Are Party Drugs The New Norm?

Posted on January 27, 2014 by alyssakelly

In the past few years, the rave scene has become very popular to our generation.  The draw of lights, loud music, and a non-stop party mood keeps the scene alive and still thriving.  But with all night fun party drugs are brought into the mix.  As a student in college it’s normal to hear about people drinking and smoking for their choice of fun.  Now, it’s almost normal to hear about people “rolling” from Molly.

Molly is most prevalent within the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene.  It is almost impossible to go out or listen to the radio without noticing the heavy influence of EDM .  EDM has been around for a very long time but is now taking over the mainstream music industry.  Most clubs with a young crowd will be playing this music.

I do enjoy going out and seeing friends and dancing.  Recently, I ran into an old friend and commented on her weight loss.  She responded, “Molly,” like it was no big deal.  Has this really become OK enough for people to just state it like a new diet?  I don’t know too much about the effects of Molly on the brain, but I know it isn’t good.  Use of it can cause dehydration, lack of hunger and lack of sleep.  It may be fun and games that night, but is it really worth it?  I have read many articles that talk about the different types of drugs or chemicals that can be mixed with what is “pure” Molly.

Molly is going to be popular as long as people keep buying it and keep partying.  I would not judge someone for using it, but I do worry that it is becoming more accepted than should be within our generation.

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Pollution in Asia Affecting Air Circulations Across the Globe.

Posted on January 27, 2014 by jsjones

An article published in the latest issue of Nature Communications features nearly thirty years of research done on how pollution stemming from Asia is affecting all parts of the globe.


Due to the bustling economy found in Asia, and particularly China, there have been numerous factories and plants built in order to keep up with the growing populations. Unfortunately, with the surge in power plants used for energy, there was also an enourmous increase in the amount of air pollution being pumped into the atmosphere. China has been battling pollution for quite some time now as they recently implemented a new system aimed at decreasing pollution levels. The high levels of carbon emissions, which are released into the atmosphere and are able to climb almost six miles above ground level, affect not only the immediate areas but can also alter the weather around the world. Nature Communications describes the pollution as severely affecting the air circulations globally and can potentially impact how strong storms are in North America.


With such findings as these, it is clear that pollution and global warming need to be addressed. Not only must government officials focus on such matters, but local communities can also help and aid in cleaning up the planet. Living in a sustainable manner is fundamental to the globe’s ability to maintain high populations for generations to come.

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Medical Marijuana put on the November 2014 Ballot in Florida

Posted on January 27, 2014 by ballspach

The push for medical marijuana in Florida has made another crucial step towards legalization; the Florida Supreme Court has approved that medical marijuana will be on the ballot come election time in November this year. The 4-3 decision to approve the motion was made only a few days after a petition circulating the state reached the minimum amount of signatures for the measure to be placed on the ballot. This push to get on the ballot was the final step in order for medicinal pot to be placed on the ballot, now it is up to the voters of this state to make the final decision on legalization.

Governor Rick Scott, who is against the legalization of marijuana, has been facing tough opposition as former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and current Florida Sen. Nan Rich have been supporting legalization along its way to make the ballot. Personal injury lawyer John Morgan has also contributed resources to medical marijuana, spending nearly $4 million placing this issue before voters.

The approval to put medical marijuana on the voting ballot this year makes Florida another big contender in pushing for the legalization and the establishment of a legal market for pot. This decision has come shortly after the legalization of the drug in Colorado and Washington state, where Colorado has already established a market for marijuana, and Washington should have its market operational by June of this year. Support for marijuana use has continually grown, not only in the aforementioned states, but in states such as Oregon and Alaska. Oregon’s ballot initiative failed in 2012, although supporters managed to raise over $32,000, compared to $4 million in Washington and $830,000 in Colorado, all those numbers from the same year. In Alaska, where medicinal use is legal, there is another push for total legalization of the drug; activists are claiming they have made another push to get an amendment on the state ballot for 2014. With legalization growing slowly popular amongst states, markets for marijuana will be established within the foreseeable future.

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Apple Records Record Sales But Investors Not Satisfied

Posted on January 27, 2014 by kbowerman

Despite exponentially growing in profit year by year, Apple’s stockholders were not pleased with the recent 1st Quarter reporting and subsequently Apple’s stock has dropped. Back in 2010 the technology giant sold 8.7 million units and has significantly grown to a reported sale of 51 million iPhones this past quarter. With such a big growth in just 4 years, it would be safe to assume that the stock would mirror the earnings and continue to rise, This is not the case as consumers/stockholders were projecting that number would be closer to 57 million units since the unveiling of the new iPhone and iPhone 5c.

C.E.O. Tim Cook, on a conference call with investors, stated that consumer demand for the iPhone 5c was so overwhelming that they were struggling to produce them fast enough to be sold. How do we know that Apple was falling short of consumer demand and confidence. Hours after these figures were reported, the stock dropped 8% and fast. But just when you think Apple is on the down, their overall sales numbers increased, revenues increased and the company is striving better than ever. Overall, sales jumped a substantial 6% to $57.6 Billion; just surpassing what analysts expected at about $57.5 Billion in revenue for the year.

All in all Apple might be lacking in one area but makes up for it in substantial sales in other areas. I am curious to see what Apple comes out with next and since they control a large part of the market I am also curious to see whether or not a new company can come out and compete with the tech giant.

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The Biggest Recession in the History of Spain (2007-2014)

Posted on January 27, 2014 by samsheres

Since the American media does not pay closely attention to the reality of the current situation in Spain. And considering that I’m an exchange student coming from there, I have decided to report a quick overview of what is really going on.

In 2007, the world entered into a financial and economical crisis. This crisis specially  harmed out Europe, and attacked all those countries belonging the Euro zone with the lowest economies, such as Greece, Portugal or Ireland. Those were the first countries to fall, eventually Italy and Spain with big economies but lack of stability were the next to fall.

During the next years in Spain, the left-wing political party was ruling the country, and after one year, they were still denying that there were no economical crisis. Eventually, due to rapid drop of capital, and insanely fast un-employment, a rescue had to be carried away with the advices of the European Union. We were borrowing tonds of money from Germany and the European Central Bank, and apart of that they made us set a series of financial reductions to the education, public healthcare, and economy. Which are nowadays, worsening the quality of life of millions of Spanish, from the point were families of the middle/high class are today entering the doors of poverty, and I have actually seen that within my group of people.

Anyways, the political party who rules Spain had changed a few years ago, since we thought that since the left wing party missed it up, maybe the right wing party will improve the situation…but no! All it has happened was a even faster drop of the country’s situation by raising un-employment to more than 6 million people.

But if you think this is all you are missing something. As you may or maybe not know, Spain has had a monarchy since the dictator Franco died. Today’s real family, (king’s family) has been accused of corruption. And not only that, but one of the king’s daughter and her husband have been imputed as guilty for “stealing” money from the Spanish population and keeping it out of Spanish borders. Each time, the number of Spanish who think that the king Juan Carlos was aware of her daughter’s corruption increases, and each time the percentage of Spanish people who wants the resignation from the king also increases!

+1

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2014 FIFA World Cup: The Ideal Final

Posted on January 27, 2014 by l.susan

When people talk about the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil, they are often caught discussing who the the potential winner would be. But what about the stuff in between? For example, what would be the ideal matchup for the final?

That is a question people are often very biased in answering because they want to support their home country, whether it is Spain, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, etc. But the simple unbiased answer to that question has to undeniably be Argentina vs. Brazil. For those who do not know, the soccer history between the two nations has been one of fierce competition and a desperate yearn to be the best soccer nation in South America.

The statistics also show the historic tug of war that has been ongoing for decades. The two teams have played a total of 95 matches, Argentina having won 36 and Brazil 35 (with 24 draws). That is a shockingly even number when taking into account that these matches go all the way back to 1914.

However, the most appealing fact of this possible matchup are the circumstances under which it would be played. The fact that the World Cup will take place in Brazilian soil not only means that for Brazil it is a championship or bust situation, but it also means that this is a huge opportunity for Argentina to win not only in the soil of its sworn soccer enemy, but in front of thousands of Argentine fans that will cross the border to witness this clash of giants. Not to mention that Argentina has the undisputed top player in the world in Lionel Messi, but Brazil also has the rising star, and Messi’s Barcelona team mate Neymar Da Silva Santos Jr. (commonly known as just Neymar).

Thus, this possible finals match is not only shaping up to be an incredible match, but also one of the most important sporting events in ever, due to the history between the two nations and everything that is at stake. All we have to hope is that both teams stay healthy, and, of course, that they both reach the finals.

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Juicing: The Healthy Benefits of Juicing & Why It Is So Good For You!

Posted on January 27, 2014 by joeyafemia

When it comes to diets, just about the majority of people will do anything to not eat vegetables. They will try cooking them into a pasta where they can’t taste them or they will try mashing vegetables like cauliflower up to make them look like mash potatoes, although they taste nothing like it. And while so many people are trying to become healthy, especially since it is the new year, eating just vegetables is bland and doesn’t sound all that appealing to a person. Well I am here to tell you that from here on out putting a substantial amount of vegetables into your body will not be all that hard after I share with you the new, trendy drink that has everyone enjoying what they are drinking and feeling good about it too!

It’s called juicing and nothing about it is gross. Juicing can not only add some of the best vegetables for you into your diet, but it also will help you get the necessary nutrients from fruits and vegetables that you need. You can either make juice at home with a juicer or go to your local juice bar and try it out for yourself!

But what is a juice you ask? It’s not just a drink, but it is a drink that can add some of the best vegetables for you into your diet by freshly squeezing the juice out of vegetables into a cup for you to digest it. By using a juicer, it takes your vegetables, chops them up into small pieces, and then, with small special blades inserted within the juicer, the machine will take all the vegetables you want in your juice and spins the vegetable in a way that seperates the juice from the pulp. By doing this, all you are left with is the extreme nutritional value substances within each vegetable in a cup and all you are left to do is drink it.

Drinking these juices will not only give you the daily vegetables you need into one cup but these juices provide an exceptional amount of vitamins, minerals, and chemicals, such as phytonutrients, a type of nutrient that helps fight against cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other types of diseases, such as guarding off oxidative cellular damage. All these benefits from just juicing. One cup a day and all the vitamins and nutrients you were ever hoping for!

Juicing is not only a healthy way for obtaining a multitude of health benefits, but it is also a way to enjoy what you are drinking and feel good about it too. Too start off your day in the right way, exercise, eat right, and one major way to make sure you are eating right is to juice. Drink up the vegetables and get the nutrients you need!

Below are a couple of juices to help start you off on the right track of eating healthy and ‘juicing’ your way to the top!

Juice 1:

6-8 leaves of kale, 1 cucumber, 6 clementines, 1 clove of ginger, 1/2 cup of chia seeds (This juice will help you with your immune system, digestive system, skin & energy)

Juice 2:

1 large sweet potato, 2 medium carrots, 2 large beets, 2 large granny smith apples, 1 orange & 1/2 cup of hemp seeds (This juice will help you with your digestive system, skin & energy)

Juice 3:

1 cucumber, 4 celery stalks, 2 apples, 8 leaves of kale, 1/2 lemon, 1 clove of ginger & chia seeds (This juice will help you with your immune system, skin, energy, and digestive system).

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DARPA says Robots Could Change the Nature of Combat

Posted on January 27, 2014 by marcelle.turner

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency  (DARPA) is looking to replace human forces with robots.

Drones and bomb detecting technology already replace humans in combat and the fear of human interaction will be eliminated all together if robots are to be introduced for use, by the Pentagon.

Billions of dollars have already been spend on extensive research by the Department of Defense (DOD). $11 million was spent on a program that develops robots to act autonomously and $7 million was spent on the Avatar Program, this program which attempts to upload a soldier’s consciousness to a robot.

It will would be years before humans are completely taken out of war, but DOD officials have said that by 2020 the United States troop force would decrease from 540,000 to 450, 000.

However, campaigns to ban the use of robots have been launched by Human Rights Watch and the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots.

There would have to be a “breakthrough in science and technology” within the field to detrimentally change the nature of the force Lt. Gen. Keith Walker said.

War has been a major conflict in American society for decades, however, war is inevitable between power hungry nations. Whether fighting is initiated over land, resources, political views, or religion human lives are always lost.

Over the decades Americans have begun to resent war. After the ill feelings toward the Vietnam crisis the impression of war tends to be negative and American citizens are fed up with losing their family members and friends.

These robots potentially have the power to change the way the world participates in combat. This could be the technology that the world has been searching for since the beginning of time.

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Attire, performances, and big winners from the 2014 Grammy Awards

Posted on January 27, 2014 by ljthom

Sunday, Jan. 26 was a big night for the music industry, as they celebrated the 2014 Grammy Awards. Worldwide known names such as Katy Perry, Madonna, Robin Thicke, Cindy Lauper, Ozzy Osbourne, John Legend, P!nk, Paul McCartney, and many more were in attendance for this years award show.
Dresses, suits, and head ware, caught many eyes on the red carpet. Singer, Chrissy Teigen, a model and also wife of Grammy winner John Legend, won my best dressed, with a gown designed by Johanna Johnson. The sequin strapless dress was perfect for Teigen’s frame. Singer, Madonna, wore a Ralph Lauren tux picked out by her 8- year- old son David, who wanted his mother to match him. Only Madonna can wear a suit and everyone love it. Producer, Pharrell Williams, wore a Vivienne Westwood designed, “buffalo hat”, that left Twitter comparing him to an Arby’s symbol, Smokey the Bear, and Sandy from the kids television show SpongeBob. Pharrell in an interview said he “liked the hat” and decided to wear it.
Beyoncé started out the award show with a performance of “Drunk in Love”, featuring her husband Jay-Z, off her latest self-titled album. Her performance and sensual wardrobe was drawn from her nightfall, beach- scene music video. It left actor and recording artist, Jamie Foxx, apologizing later in the show on stage to Jay-Z for looking at his wife.
A performance by rapper Kendrick Lamar and alternative rock band Imagine Dragons, was highly favored by all in attendance as they combined the two very different styles of music. It is great to see different artists celebrating different styles of music. Singer, Taylor Swift, couldn’t get enough of the blended music, as she was shown singing and dancing to the performance.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Lorde, Pharrell Williams, and Daft Punk, were the big winners of the night. Rappers, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, won Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album. 17-year- old singer from New Zealand, Lorde, won Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Pharrell Williams won Producer of the Year, and shared three other wins with Daft Punk for their song “Get Lucky”. Daft Punk also won Best Dance/ Electronica Album and Album of the Year. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at the 2014 Grammy Awards.

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Beyonce Betrays Her Feminist Mission With Her Performances

Posted on January 27, 2014 by brittney a. mckinney

This post was inspired by the “Girls Gone Anti-Feminist” article in the course textbook. It is, what I would call, a “rant” from Susan Douglas about how the feminist movement is going backwards. She describes the new generation of young women in the 21st century as  voluntarily subjecting themselves to the very same sexual objectification from which previous generations of women had worked to be free from.

A real life example of Susan’s claim today is the sensational pop star singer Beyonce. If you aren’t familiar with her music then you may have seen her performance at last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. Better yet, you may have seen her perform live at the Grammys last Sunday night. And if neither of these ring a bell then maybe you’ll remember her from the pop singing group Destiny’s Child, but that was a long time ago. However, keep those memories at the front of your mind because, they’ll be important for making my point later.

If you ask her fans and read her lyrics from many of her popular songs in the past, Beyonce has established herself as being a female pop star known for performing songs with the theme & goal of female empowerment. Looking at Beyonce’s songs & concerts in the past, you will see that this claim was consistent. She often performed with bands, in which all of the musicians, singers, & dancers were female (and usually black as well). The lyrics of songs in the past were about encouraging women to have confidence in themselves rather than depending on an abusive boyfriend for self-worth.

While this is admirable, remember Beyonce’s recent performances at the Super Bowl & the Grammys that I was talking about earlier? Neither performance seemed to reflect anything about female empowerment. In fact, they seemed to send the opposite message: “enlightened sexism”.  The way that she objectified herself sexually by the way she dressed & performed seemed to be doing everything that Susan described in our generation: voluntarily subjecting themselves to the very same sexual objectification from which previous generations of women had worked to be free from.

 

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