Wednesday, November 21, 2012

oh hey



"I remember when my niece, Toni, was a newborn, I'd babysit her and sometimes she'd cry, like babies do. Nine times out of ten I could solve problem, I could figure it out, but...sometimes when I'm walking along the street, and a shaft of sunlight falls in a certain way across the pavement, and I just want to cry. And a second later it's over. And I decide, because I'm an adult, to not succumb to the momentary melancholy, and I had that sometimes with Toni. She just had a moment like that. A moment of not knowing why, and she just let herself...go into it. And there was nothing anyone could do to make it better -- it was just her, and the fact of being alive, colliding."

Life has a gap in it; it just does. Don't go crazy trying to fill it.

Adequacy is the moment you've sold yourself to everyone else's fulfillment, the moment you lose all that you've saved up since your childhood to define the lines that border your soul. 

don't be afraid of being afraid. it sounds like the most dangerous thing in the world

put some armor around that gooey little heart of yours. 

I love you


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Sex and Crystal Meth

That's not what my blog is actually about, but Olivia's posts always get more views than mine, so I'm hoping this will do the trick. Anyway, I've been pretty bored lately with school and such, so I've been focusing my energy on random stuff that will mess with my mind. Whether it be the universe, free-will, moral systems, or life after death, it doesn't matter. I could talk about any and all of these for hours, which I probably will over the course of this blog, but I'm completely unsure which to talk about now. Random number generator here I come! Results on the way.
It was a 2.
Thank god. Free-will is so interesting.
A philosophical question that likely will never be really solved is that of free will v. determinism. Free will is thought of as the ability to do otherwise, which is essentially that the universe doesn't already have a path for you, and you make your own path. You have the ability to make choices. The other side is determinism, which is essentially that everything that happens, every choice you make, has its own conditions behind it. If the conditions (same past experiences, same point in time, same genetics, same everything) there is no way that any other decision would be made. Debate this: Whatever you had for breakfast this morning, if you followed the exact same path for your entire life, and you wake up on this morning in time millions of times, will you ever do otherwise? Will you ever choose anything else?
Take a moment to think(don't skip this) and decide which one makes sense to you. Don't let me influence you.

Don't skip this.

























Stop scrolling and think, you devious anarchists.



















Alright, good. Now, I'd like to state first of all that I'm not god. I don't know the answer. I could be wrong, so no one get defensive in the comments. I'm arguing for the sake of arguing, and because it's a mind trip. Like I said, I'm really bored. This stuff fascinates me.

Anyway, as some of you may have guessed with my breakfast analogy, I'm a fan of the determinist point of view. A big reason is that everything in the universe, is made of matter. Matter is governed by unchangable physical laws. Your brain is made of matter. Ipso facto, your brain is governed by unchangable physical laws. Some say that the brain is different in some way, so when I heard this argument, I wanted to figure out where the line of "different" is drawn. So, a buddy of mine came up with this situation, here goes.
You're walking down the street, and are hit by a bus. You lose both your legs, and are replaced by fully functional prosthetic legs. You can feel everything, and they work exactly the same, yet they're synthetic. Are you still you? Can you still make decisions? (Nod your head "Yes")
You're walking down the street again, and are hit by another bus. You lose both your arms this time. Again, they're replaced by fully prosthetic arms, fully functional, and with sense of touch and all that. Synthetic. Are you still you? Can you still make decisions? (Nod your head "Yes")
You're walking down the street yet again (You would think you'd stop going down the street by now, but that's not important) and are hit by another bus. Your torso is wiped out, and all of your organs and such are completely replaced with synthetics. Same deal, fully functional, blah blah blah. Same questions, nod your head "yes" again, you monkeys.
Blah blah blah street bus, and your head is hit. New medical breakthroughs allow your head to be replaced synthetically, and you'll be exactly the same. Your memories, your thoughts, everything about you is exactly the same. Yet you're fully synthetic. Do you, a complete robot have free will? Even though everything about you is completely programmed? What if I create a robot not based on a human, and make him whatever person I'd like? Does that robot have free will?

If you answered "no" to any of the questions, good for you. You're hopeful. Are we all nothing but the sum of our experiences and genetics? We'd undoubtedly have different viewpoints if we were exposed to different environments. I don't know. Anyway guys, this is a great discussion topic. Don't just read this and not comment. COMMENT. Discussions are good for the soul. Show that you have the free will to comment.



Monday, November 12, 2012

Internet Addiction - Taking control of what is our fault

For the past few decades, the internet and social online games have been trapping people inside their houses in secluded rooms. Because most of these addicts are teenagers, there parents and family overreact and call in psychiatrists to help with the so called addiction. But there really is no true harmful addiction being taken place. Of course lights glow when certain parts of the brain are stimulated when doctors poke around to so called addicts, but its nothing compared to the harmful effects of drugs and alchol.

Some say that once addicted to the internet, your lives shut down, and eventually you dont participate in the real world and lose contact with friends. Its all bullshit. I have a friend who I have known for the past three years. He is, by a doctors definition, addicted to the internet. He goes online and plays WOW almost everyday and spends multiple hours with other video games and online social games. From reading this, you would assume he has no life. A picture could be drawn about this person, and it would probably portray a filthy, lazy person, in a secluded, dark room with no friends wasting his life. But damn you could not be more wrong. This person is an allstar athlete, in two sports, and a genius at school; taking several AP classes and exceeding in all of them. Sure you may assume I am lying, and I would tell you his name but I cannot without his consent, (although Economos I do believe you had him as a student last year). This proves that people who constantly play video games and online games are not subject to addiction. Its if you have the balls to get up and be motivated to do something. There are some addicts who would leave school early or skip it entirely to get a few more hours leveling up, but it all depends on the will of the man.

Internet Addiction should not be ruled as an "addiction" because what of the other far more addicting activities such as porn or sex. Both are highly attactive, and almost everyone does both. But that dosent mean we are going to take two or three days out of our week to do it. And a doctor should that the same area in the brain is stimulated when one does either task.

I believe that the only reason society makes such a huge deal about this is because they do not fully understand it yet. My father is a bit older than my fellow students, I believe he is sixty maybe. So in the 1950's, when he was born, he lived in a seculded land area of 112 acers of land in Maine. Our modern toys are t.v., phones, xbox and so on; his toys were knives, guns, and some wild animal to shoot. His most relatable toy was a 19 inch black and white television which he watched occasionly. Two observations can be stated from this. The first is that adults didn't have the same childhood as we had. We have social online games which is found peculiar and mysterious by some adults. They dont fully understand what we are going through, and what we can control.
The other
 observatoin is that we dont have the experience nor the chance that our parents had. For Johns Creek, we live in the suburbs, a modern town which each house may have only a few acres of land to play on. I am lucky enough to have a dozen or so acres. I  can play baseball, play with my dogs, and chop down trees. This real life experience is what keeps me off of my videogames. Without land, I probably would stay inside playing WOW.

Another notable thing is that I watched a Ted Talk Video about pills and ADD. Some, like myself, believe it isnt real. ADD was made to pocket more money for the medicine, ADD is just a lame excuse to not do well in school. But there are some who have serious cases which must be taken care of, but for the most part it isnt real. So why should we believe some doctors about internet addiction. If we believe them, in a few years time, they will be selling anti-internet addiction medicine; do we really want that.

The truth is the society we live in is not a good one, it is full of pussies who need to suck on their mommas tit until they turn 40 and their parents arent around anymore. They need to grow up and get off the games. Sure, take a break once in a while, relax and half fun with friends online, killing demons and assassinating people. Its fine to have fun, but damn have a limit. I am on the computer right now. I am on the internet writing blog, but I'm not on facebook, or youtube, or WOW. I have control. We dont need medicine to cure these so called addictions. What we need is for parents to get up, grab them by the collar, get their heads out of their asses, and pry their eyes open to the real world. Because getting stuck behind the virtual world wont last forever. One day reality will set in and take a giant crap on what is left of their life.

this seemed appropriate






Is Internet Addiction a Load of Crap?

Yes and no. After watching "Rock Center" with Bryan Williams, and looking at both sides of the story, I've decided that the Internet is "habit forming" but not addicting. Addiction is defined by dictionary.com as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to somethingthat is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics,to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma." The key phrase is that "cessation causes severe trauma." You can't say that just because someone goes on Facebook all the time, that you can classify them in the same class as a meth addict. It just doesn't add up. I see an "addiction" to the interent as the same thing as an addiction to chipotle. Yes, it's fantastic, and I love going there, but that doesn't classify me as an addict. It's a habit of mine to go to Chipolte, but I'm not addicted. 

I just can't believe that it's a real thing. I can draw the comparison to ADD/ADHD. The diseases aren't real. People who don't feel like focusing or get bored in class label themselves with some "mental disorder" and demand pills to help them concentrate. Are internet addicts going to be medicated next? It's a ridiculous point to make. As a society, we're too inclined to say we have "a problem" and expect to have our problem fixed with some drug. 

I'm not saying the internet is okay to be on all day, and nothing will happen. It's absolutely habit forming. And it's not a great habit to have. American obesity anyone? However, if you stop "using" the internet, you won't go into convulsions, you won't throw up, and you won't show any physical symptoms whatsoever. The only thing that will happen, is you'll have more time on your hands and probably be bored. That sucks, but you don't need to be treated for boredom. Go outside and throw a football, tubby.

Internet Addictions

The psychological addiction to the internet,  the era of digital crack, is a recently-present problem. Brian Williams, on Rock Center, has a host of candidates analyzed for their personal stories. Is it something that exists? Definitely. Is it itself a huge worry? Probably not.

While it is a worry when they show people such as the online-gamer who's lives are inside their electronic box, a small obsession with Facebook isn't really an issue. The difference - the online-gamer typically spends over 6 hours of their day staring at a digital screen, focusing all of their brain on irrelevant information. This activity is extremely counter-productive, and useless to the things that matter for progress in life.

All people are different though; if this activity makes some people extremely happy, then good for them. I would rather have online-gamers than possible murderers. Better they are shooting eachother over Runescape Gold then tangible possessions.

After seeing the T.V. show, I believe there is another, more severe problem. In my opinion, it is more the mother's faults than the child's fault. The parents that are letting these kids be violently addicted to their computer screen need to crack the damn whip. Maybe I just can't understand because I'm not a parent, but if my child was addicted to an activity that was affecting actual productivity and their personality, I wouldn't hesitate to tell them to go play outside. There are some evils on the internet, nature is mostly good.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Internet Addiction

Is Internet addiction real? Can it be treated the same as other addictions, such as to drugs? This topic has been quite controversial recently.  On "Rock Center" with Brian Williams, Nancy Snyder had the opportunity to interview people from both ends of the spectrum.  And after hearing the arguments for myself, I'm not convinced.

This timing is great.  In AP Psychology we literally just covered the various drugs and their effects on the body.  Addiction can be physiological, psychological, or both.  The tolerance that addicts build up to drugs can visibly be seen in the brain.  The withdrawl to some of these drugs is excruciating.  There are serious, lasting, health effects.  In my opinion, it just doesn't make any sense to categorize excessive internet usage as an addiction and weigh it the same as being addicted to heroin, or cocaine, or to being an alcoholic.

Honestly, I think that in today's society we are too quick to diagnose others.  We've seen this before, with ADD and ADHD.  Companies are doping up kids with drugs, making sure that they develop a dependence to them, and happily pocketing the cash from their families.  It's a sick, twisted, never-ending cycle.  If we are to now begin diagnosing internet addiction, we're opening up pandora's box.  Are we to say that because a child plays computer games way too much, he needs treatment? What about people who have a lot of sex? Or who never stop reading? Should they, too, be diagnosed as having an unhealthy "addiction"? Where do we draw the line?

Now I'm not saying that it's ok for kids to be on the internet all day long.  It's not.  But we can take matters into our own hands without paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for someone else to.  Enforce the number of hours your child is allowed to be on the computer each day.  Make them go outside. Plan activities that force them to get out of the house. 

Internet addiction may be an issue for some, but it is in no way shape or form a condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated. 

Internet Addiction



          I never thought about addictions outside of drugs but this show has really brought my attention to a topic I would have otherwise ignored. It's really frightening how many different types of addictions there are that affect people. In the show however, there were people who argued that internet addiction is not a real thing and I think that the defense against that was really believable. We can't just confine ourselves assuming that only drugs are addictive and must open ourselves to other types of addictions so that we can find a solution for them before they actually become a major issue. Besides, "It's not a type of addiction" is probably exactly what people said about drugs and look what happened. Internet addiction is a very probable threat that has already started affecting hundreds of people and with the rate at which technology is advancing, how long until all of us are effected? 
          I really feel bad for the people who are losing everything because of this but I also think that they should still show at least a little bit more self control. After all, hundreds of other people are exposed to the same games and sites, so why don't they become addicted? I think it's because of our mindset. Some people are more dedicated to their outside lives than others so they are at a lower risk of becoming addicted. And others may also have multiple other things to focus on such as school so they have like a "higher calling" that stops them from becoming addicted. I think it's the people with too much free time that are at the highest risk of becoming addicted. After all, an idle mind is a vulnerable mind- words to live by. 
          I think this issue will really make other people realize that technology, although useful on the surface, has a dark essence inside. Because of technology, people are able to work more and get more done but that also increases the demands so really, we haven't gotten anywhere near making our lives easier. And as populations grow faster than technology grows, the demand gets harder and harder to meet. Here is a report from CNN showing some of the world's happiest countries. At the top is Costa Rica. The first thing I noticed was that almost none of the first world countries are on there. The difference between these countries and us, they don't have the technology we do. It's all about perspective. What may look bleak to us, seems great to them. So technology is only as useful as we make it and so far, I don't think we have done a good job, as this addiction shows.

                                                                                                  -Jalees N.

Sources:
          http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/denmark-ousted-100-latest-worlds-happiest-country-             561826

Internet Addiction


I feel like everywhere you look there are people trying to make up diseases or addictions to take people’s money, whether there is an actual addiction or not. One of the doctors that spoke about this piece said “it is easy to change the definition of a psychological disorder”. I completely agree with that and this internet addiction is example A. The internet “addiction” seems to be stretching the line of addiction; however, I do believe people become obsessed and that is different.

Addictions can by psychological or physical, recently learned in depth from AP Psych. Physical addictions results in with drawl because the body is lacking or having to remake substances that the drug controlled. Psychological addictions is the user making themselves believe that they need to have the drug or else they will not be able to function, like coffee.

The one leading fact that this internet addiction could be real is the MRI scan that showed more action in the areas of the brain that controlled decision making, emotions, and self-control. These are the same areas that are affected when someone in on drugs. A drug induces the high by blocking certain types of neurotransmitters from brain receptors. There is an actual active substance controlling chemicals in the human body. This is a true addiction. Even though the scans show the same areas activated as those who are on drugs, the people are not having agonizing with drawls like those who are in drug rehab. These internet addicts don’t physically need the internet (seriously you can’t even touch it).

 I think internet addiction could be self inflicted- like a psychological addiction. We use the internet so much in our daily lives that we feel the need to use it. People convince themselves that they must play an online game or check facebook or twitter when they just checked if they had any notifications two minutes ago. Almost everyone I know will aimlessly go through their iPhone on the internet, apps, or social media when we are bored or not doing anything. The kid who was obsessed with online games and had a mental break down when his mom took away his computer- that need is all in his head. Also, that child is obviously not disciplined well if the mom and sister had to hide in a room.

Researchers say people who are addicted to the internet show the same signs as actual drug addicts in their daily lives: the inability to stop even though they claim they will, sleep deprivation, and pulling away from human relationships. These are some of the examples straight from our AP Psych book as signs of an alcoholic. This is so weird. But this also brings to my attention another example of how strong the human mind can be.

Let’s say your friend got a sweet tea and you ordered a coke. You are actually drinking the sweat tea, but it tastes like coke because that is the taste your mind was expecting. After a minute, you realize you are drinking sweet tea and your mind is blown. Trust me this happened to me the other week. I think this can apply to psychological addictions in the way people’s minds control their expectations about how much they need the internet.

 If this internet addiction is real, it’s all in people’s heads. There is no physical demand like the effects cocaine. I think doctors are pushing obsessions over the line to addicts. Seriously, $400 a day for an internet addiction cure? Just send those people to the mountains where there is no internet or cell service- not only is that a free fix, but also it would be funny to watch. Hey look I probably just created another reality show idea. Go figure.

Addiction?

Everyone has been affected by an addiction at some point. More commonly heard of addictions are to drugs and alcohol. These addictions start with the intake of one of the two which triggers a release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin makes you feel good and so it leads to an ongoing battle between people and their desires until the body becomes reliant on the substance. That’s the beginning of the worst case scenario. However, recently, researchers have found that addiction to the internet may be just as real as these addictions. On Rock Center with Brian Williams, resident professional Dr. Nancy Snyder interviewed many people with this new “disease”. However it seems that new addictions are popping up every day and “we didn’t always call them addictions”. The report was supported with MRI scans of addict’s brains. The areas that are affected include “decision-making, emotions, and self-control”.  It’s hard to grasp that an activity as simple as getting on the internet, where no form of physical intake is involved, can have the same effect on your brain as drugs or alcohol. Dr. Snyder interviewed a woman who said her son was addicted and it changed his entire personality, but it also affects the addict’s social skills. Many researchers think that more research needs to be done in order to officially diagnose this addiction. Like I said, it’s a hard addiction to grasp because it seems like “goofy science”, but for those who are experiencing it themselves and living it, it is a real addiction. Restart is the name of a rehab center that was created to help people who are addicted to the internet turn their lives around. Ironically named, they restart their lives rather than restarting computers or gaming systems. The problem with Restart is that it costs about $400 a day and by the end of an average stay $40,000. However, if you are spending all of your time on the internet and don’t have a job, paying for your treatment could be really difficult. It’s hard to say whether or not being addicted to the internet is a real addiction. In this day and age, people come up with so many “diseases” when really we are all just different. We all learn differently and have different tolerances to substances and activities but I guess we cannot say that an internet addiction isn’t real when we don’t feel like we or our loved ones are experiencing it.  

internet addiction

Today i watched Rock Center on internet addiction and i have mixed emotions on it. It's funny because sometimes i believe my mom is addicted to the internet constantly checking her emails and playing card games. However, I do not think that internet addiction is a disorder. A disorder to me is a sickness or a mental illness which one can not overcome. Internet addiction is definitely something someone can overcome and get rid of. The boy that was talked about in that part of the show was a great example on internet addiction can affect someone's life. However, most teen boys now a days do not play games on the internet as much as they play xbox or other devices in that category. I feel as if internet addiction is simply something stupid that people who have nothing else to do with their lives get brain washed into. The older man that was interviewed on this topic during the show believed that he was a loser in real life, but a winner on the internet. That in itself is just sad. These people need to go out and do something with their lives in my opinion and stop acting like they have to have the internet. The fact that the kids mom had to call 911 because her son was being violent after she took his computer is beyond me. The way society is today is just that though technology is everything to us kids and it sickens parents. Even though i hate being without my phone and without my computer i would never get to the point that someone would need to call 911 on me. It all just seems stupid in my opinion. I honestly don't even think it was worth talking about on television.

Internet Addiction?

Internet Addiction?

Internet addiction isn't real. 

NBC News' Rock Center delivered a news segment only pertaining to a few individuals who have suffered this problem. Internet addiction, as the NBC News anchor asserts, is actually real. However, her justification is not acceptable. She cites a few individuals who have suffered through this, but a handful of people with "internet addiction" does not justify this to be admitted as a medical condition. 

The act of accusing the internet for addiction is ludicrous. Society has underwent a transformation where the internet is now our most important communication medium. This communication medium now serves us in unimaginable ways. Work is now shifted towards the internet and emails, entertainment is now being shown on the internet, families can communicate in closer ways with the internet. This is merely just a change in medium that the press decides to overhype about as an addiction. Just because more people decide to spend time with their internet connected devices to finish work does not justify them as "addicted." 

NBC also aired a few clips of interviews of families who have suffered through a "victim" of internet addiction. However, this segments are not convincing at all. The word addiction goes way too far for these interviews to support. These unlucky individuals are just obsessed with the internet, not addicted. NBC also cited a few neural studies with sections of the brain, but the study itself is incompetent to show any credible results. NBC cites this as a "small study" that compares brain sections with "internet addicted" individuals and everyday people. First, this study was a small study which obviously did not include a majority of people to be credible. Second, this study was the only study NBC cited; this shows that either this study was the only one of its kind, or they are much more competing studies which proves internet addiction is a hoax. 

Though NBC, I believe, did not air this segment to change opinions, they have certainly not provided a convincing argument for internet addiction.

Internet Addiction IS NOT A MENTAL DISORDER

Internet Addiction
 
 
                I don’t understand where this reasoning that “being addicted to the internet is a mental disorder” came from, but it does not make sense. Professionals are claiming that the continued use of the internet is similar to those of substance abusers. I do not see why or how that is true. The internet is a device that connects you to the world. It helps you interact with anything that is happening. Maybe it is just me, but I do not see how being away from the internet can cause the same effects as being at rehab to get over an addiction for heroin for example.
                “The addiction to the internet” can certainly not be classified as a mental disorder. If you spend countless hours on the internet or playing video games then it does not make you crazy. You are just a teenager. Teen lives are consumes by computers and video games. We are under a lot of stress and these are ways to handle it. It may seem bias because I am a teenager, but to me, hearing about someone being addicted to the internet just sounds like a person that needs to get out more.
                Unless someone has actual evidence that the internet produces the same effects on the brain as mind-altering drugs then I refuse to believe there is a thing as internet-withdrawal becoming a serious problem. Some people can fit in better online then in real person. I don’t think they should be denied what makes them comfortable or happy. I don’t think they should spend all their day on the computer or playing games, but just healthy moderation can make an easy fix. Having constant access to what the internet has to offer, I do see the internet as time consuming. I have a problem seeing how it can affect how you live your life.

bull


          There's a huge controversy over the arbitrary lines of psychological disorders/issues. There really is no place where we mark "this is where all problems are labeled medical concerns". So to argue that internet addiction is an actual addiction, underneath our definition of an addiction, sure. Yeah. Fine. It's an addiction. Even scientifically proven through MRI scans, the brains of internet addicts contain abnormal connections just as those of any drug addict would have. I'll admit, it's a real mental problem, because your mind gets messed up when something foreign and unfamiliar is administered to you.

Addiction is defined as "a state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma". I could be in love with my dog, brush it every minute, and the APA would probably label me as a dog-brushing addict underneath the dictionary.com definition.

I think it's acceptable to be screaming about how internet addiction is real and is a growing problem. But it should not be addressed the same way we treat drug addicts. Drug addicts have a serious physiological problem that ties them to certain drugs, and they require serious medical attention. An internet addict shouldn't be taking opioids to curb his/her cravings.

Sometimes mental problems are just issues that you have to face. At best, these addicts should be given a support system. From thereon, I really don't see much more we can do for them. When the dust hits, just deal with it. Your life's falling apart because Mists of Pandaria has just been released and you just can't help yourself. My sympathies will only go so far.

The same goes for other psychological addictions such as gambling or sex. When you start thinking that drugs are the cure for every psychological issue,  you've dug yourself into some deep...


poop


Because that's where all psychological problems are headed, aren't they. Once we've labeled it as a "medical problem", we will begin treating it with "medicine". For some bizarre reason, this keeps the general public happy, as if all these pills provide some sort of sense of security.

It's the same thing as the ADHD epidemic for me. I'll admit that it's a problem. But is it a problem that requires a chemical to "fix" us? Nah. That's bull. Jake can tell you all about how pharmaceuticals try to sell that stuff.

The rehabilitation center the show focuses on is decent. Cool stuff. But I worry where this is going - we need to draw the line where psychological addictions/problems do not require medical attention. Sometimes, you just need to deal with it.

Your life blows because you gave up your friends for a keyboard, mouse, and Dell computer? You're depressed because you haven't showered and your life is going nowhere? Get your mouse together dude. You really don't know what the meaning of pain and worthlessness is. My dad sees flying ghosts and tries to hurt himself because he thinks the FBI is going to take him away and torture him. That's called psychological. That needs medication.

all you need is a pair of nice shoes.

edited by Theo Economos...

Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction 

When you think of an addiction...what do you think of?
You probably think of alcoholism and addiction to hardcore drugs.  In Rock Center,  Addiction to the Internet was investigated.  Internet Addiction?  It sounds a little strange at first.  There are definitely some skeptics to this addiction, even I was included in this group.  My initial thought was "there's no way someone could be addicted to the internet so much that it becomes a problem."  But the more I think about it, the more it makes more sense.  Think about your everyday life.  At least for me, this is how it works.  I will be doing something and have a break in which I'll have nothing to do so, I just pull out my iPhone and check Twitter and Instagram just to see if anyone has posted anything I haven't seen.  In this Rock Center Investigation,  they recognize an internet addiction as something much deeper than this.  They are talking about the people who aren't able to function or have real friends because they are too busy playing internet games or talking to their online friends.  This is not a shock to me and is definitely something that I think everyone was expecting but not ready to handle.  I don't see this reliance on the internet slowing down.  People buy their electronic products based on internet capabilities.  Companies rely on the internet to keep their staff connected and even a place to store records.  People have easy access to the internet and this addiction will continue to grow exponentially into the future.  I believe that this can be a problem for the addicts and not the users.  Users are able to control themselves while addicts are on another level.  It will be beneficial for people to have rehabilitation centers, like reSTART to help them with their addiction.

France

France - the country of fancy wine, the Eiffel Tower, and the french language. I myself speak french, and have gone to visit my grandparents in the south of France every summer. They live in a wonderful place near Orange. It is a small town, just like you see in the movies, and is surrounded by hundreds of vineyards, as far as the eye can see. It is like a personal sort of heaven for me - a private pool, the warmth of the southern french sun, and, most importantly, family.
In their garden, they have vines, fig trees, apricot trees, cherry trees, and much more. Half the fun of going there is picking everything and enjoying it afterwards. Ham and melon is a very popular dish in France, and one I enjoy immensely. A French tradition that I do not believe I will ever get sued to it eating hot at lunch and cold at night... to me, it feels as though lunch and dinner are switched. I don't dislike it, I simply find it strange.
All in all, the south of France is a place I would recommend that everyone visit, wether for the little shops, or the small towns in which everyone knows everyone, or even just for the fantastic weather.

Internet Addiction

Another addiction has recently been exposed. Not drugs, or cigarettes, or alcohol, but the Internet. This is controversial, as some people believe it is not an addiction, but simply a bad habit, while others maintain that it is without a doubt an addiction. Addiction. What does it even mean? In the words of dictionary.com, it is the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma. That pretty much describes the habit of internet addiction - constantly on the computer, and when the games are removed, becoming violent. I will leave it up to you - addiction or bad habit?

Fourth Blog: Internet Addiction

I've been ruminating on what that television segment suggested about the internet and its millions of cronies -- addicts. Quite frankly, I enjoyed more than just the internet addiction segment -- the portion about the abnormally normal family involving the gay couple was fascinating, almost enrapturing to me. 

I would, if time would permit, discuss my opinions on that segment as well, but I am forced to focus on the assigned portion.

I personally thoroughly enjoyed this informative snippet of television. In a nutshell, I simply agree with what the Stanford professor was saying. No, not because he was one of the more reputable authorities dictating their claims and opinions on the matter, but because he is right -- you cannot officially and rationally place a psychological status on someone until several extensive, thorough, and comprehensive studies and experiments have been performed. It pains me to admit to that being a most logical method of extracting the "truest" results because treating humans as test subjects just rubs the wrong way. But I am unquestionably surprised at the fact that little research--or no enough--has gone into this subject: if the pharmaceutical industry could create another category of addiction -- especially one this rampant -- to diagnose millions with, why on America wouldn't they? 

I wish I had the number, but nonetheless, a COLOSSAL percentage of this country---the world--- suffers from "internet addiction" because it is literally something we cannot get our hands off of. I think that Rock Center's report was only the tip of the iceberg because quite honestly the internet is what has sparked this addiction. Recall that one mother in the show had stated her son became uncannily abusive when she revoked his technology. Key word -- technology. She didn't just take away his computer, although that was his root of sanctitude for the internet, we also see him clutching an iPad in one image, suggesting that he transferred his addiction to suit his environment/situation. Therefore this issue is really a subsection of a much larger, and more prevalent one. But as I was saying, I can continue to go around and diagnose my family and friends as internet addicts, but in the eyes of psychological authorities, it means little, as exemplified by one man who was asserting that "you might as well create a golf, shopping...addiction too," or whatever it was. But I would argue against him there as well because people are addicted to those activities in some way as well. Every addiction has satisfaction as its root: we only become obsessed with any one thing if it makes us feel unusually good or just "happier" in general. So if buying things on amazon makes you feel happier than normal, if the sensation of receiving a package in the mail, slicing it open with a knife and proceeding to cradle the product in your hands before you open it and exact your intended satisfaction from it, then when you pass a certain threshold of engaging in that activity you would be classified as addicted. Essentially, you have an addiction when any action or activity that your survival is not dependent on becomes something you do more than routinely -- when your life is dependent on that activity. So those golf players who would say "they only get up every morning to play golf or become a better golfer than they were yesterday" are not addicted, but rather very passionate about their sport. There is a difference.  

I think I could continue blogging to what would appear to be an endless rant, but I feel I should stop for my own sanity haha. I'm sorry I left this so open ended, but hopefully the tangents can connect like a massive web for you as they do for me.

Kylesh

Internet Addiction Video

     Recently, it has been exposed that a new type of addiction has become more and more evident in today's society. The World Wide Web, or more commonly, the Internet, has sparked a new theory which states that addictions don't need to be to physical things. Unlike the more typical drug, cigarette, or sex addiction, Internet is something one cannot touch (unless getting super cozy with your computer screen). This mind-blowing idea that has been revealed on this TV show has shifted points of view from the narrow belief that an addiction is physical, to a whole new idea.
     My skepticism with the idea of Internet addiction derives from the pattern of the brain. This resource claims that brain patterns are affected solely by one's addiction to the Internet. Plain and simple. If I'm addicted to the Internet, my brain works differently than my buddy Suzie's. This can definitely be true, but can't brain patterns be altered from other addictions as well? I feel as if this example of the altering of brain patterns only reverses what people are trying to say about Internet addiction.
     The part of the video that I would most definitely agree with, however, involves the difference between an ADDICT (notice a very negative connotation) and a USER (neutral). In my opinion, there is a large gap between the two types of people- and this "checklist" helps the audience in understanding where the 'line' of addiction is.

current event

The NYPD is starting to sell their 28,000 lbs of spent shell casings to a company in Georgia called Georgia Armory. The company will take the used shells, and re-insert powder, a bullet and a primer, so that they fire like a new bullet. They sell these in bags of 50 bullets for $15. This system saves Georgia police departments a large sum of money. This system is significant because it is the first of its kind, and  other state police departments are already researching systems like this to save more money. Georgia Arms says that since 8 Georgia gun manufacturers had sold illegal firearms leading to many robberies, this is the least their company can do to pay for the damage. This drew Mayor Michael Bloomberg to tighten restrictions on gun control, however, it was surprising that he had allowed this system to take place. Bloomberg's remarks on this were "We’re about crime control. We’re not about gun control."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/nyregion/new-york-city-sells-polices-spent-gun-shell-casings-to-georgia-ammunition-dealer.html?ref=georgia  10/27

I saved this one as a draft on-time, but it didn't publish. I just noticed after paging through my old posts.

Internet Addiction 11/11

In today's world occurs many types of addictions: drugs, alcohol, or gambling, but now, a new type of addiction has emerged: internet addiction. With the emergence of newer technologies in video games and the internet, people are now becoming addicted. Studies have shown that people who are addicted to the internet, display changes in the decision-making parts of the brain that are regular with other types of addictions. However, the critics state that there is no such thing as internet addiction; it is simply a bad habit. The proving fact that separates this addiction from a habit, is that addicts actually have a physical dependence on the internet, instead of a bad practice. Additionally, when the internet stimuli is removed, people show similar results as withdrawals from drugs, alcohol, gambling, caffeine, etc. One of the reasons people become addicted to the internet, is the fact that video games and internet gaming promote a sense of winning--whereas in the real world, people don't receive that satisfaction. Another, is that people can't escape; for them there is just one more conversation, or one more level, or one more life. It is difficult for them to completely unplug and let go.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Driver Safety

On Friday, a local teen was hit by a car while crossing Roswell Road and Dalrymple Road in a crossroad. With more and more distractions while driving, this continues to be a problem. GPS, cellphones, and other technology offer distractions for drivers while drivers should be focusing on the road. If things like this continue to occur, it might be beneficial to limit technology that is available for cars, restricting touch screens among others not only for the safety of pedestrians but also drivers as well.

Source: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/teen-hit-by-car-in-sandy-springs/nS3TP/

Vote the Person not the Party

     There were some glitches in the early voting that took place here in Atlanta on Friday. This article talks about the technical problems with the voting. Problems arose due to the lack of improperly trained officials. However I thought that it is possible to have a technical glitch, but also with the whole concept of voting. Most people are either die hard republicans or die hard democrats and don't pay too much attention to the person actually in the running. We need to learn to vote for the person not the party. The party is simply a way just to categorize contrasting beliefs; while the person themselves are the ones we should be listening to thoroughly. Yes this is a short blog but I feel it gets to the point...no matter the technical problem, even though it should be fixed, as voters we need to come together and analyze the person not the party. Even though you may not like the party that person running maybe one of the best presidents we've ever had. So instead of bashing fellow americans we should state our opinions and rid the "glitches" the party has brought to society.
source http://www.ajc.com/news/news/elections-troubles-traced-to-the-top/nS28M/

4th post - current event: The existence of Georgia charter schools all left up to a vote

             In a recent copy of the New York Times that was published just this week, there was an announcement made to the state of Georgia over the issue of whether charter schools should continue to exist in the state or not. Now, charter schools are schools that receive public funds but operate under the conditions of private schools. The issue of whether they should continue or not is arising from some federal studies that were recently performed that stated that charter schools have had no significant improvement towards academic performance or attendance issues. Now, as a result of these studies, the board of education of Georgia has made the decision to leave the voters of Georgia to decide whether public schools should be continued to be funded or not.
           This event is important for the state of Georgia because it allows the citizens of Georgia to have more opportunities in national government decisions in both federal and state level elections. The federal election was just this week with the presidential elections, which was Georgia's key moment to participate in national politics for the year. Now it's time for Georgia to participate in making a key decision in a state-wide election for the year.
             This could influence the whole country nationally because if Georgia does go though with the discontinuing of charter schools and the decision ends up being positive to the state, other states may want to follow though the same decision. There were some other moments in history where one state takes the lead to do something that ends up being very nationally beneficial and other states follow that state in that action. This election could be Georgia's moment to start a national movement.


Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/education/future-of-georgias-charter-schools-on-ballot.html?pagewanted=all

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Choice Post #4: Do the Ends Justify the Means?


          Do the ends justify the means? Of course not! There is nothing that is worth everything. But, because a lot of people would say the same thing, and because I have not yet heard an argument from the other side, I have decided to make one. 

          There are multiple reasons (actually, I could only come up with two, so comment if you come up with another)  as to why the ends justify the means and I will give you an example of each. The first (of two) reason as to why the ends justify the means is because of accomplishment, or the "ends". As we all know, there are tons of different ways to get something done and we should pick the right one, morally and efficiently. However, there are very few occasions in which the most efficient way to achieving something is also the most moral. So, it would logically make sense to pick the most efficient, in order to get the most of what is being accomplished. For an example, the annexation of Texas. In order to annex Texas territory from Mexico, the U.S. basically provoked a war and put an end to the issue quickly. Our troops (back then) killed a lot of people and, according to Congress, the war was illegal on our part. However, it would have taken ages to organize a meeting with Santa Ana (Mexican president of the time) and try to work something out. The Mexicans were reluctant to give up Texas and it would have taken forever and wasted a lot of time and resources to get Texas. And even after all of the negotiations, we may not have ended up with all of Texas. So all the cooperation would have been for nothing. Doesn't it just sound better for everyone to just go to war and get the whole thing done with? It's quicker, saves resources, and has the best outcome. So sometimes, the morally correct means can get in the way of obtaining the ends, in which case, the ends would justify the means, moral or not. 

          The other reason for why the ends justify the means is because we can use the rewards from the ends to justify and correct the means. This can happen in very few situations and even then, it is not entirely morally correct to do. But, let's say you need to accomplish something and to do it, it involves hurting someone close to you. You can hurt who is close to you and then use whatever you gain from the ends to make it up to the person. For an example, you lie to your best friend to keep his or her surprise birthday party a secret. Your friend may be hurt, but they will recover when they find out why you did it. Again, this applies to a few situations, but still, it applies. 

          So, even though majority may think that the ends don't always justify the means (and I agree) there is still a formidable argument for why the ends can sometimes justify the means. But, after writing (typing) this argument, I have realized that  it all depends on the person- whether the person cares about morals or not. We are all different and we all have our personalities and views and it is really important for us to see the other side of an argument or situation from someone else's perspective because it can help us see (and hopefully correct) the flaws in ourselves.

                                                                                      -Jalees N.


Who is America?

It's a simple question, who is America? If somebody asked you to describe the first person that came to your head when they asked, who is America, you probably would reply a rich white male. As living essentially most of my life in the Johns Creek/Alpharetta "Bubble" I would probably reply the same reason. However, after the Presidential Election, it is clear that America is no longer a society dominated by Caucasian Males. Minorities like Latinos and African Americans saw there voter percentages throughout the US rise to new heights. Quite possibly the most important demographic fought over between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was women. In the end, it was these demographics that lead Barack Obama to a close Popular Vote Victory, but a simple annihilation of Mitt Romney in the Electoral College 303-206 sans Florida which two days later is still too close to call, but President Obama has the edge there as well. This is not a blog about the Election though, it is a blog about how America, the great melting pot of the world, has developed into a more and more racially and socially diversified country as time has passed. America is still embracing new cultures today; while Hispanics are greeted with as much prejudice as ever, they continue to immigrate to the United States hoping to give their children the life they did not have. Surging behind the Election and presumed Reelection of African American Barack Obama- African Americans continue to grow in the amount that they vote. There are also different cultures that add to the diversity of the United States- communities like the Gays and Lesbians are becoming a new and powerful demographic in not only American lives but politics as well. As they continue to get more rights throughout the United States as Maine and Maryland both voted for the legalization of Same-Sex Marriage, Americans are starting to re-embracing the "melting pot" mentality that made the United States such a great nation. With that said, it will be interesting to see how both parties try to re-position themselves after the election- which made it clear that the Democratic Party is a much better representation of these people while the Republican Party continues to look like the "old white guys who yell at me to stay off of their lawn". Whether the Republicans need a makeover or not is another discussion, but it is becoming more and more clear that America continues to be an ever-changing landscape of people of different beliefs, cultures, and races.

4th post - choice post: Obama won't be on break after reelection

            On November 6th 2012, the citizens of the United States got together and made an important decision that will influence America for the next 4 years. The decision was whether current President Barack Obama should or should not be reelected for office for another 4 years. After all the counting of votes was done, news sources around the nation came to the conclusion that the American public wanted Obama to remain in office for another 4 years. However, after all of Obama's time spent on electoral campaigning and debating is finished, he does not have the opportunity to take a long break from the white house before inauguration. The New York Times article I read said that there is an upcoming bipartisan bill to increase the United States Debt Ceiling in preparation of new spending in Obama's 2nd term in office known as the Fiscal Cliff Bill. The first thing I notice in this reading is how quick and cooperative the once-partisan congress is in a time of need for a bill that is needed to sustain America in a time of huge debt, because during the election congress wasn't in session and before the election it was politically split on every issue and wasn't able to pass any legislation. The second thing I noticed in this reading is how little break time Obama gets for being a president reelected. He spends all that time campaigning and creating ads and now he has to immediately shift focus from one day trying to win the election then the day after that trying to work with congress to pass the Fiscal Cliff bill.

Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/us/politics/congress-sees-rising-urgency-on-fiscal-deal.html

Current Event Post #4: Stomach Virus Sickens Students at Douglas Elementary



          This week, while we went to school as normal and healthy as ever, children at Douglas Elementary were being pulled out by the dozens as a stomach flu struck the school. There were over 100 absences from the school due to sickness by from Monday to Yesterday, 3 days, alone. The school's janitor's are working hard to sanitize the school and taking extra precautions, stated the school principal Duffey. The school nurse was especially helpful by helping the parents care for the children and apply the correct medications and the parents were cooperative to help things run along more smoothly. The virus is expected to be completely eradicated from the school by Monday with all the students feeling well enough again for teaching to recommence normally. This incident should show us to take extra precautions in hygiene, especially with children and especially during winter/ late fall. Because of the example this school set by handling the situation so swiftly and effectively, schools else where have a model to follow to best handle a virus spreading through students. We can all be more careful now that we have seen what careless hygiene can do. Most of us don't give a second thought about germs spreading, and I think that is mostly because we can't see the germs actually spreading and growing. There are a lot of stupid things I have seen people do that can contribute to getting them ill. If we can just pay more attention then more epidemics like these can be prevented and multiple kids can be saved a trip home from school.

                                                                                      - Jalees N.

Sources: 
 http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/stomach-virus-sickens-students-at-douglas-elementa/nS2dr/

Current Event Number 4

I think that everyone’s mom said at some point in their life this exact line: “no more jumping on the bed or you’ll (blank)”. With my mom it usually ended with me poking an eye out or cracking my head open. I think that we also all read the story about the little monkeys jumping on the bed who all cracked open their heads. “Mama called the doctor and the doctor said: ‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed.’” Well this week in Dunwoody a six-year-old was jumping on the bed with her siblings in their apartment home three stories from the ground. A nearby window was open, and the girl was bounced right out the window and fell between 40 and 50 feet. She was treated for what seemed to be minor injuries, but it could have been much more serious. Kelsey was telling me about a two-year-old this morning that was killed at a zoo because his mom put him on the railing of a wild dog exhibit and dropped him. The dogs apparently mauled the little boy who was most likely injured by the fall. The question however is: why aren’t parents being more responsible? It seems like parents these days are not as hands on or disciplining as mine were. My parents always told me what not to do and why but it seems like parents are becoming less and less responsible. I used to always tell my mom that when I grew up and had my own kids, I would never tell them no. Instances like these really make me reconsider my youthful defiance. Obviously no has to be said to little kids or they fall out of windows or get mauled by wild zoo animals.


This is the story most of us read as children


Voting Line unfairness

11/8/12
The lines were very long on tuesday afternoon, but not for Usher. Usher was allowed to skip the line and go to the front to vote immediatley. This was found upsetting to many voters. Not only because a person cut in front of them, but because how non looked down it was by others. Not to mention it pissed everyone off. Usher, being the celebrity he is, should have set a better example for the non celebrities patiently waiting in line.

This seems to be a very minimal event, and I had second thoughts about writing this on the blog. But taking another glance, it was good this was brought to the attention of the public. While a big deal should not be taken out of this, but its good to know this. It should be a reminder to celebrities that they are equal to non famous people, and should be treated as such to an extent.

There are other celebrities that have taken their famosity to far. Celebs need to realize they are not that different from us.

Choice Blog 4



Hello again! This week I’ve chosen to write about Taylor Swift’s newest album. I know, it sounds like I’m thirteen because yes I do like her music, but I promise you I’m not thirteen. I personally really like her new album “Red”. Over time, Swift’s music has changed dramatically. When she first began her career, her music was very country. Over time though, pop influences began to merge in and now some of her music has a dub-step type sound. The problem with this is that even though she is essentially just trying to appeal to a wider audience, iTunes still lists her music as country when if anything, it now sounds more like pop with country influences and electronic influences as well. This is why a lot of people have an issue with her new album. It’s labeled country and is not country.
I always read the reviews on iTunes before I buy anything because if the reviewers are saying that the album sucks and I was not thrilled with the samples, I am not paying over a dollar per song. Like I said, I listen to the sample first, but the reviews on Swift’s music are always very extreme. They vary from your average thirteen year old fan that simply puts half a ton of emoji hearts and the more cynical reviewer who says that her songs are all the same and they hate them.  So the reviews sometimes make it even harder to judge her music. Like I said, I enjoy her new album. I’m generally not picky about music so I like how her music varies. I understand that many people want it to be labeled properly, but I don’t think it should reflect poorly on Swift or the quality of her music.  All in all, I am a fan of the new album and all of her music.

Taylor Swift "Red"-newest album
"Taylor Swift" -first and most country album


"Speak Now"-pop type album



"Fearless"-country and pop influenced album

 

Politics - what were doing wrong

Elections are supposed to be a time of two candadites run for office, and usually this is all that happens. But as I have seen from the past few weeks, this is not the case from the current election. This was possibly the worst election in the sense of people complaing about the aftermath of the electoin.

As obama has just won another four years in Presidency, most Americans have spoken that they dislike Obama as the next president. I find it understanble that the adults dislike Obama, but I find it quite annoying that children are saying, speaking, and writing on facebook about how much they hate Obama. But they are not really affected by Obama.

Several remarks have been made about how terrible Obama was the last four years and how bad he will be the next four. Several people have stated that it will be hard finding jobs for Americans because Obama will mess up the economy. Although there is a chance that some Americans may have difficulty finding jobs, kids who live in Johns Creek and either dont have a job or have a bad job at Panera Bread should not be too worried with the effects Obama will have on us. We live in Johns Creek, one of the wealthier places to live in Johns Creek, so nothing will truely effect us, maybe some of our parents will be affected by the change but not most.

These assults on the President do not seem to be opinions, but instead influenced ideas from friends or parents. This worries me and others for the future, because these impressionable kids are soon to be the next voters of the future presidents. With these ideas shoved into their heads and not having there own opinions, intelligent future voters seems unlikely.

Although this blog seems biast and I am probably pro-Obama, I have no preference to Romney or Obama. Either president would have been fine to me for I do not care because either one wouldn't affect me personally. I am not trying to influence others about who to vote, but inform others of what might happen if these biased ideas are not turned into factual opinions.

Current Event 4: A community comes together

It's always inspiring when people come together to fight for the greater good...to help others in need.  However, more often than not, it takes a tragic disaster-- for example the earthquake in Haiti or currently, hurricane Sandy-- to start the reaction.  Don't get me wrong. I think people that help out the victims of natural disasters such as these are amazing; they are inspirations to us all.  It'd be absolutely incredible, however, if people were as driven to help those whose cries aren't always so loud.
One community came together today to support one of their own.  Last Monday, 2 year old Tripp Halstead was playing outside when suddenly he was struck in the head by a falling tree branch.  He was placed in the care of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with severe head injuries.  Since then, the people of small town, Winder, GA, have gone out of their way to help the Halsteads.
All day today, the Dairy Queen in Winder hosted a fundraiser, giving 20% of the day's proceeds to the Halstead family to help ease the strain of mounting medical bills.  The news spread, and the Dairy Queen was packed all day long.  People not only came in for a meal, but made donations, some exceeding $100 dollars, to help the cause.
The Halsteads are overcome with gratitude and are touched by their neighbors generosity.  Tripp's breathing tube was removed, and he is expected to recover, although the process will be long.  When you see an entire town come together to help a family, it's inspiring.  Just imagine what a difference we all could make if we possessed the drive to assist those who are struggling on a daily basis.

                       
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/20040657/fundraiser-held-for-2-year-old-injured-by-falling-limb

Starbucks...serving alcohol?

Starbucks...serving alcohol?

When you think of Starbucks, what do you think of?  Maybe you think of a cold winter day and a warm Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha in your hand.  Maybe you think of rushing into school and making sure not to spill your hot Starbucks coffee all over your new outfit.  Maybe you even think of studying while sipping a Passion Tea Lemonade and munching on a Starbucks Cake Pop.  

Maybe a bar?  Where you can buy wine and cheese?

Most people turn up their noses when they hear this.  "Of course not, Starbucks is definitely not a bar..."  Well, you might want to reconsider.  Now Starbucks can now serve alcohol.  This may seem weird to many of you as it was for me.  I for sure do not think of Starbucks as this kind of place or atmosphere.  I think of Starbucks as a relaxed environment to chat quietly with friends after a high school football game or even after a late night movie.

When I think of a bar, I just picture a loud crazy atmosphere where people have to yell just to talk to their friend sitting right next to them.  This seems a definite parallel to Starbucks.  But will fall, came the opportunity to purchase alcoholic beverages at Starbucks.  I understand the idea that people meet for drinks just like they may meet for coffee.  Starbucks obviously caught on to the idea and opened its menu up to more than just caffeine and fruit, but alcohol.  With this new addition to Starbucks, it is hard to tell if this will actually harm or benefit their business.  Sure more adults will come in for drinks, but does this kick out their younger consumers?






The Power of a Memory

     They say your earliest recollection of memories is around the age of three--the power associated with these strong moments are often underestimated. For some, memories are just a blur-- a blip of time on the clock of your lifetime. On the contrary memories are one of the most meaningful things in the world. The whole idea of time travel can be substituted with a memory...you miss something so bad and want to be back in that one place and feel those same feelings; so your mind transports you to that place you desire. It's also a tool to help us move on in life; you can't hang on to the person or place, but you most definitely can remember them.
     This rings true many of the times, you can move on but you can never forget. When you think about it, the items that make your mind race back to that memory is astonishing. The start of a song and I can nearly touch that special someone, the picture on my Facebook wall and I can put myself back into that moment, the familiarity of a road and the vibe I got once before jolts back, the smell of just a simple candle can push my thoughts into motion. All these little things merge together and creates an ideal feeling--maybe a feeling of euphoria. But not quite, how can one feel euphoria in reality? This is possible find your happiest moment, whatever that is, and embrace it. It's another way to relieve stress. People should strive to make memories in their day to day lives. A memory is a photograph you just need to take control of the camera and take all the pictures...as many as you like.

Choice Blog 4...

Italy is a country known for its artwork, beautiful cities, and of course, it's gourmet food.  It's a place I've wanted to visit for years now, and hopefully, if all goes according to plan, my family and I will get to go next summer!
Italy has so much to offer.  It's rich history provides thousands of cities, museums, and architecture for tourists to explore.  For starters, there's the Vatican, also known as the Holy See, which is located within the city of Rome. Since my family is Catholic, I would love to be able to walk inside the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, rumoured to be two of the most beautiful churches in the world.  Also in Rome is the Colosseum, a must-see destination. This famous venue for gladiator battles is the most common symbol for the city of Rome.


Then, of course there's Venice, known for it's unique waterways and gondola rides. This sanctuary on a lagoon is guaranteed to take your breath away.  It's one of the most visited cities in Italy, known for being romantic and full of attractions. If you want to be inspired by beautiful scenery, the rolling hills of Tuscany are the perfect place to go.  While enjoying the landscape, you can go hiking on a mountain path or choose to enjoy some extraordinary cusine and wine.

Honestly, there are so many places to see that it'd be impossible to get to them all.  Whether you come in search of fine art, amazing food, tourist attractions, the beautiful ocean coasts and islands, or even just to learn the language, Italy has something to offer everyone. I've never traveled outside of the United States and hope to someday travel all across the world. 
My first destination...Italy.

www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome_italy_travel.htm
www.discovertuscany.com/
goitaly.about.com › TravelItaly TravelVenice, Italy