breads without HFCS. It seems to me that labeling a food as "natural" when it has HFCS in it, which is not found in nature, is a lie.
"Sugar is not the enemy" so says this everydiet.org article, "Refined and processed sugars are!" A good example of a refined, and processed sugar? HFCS as well as aspartame which itself has a bad reputation and has been linked to several medical problems.
So there is a fair amount of literature both for and against the digestion of HFCS. Of course it is up to you to decide for yourself whether you really want to incorporate it into your diet and, if so, how much. Be sure to look at the ingredient list of all the groceries you buy. A good rule of thumb is, if your grandmother has no clue what it is, you probably shouldn't be eating it. You can also go here for a list of some foods without HFCS. To completely eradicate HFCS from one's diet is a challenge, but it's not impossible. It all comes down to doing your own research, paying attention to what is in the foods that you buy and cooking more meals for yourself. That way you know exactly what goes into the foods that you put into your body. Remember, you are what you eat! Truer words were never spoken.
You might be asking yourself why HFCS is so bad. You may be wondering why it's gotten such a bad wrap, it never did anything to anybody right? Wrong. High Fructose Corn Syrup is, as the name suggests, high in fructose which is metabolized differently than glucose. Fructose is metabolized in the liver at a much quicker rate. According to this lef.org article, the rate with which fructose is metabolized in the liver leads to increased fat storage in the liver. This can lead to many problems such as liver disease and heart disease.
Not only that, but it seems like HFCS is found in so many foods today! According to a quote on the Sweet Surprise website, whose link is found in the first paragraph, the FDA "would not object to using the term 'natural' on a product containing HFCS." Natural? I don't know about you but I try to eat natural foods. Organic produce, especially if it's grown locally, and other organic foods as well as breads without HFCS. It seems to me that labeling a food as "natural" when it has HFCS in it, which is not found in nature, is a lie.
"Sugar is not the enemy" so says this everydiet.org article, "Refined and processed sugars are!" A good example of a refined, and processed sugar? HFCS as well as aspartame which itself has a bad reputation and has been linked to several medical problems.
So there is a fair amount of literature both for and against the digestion of HFCS. Of course it is up to you to decide for yourself whether you really want to incorporate it into your diet and, if so, how much. Be sure to look at the ingredient list of all the groceries you buy. A good rule of thumb is, if your grandmother has no clue what it is, you probably shouldn't be eating it. You can also go here for a list of some foods without HFCS. To completely eradicate HFCS from one's diet is a challenge, but it's not impossible. It all comes down to doing your own research, paying attention to what is in the foods that you buy and cooking more meals for yourself. That way you know exactly what goes into the foods that you put into your body. Remember, you are what you eat! Truer words were never spoken.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis
I used to smoke cigarettes. I used to avidly smoke cigarettes. Sometimes, over a pack a day. The first thing I did when I woke up? Lit up a Camel Light. Before I went to sleep? I smoked the day's last cigarette. After every meal? Nothing was a better dessert for me than a cigarette. Suddenly, in the summer of 2009, I decided to quit smoking and I did. Cold turkey, to boot! At first, it was hellish. I didn't know what to do with my hands. I didn't realize how much time I actually spent smoking until I no longer spent said time smoking. I lived with people who did smoke and watching them suck down cancer stick after cancer stick was torture. I felt depressed and bored. I wanted to smoke. But I didn't. I didn't succumb to my cravings for a cigarette.
Soon I started to notice a change in...well everything really. I could breath easier. I wasn't so winded after climbing a flight of steps. My skin looked better. My teeth looked better. I certainly didn't get a chest cold every two months, as I had before. The pros of non-smoking immediately outweighed the cons and I decided to stay a non-smoker. In a little less than a year, I've never felt better. The cravings began to subside and now, even though I still have them on occasion, they are few and far between.
About two weeks ago, I started getting sick. Chest congestion, stuffy head, body aches etc. It lingered for about a week and then, last Sunday, I felt that I was finally on the mend. Only to wake up Monday morning to the worst sinus pain I've ever felt in my entire life! My head was aching. I couldn't breath out of my nose, no matter how hard I tried, and I felt fatigued. It won't go away! It's so frustrating.
When I was a smoker, these sorts of infections would last for weeks, sometimes months. Now, as a non smoker, I'm still getting this crap and it's still sticking around for longer than I want it to! It's interfering with my life! I haven't been able to run on the treadmill, one of my favorite things to do as it really centers me, in a week because I can't even breathe. I finally went to the Health Center on campus yesterday to be prescribed antibiotics. Man, I did not want to do that. I don't like to take antibiotics. You never really know how they could effect you down the road.
The point of this whole "woe is me" blog post is because I'm sick of being sick! It's frustrating that this sinus infection has lasted this long because I've done everything I can do to make it go away! I've been eating oranges and drinking Emergen-C like it's going out of style. I'm downing spinach, sprouts and other vegetables and vegetable broth every day in an attempt to make myself better. None of this has seemed to break this infection. I'm putting off taking the antibiotics hoping that my wimpy immune system will kick into full gear and I won't need to take them, but it looks like this won't be the case. Dammit!
Soon I started to notice a change in...well everything really. I could breath easier. I wasn't so winded after climbing a flight of steps. My skin looked better. My teeth looked better. I certainly didn't get a chest cold every two months, as I had before. The pros of non-smoking immediately outweighed the cons and I decided to stay a non-smoker. In a little less than a year, I've never felt better. The cravings began to subside and now, even though I still have them on occasion, they are few and far between.
About two weeks ago, I started getting sick. Chest congestion, stuffy head, body aches etc. It lingered for about a week and then, last Sunday, I felt that I was finally on the mend. Only to wake up Monday morning to the worst sinus pain I've ever felt in my entire life! My head was aching. I couldn't breath out of my nose, no matter how hard I tried, and I felt fatigued. It won't go away! It's so frustrating.
When I was a smoker, these sorts of infections would last for weeks, sometimes months. Now, as a non smoker, I'm still getting this crap and it's still sticking around for longer than I want it to! It's interfering with my life! I haven't been able to run on the treadmill, one of my favorite things to do as it really centers me, in a week because I can't even breathe. I finally went to the Health Center on campus yesterday to be prescribed antibiotics. Man, I did not want to do that. I don't like to take antibiotics. You never really know how they could effect you down the road.
The point of this whole "woe is me" blog post is because I'm sick of being sick! It's frustrating that this sinus infection has lasted this long because I've done everything I can do to make it go away! I've been eating oranges and drinking Emergen-C like it's going out of style. I'm downing spinach, sprouts and other vegetables and vegetable broth every day in an attempt to make myself better. None of this has seemed to break this infection. I'm putting off taking the antibiotics hoping that my wimpy immune system will kick into full gear and I won't need to take them, but it looks like this won't be the case. Dammit!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A New Civil Rights Movement: Legalizing Gay Marriage
There are a lot of tricky issues that we face in the United States today. Whether or not to vaccinate children, whether or not to legalize marijuana, whether or not to legalize gay marriage. All of these topics interest me in some way or another. Especially legalizing gay marriage. One doesn't have to be a homosexual to know that gay people are still people. Should not gay people be allowed the same rights as straight people?
If we take a look at civil rights issues of the past, we may feel like we've come a long way. We no longer segregate African Americans from Caucasians. Women can vote and work just like men can. Indeed, we have come along way from the days of yore when white people had a separate bathroom and woman's suffrage issues were taking center stage. I'm still reminded though, that we have a long way to go yet. Especially when it comes to the issue of gay marriage.
Indeed we have made some strides. According to this article on stateline.org, no same sex couples could wed in 2004. Not legally anyway. Today there are six states in which it is legal for same sex couples to marry. Sadly, though, there are still 29 states that have prohibitions blocking same-sex marriages in their state constitutions. Why is this?
America seems to take very seriously the fact that it is a "Christian nation" but, according to a 2009 USA Today article that you can read here, the amount of individuals who consider themselves "Christians" has dropped by 11%. It seems to me that individuals who classify themselves as Christians seem to be the ones who take the most offense to the legalization of gay marriage. They are under the belief that marriage is a civil union between a man and a woman. Who decided that? The archaic rules of the Bible? I would like to point out that, through the years, Christians have molded the Bible and changed the biblical rules that they follow along with the changing times. Is it time yet to update the stance on gay marriage and the acceptance of homosexuality altogether? I believe it is.
In my opinion, it is an old fashioned, and outdated, belief that says that homosexuals are less than equal. Gay people are people with thoughts and feelings and emotions just like straight people. We are all one in this journey through life and if we're allowed to practice our religions and speak freely, shouldn't we also be allowed to marry who we deem fit to marry? Why should politicians and religious zealots be able to tell us who we can and cannot marry? According to this BalancedPolitics.org article, the cons all involve religious beliefs. While it is an American freedom to be able to practice whichever religion you choose, it is also an American freedom to choose not to buy into these religions and, in turn, not to have those beliefs forced upon individuals.
The arguments against gay marriage are weak and lacking in logic. I believe that it is a travesty that homosexual couples are not allowed the same rights that straight couples often take for granted. If you share my beliefs, you can go here for more information. I think Frank Lloyd Wright said it best when he said "Toleration and liberty are the foundations of a great republic."
If we take a look at civil rights issues of the past, we may feel like we've come a long way. We no longer segregate African Americans from Caucasians. Women can vote and work just like men can. Indeed, we have come along way from the days of yore when white people had a separate bathroom and woman's suffrage issues were taking center stage. I'm still reminded though, that we have a long way to go yet. Especially when it comes to the issue of gay marriage.
Indeed we have made some strides. According to this article on stateline.org, no same sex couples could wed in 2004. Not legally anyway. Today there are six states in which it is legal for same sex couples to marry. Sadly, though, there are still 29 states that have prohibitions blocking same-sex marriages in their state constitutions. Why is this?
America seems to take very seriously the fact that it is a "Christian nation" but, according to a 2009 USA Today article that you can read here, the amount of individuals who consider themselves "Christians" has dropped by 11%. It seems to me that individuals who classify themselves as Christians seem to be the ones who take the most offense to the legalization of gay marriage. They are under the belief that marriage is a civil union between a man and a woman. Who decided that? The archaic rules of the Bible? I would like to point out that, through the years, Christians have molded the Bible and changed the biblical rules that they follow along with the changing times. Is it time yet to update the stance on gay marriage and the acceptance of homosexuality altogether? I believe it is.
In my opinion, it is an old fashioned, and outdated, belief that says that homosexuals are less than equal. Gay people are people with thoughts and feelings and emotions just like straight people. We are all one in this journey through life and if we're allowed to practice our religions and speak freely, shouldn't we also be allowed to marry who we deem fit to marry? Why should politicians and religious zealots be able to tell us who we can and cannot marry? According to this BalancedPolitics.org article, the cons all involve religious beliefs. While it is an American freedom to be able to practice whichever religion you choose, it is also an American freedom to choose not to buy into these religions and, in turn, not to have those beliefs forced upon individuals.
The arguments against gay marriage are weak and lacking in logic. I believe that it is a travesty that homosexual couples are not allowed the same rights that straight couples often take for granted. If you share my beliefs, you can go here for more information. I think Frank Lloyd Wright said it best when he said "Toleration and liberty are the foundations of a great republic."
Friday, February 5, 2010
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?
My name is Samantha Reaves and I'm a procrastinator. I'm an addict and my addiction is putting things off until the last minute. Why? I've never quite figured that out. I've given tons of excuses "I can't focus on the task at hand if I have weeks to finish it" "I work better under pressure" and the age old classic "I'll do it tomorrow." What I really want to know is why. Why do I procrastinate? Is it because I'm lazy? Maybe. Is it because I really do work better under pressure? Perhaps.
It just seems to me that I should stop procrastinating. It only leads to anxiety and stress when I put something off until the last minute. Meeting deadlines hours or mere minutes before their time is at hand is no way to live for an already stressed college student! Yet I just keep putting it off. Whatever it is, I'll do it later. Hence why I'm putting my last blog post up late on a Friday afternoon. There were tons of times this week when I could have sat down and hammered out some great blog posts but, meh, I just kept putting it off.
Maybe it's genetic. My brother claims that he procrastinates because he just cannot focus on what he's doing if he knows it's not due for a while. I feel the same way. If I sit down to, say, write a paper and it isn't due for another week I feel that I should be focusing on something else that's due sooner. Probably something that I could have done a week ago but had put off until that moment. It's a vicious cycle, this procrastinating thing.
Perhaps I just need better time management skills. That seems to be a reasonable solution. Manage my time better. That's easier said than done. I can't sit down and write a schedule when I'm too busy scrambling to finish something that should have been done days ago! I'm not Wonder Woman! Of course I'm merely being facetious. I realize that were I to better organize my time, I would spend less of said time panicking over late assignments. It seems that I've just gotten to used to procrastinating and then panicking over whatever it is that I put off, that life would be very different if I started doing things ahead of time. Besides, where would the excitement be if I weren't scrambling to meet a deadline? Do I want to be able to lie down at night and go right to sleep without worrying about impending doom brought on by myself? Where's the fun in that?
I think I'll probably spend the rest of my life procrastinating. I mean, sure, I could sit down and organize myself and my thoughts. I could write down "To Do" lists and feel the wonderful satisfaction of checking things off ahead of time. I could really benefit from the lack of stress due to poor time management skills. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
It just seems to me that I should stop procrastinating. It only leads to anxiety and stress when I put something off until the last minute. Meeting deadlines hours or mere minutes before their time is at hand is no way to live for an already stressed college student! Yet I just keep putting it off. Whatever it is, I'll do it later. Hence why I'm putting my last blog post up late on a Friday afternoon. There were tons of times this week when I could have sat down and hammered out some great blog posts but, meh, I just kept putting it off.
Maybe it's genetic. My brother claims that he procrastinates because he just cannot focus on what he's doing if he knows it's not due for a while. I feel the same way. If I sit down to, say, write a paper and it isn't due for another week I feel that I should be focusing on something else that's due sooner. Probably something that I could have done a week ago but had put off until that moment. It's a vicious cycle, this procrastinating thing.
Perhaps I just need better time management skills. That seems to be a reasonable solution. Manage my time better. That's easier said than done. I can't sit down and write a schedule when I'm too busy scrambling to finish something that should have been done days ago! I'm not Wonder Woman! Of course I'm merely being facetious. I realize that were I to better organize my time, I would spend less of said time panicking over late assignments. It seems that I've just gotten to used to procrastinating and then panicking over whatever it is that I put off, that life would be very different if I started doing things ahead of time. Besides, where would the excitement be if I weren't scrambling to meet a deadline? Do I want to be able to lie down at night and go right to sleep without worrying about impending doom brought on by myself? Where's the fun in that?
I think I'll probably spend the rest of my life procrastinating. I mean, sure, I could sit down and organize myself and my thoughts. I could write down "To Do" lists and feel the wonderful satisfaction of checking things off ahead of time. I could really benefit from the lack of stress due to poor time management skills. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
To legalize or not to legalize?
When people talk about the legalization of marijuana there are usually those who feel quite strongly that it should be illegal and those who feel quite strongly that it shouldn't. Do those who think it should be legal live up to a stereotype? Are they wearing a tie-dyed shirt, speaking slowly and eating chips? Are they "peace loving hippies?" Certainly there are those who live up to the stereotype of a "stoner" who would like to have marijuana legalized for their own gain. Then there are those of us, like me, who think marijuana should be legalized because it just seems to make sense.
Certainly the legalization of marijuana could make it much easier to obtain for teenagers and young people who want to smoke it but, I'm telling you, it's easy for them to obtain now. People have always found ways to circumnavigate laws to get what they want. How many underage kids smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol? To me, those things are more detrimental to their health. The long-term effects of alcohol are much more dangerous for your body (liver, brain etc.) than the long term effects of marijuana usage. According to this Safer Choice article, marijuana is much safer to use than alcohol. It is less addictive, you cannot overdose on marijuana and the usage of marijuana has never been linked to any type of cancer which is not the case with alcohol.
Another possible pro is that the government could tax marijuana were it legal. We spend billions of dollars on this "war on drugs" and imagine of some of that money came from the legal sale of marijuana. Then it wouldn't be coming out of our pockets. One might argue that the legalization of marijuana could cause an increase in crime rates but according to this article, in Amsterdam where marijuana is legal, the crime rate is lower than several major US cities. Now of course legalizing marijuana may not cause a decrease in crime rate, but it just may, and it could certainly provide our country with funding from it's tax.
Lastly, the real reason I believe that marijuana should be legalized, are the medical benefits it can, and does, provide to several. In states like California and Colorado medical marijuana is legal but these are state laws and when it comes to federal laws things get tricky. The DEA can step in at any moment and take away everything in a medical marijuana shop legally even though the employees and owner are not working outside of the law. This has to stop. These people are providing a service for their fellow man. Here you can read about the many benefits of medical marijuana of which there are several. For instance, smoking marijuana can relieve chronic pain, eye pressure and nausea. It is my opinion that marijuana is a more natural choice for helping these symptoms than the chemicals that the pharmaceutical companies have put on the market. These prescription drugs put out by pharmaceutical companies could effect is in several adverse ways several years down the road and we have no way of knowing about it now.
No matter what your stance is there are pros and cons to legalizing marijuana just like any other issue and yes, this issue has been argued time and time again. Maybe one day, we'll all come to the realization that the pros seem to outweigh the cons. For more information on your own state laws regarding marijuana you can go here.
Certainly the legalization of marijuana could make it much easier to obtain for teenagers and young people who want to smoke it but, I'm telling you, it's easy for them to obtain now. People have always found ways to circumnavigate laws to get what they want. How many underage kids smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol? To me, those things are more detrimental to their health. The long-term effects of alcohol are much more dangerous for your body (liver, brain etc.) than the long term effects of marijuana usage. According to this Safer Choice article, marijuana is much safer to use than alcohol. It is less addictive, you cannot overdose on marijuana and the usage of marijuana has never been linked to any type of cancer which is not the case with alcohol.
Another possible pro is that the government could tax marijuana were it legal. We spend billions of dollars on this "war on drugs" and imagine of some of that money came from the legal sale of marijuana. Then it wouldn't be coming out of our pockets. One might argue that the legalization of marijuana could cause an increase in crime rates but according to this article, in Amsterdam where marijuana is legal, the crime rate is lower than several major US cities. Now of course legalizing marijuana may not cause a decrease in crime rate, but it just may, and it could certainly provide our country with funding from it's tax.
Lastly, the real reason I believe that marijuana should be legalized, are the medical benefits it can, and does, provide to several. In states like California and Colorado medical marijuana is legal but these are state laws and when it comes to federal laws things get tricky. The DEA can step in at any moment and take away everything in a medical marijuana shop legally even though the employees and owner are not working outside of the law. This has to stop. These people are providing a service for their fellow man. Here you can read about the many benefits of medical marijuana of which there are several. For instance, smoking marijuana can relieve chronic pain, eye pressure and nausea. It is my opinion that marijuana is a more natural choice for helping these symptoms than the chemicals that the pharmaceutical companies have put on the market. These prescription drugs put out by pharmaceutical companies could effect is in several adverse ways several years down the road and we have no way of knowing about it now.
No matter what your stance is there are pros and cons to legalizing marijuana just like any other issue and yes, this issue has been argued time and time again. Maybe one day, we'll all come to the realization that the pros seem to outweigh the cons. For more information on your own state laws regarding marijuana you can go here.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
In the market for some new friends.
Moving is, for me, an emotional process. I was recently uprooted from my home and it has been quite painful for me since. I've struggled just to feel like I'm keeping my head above water. I kind of wish someone could throw me a life vest. I've felt very alone since my move and I'd like to rant for a moment about something that I myself could easily fix. I'm shy.
It's difficult for me to make friends the "conventional" way, meeting someone in a class (all my classes are online) or on campus because I don't have to go to campus on a regular basis. I suppose I could but I feel like, if I did, I'd sit behind my laptop and people watch, never putting myself out there as someone who is easy to talk to even though I consider myself someone who is easy to talk to and I've been told that I am.
I feel that, upon the first or second or even third meeting of new people, I do not come across as myself. I do not come across as who I really am. I like to think that who I really am is a girl who is kind of goofy, with an odd sense of humor, with good taste in music and movies. I think I'm easy to get along with as I don't really subscribe to all the girl drama that circulates these days among my female peers. Yet, when I meet people for the first time, I clam up. None of those endearing personality traits that I like to think I have come across. Instead I end up seeming either eerily quiet or stuck up, of which I am neither!
I wish that it were easier for me to overcome this. I wish that it were easy for me to be outgoing and friendly. I'm jealous of those people who never meet a stranger, those people who make friends wherever they go. That's just not me. Perhaps it's low self esteem and fear of rejection. Why on earth do I fear rejection from strangers? Is it because I'm a typical "people pleaser?" I have to think that this is definitely the case. I care far too much about what people think about me. I care too much about being accepted. I wish that I could change this about myself but, unfortunately, it's a characteristic that's deep-rooted in my personality. As a result, I have a few close friends and, outside of those people, I spend my time alone. Alone doesn't always necessarily equal lonely, but since I've moved it seems to these days.
I know that there are brighter days ahead. I know that I will not feel lonely for long. I know that I will make new friends soon. Or at least, I hope so. Trying to be an optimist in these pessimistic times is hard. I suppose I should just be thankful that I have a nice roof over my head and I do have some really great, close friends. I just don't get to see them as often as I'd like but that doesn't mean that I cannot feel the love and loyalty that we share for one another.
It's difficult for me to make friends the "conventional" way, meeting someone in a class (all my classes are online) or on campus because I don't have to go to campus on a regular basis. I suppose I could but I feel like, if I did, I'd sit behind my laptop and people watch, never putting myself out there as someone who is easy to talk to even though I consider myself someone who is easy to talk to and I've been told that I am.
I feel that, upon the first or second or even third meeting of new people, I do not come across as myself. I do not come across as who I really am. I like to think that who I really am is a girl who is kind of goofy, with an odd sense of humor, with good taste in music and movies. I think I'm easy to get along with as I don't really subscribe to all the girl drama that circulates these days among my female peers. Yet, when I meet people for the first time, I clam up. None of those endearing personality traits that I like to think I have come across. Instead I end up seeming either eerily quiet or stuck up, of which I am neither!
I wish that it were easier for me to overcome this. I wish that it were easy for me to be outgoing and friendly. I'm jealous of those people who never meet a stranger, those people who make friends wherever they go. That's just not me. Perhaps it's low self esteem and fear of rejection. Why on earth do I fear rejection from strangers? Is it because I'm a typical "people pleaser?" I have to think that this is definitely the case. I care far too much about what people think about me. I care too much about being accepted. I wish that I could change this about myself but, unfortunately, it's a characteristic that's deep-rooted in my personality. As a result, I have a few close friends and, outside of those people, I spend my time alone. Alone doesn't always necessarily equal lonely, but since I've moved it seems to these days.
I know that there are brighter days ahead. I know that I will not feel lonely for long. I know that I will make new friends soon. Or at least, I hope so. Trying to be an optimist in these pessimistic times is hard. I suppose I should just be thankful that I have a nice roof over my head and I do have some really great, close friends. I just don't get to see them as often as I'd like but that doesn't mean that I cannot feel the love and loyalty that we share for one another.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Empty Calories on a Full Tray.
Unless a child is home schooled, odds are they eat lunch at a public school. Some parents, generally ones that are more concerned with their children’s diets, get up early every morning in order to pack a lunch that is, hopefully, a better choice nutritionally for their children, although this is not necessarily the case. In speaking to one mother who makes her son his lunch everyday I learned that she uses only whole wheat bread (with no high fructose corn syrup), natural peanut butter (with no hydrogenated oils), and always includes fruits and veggies. For his desert, instead of a Little Debbie brownie, she will often include chocolate chips so she can satisfy his sweet tooth without feeling guilty for pumping him full of sugar, HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), and preservatives.
This boy, although he may not realize it, is very lucky. So many parents don’t have time to pack school lunches and, instead, depend on the school’s cafeteria to provide their children with the nutrients they need during their day. Unfortunately so many school cafeterias across our country are falling short. According to
I am left wondering how a child can then focus on his or her classes after eating so much sugar and so many empty calories. This cannot lead to healthy brain function and certainly could explain hyperactivity as well as lack of ability to focus. Our children do not need to take in that much sugar and fat in one meal. According to another article I found, the recommended daily intake of sugar for children in a day is only 12 grams. Shouldn’t it be that a school cafeteria provides our children with delicious, healthy foods and not foods packed with fat and sugar?
Now obviously not every school cafeteria is making bad choices, nutritionally. In fact there are more and more forward thinking school cafeterias every day. According to this website, roughly 400 school districts in 32 states are participating in the USDA’s Small Farms/School Meals program, which provides school children with healthier, locally grown ingredients in their lunches. And many savvy parents are doing research on their children’s school lunch menus and deciding what their kids can and cannot eat in the cafeteria.
While no changes will take place overnight, we can rest assured that positive steps are being taken. These kids are our future and childhood obesity is running rampant in the United States. We should be very concerned with what our government-funded schools are putting in our children’s bodies. It’s time to take charge, to take note, and to realize that we cannot depend on schools to teach our children to make healthy decisions about the foods they eat.
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