One of the most controversal toys on the market isn't a violent videogame or a potentially dangerous motorized scooter or car, but our most famous doll, Barbie. It's been said that 90% of American girls have owned a Barbie. So what makes this innocent doll that's been around since our grandmothers so controversal? Feminists and mothers around the country have questioned the morality of Barbie's qualities for years.
The first thing anyone will notice about this doll is how attractive she is. Barbie has long blonde hair, a just-been-to-the-beach tan, baby blue eyes, and a physique to die for. She's tall, long legged, big boobed, and has a waist the size of my pinky. Barbie is perfect. Or that is what young girls playing with Barbie are going to think. If their body doesn't look like their favorite doll, and idol, they are going to want it to. People argue this may put young girls at risk for low-self esteem and a negative body image.
The second thing about Barbie is her favorite hobbies. Although she enjoys sports like rollerblading and water skiing, loves to work out and bake, Barbie's undeniable favorite hobby is shopping. Since there's never been a volunteer Barbie or a church-going Barbie, people question Barbie's morals. Some feel Barbie is shallow and may put their daughters at risk for becoming shallow too.
The third thing about Barbie is Ken. Ken is the perfect boyfriend and any young girl is going to want a Ken. Like Barbie, he's also blonde, tan, and in shape. Ken loves to water ski too, and enjoys taking Barbie to the mall. Although their is one strange thing about Ken. He's been a lifeguard, but hasn't had many other jobs. Maybe that's because Barbie has so many! Barbie's a doctor, a vet, a nurse, a teacher, a babysitter, an astronaut, a Nascar driver, and has even served in the military.
Barbie lives in a big house, has a variety of cars, boats, and jet skis and even owns a stable. She has many careers, loves animals and shopping, has lots of friends, a great body, a perfect boyfriend, works out, plays every sport, and has a loving family. Some of these qualities don't seem so bad to me, but people argue this sets girls up for disappointment. If they can't be what Barbie is and have what Barbie has, they won't feel adequate. But just how much of an influence does Barbie have over girls? Afterall, it's only a doll!
After the JonBenet Ramsey murder, child beauty pageants have gotten a bad rap. Many feel the pageants exploit the children, making them easy targets for pedophiles and molesters by making them look sexy and adult-like. Another problem is that the parents put too much pressure on the child to win and can turn into child abuse. They can be ridiculously expensive too!
On the flip side, many people support child beauty pageants and feel they help their child grow in a positive way. The competetion may be healthy for children and help them to learn at an early age that they can't win them all, but they can at least try. And with so many other children in the pageants, the contestants are forced into social situations with kids their own age and that may help them to build social skills. Some parents dven claim that being in front of an audience helps their child to over come shyness and strengthens their confidence.
Another reason people put their children in these pageants is so they can gain experience to help them win bigger pageants in the future. Some are pre-conditioning for Miss Teen America, Miss America, or even Miss Universe. Then there are some that are just after the prizes, and after all, who wouldn't be? Besides the trophy and tiara, contestants can win big time scholarships, cash, and cars!
Still after all these great reasons, I still find it hard to look at these "living dolls" and keep a straight face. I can't get over the fact that they are three and four years old and their faces and hair look like they're 18 or 19! It creeps me out, and some sick people out there they may like it. When the time comes for me to have kids I know for sure, there will absolutely NOT be any child pageant partaking!
As a passionate dog lover, and owner of two bully-breed dogs, I have a special interest in dog fighting and have trouble not taking it to heart. If I had to make a snap judgment as to why someone would fight their dog, I would come to the conclusion that they are just worthless pieces of crap. Today, I’m going to try to get down to the bottom of dog fighting and critically think about the reasoning behind this animal abuse dog fighters like to call a sport.
My favorite reason dog fighters say they fight their dog is “because they love the dog so much”. Why someone would starve, beat, exercise to exhaustion something they love so much is beyond my comprehension. Why would you deliberately risk its life by throwing it into a ring to be ripped to shreds? And if the dog you love so much loses the fight, why would you shoot it, hang it, or torture it to death? To say they love the dog is like saying, I love to watch my best friend get the shit beat out of.
First, to understand why people dog fight, I think it’s essential to know about the different types of dog fighting. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) uses the same categories law enforcement experts categorize the fighting: street fighting, hobbyist fighting, and professional fighting. Here’s descriptions form ASPCA.com:
• “Street” fighters engage in dog fights that are informal, street corner, back alley and playground activities. Stripped of the rules and formality of the traditional pit fight, these are spontaneous events triggered by insults, turf invasions or the simple taunt, “My dog can kill yours.” Many of these participants lack even a semblance of respect for the animals they fight, forcing them to train while wearing heavy chains to build stamina, and picking street fights in which they could get seriously hurt. Many of the dogs are bred to be a threat not only to other dogs, but to people as well—with tragic consequences.
“Street” fights are frequently associated with gang activities. The fights may be conducted with money, drugs or bragging rights as the primary payoff. There is often no attempt to care for animals injured in the fight and police or animal control officers frequently encounter dead or dying animals in the aftermath of such fights. This activity is very difficult to respond to unless it is reported immediately. “Professional” fighters and “hobbyists” decry the techniques and results of these newcomers to the “blood sport.”
• “Hobbyist” fighters are more organized, with one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year as a sideline for both “entertainment” and to attempt to supplement income. They pay more attention to care and breeding of the dogs and are more likely to be traveling across state lines for events.
• “Professional” dog fighters often have large numbers of animals (often 50 or more) and earn money from breeding, selling and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road. They often pay particular attention to promoting established winning bloodlines and to long-term conditioning of animals. They regularly dispose of animals that are not successful fighters or breeders using a variety of methods, including shooting and blunt force trauma. Unlike “professional” dog fighters of the past, both “professionals” and “hobbyists” of today may dispose of dogs that are too human-aggressive for the pit by selling them to “street” fighters or others who are simply looking for an aggressive dog—thus contributing to the dog bite problem.
In recent years a fourth category of dog fighters seems to be emerging, with some wealthier individuals from the sports and entertainment worlds allegedly using their financial resources to promote “professional” dog fighting enterprises, which essentially use the philosophy and training techniques usually associated with street fighting. "
All types of dog fighters seem to be after money. None of the types seem to do it for the love of the dog. As said above, street fighters fight for money, drugs or bragging rights. These people probably use their dogs to fight other dogs whose owner they may be in a quarrel with. These owners seem to have no care what-so-ever for their dogs.
Since the hobbyist fighters are more organized, and are using their dog fighting for income purposes, they care for the dogs, only so they can be used for multiple fights. They are more serious about making money and want their dog to be in good shape to win.
Professional fighters are the most serious of all fighters and make big loads of money off fighting. They fight dogs mainly to make money, but also probably for their own entertainment. The professional fighters are most likely people with money, so they maybe care more about the entertainment that goes along with the violence and the fun of gambling from the fight, more than they care about making money.
I think many people are attracted to violence, just think of how popularity of violent movies. I think many people are greedy. I think many people are addicted to gambling. Dog fighting involves all three things. I also think breeders feel a sense of control as they force their dogs to train and fight. This makes me think the sense of control they feel could be replacing insecurities or anxieties/stress they have in their life. Above all else, I think these people are heartless. For whatever reason they are fighting their dog, to make money, for the entertainment, for drugs, for the excitement of gambling, to feel control, it’s all selfish reasons. These people are selfish, cruel, ignorant people that need to die. These people no longer need to burden society. I think they need to be placed in a ring and battle until the death themselves, or just be shot.
After being sick for several weeks last semester and only being well a total of five days this semester, I have to wonder- why can't I stay healthy? I have never gotten sick this much in my life, and it seems other college freshman are in the same boat. My first guess was living in such close quarters increases everyone's chance of getting sick. Everyone breathing on each other and leaving their germs on everything they touch just keeps the spreading of the viruses going. The dorms are like a breading ground for germs. Colds, the flu, the stomach flu, viruses, pink eye, mono, anything contagious, you can be sure to catch it living in the dorm! Even washing my hands as much as possible and using hand santizer constantly did not fend off any viruses for me this year.
My next assumption is that college freshman are not getting enough sleep, which is well known, does not support a healthy immune system. Whether it's from pulling all-nighters, trying to cram two months worth of information into one night before a test, going out and partying or just going to bed too late, it's very rare I or anyone I know is getting a regular, eight hours a night of shut eye. Not getting enough sleep every now and then is not a big deal, but when you continuously deprive your body of sleep on a regular basis, it's going to catch up with you...and usually in the form of SICK.
A well-balanced diet containing vitamins and antioxidants, and plenty of water is recommended to keep a healthy immune system. I don't think many college freshman are eating right because the majority of what I see everyone eating around campus is usually junk, and this could definitely be a leading factor as to why we're getting so sick. Even if everyone were to eat healthy and drink plenty of water, our alcohol consumption may counteract that. Alcohol is naturally dehydrating and isn't good for anyone, especially for people who aren't drinking enough water. Drinking may also be another reason college freshman can't stay healthy.
Stress is also a common-factor linked to getting sick. For many freshman, the transition into college may have not been the easiest. Some of us may have moved far from home to go to school or some may live only a few minutes away, but for everyone getting used to a new school, the dorms, the added workload of homework, and new routine may have been enough to stress us out.
Having tried to avoid all these situations so I can get over being sick and stay healthy, I have failed many times and have ended up at the blood-thirsty Student Health Center, where after hearing you speak about your symptoms for five seconds they immediately insist on drawing your blood. If anyone has not had the pleasure of being treated by the Student Health Center, they should go just so they will have a new motivation to stay healthy!
Everywhere you look you can find groups of women around; talking, eating, walking, shopping, working out. Whatever they are doing, they are usually in groups. Unless it involves sports or beer, men usually don't congregate this way. What is it about women, that makes us want to always be with each other?
In my short life I've been fortunate to have been surrounded by a strong bond of women from the moment of my birth. My mom, aunts, grandma and female cousins are all close, spend time supporting each other through thick and thin, and enjoy spending quality time together. When the whole family gets together, it's fun to watch and listen to the interaction of the females in my family, because we are always sharing the latest news and usually finding something to laugh about. My mom and I have forged strong female bonds with neighbors and friends; bonds that have lasted and continue to grow. After being so grateful for all these females in my life, I have to wonder, why aren't men like this? This may be because most women are more curious than men about others' lives and seem to be able to talk about almost anything with a stranger. Men tend to be more closed off until they get to know someone, whereas women tend to just jump right in and start the "getting to know someone" process. After women get to know someone, they want to know more, not only because they are curious, but also because they care.
I have to wonder though, why do we care? It's almost obvious females are more emotionally intuned with themselves and others than men are. Women must be born with it... we are natural nurturers and usually share strong empathy for one another. For example, when one of my childhood friends became pregnant at the beginning of our freshman year in college, a bunch of her mom's friends and co-workers got together and threw her a baby shower in order to show their support and love. While at the baby shower, I realized how lucky she was to have all these females surrounding her and letting her know she was not in this alone. Women automatically become support systems for each other, especially when something bad happens.
College life has offered another spin for me on the importance of women bonding together: I don't know what I would have done without the first friends I made in the dorm, or my new sorority sisters, and I know that throughout each stage of my life, my female friends and family will be the ones who keep me strong. Women need each other in order to be happy and successful. Although women and men do share a special bond, a man could never replace the female relationships women have with each other. There's nothing quite like a girlfriend, sister, aunt, or mother to tell every detail to and know she is actually listening.
Everywhere you look you will see women bonding together to make life better. Women have been getting together for years now and supporting breast cancer survivors and victims with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It sponsors breast cancer, definitely a female issue, but men get prostate cancer, and they have yet to set up any kind of national fundraiser.
Men just don't seem to share the same "togetherness" women crave. They seem to be more quiet and stand-offish with each other. Males and females are born with different mental and emotional hard drives. Maybe Men are from Venus, Women are from Mars is actually a true statement, and science agrees: scientific evidence proves that powerful feminine hormones are the reason women are able to nurture and love not only their infants, but everyone around them. Someday women are going to nurture and love this world into total health, peace, and harmony.
America has been the most out of shape, obese country for awhile now. What is strange is all the ads in magazines and commericials on T.V. for weight loss pills and programs. It's not for sure, but America may also have the most fitness facilities and gyms. So why is America so fat?
Maybe it has to do with all the fast food Americans love to eat on a regular basis... Many people have seen the popular, Super Size Me documentary, where independent-film maker, Morgan Spurlock, goes 30 days surviving solely on McDonald's alone. He records his physical and psychological changes on video and ends up gaining 25 lbs, he raised his BMI from 23.3 to 27 and had a 13% body mass index increase. Spurlock says his main motive behind the documentary was the "increasing spread of obesity throughout U.S. society, which the Surgeon General has declared 'epidemic,' and the corresponding lawsuit brought against McDonald's on behalf of two overweight girls, who, it was alleged, became obese as a result of eating McDonald's food. Spurlock points out that although the lawsuit against McDonald's failed (and subsequently many state legislatures have legislated against products liability actions against producers and distributors of 'fast food'), much of the same criticism leveled against the tobacco companies applies to fast food franchises, although it could be argued that fast food is not physiologically addictive in the same sense as nicotine."
It's become obvious over the years that if people eat junk, they are going to feel like junk, thus, end up looking like junk. So why do people keep eating fast food? With the increase of working mothers in America, home-cooked meals seem to be almost extinct. Most of the time a home-cooked meal is going to be considerably more healthy than a meal from a restaraunt or a fast food joint. Eating out is usually going to put on the pounds veruses eating at home.
Another reason America is so fat may be the popularity of video games and T.V. shows. No kids want to go outside and play anymore. They all just want to play the lastest video game with all their friends, which will keep them occupied for hours on end, but keep their body sedated for hours on end at the same time. As technology improves, so do the super cool toys kids will want to play. It's hard to encourage a child to go play tag outside when he has Rockband or Guitar Hero sitting in the living room or Nickelodeon in the next room. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/21/eveningnews/main509689.shtml
With alcohol being so popular at American colleges, it's no wonder the typical freshman gains 15 lbs. Alcohol is definitely a factor to blame for obesity. Many people don't realize how many calories they are consuming as they knock back drink after drink. One light beer can contain 100 calories or more, and regular beer or one shot of liquor can range from 140-220 calories, and while wine is usaully a bit lighter, it still can range from 70-160 calories. College students may find it particularly hard to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle while partying at college.
Bigger portions in America is making bigger people. The normal size portion in America is 25% bigger than more French portions and 72% more than Chinese portions! Geez, no wonder our obesity rate is triple everyone elses! Also, many countries don't rely on cars for their primary transportation method. Many people walk or ride bikes to school and work, while American rely primarly on cars and buses. Walking only two miles everyday would burn at least an extra 200 calories. 200 calories just five days a week equals 48,000 calories a year! That's 48,000 extra calories Americans don't burn just by driving to work every weekday.
The typical nine to five, five days a week job may be getting the best of Americans. Being stressed and not getting enough sleep are proven factors in weight gain. Europeans have a 35 hour work week, while most Americans work at least 40, some work up to 60 hours a week! Europeans get four weeks paid vacation by law, whereas Americans usually only get two... Maybe if America stopped working so hard, and took a break once in awhile, we could be less stressed, get more rest, and be healthier. Since Americans work too much and don't get enough sleep, they are more likely to gain weight than Europeans, with their more less time demanding work schedule.
A small summary from my reasoning on why Americans are so fat: Americans eat too much fast food, many American moms are working parents and don't cook as much, Americans (especially kids) are watching too much T.V., playing too many video games, and not getting enough physical activity, Americans drink too much alcohol on a regular basis, we eat triple portions of other countries, we drive too often to where we need to go, instead of walking, and we work too much and are more stressed and get less sleep then other countries.
A Summary from the summary above: I think I need to move to Europe!
After a solid year of hearing about Britney Spear's almost daily drama, it's hard for anyone to guess what she is going to do next. Driving with her son on her lap, flashing the world her female parts, shaving her head, being hospitalized twice, losing custody of her children are just a few of the alarming behavors Britney Spears has been involved with the past few months. Showbuzz.cbsnews.com has a timeline of Britney's recent activities:
Britney's inappropriate behavior has become so regular, she is beginning to make it hard to shock America. If a week or two goes by without news of Britney, it's rather unusual. It is expected to see her do something "shocking"...soon nothing is going to be shocking. There is even a Britney Spears Commmando doll on the market!
It's easy to laugh off Britney Spear's behavior. She is in the spot light 24/7, which makes her an easy target to be the topic of entertainment to many T.V. shows and magazines. Even though her crazy and bizzare behavior can be humorous, it is actually very sad. Most of our society doesn't seem to have much sympathy for the 26 year-old pop star, which is easy to understand. Britney Spears has been famous for so long, it's hard to image her as a real human being. Her life is so different than that of an average American, it's hard for anyone to picture themselves in her shoes.
Just the fact that she is super wealthy and famous may be a big reason people have a hard time feeling sorry for her. Britney Spears is one of the richest and famous people in America right now, but also one of the most disturbed and depressed. Her behavior may make some people believe she is just trying to get attention, but it seems like a cry for help. Losing sole custody of your children, being taken from your own home against your will for hospitalization, shaving your head, going out and getting biligerient on a daily basis is enough to make anyone have a mental breakdown. Doing all of this in the public eye must be more than any average person could handle.
After seeing all her crazy antics week after week, most of us are wondering what's next?? It's been heard a suicide note was found in her bathroom a few weeks ago. It's not surprising to think this person could be so low, she is actually suicidal. After realizing the seriousness of the "Britney Situation" one has to wonder what could be the cause of it all? Has celebrity life become more than just fab parties and expensive cribs and cars? Could fame be the cause of not only Britney's countless meltdowns, but Lindsay Lohann's, Nicole Richie's, Liza Minnelli's? Is a human life worth the cost of fame?
Like the recent E! True Hollywood Story Britney Spears: Fall From Grace summed up, “all anyone can do at this point is hope and pray for Britney Spears."
