Sleep: Friend or Foe?

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year, and no I’m not talking about summer. I’m talking about finals! It’s that week long period that everyone dreads. While it only comes around twice a school year, it seems like a never-ending cycle. Night after night we slave ourselves over our schoolwork. Trying to cram every last bit of information in before the big test. Some take it to the extreme and choose to pull all nighters, but is it really worth it?

According to Dr. Chiara Cirelli, from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, we seem to undermine the negative effects an all nighter can have on our body. These effects range anywhere from unstable emotions, weight gain, depression, even it has even been linked to potential increases in drug abuse. While we may think these all nighters are benefiting us, they’re doing nothing but hurting us. The physical and emotional toll of an all nighter isn’t worth it. Not only do our brainwaves slow, but also our body begins to shut down on us completely making it hard and hard for us to focus.

If you know you have a lot of work ahead of you, try planning everything out. Set specific times for your different activities and study periods. If you manage to stick to your schedule, your all nighter won’t be necessary. Not only will you feel well rested on the big day, but also you will find that you know the information a lot better than you would have if you crammed last minute.

Next time you consider pulling an all nighter, do your body a favor and just go to sleep! The negative effects of an all nighter can far out weigh the positives. Trust me, I would know. 

Abercrombie kids: "Pushing" the Limits

Abercrombie and Fitch has always been notorious for taking their fashion wear to the extreme. Whether it’s from barely there jean shorts to their miniature tops to their risqué skirts. Recently, Abercrombie kids may have crossed the line when they came out with the summer 2011 swimwear. The collection featured the “Ashley” push up triangle.

Abercrombie kids usually reaches out to kids from age 7-14. At this age, girls don’t really have much to “push up”. Even if they did, they are far too young to be flaunting their assets. Abercrombie is sending out the wrong message to these adolescent girls. They are telling them it is okay to show off their skin and curves, but it is not! These young girls need to be taught to respect their bodies and not feel pressured to flaunt what they have.

By selling these suits, our society is already starting to degrade these girls, even at such a young age. Push up swimwear and bras are meant for women to enhance what they are and this usually draws attention from others. This sort of attention is not appropriate for these young girls. We need to encourage these girls to feel comfortable in their own skin.

Due to all the controversy over this itsy bitsy bikini, Abercrombie later removed the swimsuit from their website. They agreed the suit is appropriate for girls 12 and older, but I still think that is far too young. We the consumers have the power to control the success of products. We should stop supporting companies that are sending off the wrong message to these young girls. 

Bang, Bang, You're Dead!

In recent years, the advances in technology have been mind blowing. Cell phones, computers, iPods, electronic gaming systems, all of these have evolved far more than anyone could have ever imagined. While there are many positives to the evolution of technology, there are definitely negatives. Our technology has consumed us.

One of the most controversial topics is the gaming world. What used to be a simple pacman game has turned into a game to see who can kill the most people. While people may not think it is such a big deal, it is. According to CNN, “About 90 percent of U.S. kids ages 8 to 16 play video games, and they spend about 13 hours a week doing so (more if you're a boy)”. These endless hours spent killing people in the virtual world have been linked to child aggression. Researchers have found that kids begin to mimic the behavior of these games whether it’s hitting, punching, kicking, etc. Kids may not realize it, but their behavior is getting increasingly more violent the more they engage in these games.

Parents, next time you go to buy your kid a video game, pay more attention to the box. Video games come with an age recommendation usually on the corner of the box. The recommendation is not there for decoration, it is meant to be taken seriously. Parents have the responsibility to help put a stop to the increasing violence in children. If your kid is 9 years old, don’t buy him a game where the goal is to kill as many people are possible. 

13.1: Incivility on the Roads

This morning woke up bright and early, 4:30 am to be exact, prepared to rock the Dallas Rock N’ Roll half marathon.  While this was hands down the craziest thing I have ever done, I went into with an open mind. At 8:00 am the race began and I was off! 

The first couple miles I was focused on my breathing and speed. Once I was able to find the perfect pace, I started noticing the people around me. Many of the people participating in the race were running in teams for a cause. While I completely support them and think what they did was amazing, there was one thing that bothered me most, they ran side-by-side. Having two people run next to each other is totally understandable, but when these packs are formed of four, five, even six people it creates a barrier for the other runners trying to pass them. The majority of the course was only two car lanes wide and these packs took up almost a complete lane, posing as a challenge for the other runners to maneuver them.

 In the novel, Choosing Civility by P.M. Forni, two of these chapters are applicable to my experience today, “Pay Attention” and “Acknowledge Others”. According to Forni, “We spend much of our daily lives neglecting to pay attention. I know I often go through my surroundings without taking them in…” (36). While I understand many people are focused on themselves, they need to be mindful of others around them.

One final thing, I would like to personally congratulate everyone that participated in today’s half marathon. It wasn’t easy, but we did it! 

Where is the Love?

      You are in your car driving one afternoon and you flip your blinker on. There is plenty of room for you to change lanes. All the sudden the car in the lane next to you speeds up, slams on his breaks, lays on the horn, and gives you the finger. Though you did everything you were supposed to, you still managed to piss off the guy riding your bumper. Unfortunately, this is the norm in today’s society.

      The simplest act can spark road rage in someone. Though many people lack proper mannerisms, this is especially an issue on the roads. Not only is rude driving a serious problem we see on a daily basis, but it can also be extremely dangerous. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving is responsible for one-third of all accidents and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities. This is an issue that has not been addressed nearly enough. 

      I propose that the police start issuing tickets when they see road rage occur. With the hefty fines, hopefully hazardous drives will realizes that their outbursts just aren’t necessary. If rage on the roads could be reduced, driving would be significantly safer. So next time a driver does something to make you mad, take a deep breath, relax, and just carry on. 

Always & Forever

In recent years, the art of tattooing has been on the rise. More than ever, people are choosing to go under the needle to get “inked”. These tattoos range in shapes, size, and location. Some people are going as far as tattooing themselves from head to toe, but why?

Growing up, I have always been taught that if you choose to get a tattoo, you are disrespecting your body. If I ever came home sporting a new tattoo, not only would my parents be mad beyond belief, but also I would be cut off. For some reason, tattoos are seen as more socially acceptable than in the past.  The idea of tattooing is so popular, that TLC was able to launch a television show “Miami Ink”.  This television show was not only successful, but also managed to record six seasons. Multiple people have commented on reviews that not only did they absolutely love the show, but after becoming obsessed with “Miami ink” they felt the need to go get a tattoo.  

People need to stop and think before they disrespect their bodies and get a tattoo. It is not something that will disappear overtime. It will be with you forever. 

Tanorexia

             If you were doing something that increased your chances of getting cancer, don’t you think you’d stop? Unfortunately, this is not the case for many Caucasian women ages 16-29. This age group makes 70% of the tanning salon patrons. According to American Academy of Dermatology, using tanning beds before the age of 35 can significantly increase your chance of getting melanoma, the world’s deadliest skin cancer.

            Unfortunately, over the years, being tan has developed a positive connotation. Many Caucasians will do whatever it takes to be tan, even if that means paying a hefty fee and damaging their skin. WebMD recommends that anyone under the age of 18 should not engage in indoor tanning because of their rapid growth of cells. This puts them at a higher risk for potentially developing skin cancer. I personally think indoor tanning should be banned for all ages. If the legislation was to put a stop to the use of tanning salons, people would learn to not only embraces their natural skin color, but it would also drastically help the health of their skin.

            For people that feel the need to be tan year round, there are ways to get this healthy glow without exposing yourself to damaging UV rays. The beauty industry has spent years developing lotions and sprays that resemble tan. Not only are most of the lotions cheaper than indoor tanning, but also, they will not damage your skin. So next time you go to step into a tanning bed, think to yourselves, is it really worth it?