young smokers

Smoking ciggarettes is not a healthy habit; Smokers and non smokers alike both know this.  However, it doesn’t seem to stop the 6,000 children who start smoking every single day in America, all under the age of 18.

An article titled Mississippi Should Stop Subsidizing Teen Smokers, gave smoking statistics, ranging from the amount of adolescent smokers in the United States(4.5 million), as well as the percent of smokers who pick up the habit before the age of 21(90%).   In a study done in Mississippi, it showed that 23% of students at their highschool had addmitted smoking in 2003, and the percent had jumped about 15% about a decade ago.  The article showed that the main problem in Mississippi seemed to have is the low ciggarette taxes, and that raising such would help alleviate the problem.  It seems odd that so many people feel the urge to start smoking, knowing very well what it does the the body, which could very well result in cancer and death.  Especially Missipissippi, many other states in the US have had their smoking statistics rise with each year. 

The saddest part about all of this is that the smokers are getting younger and younger, many before the age of 18.  The result of smoking is something that needs to be urged more towards others the younger generation, and raising ciggarette taxes, as well as the smoking age, could help sway people not to start.  It’s an addictive deadly habit that will eventually deterierate the body, and Mississippi, as well as every other state in America, needs to promote not smoking before it’s too late.

South Los Angeles

California: Some think of this as the place where dreams come true.  As of lately, however, it has become a place where fires spread rampantly, and have been destroying the beautiful acres that Los Angeles has to offer, not to mention destroying more than 800 homes, as stated on BBC News.com in an article titled “California Fires Wreak Havoc”.

The wildfires have taken over without stop, and firefighters have been trying constantly to lessen them, with the help of bulldozers and helicopters, all doing their best to put out the terrible flames.  It’s painful to read about thousands of people having to flee their homes in order to escape the fire, and due to the high winds that have been present in L.A, the fires have been jumping to an incredible height, making it more difficult for the firemen to put them out.  Arnold Schwarzenegger thought the firefighters were extremley quick in their response, as they fight what is called “The Perfect Storm”.

The Perfect Storm was described as condiitions in Califonia where there is high wind, high temperatures, and everything becomes extremley dry, thus causing the chaotic fires.  It was stated that 15,00 acres of land had been burned by the fires, which is disheartening news as you think of how beautiful California is, and how many acres it had to offer.  When reading about the weather conditions there, you can’t help but wish that the residents who are affected are okay, as they try and figure out where they are going to reside, and how they are going to rebuild their homes.  Mother nature is unfortunatley something that cannot be predicted, and despite the warning of weather conditions from meteorologists on TV, there is no telling when something as terrible as unstoppable fires will come and have a deep impact on your life. 

Though there were no reported deaths in this article, it was stated the firemen were worried about Oakridge Mobile Home Park, where the line of fire went directly through, however, they will have to wait until things cool down so that they can investiage the damage that was done.  Overall, this article was upsetting to read as you realize that part of the US is being destoryed by the rampant fires, and there is only hope that the fireman as well as the rest of California, will come together to stop this terrible weather.

When I came across a story about several people around the world trying to trick voters, I had to read through and was appalled by the information I found relating to the lengths people had gone to in order to convince the public to vote in a different direction, or scare them into voting by threatening them with certain things.

It was interesting to see what lows people will stoop to in order to ensure votes for their favorite candidate, and in an election as important as this one, especially with an african american candidate, there have been several negative racial issues surrounding the upcoming election day.  Several people in different parts of the United States were trying very hard to wean down the votes for Barack Obama, taking the racial path and stating that he had been linked to the Holocaust,(stated by anonymous email in Pennsylvania) that he was more focused on Palestinians than to Israel, and trying to confuse them by making anonymous phone calls notifying the public to cast their ballots over the phone, or that the voting will take place on two seperate days.

Due to the overwhelming turnout of voters, many people are doing all they can to influence people to vote a certain way.  As stated in the article, it is a crime to try and indimidate and harass people into voting a certain way, but with anonymous phone calls as well as emails, it is difficult to be traced back to one person.  It was alarming to see what people would do in order to have their candidate win, and sad because you realize how much of a riot the election could cause the world, should Obama win.  First time voters are trying to support the candidate they feel would do best, but it also leaves a scary outcome, due to the affect the public will have and how we will make it as a whole, with all this anger and deciet already coming about.  Despite everything, the hostility people have within them could remain, and grow to an eve

Despite who wins, the outcome will cause hostility from many people around the world.

n greater extent, depending on who is elected.

The first photo that really interested me was from the Washington Post website.  The photo was from World Food Day, and showed Pakistanis who were reacing desperatley to recieve food.  What was really captured in the photo were the eyes of an older man, and two other children which could have potentially been his children.  The hunger and desperation in their eyes was very intense because it shows the reality of their situation and the fact that they have an immense struggle to get food.  The food was given out from a shrine in Islamabad, with the caption stating that The World Bank has predicted that food and fuel costs will soon enough increase the number of malnourhised people to 1 billion.  The photo was really touching and informative as to what was going on in the world.  The link is here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/10/17/GA2008101701969.html.

The next photo was showing the ashes left over from a house that was burned down in Los Angeles, California.   The photo was interesting because it captured only the remains of certain things in their houses that some may look over.  In the photo where lamps, a stove, pots, pans, etc. It was a heartbreaking photo, capturing the emotion, and though the three people in the photo were not showing any emotion, you feel their pain as they rummage through what was once their home. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/10/14/GA2008101401072.html

The next photo was the most interesting and powerful in my opinion, because it captured the slightly disfigured and scarred face of a young women who said that the toxic waste dumped in the ivory coast had caused her face to look this way.  It showed how much impact we have on the world and how things that many of us may think are harmless, are actually extremley detrimental to the earth and can injure and scar other people.  The pain the young woman is expressing through her eyes will hopefully give many other readers motivation to start treating the world better and being cautious of how we are affecting others.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/10/10/GA2008101002742.html

I’m from Maine, which automatically makes me (though I’m not big into football) a Patriots fan.  However, I must not be a great one, because when discussing the superbowl(the only large football game I actually watch) with a friend a few days ago who coincidentally was a Giants fan, I started to boast about Tom Brady and the skill he possess that will triamph over the Giants should they be a competitor in the superbowl.  Little did I know that Tom Brady had been injured, and it has been stated by many that he will be out for the remainder of the season.

Besides his rock hard abs and amazing chiseled features, Tom Brady represents himself as one of the most skilled athletes in football, leading the Patriots to win three super bowls in four years, only the second team in NFL history to do so.  Despite being defeated by the Giants at the last superbowl after winning 18 straight games in a row, and having a “perfect season” Tom Brady fans were still supportive in the hopes that the Patriots would have another perfect season, ending it with an even more perfect win in the superbowl. 

However, news of Tom Brady’s injury was devastating to all fans of the Pats, unsure of what path the team would now have to follow. Who would lead them? Would Tom Brady’s replacement, whoever it may be, live up to his legacy and skill? Would the Patriots perish under the loss or thrive, and vow to keep moving forward?  Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain — the news of Tom Brady’s injury must have stirred some excitment in other NFL teams, and their fans, hoping that the absence of one of the best players on the team will better ensure them to a better season. 

As for the die hard Patriots fans(if any even exist at Suny Albany), going to school with the majority of students rooting for the New York Giants will truley test their loyalty towards the rest of the Patriots with hope that they will continue to shine as they normally do, without their brightest star.

Despite the unfortunate events that the war is causing, music and individual expression is not yet lost, as described in a story I read about Iraqi composer  Naseer Shamma, who taught himself to play the Oud, an arab stringed instrument, with simply one hand.  Fortunartley for Naseer, both his hands are intact, but was motivated to learn his one handed ability when he learned a friend of his had come back from war without an arm. 

Besides donating money from his concerts to pay for medical accomodations and schooling for refugees, Naseer made it his goal to practice and practice until he could play the Oud one handed.  He was so moved after meeting his inspirtation ( Ahmed Fayaq) at the end of one of his concerts.  After meeting him and realizing his struggle, Naseer became completely motivated to learn the skill of playing an instrument with one hand, which proved to be difficult.  In the story, he noted that he devoted his time to learning the skill, and did not have any concerts for four months.  He went through a great struggle but managed to master the skill and is now looked upon as an icon more than ever. 

Despite the hardships of the war, it is interesting to see those who are deeply moved by the struggles others have had to endure, and hope to inspire and console them in their own way.  This story caught my eye not only because of the skill of instrument playing with a single hand, but also the fact that Naseer did it for himself, as well as the man with one arm.  He felt as though contributing music in this sort of way would touch Ahmed Fayaq, and also shine the light on others who try desperatley to do their part helping after the effect of war takes its toll.  This story was very touching because as the war continues to complicate and disappoint, music and passion from others is a helpful tool that will remain constant throughout.

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