While I am happy we are sending money abroad to slow global climate change, I think we need to also focus on the developed countries. The lesser developed nations get a bad reputation about the issue because they are poor and cannot afford technologies that reduce emissions. However, in the U.S. there are plenty of little things we can do to improve the situation. Cash for clunkers was an excellent way to get inefficient vehicles off of the road. Now it is time to make laws and taxes again certain vehicles. I am tired of seeing soccer moms zoom around town in their Hummers. The truck is extremely inefficient on gas mileage and completely unnecessary for running errands without anyone else in the car. People who drive Hummers are selfish, thinking that since they can afford it, they have the right to drive it. We need to limit this right to drive by outlawing their low efficiency or heavily taxing the vehicles and putting the generated money toward finding energy alternatives. In the U.S., there is also a lack of people recycling their goods. We need a countrywide mandate to recycle because it will greatly benefit the world. It is such a simple task, but many states do not stress the importance of recycling bottles, cans, paper and glass. Residents of our country consume so many products, the least they can do is recycle after use.

Another difficult aspect of global climate change is the need to place blame. Some poorer nations resent the larger nations for blaming them for the climate change. Countries like Venezuela and China are not readily accepting the money because they feel the wealthy countries are destroying the planet. There is going to be a lot of difficulty in the next decade trying to make change in these countries. I understand that money will help to educate and improve technology in poorer nations, but money cannot solve anything. One effort the money will be focused on is deforestation, which emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I do not see how money can impact deforestation. The people who are burning the forests still are going to do so to clear the land quickly. They will not want to adapt their practices because they are accustomed to burning the land. International sanctions might be more useful, making it illegal to engage in deforestation. I just do not believe it is feasible to think money can solve issues that have been going on for hundreds of years.

The New York City health department started a new campaign to discourage viewers from drinking sugary beverages. In the commercial, a man pops open a soda can, pours out liquid fat (chunks and all) into a cup and gulps it down while it spills down his face. While the commercial is disgusting and brutally honest, I think it is necessary to show these types of advertisements to bring about a change. We have babied the issue of obesity for too long and hopefully this type of commercial can motivate some people to change their lifestyle. Even if people have a slow metabolism or other underlying medical condition, there is no reason for them to drink soda. People are under the illusion that since it is just a drink or because they choose diet drink, it is not that bad for them. They believe the real culprit in weight gain is the fried foods, hamburgers, and pastries. In reality, drinking one can of soda a day can pack on 10 pounds in a year. This type of weight gain is unnecessary and people should listen to the advertisement and improve their health.

As a child, I was not forced to drink milk or water with dinner. Instead my parents let me open the refrigerator and grab juices and sodas in unlimited amounts. They were tasty and it made me hate the boring taste of healthier alternatives like water and milk. When I was about 16, I started to change my habits because I thought I was doing my body a disservice. I started only drinking bottled water and could immediately see the difference. My body was better hydrated and I had more endurance in sports and other activities. Best of all, my teeth were whiter and I felt better about myself. After years of only drink water, the cravings for juice and sodas go away and I no longer like the taste of anything but water. Those who think they are addicted or need the sugar as a pick-me-up are wrong and just making excuses. It is possible to give up the sugary drinks and give your body the ultimate gift.

Shock advertisements are a newer, more edgy way of persuading viewers. While viewers may not agree with the message of the advertisement and continue to drink soda, the thought is still implanted in their mind. Every time viewers open a can after seeing this commercial, they will think of the pounds they are gaining by drinking the beverage. This could be the motivation for them to make the positive change in their life and stick with it. Clearly the old advertisements about the food pyramid and nutrition are not sufficient. People are tuning out the advertisements and continuing with their destructive eating patterns. The epidemic has gone far enough and it is now time to use more dramatic measures.

America’s newest guilty pleasure, “Jersey Shore,” is creating a new world of controversy for MTV. These self-proclaimed “guidos and guidettes” getting drunk and hooking up at the shore has advocacy groups, like UNICO national, hoping the show will get cancelled. Reality is there is a large viewership for the show, especially with the controversy surrounding it. If people do not like the show and the stereotypes it promotes, they should not watch the show. Numbers speak the loudest to the networks and if no one is watching the series, it will soon disappear. For the people on the show, they should be embarrassed about their actions and words. As someone in their age-group, I am offended by their unintelligent comments and promiscuous actions. Not only are they giving a bad depiction of Italian-Americans, but they are also showing a bad representation of young adults.

These Italian-Americans seem to be proud of their heritage, saying that being Italian makes them go to the gym, go tanning, use hair gel, and dance to house music. However, these traits are the furthest from a representation of an Italian. I am tired of hearing them repeatedly talk about the Italian way of life because they are completely ignorant toward the ways of a true Italian. The cast consists of mostly Italian-Americans, which is a completely different type of person. A real Italian is more reserved, dresses more conservative and classy, has beautiful olive skin, and values their reputation. After spending four months in Italy, I can see that these “Jersey Shore” inhabitants cannot be further from their roots. These people have such pride in their home country, yet they do not represent it at all.

The representation of the twenty-year-old population is also completely out of line. We are not a group of slackers who cannot muster the strength to make it to our minimum wage job at a t-shirt store like those shown on the reality show. Instead, there are many hard-working people in this generation attending college and dreaming of future careers. Contrary to what the show depicts, we also do not hook up with anything that walks. “Snooki” gets into the hot tub in her underwear in the first episode and tries to kiss everyone, both men and women. As a college student, I have been to my fair share of bars filled with tipsy twenty-somethings. These people do not act like the residents of the Jersey shore; instead they do conduct themselves with some dignity. While there are some people who act without self-dignity, the majority of my generation has morals and standards.

I am curious why these people choose to go on the show. They leave their home and loved ones all for a few weeks of partying at the shore. I think these people think they are big celebrities, enjoying their 15-minutes of fame. In reality, they are old news and will be forgotten in a month. People who pimp themselves out on reality shows are doing a disservice to their future. Many then choose to participate in bar appearances where they get a couple thousand dollars to get drunk and party at a bar. Call me crazy, but this is not the future I want for myself. Some people value easy money and quick fame, but I think it is better to work for these types of things. Reality television is an interesting medium because people think the crazier they act, the better their future fame will be. I would argue that this is negative fame that is not worth having. I would rather remain unknown than embarrass my friends and family on a meaningless television show.

When I talked to my mother about my problems today, she assured me that if those were my only problems, then my life is pretty darn good. I think too often I find myself fixated on the small details in my life. As a 21-year-old woman with a family, friends, and education, I have no right to complain about anything in my life. It troubles me that I allow myself to “sweat the small stuff.” I think times of uncertainty, like your loved one undergoing surgery, show you what matters to you and who you are. What matters to me is my character and positive attitude. While it sometimes is not evident, I strive to be the best person possible. Who I am is a family oriented person who would do anything for the important people in my life.

This family crisis also has shown me that I need to make every moment count. There is always going to be something I should be doing, whether it is schoolwork, graduate school applications or catching up on reading. Even though things pile up, we can only spend so much time working on these things. It is not worth spending all of my free time on work and forgetting about those who matter to me and the activities that matter to me. Work will always be there, but there are only so many opportunities to do the things you love with the ones you love. So please follow my advice, live life to the fullest because tomorrow is not guaranteed. We only have so long to live and the mountains that seem insurmountable are merely roadblocks along the path of life.

 As for the selling of the babies, hearing these stories is not supportive for the adoption process in China. Couples who are desperate for a baby may not do the research to find out where the baby comes from. Unknowingly, couples are supporting the theft and sale of children by adopting from unreliable adoption agencies. To combat this practice, people need to start doing the research. Even if it is painful not to get the child, people should not adopt from unreliable agencies. Also people should look to other countries for adoption. If there is no market for these children, the trafficking of children would end.

 The work that police are doing in this area is impressive. To this day, Chinese police have rescued 2,008 kidnapped children and solved 1,717 cases. In rural areas, they also traffic young boys so families can purchase their legacies. As painful as it is, families in China need to stop going to these means to have a boy and create a legacy. I am a strong believer in fate and if a family is not meant to have a boy, they will not be given a boy. People need to learn to be happy with the family they were given, instead of wishing for the family they do not have. Personally, my family has two girls and my dads brother has two girls. While it is disappointing that our family name is in its last generation, it is our destiny to end the family name. If my parents had done anything else, it would have ruined the synergy that our family was destined for. Being happy with what you have is a hard concept because there are factors surrounding us that are pressuring. Seeing other families and how they function makes many people wish they had that extra child, extra sibling or family structure. In reality, we need to embrace the family we are given and move on. We cannot control these external factors, the only thing we can control is our own self. Time should be spent on making  our own self the best person we can be, not fantasizing about the impossible.

 The fact that eighth graders are using these drugs is not acceptable. I have a cousin that age and could hardly imagine her using these types of substances. Children at this age are not old enough to use substances that can have such a large impact on their lives. If a child is experimenting with drugs in middle school, the high will wear off by high school and their future could be grim. At that age, my main concerns were hanging out with my friends and getting good grades. Drugs were not a part of my life at all so I do not understand where the middle schoolers are even finding the drugs. My parents were heavily involved in my life, guiding me in the right direction. Parents are the only ones to blame when children of such a young age are involved in drug use. Many parents today are concerned with being their child’s friend instead of an authority. This is irresponsible to the child and society. Nothing good can come from young teens using drugs.

The increase in the use of attention-deficit drugs is also disappointing. I believe in the power of these medications when properly used. However, in my classes today we have discussed the new use of Adderall to help students study for hours and do well on test. Adderall has become the new “study drug” for high school, college and graduate students alike. Similar to steroid use in sports, using medications to aid with studying is also an unfair advantage. I think it is an excuse for students who have poor study habits to say they need the drug. While their grades may improve, they are putting their bodies at risk. Adderall does not have the same threats as drugs like heroine, but it is still a drug nonetheless. It is a substance that does not belong in our bodies being put into our bodies for no justifiable reason. If students used better time management skills and spread out their studies instead of cramming them into a week of intense 10-hour study sessions, they could experience the same amount of knowledge. Use of these drugs will only hurt academia by cheating, not help it with students remembering more information.

While reading this article, I could not help but think of gay marriage. States around the country have proposed civil unions, an almost similar commitment in the eyes of the law. However, a civil union is not equal in the way it makes couples feel. Gay and lesbian people are looking to be equal because they want all of the benefits of marriage. After this study, there is clearly an overlooked benefit of marriage that a civil union cannot compete with. Advocates of gay marriage should start looking into the psychological turmoil the gay marriage debate is causing on the homosexual population and use it to forward their fight.

As for heterosexual marriage, this is another reason for people to remain invested in their marriage. Any difficulties in the marriage can harm the individual’s emotional stability, physiological stability and psychological stability. It is not simply a commitment, but a risk that two people partake together. That is why people need to be completely sure that their partner is the one before choosing to get married. With the divorce rate at 50%, it seems like couples are getting married for the wrong reasons. They do not fully know their partner yet and the tensions of marriage plague their wellbeing. My advice is for people to make sure they are with their soul mate before getting married. Date for as long as possible and then partake in marriage when each individual is ready. While it is not flattering to hear your boyfriend of four years does not want to marry you yet, you should be secure in your relationship enough to know that he is doing the right thing. Gut feelings are all we have to rely on, so it is important that we respect them.

This study also makes me think of the Britney Spears ordeal a couple of years ago. After her divorce, she was seen partying around Hollywood, a sign that she may have resorted to a chemical dependency. She also shaved her head and committed strange acts which made her seem like she had a mental disorder. This study’s findings suggest that her behavior was a result of the anguish that arises from divorce, not from any intentional rebellion on her part. If it can happen to a celebrity, it can happen to anyone so people going through a divorce need to be sure they get the proper mental care and counseling. As a society, we usually underestimate the impact of mental disorders. If people are depressed, we say get out of the house and go do something. In reality these people cannot just force themselves out of the house because they are prisoners of their mind and cannot escape. As science improves and we learn more about the brain, it is important that we try our hardest to medicate those who need care instead of downplaying their situation.

On “The View” today, Dupre sat with the ladies and talked about how wrong it is that all of these women are coming forward about their affairs with Tiger Woods. She thinks it is hurting his family and “messing with someone else’s life.” In her case, she was discovered and did not bring the attention on herself, she said. These statements are completely hypocritical. While she may not have sought after the attention, she did prosper in it once it came to her. She conducted interviews with Diane Sawyer and other media outlets. To say that she did not further the tabloid babble like the Tiger Woods mistresses are currently doing is completely wrong. The reality is, she got caught with a married man, regardless of the circumstances, and then jumped at the opportunity to get publicity for herself.

For the Post to give her this position is extremely offensive to journalists. She did not work hard through college to get a degree and then do lower level jobs until she could work her way to the top. Instead she stumbled upon the opportunity to be a writer because she is a well-known name. Although the Post is not the most reputable newspaper, this does show their intentions, to sell papers. Women will be jumping at the opportunity to hear why their man is cheating on them. Just because Dupre was a call girl does not mean she is an expert on men’s intentions and reasoning. I think the entire deal is a publicity stunt that shows the motivation of girls to have affairs with public figures. They will claim they did not get anything out of the deal or that they were so in love with the man, but self-gain is their real motivation.

It kills me that our world is now a place where your look or actions can take you to the top. I wish the world was centered on merit and honesty, but the truth is far from these ideals. As a student that will soon be looking for a job, it is discouraging to hear that someone like this would be hired before me. Immediately upon her hire, there are stories in all the major news outlets and on television. This is what the Post wants, instead of a lesser known name with good ideas and an interesting perspective. I look forward to paving my own way in the future, based on my actions and determination, instead of using superficial means. In the end, I think hard-working people are better off because their achievements mean more than someone who sleeps his/her way to the top.

This new type of listing shows how much technology is changing our lives. Gone are the days when the needy begged for money on the sides of the street. These eBay listings allow the sellers, or in this case the needy, to get direct contact with others while remaining in their own residence. It removes the uncertainty of begging for money because there is a start and end date and it is easy to track the practice. Listings are similar to the commercials on television asking viewers to donate to needy children across the world. It is a safer, more organized way of donating money to those in need.

People will be quick to donate because it is the holiday season and they want to spread cheer to others. The vulnerability at this time of year is quite large so I hope the listings are for real. It would be a shame if this was not the pictured family but a scammer trying to make some easy cash. Operations like the ones in Africa where people get an email that they have won hundreds of thousands of dollars, but it cannot be awarded until cash is mailed for tax purposes are devastating toward gullible people around the U.S. eBay charities are safer because the credit card numbers are given to PayPal, not the needy family. It is a relatively safe donation, but the underlying chance is always there that the family is lying. Overall, I think the risk is worth it because any small donation will not impact your wallet and could make life easier for someone else.

As a child of mixed religious backgrounds, my mother is Roman Catholic and my father is Jewish, I feel like religion has always been a mix in my family. My sister and I were raised Roman Catholic because religion usually comes from the maternal side. However, it was never forced upon us and we were exposed to both religions. We would celebrate Passover with our father’s side of the family and then celebrate Easter with our mother’s side of the family. Even as the holiday season approaches this year, we will light the menorah each night for Chanukah, even with the house filled with Christmas decorations and the tree. By learning and celebrating both religions, I think my sister and I are more well-rounded women. We understand diversity because we were taught that regardless of a religion, the person is the same on the inside.

When my parents wanted to marry, it upset my Jewish grandmother because she would have preferred my father to marry a Jewish woman and raise Jewish children. Furthermore, my mother’s family wanted her to marry in a Roman Catholic Church, so my father had to undergo religious classes to be able to marry in the church without being baptized or confirmed. It was a difficult process that was relatively newer in those days. Today, the mixed religions are bringing an end to the upset parents and difficulties about where to get married. I know I could bring home a man of any religion and my parents would not care because they accept diversity. For other people around the country mixing religions, the old stereotype of looking for someone in your religious affiliation is gone. They can marry anyone they please and share in the religious background of that person, taking the aspects of that religion that mean the most to them. Also build-your-own religions eliminate the need to get married in a specific church, temple or mosque. People are now doing weddings in neutral areas that can be catered to their spiritual beliefs. This is positive because it eliminates the need for one partner to feel uncomfortable during the wedding. It can be a compromise where both partners get the spiritual aspects they desire during the ceremony.