By Cameron Ross
The great national debate whether Marijuana should be legal or not hasn’t escalated recently even with the evolution of society. Medicinal purposes seem to merit the rights from the government to cultivate Marijuana but this is only a conditional legality.
Anytime this topic becomes part of a major debate controversy erupts because animosity surrounds the idea of legalizing a currently illegal drug. Some claim is would be a very lucrative crop.
If the government legalized Marijuana and taxed it on sales and allowed it to be internationally exchanged they could make the country a lot of money. New laws would obviously have to be implemented such as a smoking age and regulations on what type of behavior is allowed while under the influence of Marijuana.
Keeping Marijuana illegal is keeping the crime rate high because many crimes involve this drug as it is very common to society in brutal honesty.
Experiments on how Marijuana affects health range from both ends of the spectrum. It is used by people with health problems for relief and this is can lead to mind stimulation and an overall better feeling physically. Other people use it for recreation and it apparently kills brain cells and burns the lungs.
One reading up on Marijuana will ask himself or herself whether Marijuana has more health benefits or drawbacks because both ideas are advertised.
The plant may have magnificent medical potential if it were experimented with more openly. It can also be smoked by way of an orb, which basically results in the inhaling of the evaporating THC from the Marijuana but no burning of the lungs.
Reading an issue of High Times will teach you a great deal about Marijuana in the senses of both recreation and health. Anyone who watches television or has seen movies probably knows Marijuana can be baked into food by way of butter.
In reality it appears that Marijuana has more health drawbacks than health benefits but that is looking at it through a governmental lens. That is the same government who keeps Marijuana illegal and educates children from a very young age that it is forbidden and dangerous.
Responsibility plays a huge part in the use of Marijuana according to countless studies and common sense. Marijuana is definitely the most common illegal drug and can be found practically anywhere.
Anyone with culturally diverse acquaintances knows where they can locate Marijuana. Some health conscious people who swear off drugs think Marijuana will slow their lifestyle down and make them feel overly relaxed and tranquil.
To counter that fact there are professional athletes constantly accused of using Marijuana when they fail mandatory drug tests. Professional athletes are obviously health and the ones who use Marijuana prove that it is possible to stay healthy while using the drug.
This debate may never end and it is possible that in the future Marijuana will be legalized and then illegalized again. It is a popular drug that is illegal and highly sought after.
Society will adjust one way or another to whatever the government decides to do but we don’t truly know al the benefits and drawbacks of Marijuana because it is not available to experiment with enough. Scientists working for the government who experiment with Marijuana may find many good traits about the drug but since it is illegal they only negatively promote the drug to keep people from engaging in illegal drug activity.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Eat Like a Pirate
One dietary debate is whether meat is vital to maintain decent health. Vegetarians and Vegans may not think so but when looking at the science behind the argument things clarify. Meat is another conditional component of the diet that relies on proper amounts and types in order to be adequate.
Dietitians state that white meats are healthier than red meats. This is generally true, however, it is becoming more commonly known that red meat contains a certain amino acid that cannot be obtained through any other food. When looking at the big picture it appears fish is the healthiest meat.
Certain countries or cultures have specific diets based on what their environment offers. Countries that eat lost of seafood such as Japan and the Scandinavian region boast the best health. Fish, which smells awful, is high in protein and low in fat. Fish oil is available in the form of supplemental pills and contains fats with Omega 3, which studies show contribute significantly to fat loss. The fat loss was most obvious in the abdominal region based on studies done by Australian Pharmaceutical Companies. Australia is another country with a generalized diet based on fish as a source of protein.
In order for fish oil to take maximum effect it should be taken 3 times daily, as directed on the bottles. Diet Meals Recipes, an online magazine, published an article on the healthiest countries in September this year and Portugal rated as the healthiest country. They eat one serving of fish per day because it is a convenient source of food since Portugal is a coastal country. The least healthy country in terms of nutrition is Ukraine where fish is not as commonly eaten as other meats such as poultry and beef.
The Department of Health promotes incorporating fish into the diet but warns against careless fish selection. Mercury is especially dangerous to pregnant women and children. Traces of mercury are in all fish but certain types that contain abnormally high levels are Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Tilefish. These fish are okay to eat for a full grown healthy person that is not pregnant but only when eaten on occasion. Shrimp, Tuna, Salmon, Pollock and Catfish are low in mercury levels and can be the protein base of a diet.
It figures that the healthiest meat tastes the worst, like salty ocean water. It would be smart to make fish a part of your diet and find a method to prepare it or cook it that makes it appetizing. Certain natural ways to make fish taste less fishy are cooking it with citrus juice and using crushed nuts as a crusty coating.
There are even different levels of nutritious rich fish. Salmon is more of a fatty fish while Sole and Tilapia are leaner fish that are very light in calories compared to others.
In order to be eaten safely fish must be stored and or prepared correctly to avoid sickness. The challenge of eating healthy is enjoying it so learning to cook creatively is a must. Don't be scared to eat anything from the sea because it smells bad just do some basic research and earn how to eat healthy while enjoying yourself. Anything can be made to taste good.
Dietitians state that white meats are healthier than red meats. This is generally true, however, it is becoming more commonly known that red meat contains a certain amino acid that cannot be obtained through any other food. When looking at the big picture it appears fish is the healthiest meat.
Certain countries or cultures have specific diets based on what their environment offers. Countries that eat lost of seafood such as Japan and the Scandinavian region boast the best health. Fish, which smells awful, is high in protein and low in fat. Fish oil is available in the form of supplemental pills and contains fats with Omega 3, which studies show contribute significantly to fat loss. The fat loss was most obvious in the abdominal region based on studies done by Australian Pharmaceutical Companies. Australia is another country with a generalized diet based on fish as a source of protein.
In order for fish oil to take maximum effect it should be taken 3 times daily, as directed on the bottles. Diet Meals Recipes, an online magazine, published an article on the healthiest countries in September this year and Portugal rated as the healthiest country. They eat one serving of fish per day because it is a convenient source of food since Portugal is a coastal country. The least healthy country in terms of nutrition is Ukraine where fish is not as commonly eaten as other meats such as poultry and beef.
The Department of Health promotes incorporating fish into the diet but warns against careless fish selection. Mercury is especially dangerous to pregnant women and children. Traces of mercury are in all fish but certain types that contain abnormally high levels are Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Tilefish. These fish are okay to eat for a full grown healthy person that is not pregnant but only when eaten on occasion. Shrimp, Tuna, Salmon, Pollock and Catfish are low in mercury levels and can be the protein base of a diet.
It figures that the healthiest meat tastes the worst, like salty ocean water. It would be smart to make fish a part of your diet and find a method to prepare it or cook it that makes it appetizing. Certain natural ways to make fish taste less fishy are cooking it with citrus juice and using crushed nuts as a crusty coating.
There are even different levels of nutritious rich fish. Salmon is more of a fatty fish while Sole and Tilapia are leaner fish that are very light in calories compared to others.
In order to be eaten safely fish must be stored and or prepared correctly to avoid sickness. The challenge of eating healthy is enjoying it so learning to cook creatively is a must. Don't be scared to eat anything from the sea because it smells bad just do some basic research and earn how to eat healthy while enjoying yourself. Anything can be made to taste good.
Monday, November 26, 2007
300
Physique is something that concerns anyone who is health conscious. Many people would love to be built like ancient statues of Gods and Goddesses and for most it is possible to achieve. Unfortunately not everyone can be built statuesque.
Bone structure and musce fibers play a part in how much potential musce growth a person can have and they are virtually unchangeable. Breaking musce fibers down so they can repair is how they swell and eventually grow, with the right diet and rest of course. Naturally there are two kinds of muscle fibers, long and short.
A bicyclist like Lance Armstrong has long muscle fibers while a bodybuilder like Arnold Schwarzenegger has short muscle fibers. According to health expert and author of The Book of Muscle, Ian King, muscle fibers can practically be altered from long to short with a few weeks of intense lifting in short ranges of motion with heavy weight.
Genetics decide what kind of potential the body has and while some can drasticaly develop their bodies others can only moderately do so without growth hormones. Working out too vigorously can damage the heart and kidneys because of extenuous tissue breakdown. An abundance of lactic acid (acid produced from exercise) can cause your blood pH to be off balance and will hurt your cells.
Magazines and movies display Adonis-like figures on models and actors. Not everyone can have abs like Brad Pitt in Fight Club or arms like the Spartans in the movie 300. Even the people built like superheroes have to work hard and often to develop their bodies.
Small or thin bones do not permit extreme musce growth naturally because the muscle will be misproportional and in some rare cases muscles to large for bones have broken them. Spinal conditions like a narrow spinal cana make it hard for a person to develop their upper body because it causes pain when the back supports too much weight, even if it is musce not fat.
A wide pelvis and a small rib cage may frustrate someone with a pear shaped body and while they can change it to a point that is exceptional they will probably never have a V-shaped torsto and hips. A long neck makes it difficult to deveop thick and masculine shoulders while a short neck has the opposite affect.
There a variety of supplements and steroids available to enhance the body but most of them are dangerous to your health. Some women want to enlarge their breasts and some men want to enlarge their genitalia but they can only do so much to change these things. The gorgeous T'n'A requires certain DNA and not everyone is so lucky.
People need to accept the boundaries of their body in order to achieve their maximum health and learn that their physiques will develop in a way that is most convenient for their body. Changing the appearance of the body can happen and even extreme results are possible but there are limits for most.
Health does not show entirely in one's physical appearance and though this will never be realized by everyone it is being discovered more frequently.
Bone structure and musce fibers play a part in how much potential musce growth a person can have and they are virtually unchangeable. Breaking musce fibers down so they can repair is how they swell and eventually grow, with the right diet and rest of course. Naturally there are two kinds of muscle fibers, long and short.
A bicyclist like Lance Armstrong has long muscle fibers while a bodybuilder like Arnold Schwarzenegger has short muscle fibers. According to health expert and author of The Book of Muscle, Ian King, muscle fibers can practically be altered from long to short with a few weeks of intense lifting in short ranges of motion with heavy weight.
Genetics decide what kind of potential the body has and while some can drasticaly develop their bodies others can only moderately do so without growth hormones. Working out too vigorously can damage the heart and kidneys because of extenuous tissue breakdown. An abundance of lactic acid (acid produced from exercise) can cause your blood pH to be off balance and will hurt your cells.
Magazines and movies display Adonis-like figures on models and actors. Not everyone can have abs like Brad Pitt in Fight Club or arms like the Spartans in the movie 300. Even the people built like superheroes have to work hard and often to develop their bodies.
Small or thin bones do not permit extreme musce growth naturally because the muscle will be misproportional and in some rare cases muscles to large for bones have broken them. Spinal conditions like a narrow spinal cana make it hard for a person to develop their upper body because it causes pain when the back supports too much weight, even if it is musce not fat.
A wide pelvis and a small rib cage may frustrate someone with a pear shaped body and while they can change it to a point that is exceptional they will probably never have a V-shaped torsto and hips. A long neck makes it difficult to deveop thick and masculine shoulders while a short neck has the opposite affect.
There a variety of supplements and steroids available to enhance the body but most of them are dangerous to your health. Some women want to enlarge their breasts and some men want to enlarge their genitalia but they can only do so much to change these things. The gorgeous T'n'A requires certain DNA and not everyone is so lucky.
People need to accept the boundaries of their body in order to achieve their maximum health and learn that their physiques will develop in a way that is most convenient for their body. Changing the appearance of the body can happen and even extreme results are possible but there are limits for most.
Health does not show entirely in one's physical appearance and though this will never be realized by everyone it is being discovered more frequently.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A New Show with Pompous Appeal
By Cameron Ross
The first episode of Pushing Daisies captures attention with the death of a precious dog seconds after running in a field with a boy, Ned. Luckily for us animal lovers, the dog is brought back to life by Ned’s touch.
Certain aspects of the show are bizarre and hold no real significance, which causes the viewer to think. Where are there rolling hills of yellow daisies along the side of a highway? The serene setting resembles that of a Tim Burton movie and the music seems to mesh well with the unusual storyline. It sounds like curiosity if the feeling had a sound, almost zany.
Charlotte Charles, Chuck, is the love of Ned’s life since he first kissed her during their parents’ funerals on the same day. For some reason Ned did not cry when his mother died. Assumedly, this is meant to convey the bizarre situation by adding to strange behavior from the characters.
Narration switches back and forth with Ned and the Pie Maker as the main character’s name and calls the woman who he loves Chuck. The main characters all have quirky personalities that make them likeable. Skepticism surrounds every person in the show because while you become familiar with them you overlook the fact that they are bringing dead people back to life for a minute so that they can extract enough information to solve the mysteries of their deaths and kill them again before someone else in the proximity dies.
Emerson Cod is the owner of The Pie Hole where Ned works and is also his business partner. Only Cod and Chuck know Ned’s secret. Cod’s “unibrow” is occasionally distracting as he follows Ned around like a publicist advising him what actions to take.
This show seems to follow the trends of other popular television series but constantly leaving the story on the edge of a revelation. Just like Lost and Prison Break, Pushing Daisies ends each scene with the beginning of a new one even more intriguing.
There is some comic relief in the show consisting of the munchkin neighbor who likes Ned and also works at The Pie Hole with him. The formulaic babbling of Ned also is entertaining, much in the way that the character Tony Shalhoub plays on Monk. He is scared of touching for more obvious reasons but acts very proper and almost feminine.
Ned is likeable because of the way he means well like when he sets a truck on fire to distract the gravediggers from burying the now undead Chuck. The writing for the show is clever as is the filming. The camera angles and drifting of view move with the pace of the music and keep a constant draw on the screen.
What is frustrating about the show is the chemistry between the main characters and how they cannot physically act on any urges. It is highly unlikely that in the impossible situation where things would happen like in the show that the people involved would be able to adapt so quickly.
Chuck is really cool with the way she instantaneously bonds with Ned and his lifestyle. It is smart to make a living by profiting from Ned’s gift and unfortunate that his revival of a dead person results in the death of a living person.
Lee Pace, who plays Ned, deserves praise for his acting because his character is the foundation of the show and he really created a unique personality and is consistent in his acting. The rest of the acting is adequate, although if Anna Friel weren’t so cute and innocent then Chuck would be a typical bimbo character simply on the show the purpose of eye candy and sex appeal. Overall the show seems uniquely interesting but require a specific type of interest in order to be appealing to viewers.
The first episode of Pushing Daisies captures attention with the death of a precious dog seconds after running in a field with a boy, Ned. Luckily for us animal lovers, the dog is brought back to life by Ned’s touch.
Certain aspects of the show are bizarre and hold no real significance, which causes the viewer to think. Where are there rolling hills of yellow daisies along the side of a highway? The serene setting resembles that of a Tim Burton movie and the music seems to mesh well with the unusual storyline. It sounds like curiosity if the feeling had a sound, almost zany.
Charlotte Charles, Chuck, is the love of Ned’s life since he first kissed her during their parents’ funerals on the same day. For some reason Ned did not cry when his mother died. Assumedly, this is meant to convey the bizarre situation by adding to strange behavior from the characters.
Narration switches back and forth with Ned and the Pie Maker as the main character’s name and calls the woman who he loves Chuck. The main characters all have quirky personalities that make them likeable. Skepticism surrounds every person in the show because while you become familiar with them you overlook the fact that they are bringing dead people back to life for a minute so that they can extract enough information to solve the mysteries of their deaths and kill them again before someone else in the proximity dies.
Emerson Cod is the owner of The Pie Hole where Ned works and is also his business partner. Only Cod and Chuck know Ned’s secret. Cod’s “unibrow” is occasionally distracting as he follows Ned around like a publicist advising him what actions to take.
This show seems to follow the trends of other popular television series but constantly leaving the story on the edge of a revelation. Just like Lost and Prison Break, Pushing Daisies ends each scene with the beginning of a new one even more intriguing.
There is some comic relief in the show consisting of the munchkin neighbor who likes Ned and also works at The Pie Hole with him. The formulaic babbling of Ned also is entertaining, much in the way that the character Tony Shalhoub plays on Monk. He is scared of touching for more obvious reasons but acts very proper and almost feminine.
Ned is likeable because of the way he means well like when he sets a truck on fire to distract the gravediggers from burying the now undead Chuck. The writing for the show is clever as is the filming. The camera angles and drifting of view move with the pace of the music and keep a constant draw on the screen.
What is frustrating about the show is the chemistry between the main characters and how they cannot physically act on any urges. It is highly unlikely that in the impossible situation where things would happen like in the show that the people involved would be able to adapt so quickly.
Chuck is really cool with the way she instantaneously bonds with Ned and his lifestyle. It is smart to make a living by profiting from Ned’s gift and unfortunate that his revival of a dead person results in the death of a living person.
Lee Pace, who plays Ned, deserves praise for his acting because his character is the foundation of the show and he really created a unique personality and is consistent in his acting. The rest of the acting is adequate, although if Anna Friel weren’t so cute and innocent then Chuck would be a typical bimbo character simply on the show the purpose of eye candy and sex appeal. Overall the show seems uniquely interesting but require a specific type of interest in order to be appealing to viewers.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Double, Triple, Quadruple...Exponential Vision
By Cameron Ross
Finding the audacity to criticize a modern day student is requires severe naiveté and pompous malice. The college experience is an epic complex of tasks and responsibilities unsurpassed by any previous generation of students.
In order to afford school supplies students must work unless they are fortunate to come from a family with adequate income. Even middle class families don’t usually make enough money to pay for college without taking out loans with morbid interest rates. It can take decades to finish paying a loan and if the student is the person paying once they’ve began a career they usually devote a good portion of their salary toward the debt.
Most schools have large class sizes and don’t benefit students because of the lack of attention from the instructors who know few of the students’ names. Classrooms consist of obsolete chalkboards and whiteboards along with defunct projectors that deans don’t bother to maintain.
The issue of textbook prices gives students malaise equivalent to mourning. The board members are practically persecuting the students, charging them such outstanding amounts for books so the school bookstore can profit over 20 per cent. When the students sell books back they get a fraction of the price they paid and if they are lucky they will have actually used the books instead of letting them sit in the trunks of their humble cars.
In the video A Vision of Students Today one student holds a sign that says he works 2 hours a day. There are tons of jobs for students but which one requires only 2 hours a day? Realistically a student works closer to 6 hours a day, quite possibly 8 like a fulltime job.
There is also a mention of facebook in the video but not myspace. Both are popular sites and waste hours upon hours of students’ time while they sit in desks made of metal and wood. Uncomfortable and confined is no way to sit for hours while listening to a lecture. Young adults near the peak of their youth spend most of their time in a classroom or serving the public at a job where they are treated horribly by people of older generations who do not understand the cultural change in students’ lifestyles.
Work, school and studying add up to several hours. Students also must eat and travel, which leads very little time for sleep. I was appalled to see a sign reading “I sleep 7 hours a night” because that would be delightful compared to the 5 or 6 hours I normally sleep.
The video touches on lots of significant issues facing those of us trying to get an education and most of the examples are very accurate. The music in the video and rapid shifts of zoom-in shots carries the mood of skepticism throughout the film. The quotes and graffiti are vintage philosophy of a young growing mind.
College is not a 4-year cakewalk with an immediate career like in fee good stories or the past. Finishing in 4 years is very commendable because it is difficult to get all the cases you want in an order that allows one to finish prerequisites in succinct fashion.
The most critical issue is finding a job after college because most people work jobs that do not pertain to the degree they earn. Earning a degree in a specific art is losing the classical ecstasy of working in the field you studied because like the video mentioned, your job likely doesn’t exist yet.
We, the students, did not create these problems but we suffer from them. They call us Generation Y because we haven’t founded our identity yet (Generation-Why?). If we had a road to the American Dream like previous generations we would have a chiseled image. Instead we have a rhetorical one that changes constantly and watching us is the same as staring into a kaleidoscope.
Finding the audacity to criticize a modern day student is requires severe naiveté and pompous malice. The college experience is an epic complex of tasks and responsibilities unsurpassed by any previous generation of students.
In order to afford school supplies students must work unless they are fortunate to come from a family with adequate income. Even middle class families don’t usually make enough money to pay for college without taking out loans with morbid interest rates. It can take decades to finish paying a loan and if the student is the person paying once they’ve began a career they usually devote a good portion of their salary toward the debt.
Most schools have large class sizes and don’t benefit students because of the lack of attention from the instructors who know few of the students’ names. Classrooms consist of obsolete chalkboards and whiteboards along with defunct projectors that deans don’t bother to maintain.
The issue of textbook prices gives students malaise equivalent to mourning. The board members are practically persecuting the students, charging them such outstanding amounts for books so the school bookstore can profit over 20 per cent. When the students sell books back they get a fraction of the price they paid and if they are lucky they will have actually used the books instead of letting them sit in the trunks of their humble cars.
In the video A Vision of Students Today one student holds a sign that says he works 2 hours a day. There are tons of jobs for students but which one requires only 2 hours a day? Realistically a student works closer to 6 hours a day, quite possibly 8 like a fulltime job.
There is also a mention of facebook in the video but not myspace. Both are popular sites and waste hours upon hours of students’ time while they sit in desks made of metal and wood. Uncomfortable and confined is no way to sit for hours while listening to a lecture. Young adults near the peak of their youth spend most of their time in a classroom or serving the public at a job where they are treated horribly by people of older generations who do not understand the cultural change in students’ lifestyles.
Work, school and studying add up to several hours. Students also must eat and travel, which leads very little time for sleep. I was appalled to see a sign reading “I sleep 7 hours a night” because that would be delightful compared to the 5 or 6 hours I normally sleep.
The video touches on lots of significant issues facing those of us trying to get an education and most of the examples are very accurate. The music in the video and rapid shifts of zoom-in shots carries the mood of skepticism throughout the film. The quotes and graffiti are vintage philosophy of a young growing mind.
College is not a 4-year cakewalk with an immediate career like in fee good stories or the past. Finishing in 4 years is very commendable because it is difficult to get all the cases you want in an order that allows one to finish prerequisites in succinct fashion.
The most critical issue is finding a job after college because most people work jobs that do not pertain to the degree they earn. Earning a degree in a specific art is losing the classical ecstasy of working in the field you studied because like the video mentioned, your job likely doesn’t exist yet.
We, the students, did not create these problems but we suffer from them. They call us Generation Y because we haven’t founded our identity yet (Generation-Why?). If we had a road to the American Dream like previous generations we would have a chiseled image. Instead we have a rhetorical one that changes constantly and watching us is the same as staring into a kaleidoscope.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A Taste of Hungary
By Cameron Ross
Café Marika is located on J Street and offers a taste of Hungarian cuisine in a sublime setting. The midtown parking was decent as we found a space that was right near the entrance. The blue awning is nothing special and the old glass windows with curtains across the bottom half speak vintage diner.
As we walked in, we approached the stools at the bar and a man behind the counter said: “Why don’t you take a table.” His words were rude and stern but we sat at a cramped table in the corner. There were three chairs at each table but only two dining settings, which gave the impression that they weren’t very concerned about specific details of appearance.
The restaurant is clean and has a creative interior. Blue carpets contrast well with the white and cream colored striped wallpaper. Pictures of random Hungarian culture are scattered on the walls. On a shelf above the bar sits a few six-pack bottles of what is assumedly Hungarian beer. The lighting is dim in the afternoon because they only use faint bulbs in their chandeliers and the window only gives enough natural light in the morning when the sun is low.
The entrance from the bar to the kitchen has a miniature roof overhanging the edge of the room with an ornate shingle roof. After sitting for about five minutes the server brought us a menu for the third member in our party and took our drink order. The water and iced tea taste crisp and fresh. The cups are unique, decorated with colorful designs.
Classical symphony music plays at a subtle level so conversation is easy but the tables are so close together you can hear other conversations. The server has ample knowledge of the small menu and can answer any question. The food is prepared in about ten minutes and before it is delivered you are served bread and butter.
My entrée consisted of turkey with mushrooms and spetzels (small dumpling-like pasta), covered in paprika sauce. They served a side of purple cabbage with each dish, which is sweet and crunchy. The food was hearty and flavorful but very heavy. They do not serve food hot enough, which appears to be a result of the server and cook not communicating. The staff only consists of two workers; of course our time there was from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. being closing time.
You can count on adequate sized portions of food at Café Marika. The server will not offer to refill your drinks and does not seem to show any urgency in making your time there enjoyable. Overall, the service is not friendly and the older customers are treated with a smile while the younger customers are practically discriminated against.
Temperature is a problem and it is not encouraging when an air conditioner is in plain sight behind the bar. The air conditioner is clean and looks brand new. For a restaurant to be uncomfortably warm in late October, someone has to be neglecting duties. It really seemed that the restaurant provides barely what is necessary to make the experience satisfactory.
When you are finished you must take your tab and cash, which is the only form of payment accepted, to the bar counter and wait for a server to take your money. Even if you tip 20 per cent or more, like I did, they will still give you a nonchalant parting response.
Once you leave the restaurant you will feel full and nourished, perhaps like you have over eaten. The food sits heavy in your stomach because of all the heavy and thick ingredients. Overall, the experience is moderately satisfactory because of the decent flavor of the food and large portions. The service and environment are not very enjoyable because even though the cultural decorations are intriguing it is hot and somewhat dim.
Café Marika is located on J Street and offers a taste of Hungarian cuisine in a sublime setting. The midtown parking was decent as we found a space that was right near the entrance. The blue awning is nothing special and the old glass windows with curtains across the bottom half speak vintage diner.
As we walked in, we approached the stools at the bar and a man behind the counter said: “Why don’t you take a table.” His words were rude and stern but we sat at a cramped table in the corner. There were three chairs at each table but only two dining settings, which gave the impression that they weren’t very concerned about specific details of appearance.
The restaurant is clean and has a creative interior. Blue carpets contrast well with the white and cream colored striped wallpaper. Pictures of random Hungarian culture are scattered on the walls. On a shelf above the bar sits a few six-pack bottles of what is assumedly Hungarian beer. The lighting is dim in the afternoon because they only use faint bulbs in their chandeliers and the window only gives enough natural light in the morning when the sun is low.
The entrance from the bar to the kitchen has a miniature roof overhanging the edge of the room with an ornate shingle roof. After sitting for about five minutes the server brought us a menu for the third member in our party and took our drink order. The water and iced tea taste crisp and fresh. The cups are unique, decorated with colorful designs.
Classical symphony music plays at a subtle level so conversation is easy but the tables are so close together you can hear other conversations. The server has ample knowledge of the small menu and can answer any question. The food is prepared in about ten minutes and before it is delivered you are served bread and butter.
My entrée consisted of turkey with mushrooms and spetzels (small dumpling-like pasta), covered in paprika sauce. They served a side of purple cabbage with each dish, which is sweet and crunchy. The food was hearty and flavorful but very heavy. They do not serve food hot enough, which appears to be a result of the server and cook not communicating. The staff only consists of two workers; of course our time there was from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. being closing time.
You can count on adequate sized portions of food at Café Marika. The server will not offer to refill your drinks and does not seem to show any urgency in making your time there enjoyable. Overall, the service is not friendly and the older customers are treated with a smile while the younger customers are practically discriminated against.
Temperature is a problem and it is not encouraging when an air conditioner is in plain sight behind the bar. The air conditioner is clean and looks brand new. For a restaurant to be uncomfortably warm in late October, someone has to be neglecting duties. It really seemed that the restaurant provides barely what is necessary to make the experience satisfactory.
When you are finished you must take your tab and cash, which is the only form of payment accepted, to the bar counter and wait for a server to take your money. Even if you tip 20 per cent or more, like I did, they will still give you a nonchalant parting response.
Once you leave the restaurant you will feel full and nourished, perhaps like you have over eaten. The food sits heavy in your stomach because of all the heavy and thick ingredients. Overall, the experience is moderately satisfactory because of the decent flavor of the food and large portions. The service and environment are not very enjoyable because even though the cultural decorations are intriguing it is hot and somewhat dim.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Ding Ding
By Cameron Ross
The glare of you opponent’s glove shimmers under the spotlights as it comes toward you like a leather torpedo. As it connects with your face your skull is pushed against your brain and the impact reverberates through your head and you feel the waves exit your ears.
Visions like this occur thousands of time over the course of a single boxing match. Professionals do not wear protective headgear, which makes the punches more intense than amateurs who practice in gyms. Barley 100 years ago boxing was done with bare knuckles.
In December of 2006 there were officially 1,344 deaths recorded that came as results of organized boxing. Many of the deaths were from sanctioned fights in the U.S. and occurred in a professional setting where medical attention was available.
While some professional sports exhibit extreme health risks, none result in more critical injuries than boxing. The contests are competitive battles between two warriors using the most primitive combat techniques. Gloves are worn are to take power off punches and prevent extensive damage to the boxers’ hands.
Boxers are among the most well conditioned athletes in the world, boasting immense cardiovascular endurance as well as uncanny physical strength. While there is no standard for measuring the power of a punch, many boxers will say a punch from a fellow trained boxer is similar to running face first into a telephone pole.
Doctors in Great Britain have been lobbying to ban boxing for decades. American doctors are the main opposition against their arguments. Professionally sanctioned bouts (fights) involve medical tests before each and every fight and require that a doctor is present ringside, checking fighters between rounds.
Boxing deaths occur from severe trauma to the head nearly all the time. Most cases involve a SDH (subdural hematoma), which is where space builds up between the dura and the arachnoid. Separation of these two layers can cause ICP (intracranial pressure), therefore compressing and damaging delicate brain tissue.
Separating the brain from tissue inside the skull can cause almost immediate death in many instances. In other cases, boxers have had their brains knocked loose from their spinal cord.
No matter how one looks at it, a boxer’s fitness level, no matter how supreme, can not save them from the most feared danger of the sport, death. It is not cardiovascular strength or lack of endurance that kills these warriors, but rather surreal displays of strength used in the spirit of competition.
Aerobic styles of boxing have become popular methods of fitness but when the sport is taken to the elite level, it becomes deadly. Punching a bag or thick pad held by a friend will help a person gain strength and help them be more adept to self-defense. Exchanging punches in a ring trying to subdue one another seems unnecessary but some people just love the sport of boxing and it is their right to compete at any level they want.
Boxers are athletes and they bask in their glory when they defeat an opponent but after enough fights, when they are no longer in the ring, they frequently suffer. A shaking hand from nerve damage makes it difficult to write. Damaged canals make it difficult to hear. Constant chronic headaches make concentrating difficult. Damaged and misshapen eyes result in double vision. For some people these lifelong symptoms and side effects are worth the time in the spotlight.
While a former boxer watches television to help himself space out after taking his Vicodin he better absorb the gory reflecting off his platinum title belts hanging on the wall.
What matters in the end is health, and many boxers have their health destroyed at the cost of pushing it to the limits. Stepping into a ring with steel in your spine and adrenaline pumping to your heart is an indescribable feeling, like going to war. The difference is that boxers want to be in the ring, whether they know it is healthy or not.
The glare of you opponent’s glove shimmers under the spotlights as it comes toward you like a leather torpedo. As it connects with your face your skull is pushed against your brain and the impact reverberates through your head and you feel the waves exit your ears.
Visions like this occur thousands of time over the course of a single boxing match. Professionals do not wear protective headgear, which makes the punches more intense than amateurs who practice in gyms. Barley 100 years ago boxing was done with bare knuckles.
In December of 2006 there were officially 1,344 deaths recorded that came as results of organized boxing. Many of the deaths were from sanctioned fights in the U.S. and occurred in a professional setting where medical attention was available.
While some professional sports exhibit extreme health risks, none result in more critical injuries than boxing. The contests are competitive battles between two warriors using the most primitive combat techniques. Gloves are worn are to take power off punches and prevent extensive damage to the boxers’ hands.
Boxers are among the most well conditioned athletes in the world, boasting immense cardiovascular endurance as well as uncanny physical strength. While there is no standard for measuring the power of a punch, many boxers will say a punch from a fellow trained boxer is similar to running face first into a telephone pole.
Doctors in Great Britain have been lobbying to ban boxing for decades. American doctors are the main opposition against their arguments. Professionally sanctioned bouts (fights) involve medical tests before each and every fight and require that a doctor is present ringside, checking fighters between rounds.
Boxing deaths occur from severe trauma to the head nearly all the time. Most cases involve a SDH (subdural hematoma), which is where space builds up between the dura and the arachnoid. Separation of these two layers can cause ICP (intracranial pressure), therefore compressing and damaging delicate brain tissue.
Separating the brain from tissue inside the skull can cause almost immediate death in many instances. In other cases, boxers have had their brains knocked loose from their spinal cord.
No matter how one looks at it, a boxer’s fitness level, no matter how supreme, can not save them from the most feared danger of the sport, death. It is not cardiovascular strength or lack of endurance that kills these warriors, but rather surreal displays of strength used in the spirit of competition.
Aerobic styles of boxing have become popular methods of fitness but when the sport is taken to the elite level, it becomes deadly. Punching a bag or thick pad held by a friend will help a person gain strength and help them be more adept to self-defense. Exchanging punches in a ring trying to subdue one another seems unnecessary but some people just love the sport of boxing and it is their right to compete at any level they want.
Boxers are athletes and they bask in their glory when they defeat an opponent but after enough fights, when they are no longer in the ring, they frequently suffer. A shaking hand from nerve damage makes it difficult to write. Damaged canals make it difficult to hear. Constant chronic headaches make concentrating difficult. Damaged and misshapen eyes result in double vision. For some people these lifelong symptoms and side effects are worth the time in the spotlight.
While a former boxer watches television to help himself space out after taking his Vicodin he better absorb the gory reflecting off his platinum title belts hanging on the wall.
What matters in the end is health, and many boxers have their health destroyed at the cost of pushing it to the limits. Stepping into a ring with steel in your spine and adrenaline pumping to your heart is an indescribable feeling, like going to war. The difference is that boxers want to be in the ring, whether they know it is healthy or not.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Holly Folly Christmas
By Cameron Ross
Every year when Christmas rolls around it is tempting to conduct an experiment testing how well carolers can sing after they ask for figgy pudding and have it thrown in their face. Will they wipe it off with the ugly reindeer mittens their grandmother crocheted for them or leave it and keep singing an outdated song about peasants asking for free food?
If they’re going to sing a song about homeless people begging the lyrics should ask for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s so it is easier to understand by modern standards. This experiment is never conducted, however, because most people do not get off their couch. The lights are usually off so they will leave after ringing your doorbell fifteen times.
Christmas seems to have lost it’s meaning. It has been turned into an excuse to saturate the economy and be rude to everyone because you’re mad you just spent two weeks pay on a shiatsu massage chair that will break before next Christmas.
Work sucks this time of year because people are more demanding and have no patience. They act like customer service workers are Santa Claus and can just pull whatever it is they want out of a green velvet bag that holds every present known to man. Speaking of Santa Claus, why has culture continued to keep this fictional character in existence and lie to children. Why not tell them they’re getting even more presents from their parents because they love them.
Is it the excitement of knowing your receiving lots of new things that makes presents so sacred? Because the thought of some fat guy dressed in a Scandinavian pimp outfit with hair like a Hell’s Angel sneaking into your house is disturbing. I don’t care how red his cheeks are and why do we have to leave him milk and cookies? Parents end up having to eat the snack and guy that looks like Santa Claus doesn’t need any sweets or dairy. He can go back to the North Pole and drink reindeer milk with all his poor elves he treats like indentured servants.
Wrapping paper is an issue that can stump both: brilliant thinkers and idiots. People make paper that’s metallic or scantily clad with intricate designs only to have it ripped and torn to shreds. It is then thrown away because it’s doubtful that all the random ingredients are recyclable.
The celebration of the birth of Christ is a religious ceremony, which is supposed to be sacred and respected. It has been turned into a greed festival where giving and receiving must stay balanced to avoid feelings of guilt or anger. The idea of Christmas makes sense if those celebrating it are doing so because of their religion.
Many people who benefit and suffer from this holiday are not religious at all. They have no business taking part in celebration of a people’s savior. If the individuals who created Christmas saw what it has become, the effects would probably resemble those that result from taking an ecstasy pill.
Since it is also a national holiday it is fair to declare that the government is endorsing a religion. This argument is subjective though and one can argue that it does not violate the first amendment as some may think.
There are good things about Christmas such as funny movies like Bad Santa. Also, mistletoe and eggnog mix well at Christmas parties while the Santa Claus fib can be used to control children by telling them they won’t get presents because he’s watching them and every other child with his extra sensory perception.
Overall, Christmas is probably the most abused and exaggerated holiday currently celebrated. A hearty Christmas dinner always lightens the mood as long as there are no family quarrels and everyone likes their presents. Only a couple months to go so get your figgy pudding ready or turn out the lights!
Here's some Christmas..... humor....(Warning: DO NOT WATCH IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED!)
Every year when Christmas rolls around it is tempting to conduct an experiment testing how well carolers can sing after they ask for figgy pudding and have it thrown in their face. Will they wipe it off with the ugly reindeer mittens their grandmother crocheted for them or leave it and keep singing an outdated song about peasants asking for free food?
If they’re going to sing a song about homeless people begging the lyrics should ask for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s so it is easier to understand by modern standards. This experiment is never conducted, however, because most people do not get off their couch. The lights are usually off so they will leave after ringing your doorbell fifteen times.
Christmas seems to have lost it’s meaning. It has been turned into an excuse to saturate the economy and be rude to everyone because you’re mad you just spent two weeks pay on a shiatsu massage chair that will break before next Christmas.
Work sucks this time of year because people are more demanding and have no patience. They act like customer service workers are Santa Claus and can just pull whatever it is they want out of a green velvet bag that holds every present known to man. Speaking of Santa Claus, why has culture continued to keep this fictional character in existence and lie to children. Why not tell them they’re getting even more presents from their parents because they love them.
Is it the excitement of knowing your receiving lots of new things that makes presents so sacred? Because the thought of some fat guy dressed in a Scandinavian pimp outfit with hair like a Hell’s Angel sneaking into your house is disturbing. I don’t care how red his cheeks are and why do we have to leave him milk and cookies? Parents end up having to eat the snack and guy that looks like Santa Claus doesn’t need any sweets or dairy. He can go back to the North Pole and drink reindeer milk with all his poor elves he treats like indentured servants.
Wrapping paper is an issue that can stump both: brilliant thinkers and idiots. People make paper that’s metallic or scantily clad with intricate designs only to have it ripped and torn to shreds. It is then thrown away because it’s doubtful that all the random ingredients are recyclable.
The celebration of the birth of Christ is a religious ceremony, which is supposed to be sacred and respected. It has been turned into a greed festival where giving and receiving must stay balanced to avoid feelings of guilt or anger. The idea of Christmas makes sense if those celebrating it are doing so because of their religion.
Many people who benefit and suffer from this holiday are not religious at all. They have no business taking part in celebration of a people’s savior. If the individuals who created Christmas saw what it has become, the effects would probably resemble those that result from taking an ecstasy pill.
Since it is also a national holiday it is fair to declare that the government is endorsing a religion. This argument is subjective though and one can argue that it does not violate the first amendment as some may think.
There are good things about Christmas such as funny movies like Bad Santa. Also, mistletoe and eggnog mix well at Christmas parties while the Santa Claus fib can be used to control children by telling them they won’t get presents because he’s watching them and every other child with his extra sensory perception.
Overall, Christmas is probably the most abused and exaggerated holiday currently celebrated. A hearty Christmas dinner always lightens the mood as long as there are no family quarrels and everyone likes their presents. Only a couple months to go so get your figgy pudding ready or turn out the lights!
Here's some Christmas..... humor....(Warning: DO NOT WATCH IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED!)
Monday, October 15, 2007
C-P-Are you sure you know how to do that?
By Cameron Ross
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is probably the most commonly trained form of medical attention in the world... if you don't count dialing 911. For decades, CPR has been the best way to revive a person who is not breathing without using any equipment or medicine. It is part of health education and/or drivers training in nearly every state and lifeguards use it frequently.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) also use CPR, albeit with advanced air pumps and tubes. One of the primary reasons CPR has been such a valuable procedure is because knowledge of the human body hit a plateau a while ago and the only superior procedures require medicine or advanced equipment.
The American Health Association 2000 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care were the most recent until this month. The 2005 Guidelines, yes that's correct- 2005 Guidelines released in 2007, have revamped the CPR method. With all the medical advances and advantages of modern science it's not surprising to see new treatments for diseases or new operations. It is great that doctors have made advances in the method of CPR but seriously, why did this just occur? Were too many people not responding to the old CPR method? How did they discover a better method?
The heart pumps blood throughout the body so when it stops from a heart attack or perhaps some other form of cardiac arrest the body gets no blood, no oxygen, etc.
CPR is key in resuscitation because compressions (pumping your weight into your hands and then into the chest of a victim) act as a manual form of blood pumping.
The 2000 CPR Guidelines advise to administer everyone’s favorite dilemma: Mouth to mouth and then deliver 15 chest compressions.
The revised CPR circa 2005 orders 30 compressions for every two breaths. By emphasizing compressions more the blood flow becomes stronger and maintains a more constant pace than the old method.
Surveys conducted by the American Health Association in 2007 showed that almost 50 per cent of the people certified to perform CPR do it incorrectly. The main issue was not compressing the chest fully and letting it recoil between compressions. If it doesn’t recoil fully then there’s less blood returning to the heart.
One may worry after reading up on this topic because if nearly half the people who are professionally trained and certified to perform CPR and take lives into their hands in times of crisis then you have a one in two chance of being saved by CPR…
I think the CPR courses should be more thorough in the training and regulations of testing. What good is it to train people to save a life if only half of them do it correctly? What if only half of the firefighters completed their training? The analogy is exaggerated I know but it’s the principal of passing individuals who don’t deserve it yet and trusting them.
Wait, this freak show isn’t finished yet! CPR also now requires 100 compressions per minute. If you attempt compressions on a practice dummy you will feel that you need to put a lot of weight into the thrusts to fully compress the chest and then wait longer than you want for the chest to recoil.
In order to reach 100 compressions per minute you’ll need to really work your arms and shoulders rapidly while also staying mentally focused to make sure you let the chest recoil.
The issue that will be most significantly noticed is that for all the training and money that contributed to certified CPR card carriers, only half of them know what they’re actually doing. The new trainees, or re-trainees for those who want to correct their flawed medical knowledge, will have to cover a lot of ground for the sake of anyone who’
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is probably the most commonly trained form of medical attention in the world... if you don't count dialing 911. For decades, CPR has been the best way to revive a person who is not breathing without using any equipment or medicine. It is part of health education and/or drivers training in nearly every state and lifeguards use it frequently.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) also use CPR, albeit with advanced air pumps and tubes. One of the primary reasons CPR has been such a valuable procedure is because knowledge of the human body hit a plateau a while ago and the only superior procedures require medicine or advanced equipment.
The American Health Association 2000 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care were the most recent until this month. The 2005 Guidelines, yes that's correct- 2005 Guidelines released in 2007, have revamped the CPR method. With all the medical advances and advantages of modern science it's not surprising to see new treatments for diseases or new operations. It is great that doctors have made advances in the method of CPR but seriously, why did this just occur? Were too many people not responding to the old CPR method? How did they discover a better method?
The heart pumps blood throughout the body so when it stops from a heart attack or perhaps some other form of cardiac arrest the body gets no blood, no oxygen, etc.
CPR is key in resuscitation because compressions (pumping your weight into your hands and then into the chest of a victim) act as a manual form of blood pumping.
The 2000 CPR Guidelines advise to administer everyone’s favorite dilemma: Mouth to mouth and then deliver 15 chest compressions.
The revised CPR circa 2005 orders 30 compressions for every two breaths. By emphasizing compressions more the blood flow becomes stronger and maintains a more constant pace than the old method.
Surveys conducted by the American Health Association in 2007 showed that almost 50 per cent of the people certified to perform CPR do it incorrectly. The main issue was not compressing the chest fully and letting it recoil between compressions. If it doesn’t recoil fully then there’s less blood returning to the heart.
One may worry after reading up on this topic because if nearly half the people who are professionally trained and certified to perform CPR and take lives into their hands in times of crisis then you have a one in two chance of being saved by CPR…
I think the CPR courses should be more thorough in the training and regulations of testing. What good is it to train people to save a life if only half of them do it correctly? What if only half of the firefighters completed their training? The analogy is exaggerated I know but it’s the principal of passing individuals who don’t deserve it yet and trusting them.
Wait, this freak show isn’t finished yet! CPR also now requires 100 compressions per minute. If you attempt compressions on a practice dummy you will feel that you need to put a lot of weight into the thrusts to fully compress the chest and then wait longer than you want for the chest to recoil.
In order to reach 100 compressions per minute you’ll need to really work your arms and shoulders rapidly while also staying mentally focused to make sure you let the chest recoil.
The issue that will be most significantly noticed is that for all the training and money that contributed to certified CPR card carriers, only half of them know what they’re actually doing. The new trainees, or re-trainees for those who want to correct their flawed medical knowledge, will have to cover a lot of ground for the sake of anyone who’
C-P-Are you sure you know how do do that?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is probably the most
commonly trained form of medical attention in the world... if you don't
count dialing 911.
For decades, CPR has been the best way to revive a person who is not
breathing without using any equipment or medicine. It is part of
health education and/or drivers training in nearly every state and
lifeguards use it frequently.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) also use CPR, albeit with advanced air pumps and tubes. One of the primary reasons CPR has been such a valuable procedure is because knowledge of the human body hit a plateau a while ago and the only superior procedures require medicine or advanced equipment.
The American Health Association 2000 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care were the most recent until this month. The 2005 Guidelines, yes that's correct- 2005 Guidelines released in 2007, have revamped the CPR method. With all the medical advances and advantages of modern science it's not surprising to see new treatments for diseases or new operations. It is great that doctors have made advances in the method of CPR but seriously, why did this just occur? Were too many people not responding to the old CPR method? How did they discover a better method?
The heart pumps blood throughout the body so when it stops from a heart attack or perhaps some other form of cardiac arrest the body gets no blood, no oxygen, etc.
CPR is key in resuscitation because compressions (pumping your weight into your hands and then into the chest of a victim) act as a manual form of blood pumping.
The 2000 CPR Guidelines advise to administer everyone’s favorite dilemma: Mouth to mouth and then deliver 15 chest compressions.
The revised CPR circa 2005 orders 30 compressions for every two breaths. By emphasizing compressions more the blood flow becomes stronger and maintains a more constant pace than the old method.
Surveys conducted by the American Health Association in 2007 showed that almost 50 per cent of the people certified to perform CPR do it incorrectly. The main issue was not compressing the chest fully and letting it recoil between compressions. If it doesn’t recoil fully then there’s less blood returning to the heart.
One may worry after reading up on this topic because if nearly half the people who are professionally trained and certified to perform CPR and take lives into their hands in times of crisis then you have a one in two chance of being saved by CPR…
I think the CPR courses should be more thorough in the training and regulations of testing. What good is it to train people to save a life if only half of them do it correctly? What if only half of the firefighters completed their training? The analogy is exaggerated I know but it’s the principal of passing individuals who don’t deserve it yet and trusting them.
Wait, this freak show isn’t finished yet! CPR also now requires 100 compressions per minute. If you attempt compressions on a practice dummy you will feel that you need to put a lot of weight into the thrusts to fully compress the chest and then wait longer than you want for the chest to recoil.
In order to reach 100 compressions per minute you’ll need to really work your arms and shoulders rapidly while also staying mentally focused to make sure you let the chest recoil.
The issue that will be most significantly noticed is that for all the training and money that contributed to certified CPR card carriers, only half of them know what they’re actually doing. The new trainees, or re-trainees for those who want to correct their flawed medical knowledge, will have to cover a lot of ground for the sake of anyone who’
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) also use CPR, albeit with advanced air pumps and tubes. One of the primary reasons CPR has been such a valuable procedure is because knowledge of the human body hit a plateau a while ago and the only superior procedures require medicine or advanced equipment.
The American Health Association 2000 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care were the most recent until this month. The 2005 Guidelines, yes that's correct- 2005 Guidelines released in 2007, have revamped the CPR method. With all the medical advances and advantages of modern science it's not surprising to see new treatments for diseases or new operations. It is great that doctors have made advances in the method of CPR but seriously, why did this just occur? Were too many people not responding to the old CPR method? How did they discover a better method?
The heart pumps blood throughout the body so when it stops from a heart attack or perhaps some other form of cardiac arrest the body gets no blood, no oxygen, etc.
CPR is key in resuscitation because compressions (pumping your weight into your hands and then into the chest of a victim) act as a manual form of blood pumping.
The 2000 CPR Guidelines advise to administer everyone’s favorite dilemma: Mouth to mouth and then deliver 15 chest compressions.
The revised CPR circa 2005 orders 30 compressions for every two breaths. By emphasizing compressions more the blood flow becomes stronger and maintains a more constant pace than the old method.
Surveys conducted by the American Health Association in 2007 showed that almost 50 per cent of the people certified to perform CPR do it incorrectly. The main issue was not compressing the chest fully and letting it recoil between compressions. If it doesn’t recoil fully then there’s less blood returning to the heart.
One may worry after reading up on this topic because if nearly half the people who are professionally trained and certified to perform CPR and take lives into their hands in times of crisis then you have a one in two chance of being saved by CPR…
I think the CPR courses should be more thorough in the training and regulations of testing. What good is it to train people to save a life if only half of them do it correctly? What if only half of the firefighters completed their training? The analogy is exaggerated I know but it’s the principal of passing individuals who don’t deserve it yet and trusting them.
Wait, this freak show isn’t finished yet! CPR also now requires 100 compressions per minute. If you attempt compressions on a practice dummy you will feel that you need to put a lot of weight into the thrusts to fully compress the chest and then wait longer than you want for the chest to recoil.
In order to reach 100 compressions per minute you’ll need to really work your arms and shoulders rapidly while also staying mentally focused to make sure you let the chest recoil.
The issue that will be most significantly noticed is that for all the training and money that contributed to certified CPR card carriers, only half of them know what they’re actually doing. The new trainees, or re-trainees for those who want to correct their flawed medical knowledge, will have to cover a lot of ground for the sake of anyone who’
Thursday, October 11, 2007
YouTube it-- Don't Google it
People who like to broadcast themselves and make Internet friends have a place where they can electronically congregate at YouTube.com. The web site enables people to upload video and make it available for the word to see.
At the site, one can create an account and tag certain videos as favorites and join groups, similar to other community web sites like myspace.com or facebook.com. I use the site to see video clips I missed form television, whether it be sports highlights, news clips, or some other type of reference. Every once in a while a college instructor may even post a homework assignment via video on YouTube...
While the site is a good method to express freedom of speech, the uploaded videos are monitored to prevent any inappropriate material from being posted on the site probably a smart idea. There are also disclaimers at the beginning of some videos that mention some youtube users have tagged them as ‘inappropriate’.
Once in a while a video will be removed, such as the Saddam Hussein lynching video that was quickly censored after people posted them. The way video clips are advertised is creative, with still shots and a title posted in the side bar while viewing a video usually of the same genre.
It seems like YouTube is becoming one of the more useful reference sources because of the visual images provided. The cliché "a picture's worth a thousand words" obviously means that visual images can say a lot with less work than writing something out in words. Why read online news articles if you can watch the news story at your convenience if it's posted?
In the sense of ''broadcasting yourself'', youtube serves and gateway to make networking contacts. Some people might post family videos, others might post backyard-wrestling scenes, and it is even common to see people posting blogs.
Blooper videos are extremely popular on the Internet and what's better than re-watching someone get hurt? College students are often spending hours on the site continuously having their attention captured by ensuing links. The site has an addiction and it is widely discussed as a popular place to waste time.
The funniest video I've ever seen has to be a satire bloopers reel of random television shows. Loving family characters from sitcoms would have voiceovers with crude language and honestly, it is undoubtedly hilarious.
Quick access and easy to use options make the site attractive to anyone who is computer literate. The other day my friends and me were watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the characters randomly burst out into munchkin song form the Lollipop Guild on the Wizard of Oz. I ''YouTube'd'' the clip from the actual movie and emailed it to my friend who then went to the link and ended up wasting 3 hours of study time watching random clips.
I see the site as a network. It is a giant forum where people can visually display any aspect of their life and throw it out there for people to find and make a contact with a common interest. Other web sites are more commonly using links to youtube for videos.
Homemade montages with music coordinated into the video can help a video editor get discovered. YouTube is being referred to as a sanctuary where people can find almost anything they want to see in case they missed it or want to watch it again.
YouTube will only grow in popularity and if possible, the site will expand. Eventually, YouTube will go through changes like all sites do, but probably because of all the negative attention directed towards popular new fads.
At the site, one can create an account and tag certain videos as favorites and join groups, similar to other community web sites like myspace.com or facebook.com. I use the site to see video clips I missed form television, whether it be sports highlights, news clips, or some other type of reference. Every once in a while a college instructor may even post a homework assignment via video on YouTube...
While the site is a good method to express freedom of speech, the uploaded videos are monitored to prevent any inappropriate material from being posted on the site probably a smart idea. There are also disclaimers at the beginning of some videos that mention some youtube users have tagged them as ‘inappropriate’.
Once in a while a video will be removed, such as the Saddam Hussein lynching video that was quickly censored after people posted them. The way video clips are advertised is creative, with still shots and a title posted in the side bar while viewing a video usually of the same genre.
It seems like YouTube is becoming one of the more useful reference sources because of the visual images provided. The cliché "a picture's worth a thousand words" obviously means that visual images can say a lot with less work than writing something out in words. Why read online news articles if you can watch the news story at your convenience if it's posted?
In the sense of ''broadcasting yourself'', youtube serves and gateway to make networking contacts. Some people might post family videos, others might post backyard-wrestling scenes, and it is even common to see people posting blogs.
Blooper videos are extremely popular on the Internet and what's better than re-watching someone get hurt? College students are often spending hours on the site continuously having their attention captured by ensuing links. The site has an addiction and it is widely discussed as a popular place to waste time.
The funniest video I've ever seen has to be a satire bloopers reel of random television shows. Loving family characters from sitcoms would have voiceovers with crude language and honestly, it is undoubtedly hilarious.
Quick access and easy to use options make the site attractive to anyone who is computer literate. The other day my friends and me were watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the characters randomly burst out into munchkin song form the Lollipop Guild on the Wizard of Oz. I ''YouTube'd'' the clip from the actual movie and emailed it to my friend who then went to the link and ended up wasting 3 hours of study time watching random clips.
I see the site as a network. It is a giant forum where people can visually display any aspect of their life and throw it out there for people to find and make a contact with a common interest. Other web sites are more commonly using links to youtube for videos.
Homemade montages with music coordinated into the video can help a video editor get discovered. YouTube is being referred to as a sanctuary where people can find almost anything they want to see in case they missed it or want to watch it again.
YouTube will only grow in popularity and if possible, the site will expand. Eventually, YouTube will go through changes like all sites do, but probably because of all the negative attention directed towards popular new fads.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Writing With Power
By Cameron Ross
The power of influence is what separates columnists from other types of journalists. Writing as an autonomist gives Mike Fitzgerald the ability to spread his voice to the masses.
As a metro columnist his stories can include different beats. The ideas come from several sources that monitor local issues such as Internet feeds or even word through conversations.
He writes his stories by a process called Column Development. The process includes three steps: pick a subject, research and write well. His philosophy is that complete writing comes from complete effort.
“I would prefer to instill you with a strong aversion to doing any piece of writing halfway," says Fitzgerald.
“Don’t take the first idea.”
Fitzgerald also does extensive and elaborate thinking about several topics before he chooses one. An example of a columnist’s writing power is Fitzgerald’s recent column examining the poverty of his hometown and the suggestion of a local university as a solution. Reactions to his column were very supportive and the city is now considering discussing the idea of a state university.
“It’s enriching,” he says.
Fitzgerald was raised in Stockton and is naturally familiar with the city. His first experience in journalism occurred while he was in grammar school. It was a column called: Loser of the Month, which appeared in the Annunciation Grammar School newspaper.
After working for the Kettle, St. Mary’s High School newspaper, he attended California State University Fresno where he worked for the Daily Collegian, a student operated newspaper.
He won the Valley Short Story Writer’s Competition in 1985 and began at the Stockton Record in 1986. Before he became a columnist he wrote about arts and entertainment, wrote as a general assignment reporter and also a police reporter. He was offered a column around 1991 and has never looked back.
“It’s worth at least $10 thousand a year to enjoy what I do. Overall the job’s a blessing,” Fitzgerald says.
Column writing requires lots of creativity.
“It really only works if your have a reporter who can develop his own ideas.”
When writing to prove a point, bias is imminent and some readers’ reactions can be extreme. Fitzgerald receivers the both types of responses and welcomes them with eagerness.
The reactions include cynicism and hypocrisy. Negative messages sent to Fitzgerald help him maintain broad vision.
“I’ve learned to convert most of them to civil discourse.”
Positive reactions often help Fitzgerald develop new ideas. In fact, between his deadlines he talks with readers occasionally to consider possible leads. Like all columnists, Fitzgerald has a favorite reaction from his readers.
“I enjoy an intelligent reader who digests what I write.”
One dimension that is vital to a columnist is divergent thinking. With the possibility of writing about any random topic these journalists must stay open-minded.
“I try to read as broadly as possible.”
By researching from one end of the spectrum to the other he can observe all the angles of whatever issue he’s studying.
Fitzgerald writes with passion in an effort to keep the community informed and aware of the issues facing them that may be concealed in some way. By keeping political figures honest with critical questions and discussions, they must produce results or else the public will witness them neglecting important issues.
Honest and ambitious, he produces results because writes with a purpose. The open mind he keeps allows all of his work to be constructive and the product of his work is the progress in the community.
Fitzgerald is definitely qualified to write a column in a larger market with all of his experience and accomplishments but he is happy with his job and feels that he could do it for the rest of his career.
Perhaps the ultimate achievement of a columnist is the satisfaction of making a difference for the good of the people who read their work.
“It’s humbling.”
The power of influence is what separates columnists from other types of journalists. Writing as an autonomist gives Mike Fitzgerald the ability to spread his voice to the masses.
As a metro columnist his stories can include different beats. The ideas come from several sources that monitor local issues such as Internet feeds or even word through conversations.
He writes his stories by a process called Column Development. The process includes three steps: pick a subject, research and write well. His philosophy is that complete writing comes from complete effort.
“I would prefer to instill you with a strong aversion to doing any piece of writing halfway," says Fitzgerald.
“Don’t take the first idea.”
Fitzgerald also does extensive and elaborate thinking about several topics before he chooses one. An example of a columnist’s writing power is Fitzgerald’s recent column examining the poverty of his hometown and the suggestion of a local university as a solution. Reactions to his column were very supportive and the city is now considering discussing the idea of a state university.
“It’s enriching,” he says.
Fitzgerald was raised in Stockton and is naturally familiar with the city. His first experience in journalism occurred while he was in grammar school. It was a column called: Loser of the Month, which appeared in the Annunciation Grammar School newspaper.
After working for the Kettle, St. Mary’s High School newspaper, he attended California State University Fresno where he worked for the Daily Collegian, a student operated newspaper.
He won the Valley Short Story Writer’s Competition in 1985 and began at the Stockton Record in 1986. Before he became a columnist he wrote about arts and entertainment, wrote as a general assignment reporter and also a police reporter. He was offered a column around 1991 and has never looked back.
“It’s worth at least $10 thousand a year to enjoy what I do. Overall the job’s a blessing,” Fitzgerald says.
Column writing requires lots of creativity.
“It really only works if your have a reporter who can develop his own ideas.”
When writing to prove a point, bias is imminent and some readers’ reactions can be extreme. Fitzgerald receivers the both types of responses and welcomes them with eagerness.
The reactions include cynicism and hypocrisy. Negative messages sent to Fitzgerald help him maintain broad vision.
“I’ve learned to convert most of them to civil discourse.”
Positive reactions often help Fitzgerald develop new ideas. In fact, between his deadlines he talks with readers occasionally to consider possible leads. Like all columnists, Fitzgerald has a favorite reaction from his readers.
“I enjoy an intelligent reader who digests what I write.”
One dimension that is vital to a columnist is divergent thinking. With the possibility of writing about any random topic these journalists must stay open-minded.
“I try to read as broadly as possible.”
By researching from one end of the spectrum to the other he can observe all the angles of whatever issue he’s studying.
Fitzgerald writes with passion in an effort to keep the community informed and aware of the issues facing them that may be concealed in some way. By keeping political figures honest with critical questions and discussions, they must produce results or else the public will witness them neglecting important issues.
Honest and ambitious, he produces results because writes with a purpose. The open mind he keeps allows all of his work to be constructive and the product of his work is the progress in the community.
Fitzgerald is definitely qualified to write a column in a larger market with all of his experience and accomplishments but he is happy with his job and feels that he could do it for the rest of his career.
Perhaps the ultimate achievement of a columnist is the satisfaction of making a difference for the good of the people who read their work.
“It’s humbling.”
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Dark Side of Body Building
By Cameron Ross
Anyone who goes to a gym will notice the extremely well developed figures of bodybuilders. They look like comic book superheroes and a less developed person may envy their strength and appearance. While there is no harm in extensive exercise and muscle building, world-class bodybuilders are at risk for health problems more than one may think.
The main problem with bodybuilding is that most bodybuilders take anabolic steroids and human growth hormones (HGH). HGH can cost a person as much as $30,000 in one year.
Looking like Adonis requires a combination of high maintenance dieting and endless heavy lifting. Professional athletes have well-developed muscular figures but they also exercise their heart, something bodybuilders can neglect. The heart needs to be treated like a muscle. Exercised, rested, and even fed the proper nutrients.
Liver problems are another downside of bodybuilding. Unusually high levels of protein intake can be rough on the liver because as it processes the nutrients the liver may end up with an abundance of stored fat. This can lead to swelling of the liver or the disease cirrhosis.
The effect on the liver is similar to that of alcohol. Alcoholics have liver problems that often result in cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to lack of bile production, which is on of the primary liquids used to digest food. The liver is like a filter or garbage disposal so when it is overloaded…. Well it’s obvious that it won’t end pretty.
Aerobic activity develops the heart like bench pressing develops pectorals. An athlete or even a normal fit person will likely run, swim, bike, or work on the elliptical machines while bodybuilders seem to concentrate on the side of the gym with the weights.
Carrying excess muscle can be bad for the body in a similar way to excess fat. When a person does cardiovascular exercise they are running up their heart rate for an extended period of time so that it speeds up blood flow and this makes the heart work. The heart assists with breathing which is vital for any physical activity because blood contains oxygen.
2007 Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, did an interview a couple years ago where the journalist observed him in his house. Cutler reportedly got out of breath going up a flight of stairs in his house. He had just lifted the couch to vacuum under it minutes before, which is a marvelous display of strength, but one has to be curious if going up the stairs should wind someone who technically exercises all day.
A world class bodybuilder may weigh upwards of 250 lbs with a very low body fat percentage (3 to 8 per cent) but if their heart is not fit that weight will be difficult to move for extended periods of time. Some bodybuilders get out of breath as easy as overweight, unhealthy people.
The general message that must be sent is that a healthy heart is more important than an attractive body. In fact, having a healthy heart can lead to greater strength without anabolic supplements that aren’t natural.
Protein shakes, Creatine powder, carbohydrate-charged drinks, and other supplemental products are very popular and are better options than anabolic steroids.
Muscle fibers break down when are working out and the result is swelling or being “pumped”. When the fibers repair they heal larger and stronger as long as they are fueled with the proper nutrients. This is how muscle is grown.
Lately, more and more athletes are beginning to look like body builders and the steroid scandals are a field day for the media. It is no longer a secret that illegal steroids have found their way form the bodybuilding world to the professional sports world.
Anyone who goes to a gym will notice the extremely well developed figures of bodybuilders. They look like comic book superheroes and a less developed person may envy their strength and appearance. While there is no harm in extensive exercise and muscle building, world-class bodybuilders are at risk for health problems more than one may think.
The main problem with bodybuilding is that most bodybuilders take anabolic steroids and human growth hormones (HGH). HGH can cost a person as much as $30,000 in one year.
Looking like Adonis requires a combination of high maintenance dieting and endless heavy lifting. Professional athletes have well-developed muscular figures but they also exercise their heart, something bodybuilders can neglect. The heart needs to be treated like a muscle. Exercised, rested, and even fed the proper nutrients.
Liver problems are another downside of bodybuilding. Unusually high levels of protein intake can be rough on the liver because as it processes the nutrients the liver may end up with an abundance of stored fat. This can lead to swelling of the liver or the disease cirrhosis.
The effect on the liver is similar to that of alcohol. Alcoholics have liver problems that often result in cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to lack of bile production, which is on of the primary liquids used to digest food. The liver is like a filter or garbage disposal so when it is overloaded…. Well it’s obvious that it won’t end pretty.
Aerobic activity develops the heart like bench pressing develops pectorals. An athlete or even a normal fit person will likely run, swim, bike, or work on the elliptical machines while bodybuilders seem to concentrate on the side of the gym with the weights.
Carrying excess muscle can be bad for the body in a similar way to excess fat. When a person does cardiovascular exercise they are running up their heart rate for an extended period of time so that it speeds up blood flow and this makes the heart work. The heart assists with breathing which is vital for any physical activity because blood contains oxygen.
2007 Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, did an interview a couple years ago where the journalist observed him in his house. Cutler reportedly got out of breath going up a flight of stairs in his house. He had just lifted the couch to vacuum under it minutes before, which is a marvelous display of strength, but one has to be curious if going up the stairs should wind someone who technically exercises all day.
A world class bodybuilder may weigh upwards of 250 lbs with a very low body fat percentage (3 to 8 per cent) but if their heart is not fit that weight will be difficult to move for extended periods of time. Some bodybuilders get out of breath as easy as overweight, unhealthy people.
The general message that must be sent is that a healthy heart is more important than an attractive body. In fact, having a healthy heart can lead to greater strength without anabolic supplements that aren’t natural.
Protein shakes, Creatine powder, carbohydrate-charged drinks, and other supplemental products are very popular and are better options than anabolic steroids.
Muscle fibers break down when are working out and the result is swelling or being “pumped”. When the fibers repair they heal larger and stronger as long as they are fueled with the proper nutrients. This is how muscle is grown.
Lately, more and more athletes are beginning to look like body builders and the steroid scandals are a field day for the media. It is no longer a secret that illegal steroids have found their way form the bodybuilding world to the professional sports world.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
You got the job! Just don't get hurt!
By Cameron Ross
The workers' compensation system in California has been a controversial topic of political discussion in recent years because of all the changes. When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took office he intended to revamp the workers' compensation system.
Senate Bill 936 is a new measure which increases payments to permanently disabled workers. Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata introduced the bill with hopes of shrinking the amount of the cutbacks made on compensation given to disabled workers.
The nickname "job killer" has been given to any measure that will call for greater workers' compensation and there have been several since the original cutbacks. Schwarzenegger has vetoed bills that fall under this category so it is expected that he will veto SB 936.
While changes have been made, there has been little progress in satisfying both sides of the spectrum. Employers are happier with the revamped system because they have been saving money while unions representing disabled workers are fighting for greater compensation for disabled workers.
One bill that liberals and conservatives both seem to support is Assembly Bill 338, which extends the time period from which a disabled worker can collect workers' compensation.
The time period is extended from two year to four years. By considering this bill, Schwarzenegger would be going against the policy he has enforced since his election so it will probably be ignored.
AB 338 has the “job killer” label and this alerts Arnold like a sale on anabolic steroids or actresses who don’t know how to tattle if they’re harassed. No bill will be approved because the positive aspect of the new workers’ compensation system is being highly emphasized whenever the argument arises.
Democrats say the new system leaves too many disabled workers without workers' compensation checks. Local employers are pleased, however, as billions of dollars have been saved in California from the new policies.
Reduction in workers' compensation payments has led to fatter pockets for insurance companies and more desperation from disabled workers. While avoiding payments to disabled workers the insurance companies are saving money.
Schwarzenegger has preached the fact that the new system creates more job opportunities. Employers pay insurance companies to insure their employees. They are protected by lawyers who work for the insurance companies in case employees seek workers' compensation by way of fraud.
The bottom line is that collecting workers' compensation is more difficult than ever because of all the procedures one must go through and all the qualifications that must be met.
Employers are saving money and more jobs are becoming available. Disabled workers don't like this because they lose their jobs since they can't work and are unable to collect money as compensation, therefore resulting in their hardships.
The state is saving money or at least the businesses are saving money. The disabled workers are losing money and jobs. Workers' compensation is a perennial war between the disabled and the companies who employ them. The instigators are the fraudulent employees who have given real disabled workers a bad name.
SB 936 is the latest bill which will probably be vetoed if Schwarzenegger's trend continues.
There are many injured and sick workers who can't work because of their disabilities and are now forced to leave the workforce but don't qualify for compensation so they are without pay for the time being.
One might think the message of the governor's policy is that there are many jobs open but if you get hurt and can't continue to do the job, you're on your own. The criterium seem to mirror the morals of a large corporation. Workers can be easily replaced so treat them like a busted leg. Sever them!
The workers' compensation system in California has been a controversial topic of political discussion in recent years because of all the changes. When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took office he intended to revamp the workers' compensation system.
Senate Bill 936 is a new measure which increases payments to permanently disabled workers. Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata introduced the bill with hopes of shrinking the amount of the cutbacks made on compensation given to disabled workers.
The nickname "job killer" has been given to any measure that will call for greater workers' compensation and there have been several since the original cutbacks. Schwarzenegger has vetoed bills that fall under this category so it is expected that he will veto SB 936.
While changes have been made, there has been little progress in satisfying both sides of the spectrum. Employers are happier with the revamped system because they have been saving money while unions representing disabled workers are fighting for greater compensation for disabled workers.
One bill that liberals and conservatives both seem to support is Assembly Bill 338, which extends the time period from which a disabled worker can collect workers' compensation.
The time period is extended from two year to four years. By considering this bill, Schwarzenegger would be going against the policy he has enforced since his election so it will probably be ignored.
AB 338 has the “job killer” label and this alerts Arnold like a sale on anabolic steroids or actresses who don’t know how to tattle if they’re harassed. No bill will be approved because the positive aspect of the new workers’ compensation system is being highly emphasized whenever the argument arises.
Democrats say the new system leaves too many disabled workers without workers' compensation checks. Local employers are pleased, however, as billions of dollars have been saved in California from the new policies.
Reduction in workers' compensation payments has led to fatter pockets for insurance companies and more desperation from disabled workers. While avoiding payments to disabled workers the insurance companies are saving money.
Schwarzenegger has preached the fact that the new system creates more job opportunities. Employers pay insurance companies to insure their employees. They are protected by lawyers who work for the insurance companies in case employees seek workers' compensation by way of fraud.
The bottom line is that collecting workers' compensation is more difficult than ever because of all the procedures one must go through and all the qualifications that must be met.
Employers are saving money and more jobs are becoming available. Disabled workers don't like this because they lose their jobs since they can't work and are unable to collect money as compensation, therefore resulting in their hardships.
The state is saving money or at least the businesses are saving money. The disabled workers are losing money and jobs. Workers' compensation is a perennial war between the disabled and the companies who employ them. The instigators are the fraudulent employees who have given real disabled workers a bad name.
SB 936 is the latest bill which will probably be vetoed if Schwarzenegger's trend continues.
There are many injured and sick workers who can't work because of their disabilities and are now forced to leave the workforce but don't qualify for compensation so they are without pay for the time being.
One might think the message of the governor's policy is that there are many jobs open but if you get hurt and can't continue to do the job, you're on your own. The criterium seem to mirror the morals of a large corporation. Workers can be easily replaced so treat them like a busted leg. Sever them!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Don't LauFat U.S.!
By Cameron Ross
Obesity is not an epidemic but some dietitians think of it as the modern form of the plague. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) roughly 30 per cent of Americans are obese.
That portion equates to nearly 50 million people. Roughly 60 per cent of Americans are overweight. The next “fattest” country is Great Britain with 24 per cent of the population clinically obese.
Being obese or overweight is not always a product of bad health habits but thyroid problems can only account for so much excess fat. The main cause of being overweight is bad discipline.
Statistics from scientifically published reports from organizations such as the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and American Public Health Association (APHA) reveal that 95 per cent of cases of significant weight loss through non-surgical programs is regained within 3 to 5 years.
The last few years, bariatric surgeries have proven to be the most effective method of permanent weight loss. This surgery is also known as a gastric bypass.
Gastric bypasses are gaining popularity as a form of weight loss because reports show encouraging results and are proving to be less risky as the medical field makes advances.
Some obesity can be attributed to risk factors such as smoking. There are many assumptions about smoking, one that suggests it distracts from eating by minimizing appetite because of nicotine cravings.
One little-known fact is that going long periods of time without eating can slow down metabolism, leaving fat to be stored rather than metabolized.
Another dimension of obesity that is frequently neglected is diet. Walking into a café and ordering a 20 oz. vanilla latte is not the same as indulging in a cup of coffee. The objective of drinking coffee is to get caffeine for energy.
In American culture, such fads become saturated, much like the fat in a typical American diet. A flavored latte made with whole milk will have well over 300 calories. A plain (20 oz.) cup of coffee contains approximately 25 calories.
Before the mass production of drinks like the ones served at popular coffee franchises, people drank plain cups of coffee. This is one of many facts that can explain why obesity grows more every year.
Walking down the condiments aisle at a supermarket is like going to Disneyland for a lipids addict. Whether the choice is dressing, barbeque sauce, mustard, ketchup, or Alfredo sauce, the ingredients in the condiments are very concentrated.
The nutrition facts on the bottles or jar may not appear so bad until one realizes that the serving size is something miniscule such as one tablespoon or two teaspoons.
Devouring copious amounts of calories is not always a bad thing. If one were to ingest more calories than the standard 2,000 they would be maintaining his or her health if they exercised vigorously as some people do daily.
Burning calories by cardiovascular exercise helps build muscle out of the calories ingested and distributes the good vitamins and minerals while excreting the bad ones.
A balanced diet is still necessary, however, as this gives the body all the components necessary to perform such functions.
The statistics of increasing obesity are staggering and disturbing. Countless diet plans and nutritional theories flood the bookstores, Internet, and magazines all claiming to be the ideal.
Obvious truth to the matter is that different diets work for different people. DNA is the determining factor of health because it is hereditary nature of the body.
Obesity is the haunting result of a culture where luxuries are taken for granted. Proteins and fats are much more affordable than in the past when the country was not plagued with obesity.
It appears that weight will be a problem for the near future because health is a neglected discipline in American lifestyle that hasn’t improved in decades even with constant attention.
Obesity is not an epidemic but some dietitians think of it as the modern form of the plague. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) roughly 30 per cent of Americans are obese.
That portion equates to nearly 50 million people. Roughly 60 per cent of Americans are overweight. The next “fattest” country is Great Britain with 24 per cent of the population clinically obese.
Being obese or overweight is not always a product of bad health habits but thyroid problems can only account for so much excess fat. The main cause of being overweight is bad discipline.
Statistics from scientifically published reports from organizations such as the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and American Public Health Association (APHA) reveal that 95 per cent of cases of significant weight loss through non-surgical programs is regained within 3 to 5 years.
The last few years, bariatric surgeries have proven to be the most effective method of permanent weight loss. This surgery is also known as a gastric bypass.
Gastric bypasses are gaining popularity as a form of weight loss because reports show encouraging results and are proving to be less risky as the medical field makes advances.
Some obesity can be attributed to risk factors such as smoking. There are many assumptions about smoking, one that suggests it distracts from eating by minimizing appetite because of nicotine cravings.
One little-known fact is that going long periods of time without eating can slow down metabolism, leaving fat to be stored rather than metabolized.
Another dimension of obesity that is frequently neglected is diet. Walking into a café and ordering a 20 oz. vanilla latte is not the same as indulging in a cup of coffee. The objective of drinking coffee is to get caffeine for energy.
In American culture, such fads become saturated, much like the fat in a typical American diet. A flavored latte made with whole milk will have well over 300 calories. A plain (20 oz.) cup of coffee contains approximately 25 calories.
Before the mass production of drinks like the ones served at popular coffee franchises, people drank plain cups of coffee. This is one of many facts that can explain why obesity grows more every year.
Walking down the condiments aisle at a supermarket is like going to Disneyland for a lipids addict. Whether the choice is dressing, barbeque sauce, mustard, ketchup, or Alfredo sauce, the ingredients in the condiments are very concentrated.
The nutrition facts on the bottles or jar may not appear so bad until one realizes that the serving size is something miniscule such as one tablespoon or two teaspoons.
Devouring copious amounts of calories is not always a bad thing. If one were to ingest more calories than the standard 2,000 they would be maintaining his or her health if they exercised vigorously as some people do daily.
Burning calories by cardiovascular exercise helps build muscle out of the calories ingested and distributes the good vitamins and minerals while excreting the bad ones.
A balanced diet is still necessary, however, as this gives the body all the components necessary to perform such functions.
The statistics of increasing obesity are staggering and disturbing. Countless diet plans and nutritional theories flood the bookstores, Internet, and magazines all claiming to be the ideal.
Obvious truth to the matter is that different diets work for different people. DNA is the determining factor of health because it is hereditary nature of the body.
Obesity is the haunting result of a culture where luxuries are taken for granted. Proteins and fats are much more affordable than in the past when the country was not plagued with obesity.
It appears that weight will be a problem for the near future because health is a neglected discipline in American lifestyle that hasn’t improved in decades even with constant attention.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Insurance Hardly Makes a Difference
By Cameron Ross
Medical insurance is vital for families and the concept seems to make a lot of sense. Pay a certain amount of money every month to a health insurance company and when you require medical attention the insurance company will cover the cost(s). In theory the insurance will pay off in case of an emergency where the cost(s) may be astronomical but how often does that really happen? There are many angles from which one can verbally or legally attack insurance companies.
For a middle class male with a steady job and state or county insurance, they will pay over $1 thousand per month and in exchange, they have medical service at county hospitals and any practices that except the company on the card of insurance carriers. When an individual goes to the doctor for an examination they have a charge called a "co-pay", which is usually anywhere from $5-$15 depending on the location. From there, the patient will be lucky to even see a doctor because nurse practitioners are considered capable of handling the same duties at many practices.
Recently, Bonnie Jeffries, 67, of Stockton was hospitalized after suffering stroke. Jeffries also has diabetes. She has paid into Medi-Cal insurance her entire life since she began working in her early twenties. While recovering at the hospital, Jeffries fell when her walker got caught on a floor mat and caused her to lose her balance. The insurance covered the costs to tend to her bumps and bruises but will not cover the costs of placing her in a recovery center or a convalescent home. The insurance agent told Jeffries she must sell all her possessions and basically spend all of her own money on medical costs before Medi-Cal will begin to pay for such expenses.
If the objective of an insurance company is to pay for the customers' medical costs then why do they go to extreme measures to avoid it like an obligation? A business model is understandable and the idea is to profit but when the situation is analyzed it seems like an outright "rip-off." Restaurants do not avoid feeding customers. Barbershops do not avoid cutting hair. Insurance companies seem to be profitable, especially when so many people pay every month and rarely cost an amount to their insurance that equals what they pay over time.
There are frauds out there and it is understandable that the companies want to avoid being swindled but they have people hired precisely for such investigations yet other people suffer. Doctors seem to be timid to believe something is wrong with a patient because running tests costs a lot and negative results mean wasted money from the views of the insurance companies. A man with a bulging disc in his back that doesn't know the source of his pain may go in for a check-up and be told he is fine and to try physical therapy. He asks for an MRI but is told that is not necessary. After trying physical therapy his back condition worsens and he returns to the doctor and is told to stop exercising. His friend in medical school is an eager product of the science, not yet manipulated by the business side of being a doctor and tells him one of his vertebrae may be protruding. When the pain continues he returns yet again, demanding an X-ray or MRI. After his demands are granted, it is discovered that he has a bulging disc. The discovery is not from work of vigilant doctors but rather a persistent patient.
The insurance companies hold money over peoples' heads as a method of control. They intimidate in order to collect as much insurance payments as possible but then do everything possible to avoid keeping the promise of paying for medical expenses. In society it has become a joke in the sense that medical insurance is constantly ridiculed.
In countries with socialized medicine, all health care is covered for the people. Italy, Sweden, Canada, the list of countries with such healthcare continues while the U.S. continues to experience problems in this field. Taxes are paid in exchange for services and privileges. Citizens are supposed to get their money's worth out of their taxes but it doesn't seem to be the case. Health is always considered to be the most important quality of life. There is a cliché for when people are down that goes "At least you still have your health." Taxes could merge with the purpose of insurance and people could all be cared for equally. It works in other countries. This would mean higher taxes of course but maybe it would be worth it to everyone... we would probably never find out because the wealthy seem to run the country. Insurance companies are very wealthy. The U.S. is said to be a proud democracy. One may look at the country and see more similarities to capitalism but it is very difficult to make an unbiased observation.
Medical insurance is vital for families and the concept seems to make a lot of sense. Pay a certain amount of money every month to a health insurance company and when you require medical attention the insurance company will cover the cost(s). In theory the insurance will pay off in case of an emergency where the cost(s) may be astronomical but how often does that really happen? There are many angles from which one can verbally or legally attack insurance companies.
For a middle class male with a steady job and state or county insurance, they will pay over $1 thousand per month and in exchange, they have medical service at county hospitals and any practices that except the company on the card of insurance carriers. When an individual goes to the doctor for an examination they have a charge called a "co-pay", which is usually anywhere from $5-$15 depending on the location. From there, the patient will be lucky to even see a doctor because nurse practitioners are considered capable of handling the same duties at many practices.
Recently, Bonnie Jeffries, 67, of Stockton was hospitalized after suffering stroke. Jeffries also has diabetes. She has paid into Medi-Cal insurance her entire life since she began working in her early twenties. While recovering at the hospital, Jeffries fell when her walker got caught on a floor mat and caused her to lose her balance. The insurance covered the costs to tend to her bumps and bruises but will not cover the costs of placing her in a recovery center or a convalescent home. The insurance agent told Jeffries she must sell all her possessions and basically spend all of her own money on medical costs before Medi-Cal will begin to pay for such expenses.
If the objective of an insurance company is to pay for the customers' medical costs then why do they go to extreme measures to avoid it like an obligation? A business model is understandable and the idea is to profit but when the situation is analyzed it seems like an outright "rip-off." Restaurants do not avoid feeding customers. Barbershops do not avoid cutting hair. Insurance companies seem to be profitable, especially when so many people pay every month and rarely cost an amount to their insurance that equals what they pay over time.
There are frauds out there and it is understandable that the companies want to avoid being swindled but they have people hired precisely for such investigations yet other people suffer. Doctors seem to be timid to believe something is wrong with a patient because running tests costs a lot and negative results mean wasted money from the views of the insurance companies. A man with a bulging disc in his back that doesn't know the source of his pain may go in for a check-up and be told he is fine and to try physical therapy. He asks for an MRI but is told that is not necessary. After trying physical therapy his back condition worsens and he returns to the doctor and is told to stop exercising. His friend in medical school is an eager product of the science, not yet manipulated by the business side of being a doctor and tells him one of his vertebrae may be protruding. When the pain continues he returns yet again, demanding an X-ray or MRI. After his demands are granted, it is discovered that he has a bulging disc. The discovery is not from work of vigilant doctors but rather a persistent patient.
The insurance companies hold money over peoples' heads as a method of control. They intimidate in order to collect as much insurance payments as possible but then do everything possible to avoid keeping the promise of paying for medical expenses. In society it has become a joke in the sense that medical insurance is constantly ridiculed.
In countries with socialized medicine, all health care is covered for the people. Italy, Sweden, Canada, the list of countries with such healthcare continues while the U.S. continues to experience problems in this field. Taxes are paid in exchange for services and privileges. Citizens are supposed to get their money's worth out of their taxes but it doesn't seem to be the case. Health is always considered to be the most important quality of life. There is a cliché for when people are down that goes "At least you still have your health." Taxes could merge with the purpose of insurance and people could all be cared for equally. It works in other countries. This would mean higher taxes of course but maybe it would be worth it to everyone... we would probably never find out because the wealthy seem to run the country. Insurance companies are very wealthy. The U.S. is said to be a proud democracy. One may look at the country and see more similarities to capitalism but it is very difficult to make an unbiased observation.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Healthy Habits
Living a healthy life is simple but most of the general population does not scientifically qualify as "healthy" due to diet, lack of exercise, and/or stress. Many different aspects of life contribute to the overall spectrum of a person's health. A balanced diet provides the body with all the nutrients and fuel required to function properly. Exercise pushes the body physically to operate at intense levels and challenges the mind to push the body to the limits. Stress can affect one's health because when a person is sad, worried, annoyed, irritated, or in any way uncomfortable the body can produce hormones and chemicals that induce the feeling of stress which can result in fatigue, depression, and physical problems like ulcers.
An introduction to the theories of health involves simple, broad generaizations. Before getting into complicated ideas that fcus on specific elements of health, one must categorize things into different areas. People have a general sense of what's healthy because of natural instincts. Behavior often dictates what is heathy because trends and fads exist for the sake of improving people. The typical idea of health involves the body and how it operates. It usually does not extend beyond diet and exercise in basic portions. The truth is that being healthy involves emotional and spiritual progress aside from physical adequacy.
For instance, a person may live in a cold region of the world and exercise regularly and eat healthy. They may also love their job and be social but if they don't see much sun, they are lacking in vitamins that come from sunlight. While not an extreme problem, this is one angle to look at people who may not be entirely healthy and are not aware. These people can likely survive and lead satisfying lives but there are cases where people in certain regions are health-challenged because of their environment.
Fitness and health are complex subjects each with endless philosophies. The bottom line is usually whatever makes you happy makes you healthy. Unfortunately there is a little more to the idea than that and people are slowly learning such with progressive studies and discoveries. There are many varieties of health to study and discuss. There are new findings and suggestions practically every day. All people need to do it pick up a health-oriented magazine or read other types of publications concerning the topic.
An introduction to the theories of health involves simple, broad generaizations. Before getting into complicated ideas that fcus on specific elements of health, one must categorize things into different areas. People have a general sense of what's healthy because of natural instincts. Behavior often dictates what is heathy because trends and fads exist for the sake of improving people. The typical idea of health involves the body and how it operates. It usually does not extend beyond diet and exercise in basic portions. The truth is that being healthy involves emotional and spiritual progress aside from physical adequacy.
For instance, a person may live in a cold region of the world and exercise regularly and eat healthy. They may also love their job and be social but if they don't see much sun, they are lacking in vitamins that come from sunlight. While not an extreme problem, this is one angle to look at people who may not be entirely healthy and are not aware. These people can likely survive and lead satisfying lives but there are cases where people in certain regions are health-challenged because of their environment.
Fitness and health are complex subjects each with endless philosophies. The bottom line is usually whatever makes you happy makes you healthy. Unfortunately there is a little more to the idea than that and people are slowly learning such with progressive studies and discoveries. There are many varieties of health to study and discuss. There are new findings and suggestions practically every day. All people need to do it pick up a health-oriented magazine or read other types of publications concerning the topic.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
query for story #2
Mary Pitchford - Editor
Career Communications, Inc.
6701 W. 64th St., Suite 210
Overland Park, KS 66202
Dear Mary Pitchford,
I am proposing to write an article for your magazine, which focuses on a college student in the midst of a career change.
The subject is a 23-year-old senior at California State University Sacramento and he is a business administration major.
Recently, Jason Teske was working for a housing development group, basically as a realtor. Teske does not yet have his realtor’s license and therefore was not eligible for commission of his sales.
As a full-time student working five days a week he does not have enough time to study for such an exam so he decided to leave the real estate world and pursue his dream of being a sports agent.
He recently started an internship for the Sacramento Rivercats baseball organization where he promotes the team through events and contests.
Your publication has encouraging writing for students and advice for educational purposes, which would welcome the piece I’m proposing.
An article about a young man nearly finished with college switching career paths while staying within the spectrum of his major would give lots of students hope of achieving their dream.
I’m writing this article while enrolled at California State University Sacramento in the journalism program and I’m currently taking a magazine writing course instructed by Michael Fitzgerald, currently a freelance magazine writer.
The article can be customized to fit your preference and I’d be eager to do further work on it if you wanted me to expand on anything.
Career Communications, Inc.
6701 W. 64th St., Suite 210
Overland Park, KS 66202
Dear Mary Pitchford,
I am proposing to write an article for your magazine, which focuses on a college student in the midst of a career change.
The subject is a 23-year-old senior at California State University Sacramento and he is a business administration major.
Recently, Jason Teske was working for a housing development group, basically as a realtor. Teske does not yet have his realtor’s license and therefore was not eligible for commission of his sales.
As a full-time student working five days a week he does not have enough time to study for such an exam so he decided to leave the real estate world and pursue his dream of being a sports agent.
He recently started an internship for the Sacramento Rivercats baseball organization where he promotes the team through events and contests.
Your publication has encouraging writing for students and advice for educational purposes, which would welcome the piece I’m proposing.
An article about a young man nearly finished with college switching career paths while staying within the spectrum of his major would give lots of students hope of achieving their dream.
I’m writing this article while enrolled at California State University Sacramento in the journalism program and I’m currently taking a magazine writing course instructed by Michael Fitzgerald, currently a freelance magazine writer.
The article can be customized to fit your preference and I’d be eager to do further work on it if you wanted me to expand on anything.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Quey Letter-Story #1
Andy Bromage - Managing Editor
New Haven Advocate
900 Chapel Street, Suite 1100
New Haven, CT 06510
Contemporary American culture is founded on social convening at popular
gatherings. In Stockton, California, the Thunder have opened the city’s eyes to hockey in a place where it isn’t very popular. Hockey has come to be well known over the years for the physicality of the sport. Hockey fans see the physical endurance and athleticism required by the great hockey players of our time, but few people realize what goes on behind the scenes. Most people do see the extreme sacrifices made by the players on an emotional and familial level. In my article “Dreams Can
Land You in Stockton,” I seek to delve into the true lives of hockey players.
I’ve talked with players about their journeys and how they deal with the hectic travel and relocations that the sport requires. Players have to make sacrifices for the sport and it means ever-changing distance between them and family. Troy Bodie and Liam Reddox of the Thunder both grew up in Canada and now reside in Stockton until hockey takes them elsewhere. Bodie is from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, a small, quiet town much different than Stockton. Reddox is from East York (Toronto), Ontario, also different from Stockton.
Lucky for these players they can find comfort in one another and in their fan base. They have been joyously welcomed by the city of Stockton and have made the best of their living situation far from home. They have come to see one another as family by enjoying time together off the ice. Also, they have maintained close ties to family through regular phone calls. I want to offer readers a perspective on hockey that most people take for granted by giving them a behind-the-scenes view into the daily life of the hockey player. My article seeks to show hockey fans how much the players give of themselves for the love of the game.
They are part of the contemporary culture of Stockton where crowds of all ages attend games and qualify as the best attendance of any team in the ECHL. This will appeal to your magazine audience because it will diversify your articles by touching a unique subject. Young Canadian men are the heart of one of the popular cultural fads in a growing town in Northern California.
New Haven Advocate
900 Chapel Street, Suite 1100
New Haven, CT 06510
Contemporary American culture is founded on social convening at popular
gatherings. In Stockton, California, the Thunder have opened the city’s eyes to hockey in a place where it isn’t very popular. Hockey has come to be well known over the years for the physicality of the sport. Hockey fans see the physical endurance and athleticism required by the great hockey players of our time, but few people realize what goes on behind the scenes. Most people do see the extreme sacrifices made by the players on an emotional and familial level. In my article “Dreams Can
Land You in Stockton,” I seek to delve into the true lives of hockey players.
I’ve talked with players about their journeys and how they deal with the hectic travel and relocations that the sport requires. Players have to make sacrifices for the sport and it means ever-changing distance between them and family. Troy Bodie and Liam Reddox of the Thunder both grew up in Canada and now reside in Stockton until hockey takes them elsewhere. Bodie is from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, a small, quiet town much different than Stockton. Reddox is from East York (Toronto), Ontario, also different from Stockton.
Lucky for these players they can find comfort in one another and in their fan base. They have been joyously welcomed by the city of Stockton and have made the best of their living situation far from home. They have come to see one another as family by enjoying time together off the ice. Also, they have maintained close ties to family through regular phone calls. I want to offer readers a perspective on hockey that most people take for granted by giving them a behind-the-scenes view into the daily life of the hockey player. My article seeks to show hockey fans how much the players give of themselves for the love of the game.
They are part of the contemporary culture of Stockton where crowds of all ages attend games and qualify as the best attendance of any team in the ECHL. This will appeal to your magazine audience because it will diversify your articles by touching a unique subject. Young Canadian men are the heart of one of the popular cultural fads in a growing town in Northern California.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Profile Blogggg
Many people are probably choosing someone rather prestigious to interview but I want to take a different route and profile someone that is simply very interesting. One of my bosses at work has had a very strange life and always has interesting stories to tell about random experiences. His name is Jay and he's 36 years old.
He was adopted as a child just before he was about to be placed in an orphanage in Texas. The family that adopted him had two daughters nearly 20 years older. Jay was not always treated fairly but eventually moved out to California.
Here, he attended Sac State for a few years. I'm not positive whether he graduated but I know he said he would have done some things differently. He managed a Chinese movie store for a couple years, which he says was his favorite job.
He started at my work just before me and was employee of the month every month before he got promoted to supervisor. He's an artist and constantly draws in his free time and has had comics published.
I can recall a number of very unique stories he's told me over just a few minutes at work. His life has had extreme ups and downs. He was homeless twice. He was married and divorced. His girlfriend makes way more money than him. He also collects toys. He may sound quirky, and he is, but he's been through a lot of drama and has an intriguing wisdom.
He was adopted as a child just before he was about to be placed in an orphanage in Texas. The family that adopted him had two daughters nearly 20 years older. Jay was not always treated fairly but eventually moved out to California.
Here, he attended Sac State for a few years. I'm not positive whether he graduated but I know he said he would have done some things differently. He managed a Chinese movie store for a couple years, which he says was his favorite job.
He started at my work just before me and was employee of the month every month before he got promoted to supervisor. He's an artist and constantly draws in his free time and has had comics published.
I can recall a number of very unique stories he's told me over just a few minutes at work. His life has had extreme ups and downs. He was homeless twice. He was married and divorced. His girlfriend makes way more money than him. He also collects toys. He may sound quirky, and he is, but he's been through a lot of drama and has an intriguing wisdom.
Monday, March 5, 2007
story #2
-When someone gets into real estate sales they automatically have potential to make lots of money. My best friend is only 23 and has already sold several homes for a housing development in Rocklin. Unfortunately, in order to be paid commission on sales he is required to have his realtor's license.
-He has not yet acquired this license and the result is missing out on lots and lots of money. It takes time and effort to earn a realtor's license and as a full-time student he strugglesto find free time. He also works over 30 hours a week for the housing development.
-As his friends, like me, work customer service at jobs that require little effort he works like a professional. Since he is in school studying business and communications he decided that he wants to be in sports broadcasting rather than real estate. He is also considering being a sports agent.
-He is on the verge of graduating and has contacted people that are offering him oppoortunities to find a way into the sports market. Real estate and sport broadcasting/athlete representation both involve lots of sweet talking, like in Jerry Maguire. Lucky for my friend he has the gift of gab and can bull shi* his way through anything.
-All I have for this idea is framework, I need more depth support only I'm not sure what I should look for to make the story interesting. It is based on a close friend's career change which leaps from an occupation based on money and encouragement to an occuptation based on passion and charisma. Any help would be much appreciated.
-He has not yet acquired this license and the result is missing out on lots and lots of money. It takes time and effort to earn a realtor's license and as a full-time student he strugglesto find free time. He also works over 30 hours a week for the housing development.
-As his friends, like me, work customer service at jobs that require little effort he works like a professional. Since he is in school studying business and communications he decided that he wants to be in sports broadcasting rather than real estate. He is also considering being a sports agent.
-He is on the verge of graduating and has contacted people that are offering him oppoortunities to find a way into the sports market. Real estate and sport broadcasting/athlete representation both involve lots of sweet talking, like in Jerry Maguire. Lucky for my friend he has the gift of gab and can bull shi* his way through anything.
-All I have for this idea is framework, I need more depth support only I'm not sure what I should look for to make the story interesting. It is based on a close friend's career change which leaps from an occupation based on money and encouragement to an occuptation based on passion and charisma. Any help would be much appreciated.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
So much to choose from...
While I have few magazines I read regularly, I do read many. Working at a cafe in Borders book store leaves what I would guess is a couple hundred magazines for free. When I want to hide in back from annoying customers so I don't knock them out I usually grab a Men's Health, Men's Journal, Boxing Digest, or something of that nature.
Sometimes after cleaning up dishes or gathering stacks of books left by those oh-so-loved customers, curiousity gets the best of me and I may start to read the National Geographic or Popular Science magazine left behind. By reading random magazines I've learned a lot of random facts. Sometimes it's nice to wing it and just read the first magazine I find with good advertising on the cover. And whenme and my friends/co-workers are feeling saucy or immature we look through a Maxim or Stuff trying to find an article to share with one another in hopes of laughter at a place where it's in dire need.
My taste in magazines may be typical for someone like me but I like to think that I never pass up something interesting. Some literary snobs like to think their strict, tunnel-vision taste in magazines means something special but I have no problem being a magazine whore. Considering I almost never read for leisure, it's very constructive for me. Who can resist those dog magazines for people with show dogs when there are puppies on the cover?
I have to admit that I've never picked up a quilting or interior design for any reason other than cleaning up but I've read almost every other kind from Vibe, to Discover, to Horse Illustrated, to Low Rider. Some of them are stupid to me but one can't be egocentric bytotally ignoring what disinterests him right?
One example: Today I tried to read the Economist but it was too boring this time around so I started reading ESPN The Magazine. Of course, the cover advertised the article about the homosexual basketball player on page 60-something. It was very controversial, edgy, and full of quotes and excerpts from John Amaechi's book, Man in the Middle. I learned how his coach on the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan, used brutal language towards him.
Not everyone is around such a large selection of magazines as much so I feel priveleged even if it means I may neglect my job to read things that may not always be significant. My job sucks anyway and is very boring. Reading magazines helps keep me from beating up customers and improve my general knowledge.
Sometimes after cleaning up dishes or gathering stacks of books left by those oh-so-loved customers, curiousity gets the best of me and I may start to read the National Geographic or Popular Science magazine left behind. By reading random magazines I've learned a lot of random facts. Sometimes it's nice to wing it and just read the first magazine I find with good advertising on the cover. And whenme and my friends/co-workers are feeling saucy or immature we look through a Maxim or Stuff trying to find an article to share with one another in hopes of laughter at a place where it's in dire need.
My taste in magazines may be typical for someone like me but I like to think that I never pass up something interesting. Some literary snobs like to think their strict, tunnel-vision taste in magazines means something special but I have no problem being a magazine whore. Considering I almost never read for leisure, it's very constructive for me. Who can resist those dog magazines for people with show dogs when there are puppies on the cover?
I have to admit that I've never picked up a quilting or interior design for any reason other than cleaning up but I've read almost every other kind from Vibe, to Discover, to Horse Illustrated, to Low Rider. Some of them are stupid to me but one can't be egocentric bytotally ignoring what disinterests him right?
One example: Today I tried to read the Economist but it was too boring this time around so I started reading ESPN The Magazine. Of course, the cover advertised the article about the homosexual basketball player on page 60-something. It was very controversial, edgy, and full of quotes and excerpts from John Amaechi's book, Man in the Middle. I learned how his coach on the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan, used brutal language towards him.
Not everyone is around such a large selection of magazines as much so I feel priveleged even if it means I may neglect my job to read things that may not always be significant. My job sucks anyway and is very boring. Reading magazines helps keep me from beating up customers and improve my general knowledge.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Far From Home But Not Alone
Hockey has been around since the mid-1800s which is so long that historians can't specify where it was created but can only narrow it down to Windsor, Nova Scotia, Kington, Ontario or Montreal, and Quebec. In 1877 the Montreal Gazette published the first known rules.
During the first quarter of the 20th century the NHL, today's premier league, was formed in the United States and Canada. It was originally composed of six teams but now has 30. The "Original Six" were in Canada and the Northern U.S. Now there are teams in every corner of the country from Tampa Bay, FL to San Jose, CA. Nearly every boy in Canada is raised with dreams of playing in the NHL. While most of the junior professional teams are in Canada, the majority of the NHL teams are in the U.S. for financial purposes.
On the road to the NHL, players must succeed at sevreal levels before they are elite professionals and with the expansion of hockey to the U.S. some of the homegrown Canadian Boys find themselves living in the most random cities they could have imagined in the U.S. This lifestyle brings players closer with their teammates like a group of brothers.
Troy Bodie of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, is a former 9th round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was assigned to the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL. Stockton, CA, is 1,854 miles from Portage La Prairie, where Bodie grew up and Portage La Prairie is 1,150 miles from Kelowna, BC, where Bodie played junior hockey from 2002-2006 for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.
Bodie says "wherever you go people determine how good that place is by how good the people are" and he thinks "Stockton's pretty nice."
The experience of being a professional hockey player is "a complete lifestyle and its tough" says Bodie. He followed with "in the hockey world no matter where you go you meet someone besides you and start chatting it up and you become great friends." The Canadian players' families back home are very likey to tune in for their loved ones' games every chance they get.
"Growing up, I'd never picture them sitting by the radio on a Saturday night listening to my games," says Bodie who added the fact that his parents listen to every game on the internet radio network.
During the first quarter of the 20th century the NHL, today's premier league, was formed in the United States and Canada. It was originally composed of six teams but now has 30. The "Original Six" were in Canada and the Northern U.S. Now there are teams in every corner of the country from Tampa Bay, FL to San Jose, CA. Nearly every boy in Canada is raised with dreams of playing in the NHL. While most of the junior professional teams are in Canada, the majority of the NHL teams are in the U.S. for financial purposes.
On the road to the NHL, players must succeed at sevreal levels before they are elite professionals and with the expansion of hockey to the U.S. some of the homegrown Canadian Boys find themselves living in the most random cities they could have imagined in the U.S. This lifestyle brings players closer with their teammates like a group of brothers.
Troy Bodie of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, is a former 9th round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was assigned to the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL. Stockton, CA, is 1,854 miles from Portage La Prairie, where Bodie grew up and Portage La Prairie is 1,150 miles from Kelowna, BC, where Bodie played junior hockey from 2002-2006 for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.
Bodie says "wherever you go people determine how good that place is by how good the people are" and he thinks "Stockton's pretty nice."
The experience of being a professional hockey player is "a complete lifestyle and its tough" says Bodie. He followed with "in the hockey world no matter where you go you meet someone besides you and start chatting it up and you become great friends." The Canadian players' families back home are very likey to tune in for their loved ones' games every chance they get.
"Growing up, I'd never picture them sitting by the radio on a Saturday night listening to my games," says Bodie who added the fact that his parents listen to every game on the internet radio network.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Mandatory Blog
-Alright, so far I've made some decent progress on this first assignment. As a hockey fan I was already familiar with the history of the sport and the background. The focus of this article will emphasize the sacrifices people make to follow their goals. It will relate to the general reader by putting them in place of the players I will interview. They will read about why these players love the sport and how they came to be in Stockton, CA when the two I'm specifically interviewing are originally from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba (Troy Bodie) and East York, Ontario (Liam Reddox).
-So far I have spoken with one of the players I met on my own and am hoping to hear that he has enoughtime for an interview. I have also spoken via email with the man in charge of Media Relations for the team, Mike Benton. He is in the process of setting up interviews with the two mentioned players over thephone after oneof their games Thursday.
-I have researched the basic statistics of the players so I can ask about their careers and have also touched up on the history of hockey.
-I have read about the Stockton Thunder organization and how they have the best attendance on the league this year. One of the players I'm interviewing was chosen for the All-Star game and was mentioned in an article in the Stockton Record.
-I am planning on reading any articles I can find in hockey archives sites that may focus on anything similar to my article so i dont replicate the same style of any articles already written.
-So far I have spoken with one of the players I met on my own and am hoping to hear that he has enoughtime for an interview. I have also spoken via email with the man in charge of Media Relations for the team, Mike Benton. He is in the process of setting up interviews with the two mentioned players over thephone after oneof their games Thursday.
-I have researched the basic statistics of the players so I can ask about their careers and have also touched up on the history of hockey.
-I have read about the Stockton Thunder organization and how they have the best attendance on the league this year. One of the players I'm interviewing was chosen for the All-Star game and was mentioned in an article in the Stockton Record.
-I am planning on reading any articles I can find in hockey archives sites that may focus on anything similar to my article so i dont replicate the same style of any articles already written.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
What do you want to read?
I want to write my first article so that it appeals to a general reader no only a target audience. The topic is young professional hockey playes playing in Northern California. Since most people arent normally interested in this topic, what might make you interested or catch your attention? The writing must appeal to more than just fans of the sport. any suggestions?
Friday, February 9, 2007
Frustration
In my journ. 130 class we've been assigned to write biographical obituaries for journalists who died covering the news. The journalists I've been assigned to specifically died covering the news in Iraq. The internet has the same information about their deaths on multiple sites but there is no actual biographical information anywhere! The sites reporting their deaths don't answer e-mails and the phone numbers provided may be old because they don't get a ringtone whenyou dial them. Guess these obituarieswill take someserious digging for information, evenif it's rather bland facts like where they were born, who was in their family, etc.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Why I'm Here
This class appeals to me because magazines are a prime source of information. Growing up, I would look around and see people everywhere reading magazines, enamored by their fascination. Eventually I began reading magazines and thought that I could one day write stories that would capture the attention of the masses.
In this class, I hope to learn the fundamentals of magazine writing and how to harness the energy that stems from my desire to write for magazines. The fact that Professor Fitzgerald wants us to sell a piece to a magazine by the end of the semester is great encouragement. It excites me to think that before long I will be writing proposals to magazines to publish something I will have written. I'm starting this class with hopes of writing for magazine articles and by the end my goal is to have written at least one.
Writing as a profession interests me because I enjoy putting thoughts and observations on paper. When people read my work in the past and gave me feedback I felt fulfilled.
Magazines are different from other media publications because they usually specialize in specifics topics. It always seemed like it would be fun to have a fast-paced, exciting job as a magazine writer. The job itself is rewarding and glamorous. It also permits the writers to learn a lot as they have to research every topic they choose to write about.
Seeing sports journalists at professional events in scattered groups, discussing the hottest stories makes me envious. Knowing magazine writers can sit down with significant people and converse with them in a professional matter makes me think the journalists them selves are part of the celebrity world.
It is obvious that a writer cannot jump into magazine writing with ease. This class is my first look into the mechanics of magazine writing and how journalists go about their jobs.
In this class, I hope to learn the fundamentals of magazine writing and how to harness the energy that stems from my desire to write for magazines. The fact that Professor Fitzgerald wants us to sell a piece to a magazine by the end of the semester is great encouragement. It excites me to think that before long I will be writing proposals to magazines to publish something I will have written. I'm starting this class with hopes of writing for magazine articles and by the end my goal is to have written at least one.
Writing as a profession interests me because I enjoy putting thoughts and observations on paper. When people read my work in the past and gave me feedback I felt fulfilled.
Magazines are different from other media publications because they usually specialize in specifics topics. It always seemed like it would be fun to have a fast-paced, exciting job as a magazine writer. The job itself is rewarding and glamorous. It also permits the writers to learn a lot as they have to research every topic they choose to write about.
Seeing sports journalists at professional events in scattered groups, discussing the hottest stories makes me envious. Knowing magazine writers can sit down with significant people and converse with them in a professional matter makes me think the journalists them selves are part of the celebrity world.
It is obvious that a writer cannot jump into magazine writing with ease. This class is my first look into the mechanics of magazine writing and how journalists go about their jobs.
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