Musings

Do Not Expect Protests at the Olympics

2008-08-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Tibet. Human rights. Both have become points of a firestorm of protests engulfing the Beijing 2008 Olympics. People around the world are anxiously watching on, waiting for this powder keg to explode and wreck havoc on the one symbol of peace and unity: the Olympics. However, the one nation that should be worried is not; China has been very good at quietly putting down any protests and any fears that there may be protests to taint their reputation as Olympic host. While many heads of states have abstained from attending the opening ceremonies, China has continued to quell dissenting opinions. Most recently, after President Bush’s speech in Bangkok where he spoke out against China’s detention of political protestors and religious activists, China rebuked Bush, and other nations that have spoken out against China’s hosting of the Olympics, by issuing a statement that read, "We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues”.

This sort of stance has become the norm for China’s hosting of the Olympic games. And sadly, even America has acquiesced to the statements of the Chinese; regardless of the world community that is pushing the US to make a stand against acts that are obviously wrong, the US has chosen to sit idly by due to the immense and growing power of the Chinese over the US economy.

Besides purposely missing opening ceremonies to make a statement against China, there have been many protests within China that have been quietly put down. However these demonstrations bring to a light another argument concerning the Olympic ideals. After one reads the Olympic Charter, it is clear that China does actually have the law on its side (no wonder it is so calm). Rule 51 of the charter reads, “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas”. This rule may be China’s ticket to a “peaceful” Olympics. Along with this rule there is the statement that essentially states that along with Olympic rules, the rules of the host nation must be adhered to. And to top it all of the bye-law to this rule reads, “No form of publicity or propaganda, commercial or otherwise, may appear on persons, on sportswear, accessories or, more generally, on any article of clothing or equipment whatsoever worn or used by the athletes or other participants in the Olympic Games”. In other words, athletes are not allowed to protest against China as well, with the consequence of losing one’s medal. This consequence will most probably deter any sort of protesting in opening ceremonies or on podiums. Taking this into account, chances of anything similar to that of the 68’ Olympics Black Power salute are very slim.

So what of all the “Free Tibet” protests, and the demonstrations during the passing of the Olympic Torch? As of now it seems that China seems to have things under control, especially being that the law is on its side. After all, China has a reputation for quietly putting down any sort of opposition, and chances are that the consequences of any demonstrations will be enough to deter any protestors from actually taking to the streets. However, one can never be sure how strongly a person, maybe even an athlete, feels on a certain topic, such as Tibet. So now admirers of sport and camaraderie will sit down around the world and watch and wait to see the events of the 2008 Beijing Olympics unfold. The only question that arises in some minds is: was Beijing the smartest place to host the 2008 Olympics?

Spare the Olympics!

2008-05-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

As the Olympic torch carries through the streets of Paris, London, and San Francisco, its flame weakens as the protests grow; the flame flickers, and the hopes of an apolitical Olympic in Beijing, China are slowly dimming.

Since the very first Olympics in Olympia, Greece, peace and tolerance has been the hallmark of this event. During the Olympics in the ancient times, the city-states of Greece put aside their differences to join together and take part in a show of strength and agility. Instead of weapons and wars, sporting events were used to portray the supremacy of one city-state over another. Bitter rivals, and sometimes enemies, such as Athens and Sparta, would come together during the days of the sporting spectacle and celebrate the achievements of human strength and agility. Winners at this event, not only garnered the pride as victors to bring home prestige for their nation, but they would also receive a crown of olive leaves which represented hope and peace. Although this tradition is still in practice, along with numerous other traditions that have been passed down through the ages, the Olympics have lost much of their theme and the message of peace and togetherness has been hijacked by political and capitalistic agendas.

As more news trickles out of the snowy plateau of Tibet, where protests are taking place against the Chinese oppressive occupation of the Buddhist haven, the world audience is shocked and appalled by the aggressive response of the Chinese towards the freedom seeking, non-violent monks of Tibet. The Tibetans could not have chosen a most opportune moment to heighten their push for autonomy; with the Olympics just round the corner, there is great attention being paid to Beijing, as if an enormous magnifying glass were focused upon China. China is hoping that the Beijing Olympics will be the catalyst for China’s ascent into the superpower realm; however, with the strife taking place in Tibet, China’s quest for world recognition, for both their athletic abilities and their ‘pristine’ state of communism, will be overshadowed by questions regarding the future of Tibet and China’s handling of it.

These problems coming out of Lhasa have led to protests spreading like wildfire across the world and sadly enough following the Olympic torch to wherever it goes. Stories of protestors attempting to put out the torch with water balloons, or trying to steal the torch are hitting the news wires everyday from France and England, and wherever else the torch may be that given day. Attempts to put out the symbol of the Olympics have gotten so out of hand that detours have had to be taken in the route of the torch through cities like San Francisco, where pro-Tibet protestors are relentlessly fighting to snuff out the torch. These activists/protestors are in fact putting out the flame of the very institution that pushes for the peace they themselves are advocating for Tibet and one that is desperately needed in many other places as well all across the world.

Although what China is doing to the Tibetan people is anything but right, the reaction/response of the world is not correct either. The Olympics were never meant to be a political spectacle; rumors of nations boycotting the opening ceremonies in Beijing are ridiculous being that the opening ceremonies express a tradition and culture of togetherness. Even though history has shown the Olympics to become a type of political platform, whether it was for Hitler’s master Aryan race or the Munich massacre of 1972, our world should not let what once was a call for peace and togetherness become a tradition of politicking and an instrument of modern day hegemony. With Tibetans pleading for assistance and using the Beijing Olympics as a magnifying glass, the world must answer the call for help; however disrupting and undermining a long standing world event that brings all nations together is not the way to go.

The good news is that the International Olympic Committee has responded to the protests by saying that the torch relay will go on; however, what good is a torch relay when the torch is more protected than many heads of states, like it was in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thanks to disillusioned protestors, the significance of the torch and the Olympics as a whole has been shrouded in a dark fog of politics. With the relay going as it has been for the past several weeks, many have an ominous feeling about the reception it will have when it finally makes it way back to Beijing, when the 2008 Olympics commence; will everything go according to plan?

The current world populace has forgotten the meaning of the Olympics and what the torch stands for; the Olympic Flame is the essence of that sportsmanship that makes a warrior throw down his sword, and the sooner we realize this, the safer and more peaceful the atmosphere will be in Beijing come August.

Are We Celebrating Black Heritage?

2008-02-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

As we progress through the month of February, our nation celebrates the rich history of African-Americans, a large minority in our diverse nation. However, after witnessing the apathy and disrespect at the annual assemblies put on in my high school to showcase the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders, it has become clear to me that a month designated to celebrating an ethnic history is a waste of time and also unnecessary.

Most of this year's presentation constituted songs and hymns attributed to the Civil Rights Movement, clips from Dr. King's famous "I have a dream" speech, and other such biographical accounts of the numerous providential events during the movement. During that time many of my peers were dozing off or intently chattering with their companions, ignorantly disregarding everything the presentation had to offer. The degree of ignorance and disrespect has reached an all time high in our youth; the presentation may not have appealed to all viewers, yet it is common courtesy to have paid attention nevertheless, and respect the entertainers who have put in so much effort to convey the message of the Civil Rights Movement, a relatively recent life changing event in our history. Instead of teaching students the 'Three R's of Education', schools should perhaps be more concerned with instilling pupils with a respect for their freedom that they are taking for granted today.

The message underlying Black History Month has slowly begun to lose its significance and the image of our great civil rights leaders has either become inconsequential or else blurred since the Black History Month celebrations tend to be ignored in more ways than one by the youth of today. It is incredibly disrespectful and disturbing when an African-American student fails to acknowledge the suffering his ancestors endured to gain freedom, something that he takes for granted today. It is sad that someone like me, who is not even of African American descent, pays more respect than does a student of African descent, to the memory of the freedom fighters of the Civil Rights Movement by being quiet and respectful during the Black history month assemblies.

If Black History Month has lost its meaning, then why do we celebrate it? Personally I feel that setting aside a month to celebrate an ethnic diversity is slightly absurd; why should we celebrate the rich history of African-Americans only in February, coincidentally the shortest month of the year? The history of the Civil Rights Movement is so critical not only as black history, but in the history of America and of the world at large. It was the movement that completely altered the social fabric of this nation from the bottom up and sent the oppressed people of the world a strong message of hope and freedom. The extent of the impact of the Civil Rights Movement itself cannot be completely understood and appreciated in a single month, not to mention the impact of black history as a whole. Through assigning a Black History Month we are paying lip service to appreciating diversity, and essentially encouraging apathy and ignorance toward something as fundamental as our need and respect for freedom.

Black History Month has once again put our society's ignorance in the lime light. I wholly commend the performance of the troupe that performed the Black History Month presentation at my high school and apologize for the lack of respect they received from many in the audience. As for Black History Month, we should not delegate remembrance to specified months because events that are as definitive and life changing as the Civil Rights Movement cannot be fully grasped and totally honored in a month. As we move along through yet another Black History Month, we will notice the forced appreciation of the rich African-American History and the resulting apathy, ignorance, and disrespect perpetrated by those who cannot appreciate the freedom they enjoy let alone the strife to acquire it; not even during a duration of some sixty odd minutes of a Black History Month Assembly!

Harnessing History Heralds Hope for Humanity(12/24/07-THNT)

2008-02-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

Harnessing History Heralds Hope for Humanity
by Aditya Raina

As the year draws to an end, the New Jersey State Legislature passed a monumental piece of legislation. On December 17, 2007 Governor Corzine signed into law a ban on the death penalty within the state of New Jersey. For the past several decades, the death penalty in NJ had seemed worthless being that it had not been implemented since 1963. Many within the state now saw it as an unnecessary practice. By passing the legislature, our state modelled the necessity of looking back as we move forward; by looking back and realizing that this immoral practice was dispensable, the state legislature was able to learn from history. Unfortunately, as our nation, and the world, progresses, the importance of this great teacher,history, is diminishing; we are no longer learning from the mistakes of yesterdays, and instead are allowing the vicious cycle of history to replay itself without any improvizations.

Yet, we can see some hope in the upcoming elections of 2008. After the long lasting blunders of President Bush, we see a new batch of candidates that are out to fix the problems, both Democrats and Republicans. No one, currently or in the future, can look over Bush's biggest blunder, the war in Iraq. This unnecessary infringement on the Iraqi sovereignty portrays our inability to learn from the past; in other words we committed what will go down in the books as The Gulf War II, or Bush Jr.'s war for his old man.
If one looks for more reasons for our failure in Iraq, one only needs to look farther back in history. Lately, many have been drawing parallels between the Iraq war and Vietnam War, and they have every right to do so. The American army is getting bogged down in Iraq, just like we were in Vietnam, while Iraq is spiralling into chaos and civil strife. However, even with the abundance of evidence showing that the war in Iraq is a lost cause, the current administration remains stubborn and refuses to admit its misjudgement. Whether it is the unpopularity of the war, or the war itself, one can easily see the similarities between Iraq and Vietnam; however, we refuse to use this knowledge from history to our advantage, and get out of the situation as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

In the past couple of years, environmentalism has become a heated subject, and the search for alternative fuels has been sparked. Nevertheless, some feel it is too little too late, and the damage to the environment is irreversible. Our soon-to- be- shortage- of- oil is another factor in our search for an alternative energy source, but some ask if our new found environmentalism is just need driven. A valid point, because it was not too long ago that coal and wood were major, if not the only, energy producers. Then it was seen that coal was terrible for the environment, and, at the rate our nation was going, timber would run out too. Pressured to find something new, humans found oil to be an even better alternative. Now, is it not ironic that we are in the same predicament with oil, except the stakes are even higher because our environment is in dire straits and at the breaking point.

Looking globally, one can see our historic mistakes around the world. Currently, the unrest in Pakistan has made headlines across the world; President Musharraf's implementation of martial law and emergency rule caused great civil unrest in his country, and confirmed many people's assertions that he is indeed more of a dictator than a president. However, what is ironic is that the democracy-spreading United States of America greatly supported and heavily endorsed this dictator, but only because he said he would help America in the war on terror. America's actions show the rest of the world that essentially America will turn a blind eye to your immoral and totalitarian actions if it is in its interest to keep you in power, something it has done before; one can always draw on history to bring out pitfalls that could have been easily avoided if we had just looked back. Just as we are doing in Pakistan with Musharraf, we did with the Taliban in Afghanistan, ironically Pakistan's neighbor to the north. Using the ideology that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, we supported the fundamentalist Taliban in Afghanistan in eighties, only because they were battling to get the Soviet Union, America's sworn enemy, out of Afghanistan. Some years later, the same Taliban became our worst nightmare!

During the Paris Peace Conference, at the end of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson was forging a peace treaty with the European powers; new territories had to be drawn, and colonies had to be redistributed as well. At this conference a man representing a French colony came to Wilson to beg him for the freedom of his colony; the man was willing to be forever loyal to America, but despite the man's entreaty Wilson refused to grant him his colony's freedom. We now know this man to be Ho Chi Minh, and his colony was that of Vietnam, the location of a later seven and a half year war! If back in 1918, we had given Vietnam its independence, the entire Vietnam fiasco could have been avoided. A minor event, decades prior to the actual war, lead to the war itself, and shows how failure of diplomacy, even such a small occurrence, can alter the course of history completely.

The power of history is immense, and by harnessing it we can in fact make our foresight stronger and avoid the predicaments we find ourselves in today. As the years pass, we must look back and see what we have done and what we are doing, and based on that determine what we should be doing.

More States Should Allow the Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes(11/12/07-THNT)

2008-02-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Marijuana, the so-called gateway drug, has, for the past century or so, been grouped together with the likes of cocaine, heroine, and other heavy narcotics; however, this stimulant has garnered an undeserved bad reputation. As a result it has been so thoroughly outlawed in nearly all the states, and thus it is very difficult to prove that the attacks against cannabis hold any weight.

However, an objective and a discerning mind can see the medical benefits of hashish if it were a legal commodity; this is especially true in the case of patients suffering from glaucoma. Along with the medical benefits, it could also be a moneymaker for the government. Taking into account the illegal activity that takes place because of the illegalization of marijuana, if it were legal, the government could regulate its sale, and thereby curb the flourishing marijuana black market and instead gain revenue from the drug sales.

Lobbyists and propaganda have been greatly responsible for keeping marijuana illegal in this country; the harmful effects of marijuana have been over advertised: full page and primetime advertisements in popular media; yet, the deaths from marijuana are considerably less than those from other harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol. As many people slowly begin to realize that the negative propaganda associated with ganja is a misguide, and that marijuana's benefits greatly outweigh its negatives, people will begin to push for fewer restrictions on the misjudged plant. With the restrictions on marijuana, as they are now, the black market has become quite dangerous with numerous accounts of violence resulting from the possession and distribution of drugs; urban areas have become cesspools of crime, and the abuse of harmful substances is running rampant. Experts have suggested a solution to this problem, and this proposal has definitely proved to be pragmatic and effective- legalize marijuana.

With the legalization of marijuana, many violent crimes and illegal transactions can be avoided altogether. If this proposal is put into effect, no longer will this so-called illicit substance be bought, sold, and fought over in the black market. After the legalization of marijuana, the government can control and oversee the sale of the substance and make revenue on the taxes levied on the transactions. Seeing the evident problems that have arisen with the illegal distribution of the said substance, the government should take action and legalize this potentially profitable plant. What angers advocates of marijuana is the terrible reputation that precedes the substance. Very early on in one's education, we are taught to steer clear of so-called 'drugs'; however, it has been proven that one can not die from an overdose of marijuana; in fact, according to World Almanacs, Life Insurance Actuarial Rates in the last 20 years of U.S. Surgeon Generals' reports there has not been a death associated to marijuana. On the other hand, legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco have been responsible for 150,000 and 450,000 deaths respectively. It has been claimed that there has never been a documented cannabis-induced fatality. Slowly but surely Marijuana is making its legal presence felt in a positive way. California has been most commonly associated with medical marijuana, but the use of cannabis for medical purposes has now been legalized in nine other states as well- Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Maryland. The laws in these states vary, but essentially they state that the use of marijuana is applicable for problems such as arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic nervous system disorders, chronic pain, Crohn's disease, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other muscle spasticity disorders, and help patients cope with severe migraines, severe nausea, and the side effects of chemotherapy.

Due to its benefits, there is a slow-growing acceptance of the substance; marijuana is now used daily by many people throughout the world. What is bothersome is that, according to the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, approximately twenty million to fifty million Americans routinely smoke marijuana illegally, without the benefit of direct medical supervision. Perhaps we need to give marijuana its due recognition and legalize it. Cannabis, for several decades, has unnecessarily been given a bad name by those who either know little about it or then stand to gain by making it illegal. If our nation is built on values that tell its people to never judge a book by its cover, how can these same citizens reject marijuana based on hearsay without looking a little deeper to see its benefits.

SATs Hold too Much Weight in Application Process(10/1/07-THNT)

2008-02-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

As getting admission into prestigious universities gets ever more difficult, the SAT’s are playing a continuously larger role in applications. However, many argue that the role that this infamous standardized test plays is getting too large, and is starting to eclipse other significant parts of a student’s application. The diminishing acceptance rates at reputable universities is either an indication of the apparent decline in America’s world renowned education, or it may be a sign of greater competition in schools making getting into world renowned colleges that much harder; however, there is no argument over the fact that the SAT’s are getting more consequential and pivotal as years go by.
With Harvard University having an acceptance rate of 9%, it is no surprise that the college application process has become so cutthroat. To even catch the attention of such prestigious schools, such as Ivy League schools, one must accomplish something spectacular that stands out from the rest, and it is clear that to do something of that caliber is very difficult, to say the least. Being an underclassman, I can see many seniors and juniors struggling to get the attention of colleges, and one way is by achieving a high SAT score, and at times it can seem impossible. The let down of not getting into one’s dream school is terrible; as one walks through the hallway one can hear who got in where, and about the disappointment and sorrow of those who were unable to get into the college of their dreams. Seeing the students who do not get in where they had hoped is always discouraging, and makes putting in extra effort for that slim chance of getting into a distinguished university seem pointless.
Seeing the disappointment during college admission time is a big dampener on a student’s will to put in that extra effort. Why try so hard if one has less than a 15% chance in getting into an acclaimed university, especially if thousands of other applicants are also contending for your spot? Why study so much and stress out over every grade if one sees the kid who studied non-stop for his entire high school career, taking part in very few fun activities, and ended getting waitlisted and rejected from his top choices, and settling for his safety school? The amount of work, time, and effort that it takes for a prestigious college to recognize someone is utterly ridiculous; with extra-curricular activities, grades, sports, the SAT’s and other major tests, and of course all the little things that make an application perfect it has become impossible to fit in everything into the 4 years of high school.
With cutthroat competition comes pressure, and pressure is the cause of many problems. For many there is always the pressure to always do well, whether it is school or anything else, he or she must be the best; for many B+’s are not good enough. Parental pressure is always a culprit, and for the most part many students are only motivated by their parent’s continuous pressure until the point where they are just used to the extreme amounts of stress and pressure put on them by others and themselves. Parental pressure can get one the good grades, but at what cost? Can those grades really get you into a college with an acceptance rate of 10%, probably not.
Many students hate the monotony of school and the pressures involved, others just do not motivate themselves, and it results in apathy towards academics. Why waste away ones life studying? Students are more concerned with making their high school times memorable, which is completely understandable, and consider the stress of school as a deterrent one it comes to having fun. If one has no chance of getting into the university of his or her dreams what’s the point worrying about school? This predetermined pessimism is the cause for lack of effort along with pressure, the difficulty in getting into a college, and unfair evaluations.
Slowly SAT’s are becoming the sole gauge of one’s intelligence, but as of know colleges still take other aspects of a student into consideration. However, even with this taken into consideration, college admissions and applications are skewed. Out of the thousands of applicants universities are likely to pick a handful of students to attend their school, and this judgment process is very trivial. With so many applicants, there is no doubt that many are very similar, so how does a college application reader judge who gets in and who does not? Your GPA may be 4.4 but so many others may have the same or similar number, so which one of you gets in? Along with this predicament, there is also the problem of uneven judging. One person can not read all the applications, so the solution is to have many, many readers. However with this comes the fact that each reader will have there own evaluation process and expectations. The decision process that takes place at universities’ admissions offices is very flawed, and they lead to pressure, stress, disappointment, and sorrow.
SAT’s are the epitome of the stress and pressure for a student because of the immense role it seems to play these days in college admissions. No one test should hold so much weight when one’s future is in the balance. Anything could happen that one day to affect the results of the test. Although SAT’s supposedly gauge one’s abilities in basic math and English, they cannot properly determine one’s true capabilities; some people just are not good test takers, and this characteristic can totally throw off a test score, which will determine what college one will get into.
As admission into college gets more competitive students get more discouraged, yet this does not stop the colleges with such low acceptance rates. With pressure coming from every which way it is no surprise that many students eventually give up in trying to get into their dream school. Many will say that each student can only work up to his or her ability, but I feel everyone is capable of the getting into the so called prestigious schools. After hearing of heartbreaks from seniors many can see that getting into college is not getting any easier, and this should not be the case. Colleges have begun to set impossible bars, and expect applications that, in all truthfulness, are impossible to attain. Along with flawless applications, SAT’s continue to gain precedence, and due to this many are panicking because it literally means that one test will determine a person’s future. There is no need for so much competition, pressure, and stress because frankly they only waste time, and time is for enjoyment not unnecessary toil.

iPhone Is Sure to be the Product of the Year(2/19/2007-THNT)

2008-02-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

Apple’s new IPhone has gone above and beyond everyone’s expectations! The CEO of Apple, Steve Job’s, two and a half years of commitment to a new creation have finally paid off. At Macworld 2007, in San Francisco, Jobs was able to unveil his work of art during his keynote. The other two new products Apple has produced, the Apple TV and the AirPort Extreme, dazzled the audience, but it was the new iPhone that stole the show.
This break-through in the world of electronics left the audience at Macworld, speechless; all they could do was stand in the wake of a machine that took cell phones and iPods to another level. Steve Jobs clarifies his company’s achievement, “iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone.” Apple’s CEO could not have put it any better, whether it be the full screen iPod, the simple to use yet highly advanced cell phone, or the amazing internet capabilities, the iPhone is the greatest piece of technology to hit the market since Apple’s iPod. First the MP3 player, then the cell phone, what market will Apple dominate next?
The iPhone is a device that has no keypad to dial numbers, but instead consists of one large touch screen that can transform into a number of useful utilities. The beauty of the iPhone is that there is no stylus and all one needs is a finger. By using one’s fingers many things can be accomplished on the iPhone, such as zooming in and out by using the "unpinching" and "pinching" technique that is incorporated in the Multi-touch interface. However, it is not only the touch pad and the seamless scrolling that makes the iPhone a pleasure to use but also the many devices it packs into such a small body. The iPhone not only serves as a cellphone, but is also a widescreen iPod that plays movies and offers a web browser for wi-fi Internet access. Apple’s new device also incorporates Google Maps with its wi-fi Internet. These useful tools are not the only perks of buying an iPhone; the amazing electronic machine also holds a camera, extraordinary email access, and many other characteristics that are similar to PDA’s.
Mac fans will be happy to learn that iPhone will run OS X. Not only will it have a Mac operating system but also will easily synchronize with iTunes just like all the previous iPods. That is the beauty of the iPhone; most electronics that try to cram multiple devices into one device, fail, due to the fact that when they come together each of them loses its original efficiency and does not function at its optimum, but the iPhone shatters this myth; it is an epitome of efficiency even though it is many electronic devices rolled into one.
By the end of the MacWorld Expo the audience at Steve Job’s keynote was waiting for two things, the price and release date of the astounding iPhone. Job’s did not want to keep his audience waiting and announced that his new creation would hit the US markets in June. Everyone knew that something like the iPhone would not be cheap, and the $499 price tag was somewhat expected.
Although the iPhone may seem flawless it has its imperfections. For instance the $499 and $599price of a four-gigabyte and an eight-gigabyte iPhone respectively appeared a little unreasonable to some who felt the storage space will not be worth the cost. Another drawback of the iPhone is its relatively small battery life, especially for a cell phone that may be used for some heavy duty talking
Steve Job’s unveiling of the iPhone has on the one hand completely shattered and at the same time reshaped the entire electronic world, and has consequently left many companies in the dust. The iPhone’s numerous capabilities completely decimate any competition. With a cellphone, widescreen iPod, Internet capabilities, and many other utilities, the iPhone will be the most longed for product until its release in June, and then will definitely become the greatest product of the year.

Response to "Speech Lessons"(TIME)

2007-05-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

I am a high school student, and I agree with peers who advocate for our right to free speech [May 21]. In a country that boasts a Constitution that grants freedom and equality for all, why are its young deprived of the right to expression in school? Ironically, it is in this very environment that we learn about our freedoms, a setting that teaches us to articulate our thoughts in English class but then stifles our voices if they do not conform to some norm.

There's Never Been a Better Time for Rage

2007-05-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

In 100-degree weather in Indio, Calif., 60,000 watched intently as Rage Against the Machine, the fiery revolutionary political rock band from Los Angeles, performed.

However, this was no ordinary concert by the renegade band known for its blending of hip-hop, hard rock, punk and funk. This was the first time the group had played together since their split in 2000. This reunion was done at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which the band had headlined in 1999.

After their performance at Coachella, it was evident that even after seven years apart, the band was still able to produce its protest-inducing lyrics, along with the incredible and mind-bending guitar and bass riffs that switched from metal to hip-hop in a single deafening beat of the drums.

After recording their album "Renegades of Funk," which left much to be desired, Rage announced they were breaking up — evidently due to communication problems as well as lead singer Zach de la Rocha's desire to pursue a solo career.

Before this sudden and unexpected split, Rage was known for their radical ideals, rebellious lyrics and attempts to inform the masses of the many injustices of government. The lyrics that Rage is known for would fall on deaf ears if it were not for the talent of the guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk.

Morello essentially becomes the DJ for the band, producing unthinkable sounds. Their blending of genres became known as rap-core. Morello's fiery rhetoric is often vitriolic, as are some of his statements to the media.

However, Rage Against the Machine is not all talk. Members of the band are seen frequently attending rallies and other protests. Only a few weeks earlier, Morello and de la Rocha were seen together in Chicago, attending a rally for the advancement of immigrant farm workers.

With the Bush administration's failed war in Iraq, the economy taking a plunge, with jobs being outsourced, and China threatening to be the next super power, Rage Against the Machine could not have re-entered the limelight at a better time.

With so many things going wrong, the people of this country are ready to wake up — and this is the band's goal.

After their stellar performance at Coachella, everyone is wondering about the future of Rage, and so far the band has kept that a secret. However, fans can rejoice over the fact that the band has set up a handful of more tour dates in the highly-acclaimed hip-hop festival, Rock the Bells, which includes one more show in California on Aug. 11, and performances at Randalls Island in New York City on July 28 and 29.

Whether or not they will officially reunite and continue their "musical mission to help the others listen" is unknown.

Ignorance in America

2007-04-16T16:28:00.001-07:00

History class teaches us that in previous years the people of this nation not only knew current issues, but also were involved in them and stood up for their opinions. The current happenings of our world have gone by relatively unnoticed by the masses, and this is must change; the populace should be emboldened to not only use the new technology in this Age of Information to gather knowledge, but they should use this it to voice their opinions on the topics of their day and the days to come.
For many around the globe the era we have come to settle into what has been dubbed the Age of Information; however, as sad as it may be, this Age of Information is soon to become the Age of Ignorance. There may be immense amounts of information and numerous methods with which to gain enlightenment, but neither of these aspects seem to be improving upon the fact that there are millions of people who are unaware of the critical happenings of the world around them. This ignorance can be clearly seen in the youth of the nation
As for the people who have a clue as to what is happening around them, some just do not seem to care what happens. It is hard to grasp the concept that someone will completely ignore controversial subject that could very well affect a number of people, including the person himself. One should not ignore the 800-pound gorilla that may very well be a heated topic that affects many things. Ignorance is one thing, but apathy towards an important aspect of society is completely inexcusable and should not happen; people should realize that their voices and opinions are important, and should be heard by their peers.
This Age of Ignorance has set in even with the great developments in technology and science because people, especially the youth, of this nation have begun to use technology for things other than the gathering of information. Computers and the internet, are but a few of the methods that can now be used to learn about global issues; however, people have yet to stop playing “pinball”, and until then these numerous distraction will obstruct the movement of knowledge.
Many new improvements have been made in numerous areas including the transfer of ideas and media, but none of these improvements have changed the way people of this nation view the world.
The young minds inside the walls of our nation’s school tend to view the world through a very narrow. To many children, if the issue does not concern them, they will not bother with it, which is in some ways very selfish. This narrow mindedness has swept the nation’s schools; many students are not even aware of the happenings inside their school’s very own corridors. Not knowing the occurrences in one’s school is a very sad thing being that a student spends at least six hours inside those walls. This apathy towards the world and issues that may or may not affect you is not a good characteristic, and frankly something must be done to spark interest into the young minds of this nation in order to broaden the horizons for the future.
Although the youth of today have already begun to fall to the sharks of ignorance and apathy, our society can still save itself by making conscious decisions in order to become more aware of their surroundings. To ensure a brighter future one must start with the students; the classroom must facilitate and encourage a students potential to become a free thinker, which is exactly what this nation is all about.

Global Warming and Polar Bears

2007-04-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Recently the Bush Administration listed the polar bear, native to the icy waters of the Arctic, as and endangered species. This statement came from the White House shortly after the Bush Administration admitted, for the first time, that climate changes around the world are behind the potential extinction of many species, including polar bears. The government issued a statement saying, “ We've reviewed all the available data that leads us to believe the sea ice the polar bear depends on has been receding. Obviously, the sea ice is melting because the temperatures are warmer.” However, many people are questioning the Bush Administration’s overdue epiphany on the terrible consequences of the imminent global warming nightmare. If the problem is so “obvious”, then it should not have taken the government so long to admit to the predicament of the sudden climate change.
The final verdict regarding the polar bear’s admittance on to the endangered species list was in the hands of The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, and they have also proposed listing polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Although the government has finally woken up and realized that changes in the climate may have something to do with the endangerment of many wild animals, The Bush administration still rejects the proven scientific thesis that human activity is contributing to global warming. Due to their stubbornness regarding the future and conservation of the environment, the US government has resisted capping greenhouse gas emissions, claiming that it is not beneficial for American businesses and workers. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, are produced by burning fossil fuels, which trap heat in the atmosphere. Experts claim that rising temperatures could raise sea levels and cause more droughts, floods and heat waves. The US’s opposition to the obviously beneficial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions also led them to reject the Kyoto Protocol, the famous document that was added on to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the nation that ratified it. So far many countries, including Canada, Russia, India, and the countries making up the European Union, have ratified the document, and have begun to clean up the air hey breathe; however, America only remains a signatory of the amendment and therefore does not adhere to its many advantageous features. Without this valuable and useful guideline that will lead towards a healthier Earth, the US will have no chance in cleaning up its act, improving conditions for mother nature, and reducing the risks and consequences of global warming.
It is only recently that the US has become increasingly concerned about the environment, this time in the form of polar bears; however, without a plan to lower pollution and reduce the risk of global warming, what good will putting the polar bear on the endangered species list do? Being that the Bush Administration was late in realizing the problems of climate changes, they must take extra initiative to reduce the problems of global warming, which the entire world faces, and rescue the environment and animals, including the polar bear.

Questions Rise Over the Banning of Tablature

2006-11-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

A wave of censorship has recently swept across the entire internet. The Music Publishers’ Association’s statement addressing the use of online guitar tablature and song lyrics is one such attempt at censorship. When one attempts to learn a new song on the guitar, [using tab references] from one of the many guitar tab sites, he reads, “Due to recent controversy regarding the legality of free guitar tabs on the Internet, ‘xyz’ guitar tab provider is temporarily unable to display this guitar tablature. We hope to be able to offer guitar tabs again in the very near future.” These are the words that jump out at thousands of guitarists, telling them that they, and anyone else who plans to ever pick up a guitar, will be prohibited from viewing the tablature for any song because of the MPA’s lawsuit against free web-based guitar tab providers. This lawsuit is both sudden and shocking because till late 2005 there were at least 34,000 song tablatures freely accessible online, and now, all of a sudden, the Music Publishers' Association deems anyone accessing those songs a “criminal,” who, if caught sharing or publishing the tabs for a song or even lyrics to a song, can be sent to jail.

Guitar tablature is a form of musical notation that indicates the positioning of fingers on the strings of a guitar, rather than traditional notation, which provides the pitch of each note. Tablature uses sets of lines to represent the different strings of the instrument, unlike a staff, the traditional notation, which employs the lines to represent different pitches. On these lines there can be a number which will designate the finger placement on that given string. Tablature does not tell the guitarist how to play the song nor does it give him the original song itself in its entirety; it only gives the guidelines for the song, and the guitarist must use these guidelines to learn how to play the song. Tablature is not a form of stealing, only a way for musicians to put their creativity to work. With the help of tabs, guitarists are able to learn, not steal, songs on their own.

The illegalization of guitar tablature publishing on the internet has been a part of the recent crackdown on many forms of music sharing that the government deems illegal. The Music Publishers’ Association feels that teens are stealing from the musicians by getting their music for free. They feel that the easy availability of tabs and lyrics should be stopped because it deprives millions of dollars in sales to the industry and also to the owners of the song. On their internet site the MPA states , “We are doing this to protect the interests of the creators and publishers of music so that, the profession of songwriting remains viable and that new and exciting music will be continued to be created and enjoyed for generations to come.” Are they trying to tell us that because some people go online and look for lyrics or tabs for a certain song in order to sing or play it, established musicians and music itself will suffer? I would like to see musicians actually come out and say that they would not like their tabs or lyrics shared on the internet. This will not happen because it would completely decimate the musician’s fan base. It is hard to believe that any established musician will have trouble making ends meet because a die-hard fan is trying to learn how to play the musician’s newest hit on a guitar. As for the enjoyment of music for posterity, it is highly unlikely that learning how to play a certain song will reduce its popularity or the popularity of a given musical genre.

However, MPA are not willing to back down and on their website they state, "Anyone who patronizes these illegal Web sites is stealing just as if he or she walked out of the music store with sheet music or a guitar." The majority of music lovers will not agree with the Association’s statement. One can understand how downloading music from programs such as Limewire, Napster, and Kazaa can be deemed illegal; being that one can get a certain musician’s entire album without paying a dime. Although many still do this, it is considered illegal because there are copyright laws on the artist’s songs. However, in the case of lyrics and tabs, the MPA seems to be going a little overboard and taking their interpretation of copyright laws too far. Simply because a person wants to find out or share the exact lyrics of a certain song, or wants to know how to play a song or teach the same to other musicians, can he be open to prosecution? Furthermore, by allowing such prosecution, are we really promoting the cause of music for posterity? Music thrives in the hearts and fingers of its lovers; putting gridlocks on the throbbing of those hearts and the strumming of those fingers is like sounding a death knell for music.

This new lawsuit that the MPA has threatened is not controversial only because it is completely absurd, but also because it hinders an expression of creativity in children. The MPA should put themselves in teenagers’ shoes and take into account that many teenagers cannot afford tablatures sold at Guitar Centers and other retailers. Yet, there are many who play the guitar even though they cannot afford to buy tabs. Although it may be true that some musicians play their own music, it is unrealistic to expect beginners to write and play their own music from the outset. They sometimes may want to play a song that they hear on the radio. By taking away the primary way many young guitarists learn how to play, the MPA is taking away the main creative outlet for many teenagers. The outcome of the lawsuit might cause a change that will not be in the interest of society at large. Musical creativity is a positive channeling of youthful energy, which, if taken away, may compel some teens to engage in pursuits not half as creative and as peaceful as playing the guitar.

Even though many are fighting against this lawsuit against online guitar tab and lyrics sites, it will most likely stand just as the ban on the sharing of music did. This completely ridiculous litigation is definitely a mistake. It is yet another example of how the industry is oppressing the public, and this may be only the beginning; it will start with guitar tabs and slowly move to litigation preventing even the most basic things, maybe even spontaneous, bathroom singing. This may seem like a hasty declaration, yet the absurdity and irrationality of the MPA’s actions have pushed some of us to believe that the MPA is taking advantage of the assumed ignorance of the public and its own power and influence with the government in order to “crack down” on such innocent activities such as the posting and sharing of tabs and lyrics on the internet.

This recent lawsuit against the publication of free online tablature and lyrics has been received rather quietly, but soon enough, as many guitarists go to their favorite tab sites and read those dreadful words, they will be instilled with hatred for the MPA and this ludicrous new lawsuit. Soon, if not already, the entire guitarist community, and maybe even the music appreciating community at large, will awaken to the preposterous nature of this ban that not only suppresses creativity in teenagers but also completely ignores that many young musicians can barely afford a decent guitar, let alone tablature. Music is a universal language, something that everyone should be able to enjoy, and the MPA should not be able to put restrictions on an individual’s right to play, interpret, and enjoy music.

Top 25 Albums as of 8/9/06

2006-08-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

1. "Rage Against The Machine" by Rage Against The Machine.

2. "Horrorscope" by Eve 6.

3. "International Superhits" by Green Day.

4. "Oh, Inverted World" by The Shins.

5. "Broken Social Scene" by Broken Social Scene.

6. "The Masterplan" by Oasis.

7. "Morning View" by Incubus.

8. "Don't Tread on Me" by 311.

9. "Kasabian" by Kasabian.

10. "Out of Exile" by Audioslave.

11. "Hopes and Fears" by Keane.

12. "The Bravery" by The Bravery.

13. "The Terror State" by Anti Flag.

14. "All Killer No Filler" by Sum 41.

15. "There Is Nothing Left to Lose" by Foo Fighters.

16. "Feeling Strangely Fine" by Semisonic.

17. "Old World Underground, Where Are You Now" by Metric.

18. "Castaways and Cutouts" by The Decemberists.

19. "Oh No" by OK Go.

20. "Garden State" soundtrack.

21. "White Album" by The Beatles.

22. "So Much For the Afterglow" by Everclear.

23. "Blue" by Third Eye Blind.

24. "Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

25. "MTV Unplugged in New York" by Nirvana.

Glasses vs. Contacts

2006-07-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Glasses. An accessory that most teenagers dread needing and having to wear because of the nuisance value it carries. To hear that you need them, is basically a slap in the face, saying that I have watched too much television, played too many video games, or was on the computer for way too long. Not only does their onset prove your parents to be right, but they are also a constant reminder and a showcase of your bad eyesight. However there is a way around them, for the lucky ones that is. There is a savior: the contacts. This lens that is directly inserted onto the eye is an escape from the ugly and inconvenient glasses, at least for some. However, it is debatable whether contact lenses are better than glasses or is it just that they are less conspicuous and thus the more attractive option for young adults who are afraid or self conscious of wearing glasses.

With glasses, one must always be careful not to break, scratch, or dirty the lens. Everyone knows that the cleaning of the lenses is definitely the biggest hassle. The lenses of your glasses never seem to remain clean. Clleaning them regularly during the course of the day is a necessity because no one, other then someone who is depressed, would want a perpetually bleak and dirty view of the world. However it is not only their upkeep that gives glasses their bad reputation, they are also the mother of all nuisances. They force you to keep your head at an angle because of the constant threat of them sliding off the nose. As a result one is left with this ungainly habit of continuously pushing the glasses back up. Another problem glasses prompt, although usually only for someone who has just gotten glasses, is that it is very easy to forget they are there. The result of this forgetting could be laborious; yet another cleaning, or then costly; you might need to replace your broken glasses, but most often it is embarrassing; just looking really stupid. It would have helped if the nuisance value of glasses were to end there, but no, there is the aesthetic component that is all important to young adults, and one that glasses affect in a big way. Have a person who has had glasses for a long time remove his glasses and what hits you are the deep sunk eyes that make one look tired and ill. The imprints on the bridge of the nose, a result of the rim pads, obviously don't do much for the face either; probably why modern glasses have become lighter and needless to say more expensive. In the young adult world, glasses, the traditional sight aids are losing out to the more aesthetically pleasing contact lenses.

Contact lenses are known as the alternative to glasses, but are a different story altogether. Unlike glasses, they are placed in the eye, and are virtually invisible; therefore making sure there is nothing to break on ones face. The most recurring reason for people to wear contacts instead of glasses is that they feel their appearance to be more attractive with contact lenses than with glasses. Teenagers will keep nagging their parents making it seem that contacts are a necessity. However, contacts offer much more than an upgrade on appearance, as most teenagers believe. Contacts are less affected by wet weather so there will be no water droplets tolook through while walking home on a rainy day after soccer practice. They also do not steam up in the shower area after swimming, thus allowing one a clear vision and not having to wipe the lens. The greatest advantage however is that contacts provide a wider field of vision than glasses do, therefore giving a better peripheral vision; which is an absolute necessity for any teenager for a variety of reasons. For example, they offer a crystal clear view of the answer booklet on the adjoining dask without having to turn ones head. Being that contacts are not on your face like glasses, one can play sports without the worry of breaking them. This also means there is no need for those notorious athletic goggles, that look incredibly goofy. Not to say that there aren't stylish glasses available; glasses are available in a wide range of styles, materials, and even designer labels, but they are still glasses; something parents just don't seem to understand!.

Despite the fact that glasses will always remain in existence for many years to come, contact lenses seem to be the product of the future, and soon enough kids will not dread a failing or faulty vision.

Middle East Crisis Sends Oil Price Skyrocketing

2006-07-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

The sudden escalation of violence in the Middle East has created unrest around the world — and it has the potential to cause a rapid surge in oil prices.

For those who have not been following the news, the conflict is between Israel and the Hezbollah of Lebanon, which the United States and several of its closest allies refer to as a terrorist organization. In late June, after Hamas militants crossed the border from the Gaza Strip and captured an Israeli soldier, Israel sent troops into the territory. On July 12, Hezbollah militants captured two more Israeli soldiers and killed eight others. As a result, Israel launched air and artillery attacks, striking many Hezbollah sites in South Lebanon and later Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Hezbollah responded by striking several cities in Israel, including Haifa, a major city in Israel.

Oil prices have risen to as high as $78.35 a barrel, the highest they have been since Hurricane Katrina. Thankfully, as other nations around the world try to defuse the situation, oil prices have slipped down to under $74. But the price could skyrocket at any moment. In fact, the price could reach more than $100, and experts are saying this could cause gas prices to go to way over $3 a gallon — maybe even over $4. Many fear that these exorbitant prices could remain constant for a long time.

The price of oil also is affected by the diplomatic standoff dragging on between the West and Iran over its nuclear program. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has even stated that if Syria is invaded by Israel, there will be consequences. The West essentially knows what these consequences are, and where they will hit: their wallets. There is a very simple plan Iran has: to cut off its oil exports. As far as the United States is concerned, our nation's dependence on oil is slowly but surely weakening us as the days go by.

Somehow our nation must find a way to break this addiction to oil, whether it is by conservation or by finding and switching to an alternative form of energy. To continue being the America that every nation knows to be a superpower, something must be done to take oil, and/or our dependence on it, out of the equation.

However, there is one controversial yet potentially effective method of conserving oil, in addition to carpooling, biking to work or telecommuting: increasing the driving age. Although at first this measure may seem harsh to teens, it is something that could work and be enforced. Yes, I know many of my peers will be outraged at this suggestion. However, a little pondering with a global vision while focusing on the good this measure will bring will appease most rational teenagers. They will be doing something that will in turn better the world. The less oil we use, the less dependent and vulnerable the United States is. Also, this harsh measure may force our young minds to look for alternatives to oil.

Broken Social Scene: Musical Rhapsody Created En Masse

2006-07-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

As the sun began to set on the Band Shell in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park last Thursday, Broken Social Scene began its avant-garde performance in front of hundreds of fans listening, cheering, and moving to the familiar yet one-of-a-kind sounds of Broken Social Scene. From their countless onstage antics to their unusual amount of band members, it was apparent that this was no ordinary band. Their exclusive way of producing their music is what made it so extraordinary that it drew fans, young and old, and Broken Social Scene had them in rapture all through. From songs such as Fire Eye’d Boy to softer songs such as Major Label Debut, the band continued to improve upon its live performance which, to the audience, already seemed perfect.

When referring to Broken Social Scene, one must use the word “band” in the loosest way possible. During live performances, such as the one in Brooklyn, this “band” from Toronto can have as many as 17 musicians on stage; a rather large number for a band. BBS can have this many musicians for a certain song because it all depends on how many of their ‘friends’ show up, or what the musical needs are for that particular song.

This is what draws in the crowds of fans for Broken Social Scene; their warm, collaborative way of creating music the results of which are obviously quite unique. What is even more noteworthy is that most of the members of BSS have their own separate bands, and yet BSS flourishes. Other than Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, the core members of the band, BBS also gets help from many of their friends in the Toronto indie scene. These friends include Andrew Whiteman, Leslie Feist, Evan Cranley, Amy Millan from the Stars, and Metric’s Emily Haines.

Broken Social Scene is simply a union of friends from different Toronto indie bands. Co-founder of BSS, Kevin Drew, while commenting on the success of the band told a New York Times reporter that “The whole band is based on people who are closely connected, metaphysically” and that he’s “never made music without friends — they are my security blanket. Playing with friends is who we are". This bonding, the feeding off of each other they do to improvise the whole, does come through in their music, including their new self titled CD, and makes it one of a kind.

Nuclear Country Club Excludes Iran

2006-03-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

Recently, Iran has been making headlines for not heeding warnings from the United States, other western countries, and the UN Security Council over its fledgling nuclear program. Although, many faults can be found with the Iranian government, the western nations including the United States are not innocents either.
This is not the first time the United States government has hampered another country’s efforts to begin a nuclear program. Remember North Korea? The North Korean Nuclear Crisis is an issue that is yet to be settled, but the Bush Administration has conveniently slipped it under the rug. However, the US sometimes acquiesces and even consents to select countries becoming nuclear powers. This was seen in the recent talks President Bush has had with India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, where Bush agreed to help India progress on its road to becoming a nuclear power. Now this action sends mixed signals. How can the United States be partial to one country and allow it to have nuclear energy, but not allow another country the chance to even try? It just sounds unethical, especially when a super power like America does it while claiming it is trying to better the world. The US‘s demands on Iran infringe on the sovereignty of that nation, while its support of India shows America as a prejudiced and biased nation.
Not only has America become biased towards certain countries, but it has also become hypocritical. What gives the US the right to create and own nuclear weapons, and not allow other countries to do the same? The western world claims they have these rights through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968. However, many countries including Iran have not acquiesced with this unfair treaty due to its complete disregard of many developing countries, and also because it allows certain countries to enrich their Uranium stores for civil nuclear power. Countries such as the US are insisting that the UN send weapons inspectors to look over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program to make sure that it is not being abused. Iranians are enraged by the UN’s demand for these secret, unplanned, and completely unnecessary searches, and they will not agree to it.
Iran is a proud and intelligent country, and the entire populace feels it has every right to become a young nuclear power such as Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea and China. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the ex-mayor of Tehran and recently elected President of Iran, after deliberations with China and Russia, who are benefiting from Iran’s nuclear enrichment, told the world, “Our nation cannot step back because of the bullying policies of some countries in the world.”
Iran feels that it is being intimidated and bullied by powerful countries of the west when it is trying to become self sufficient by developing its nuclear program. The western countries who have no trust in Iran, once again being partial and biased, feel that Iran will use its nuclear power to make bombs. The Iranian government is vehemently denying the west’s accusations and claiming that it wants to develop its nuclear program only to produce energy for civilian purposes. Infact, these fears of the west are completely false being that a ‘fatwa’ issued by their much revered leader Ayatollah Khomeini, has been instated against nuclear weapons. The west should dispel its fears and allow the Iranians to prove themselves like the Israelis and Indians have, and this once not embarrass itself by accusing another nation of nuclear proliferation to produce ‘weapons of mass destruction’!

Technology: Friend or Foe?

2006-01-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

Hold five days worth of music in my pocket; use a computer the size of a small tissue box; watch TV, take pictures, play video games, and stay connected to parents via a sleek cell phone. It is pretty amazing! But what if one day all this cutting edge technology invented and used by the human race were to suddenly disappear?

Presently, we are a very technology dependent race, and without technology many aspects of our everyday life would be drastically impacted. In that the world as we know it would simply fall apart. Just imagine a day without a computer; so many daily activities we take for granted would be made impossible. Something as simple as sending or receiving an email or instant message would be unthinkable. Money transaction when making a purchase would become a chore, thanks to the mathematically challenged society that we have become. Microwave moms would have to sweat it out in the kitchen in order to put together a decent meal. Accomplishing almost any task without the help of technology would become hard labor; labor similar to what our ancestors were accustomed to doing. The loss of technology would restrict communication, impact trade, and create isolated communities, forcing the human race to take two steps back, and eventually causing our quality of life to plummet.

Although the negative consequences to a world without technology greatly out weigh the positive, there is still something to be said about the positives. Over the last two centuries humans have made rapid progress in inventing new technology to ease their every day life. With the birth of every new piece of technology another strong bond is made between the machine and the human using it. Looking back at how the human race has forged a bond with machinery, one sees how quickly and overly we have become dependent on technology. If this bond of dependence were to snap or disappear, the trance that humans have fallen into will break, and we will be forced to become self- dependant once again; a laboriously challenging task indeed. These days a child’s life is completely taken control of by either a Playstation 2, an Xbox 360, Gamecube, computer games, or hours wasted away in front of our old friend the television. Without any of these “brain fryers”, hopefully the youth of today will concentrate on more important activities, such as school. However, deprived of their technology replete world, children would seek out their fun elsewhere. How about some old fashioned games like sports? The disappearance of technology could even cure the obesity epidemic that has become so rampant in the U.S. Needless to say without technology humans would be completely lost, but there is no harm in taking a look on the bright side, however miniscule it may be.

Machines have become our lifelines and without them the picture seems very bleak. The loss of technology would create a great void in human lives, and could very well toss us into a second dark age. However, as we are venturing into another new year we need to be cognizant of our dependence on technology. The Y2K at the turn of the century is a prime example of how much dread there was just at the possibility of technology going awry and beyond human control. Imagine if something like the Y2K did happen, and instead of no control over technology there would be no technology to control; that is a very dark thought, ominous of an even darker future

Baseball: All Juiced Up

2005-11-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

The steroid scandal has erupted in many sports but predominantly in our very own national pastime, the game of baseball. Steroid related deaths have created scandals and a whole lot of controversy lately. For example, just recently Yankee star Jason Giambi tested positive for steroids, for which he apologized very sincerely. Then, on the other hand there is the great slugger Barry Bonds, who thinks he has done nothing wrong for having taken steroids to enhance his performance. He claims that his trainer had given him the steroids without telling him what they were; something that is very hard to believe even for an ardent fan. Both as we know will be will be tried in court soon, where we as honest and responsible citizens will decide whether they are innocent and we will in a way decide the future ethics of the game.

Although this problem with steroids has been with us since the early nineties, only now are MLB officials actually doing testing on players. For the last few years they have been saying that they will be testing players, but only now has it been made final. Even though they have promised for a testing this season, I highly doubt that it will happen based on past history. Even if it does, there will be so much controversy around it because we cannot bear to let go of our national pastime and the heroes who make it happen, even at the risk of jeopardizing the lives of our future athletes.

Famous sports players are known to use steroids, yet they are medically safe thanks to the medical team that accompanies them. Doctors tell you that it is very dangerous to take steroids as also to stop taking them. One can fall into depression and have other repercussions too. Sport players, the likes of Mark McGuire, are rich and can afford personalized medical care and rehabilitation. As a result withdrawal symptoms won't affect them. But not every sportsman is rich. When a teenager involved in a sport takes steroids, he is not thinking about the consequences it will have on his body. He is only focusing on how it's going to enhance his game. Then, if for some reason he decides to quit taking steroids, he can quickly fall into severe depression and other side affects that could be fatal for him. Efrain Marrero's suicide is one among many such deaths related to steroids.

America's great sport has been heavily tainted by this steroid scandal. Yet, we the people don't seem to care about who is taking steroids; we just want to see home runs being scored. As Barry Bonds stated that even if he is taking steroids, fans are still coming in hordes to catch his home runs!

The use of steroids in sport is fast growing primarily because it is being condoned by the baseball loving American public and is seemingly promoted by our role model sports stars and athletes; people who we idolize. Are our role models leading us down a path of destruction?

Mediocrity

2005-11-21T15:18:00.000-08:00

Mediocrity has become rampant in our country. The reason it is so widespread is because of its appeal. Especially as a student, the motive to achieve greatness, or to go beyond one's perceived ability, is missing. It is missing because it is not wanted, and it is not wanted because there is a lot of effort involved, and who has the time for that. Besides, there are many other things that are wanted and do not need as much effort. That, in the US is so appealing and so attainable that it is soon going to lead our country into economic ruin which'll eventually affect our standard of living.

Putting in effort has become a sore point in the country's schools. Students rarely, if ever, give their all in anything as a result they never achieve to their potential. However this is something students do not understand; they feel they can get by without putting in any effort and choose to becoming mediocre. This trend in school children has made America drop in academic standing compared to other countries, especially Europe.

If doing well in school can assure one of getting into a respectable university why has mediocrity become a safe haven for teens? Many parents would do not have a clue, others would think their child has reached his/her limits in learning, or else just blame the child for not shaping up and getting better grades. However, many of the times this is not the case.

As many would assume, pressure plays a major role in slacking of as a student. Sadly it is not peer pressure alone. Parental pressure too seems to drive kids to become mediocre. They feel that it would be a way to get back at their parents for the heavy pressure they exert. Many others use mediocrity as a way to break away from the pressure of parents and of reality.

The US, in the past, has been known for its edge over other countries when it comes to thinking outside of the box and then applying that thinking to real life scenarios. However, that is not true anymore. America's advancement has also resulted in mediocrity becoming okay and sometimes even commendable. Being that America is such a great place to live and the status of living is so high, mediocrity doesn't pinch as much, in fact one can live comfortably being mediocre. One can see this by looking inwards. How many times have young boys and girls felt“...my parents life right now meets my standards; where's the need for extra effort?” However, if everyone thinks like this, America will soon lose its edge and be like any other country.

Finding mediocrity is simple, just look around. Suburbia is filled with it. Everyone here is average and that is fine. Nobody is complaining; decent food is provided, there is a roof over one's head, and most of all everyone around is average too. . With nothing to strive for why would anyone want to be better than they are already?

Although there are still some people or students who do have something to strive for the shoes they have to fill are many times too large. Having someone who overshadows one with his/her accomplishments easily causes students to give up in their pursuit of knowledge because of the huge gap and expectations that they have to meet. Sadly, parents do not make this much easier by always comparing you to another who has accomplished great things.

With mediocrity's appeal and its acceptability, many students put learning on the side to make room for other activities that take a greater importance in their current lives. What they do not know is that mediocrity is not okay, and it will not only lead to their lives being average and boring, but also to the fall of this country.

The Last Drops of Oil

2005-11-20T16:18:00.000-08:00

As a teenager, looking at gas prices at the $3 mark made my future as a driver rather bleak. Only a couple of years away from getting a drivers license, the thought of not being able to have my own car because of the soaring gas prices is depressing to say the least. I may never be a car-driving senior in high school. At the current rate of events one can only imagine what will become of cars, people who drive them, and of course those already over-pumped oil wells of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia does have the most petroleum reserves in the world; with 260 billion barrels, about 24 percent of the world's total. It also ranks as the largest exporter of oil, mostly to the U.S. The leaders of the Saudi Kingdom are claiming that there is no lack of oil and that they have enough oil to last a "very long time." However, if this is true, that there is such abundance of oil, why are the gas prices still escalating? Saudi Arabia may not be lying, they really may have enough oil to last a while, but will not be enough for everyone.

Given the present consumption rate of oil around the world, and given that the Saudi oil wells may not be able to produce at the same capacity for very long, we have to face the reality which stares us right in the eye; no longer will there be enough oil for everyone to share. That is the start of the post-oil age.

At present, the world needs 84 million barrels a day, and this necessity is barely being met. With the recent rise in prices, and the predictions for little improvement on the current conditions, there is every reason for gasoline prices to exceed $5 a gallon or even more. Peter Maass, ajournalist in the New York Times Magazine makes you think about how close this post-oil age is, "The start of the post-oil age does not begin when the last drop of oil is sucked from under the Arabian desert. It begins when producers are unable to continue increasing their output to meet rising demand. Crunch time comes long before the last drop."

America's War In Iraq

2005-11-19T23:45:00.000-08:00

I often wondered why the intervention in Iraq was such a largely debated issue in the recent U.S. presidential elections. However, with the political atmosphere around me, I begin to realize how much “The War in Iraq”, and the pertaining discussions mean to others that I know, and why it should also interest me. The war in Iraq is one of those “hot topics” debated incessantly these couple of years. Many people close to me are affected by this predicament that our country is in. Due to this I too have started to be affected by it. After thinking a lot about this war I wondered what the reasons were for sending our soldiers there, and why we are in Iraq now. In my mind there seems to be no real justification.

Our countries’ policy on Iraq can not be justified. Firstly, we had no reason for attacking Iraq, and the reasons we stated for it weren’t valid enough. Secondly, everyday in Iraq more American soldiers are dying trying to protect themselves and other fellow soldiers in a country that has done no harm to us. Lastly, as many can see there are basically only two major countries that have troops fighting in Iraq. The others do not want to be a part of this war. We as a country have lost some old and tested allies and we have put a great and nearly impossible burden upon our own shoulders.

To this day there still appears to be no valid enough reason for attacking a country with no “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, and no 9/11 terrorist connections. Then my next question is, “Why are we at war?” Being that Iraq has done us no harm, why are we the aggressor in this war? All claims made by the United States of America about Iraq having “Weapons of Mass Destruction” have proven to be false, by the UN Inspectors. During the war we found a “chemical lab truck” for making “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, but it turned out to be a hoax. Another reason given by the Bush Administration for waging a war on Iraq was that they believed Saddam Hussein had connections with Osama Bin Laden, or with his terrorist organization, Al-quaeda. After some research this was also found to be untrue. Yet, our country pushes forth, forgetting about being rational, and prolongs this unnecessary war.

As Senator Kerry said at one of the election debates, instead of bringing our allies with us to help in this war, President Bush has in fact alienated our allies. He has pushed our friends farther than they have ever been. This war is like a killing field where soldiers die; to our allies this scene is a great reason not to help America in this war which they were strongly opposed to, anyways. Without allies our efforts to “help” the Iraqis are proving futile. Our allies never backed us on our reasons for going into Iraq in the first place. They now see us as an occupying force and not as liberators wanting to bring freedom to the people of Iraq.

Not having anyone to help us, we are suffering great casualties. Having watched innumerable clips on news channels about American soldiers in Iraq I have begun to notice that local Iraqis are neither scared nor happy to see our soldiers on their soil. Instead they seem to be somewhat angry and agitated in our presence. Their demeanor makes me feel that our soldiers are not welcome in Iraq in which case why are they sacrificing their lives for people for a cause that does no exist. Shouldn’t the Iraqis be happy to see “liberating forces”? This anger we see on the Iraqi faces is not far from becoming hatred. President Bush announced almost a year ago that major military operations in Iraq were over and that we had won, but even after that we have lost more soldiers than ever. Due to the terrorists guerrilla warfare we are sometimes having more casualties than them. Our presence in Iraq boils a cauldron of hatred for the Iraqis, no wonder we are having so many soldiers coming home in body bags.

Soon everyone will understand that this war was unjustified and a foolish act. Our reasons were not reasonable, our soldiers are dying in vain, and our allies smartly decided to leave us stranded. Is this the war Americans want to fight, I highly doubt that.