How Far?

Being an avid blog-reader and website-searcher, I have come across a variety of blogs that discuss anything from sports to love lives to artistic pictures. With the internet, people have the power to write just about anything on their blogs. One very famous (some may say infamous) blogger is Perez Hilton. Personally, I haven't visited his site until now - celebrity gossip isn't exactly my forté. However, there are hundreds and thousands of people who do follow Hilton's site on a regular basis. Several of my own friends constantly check the website for the latest updates on celebrities and T.V. shows. Hilton's approach to blogging involves much humorous criticism of well-known actors, actresses, and other starlets. From his home page, I did find myself laughing at some of the comments Perez made about certain celebrities. But how far can you take sarcasm and jokes?

Apparently, too far, according to Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am. The well-known rapper took Hilton's comments very personally and when several Black Eyed Peas members, including Fergie, asked Hilton to stop, Hilton did not seem to heed the warnings. The result? Violence, according to Hilton. However, we won't go into details of that matter. The topic at hand is the extent to which people criticize celebrities and the resulting reactions of these celebrities.

Tabloids, television shows, websites, and other types of media coverage incorporate a lot of celebrity gossip - which includes both criticism and positive feedback. You can constantly find pages in magazines like People or US Weekly that focus on what outfits were fashionable, or horrendous, on the red carpet at the latest awards show, or who's cheating on who. As celebrities, they are prepared for the ultimate "bashing" and harsh criticism that the public may have in store. But where does the criticism start and end? There's a fine line between objective, constructive criticms and blunt rudeness - not that there's anyone to stop the rudeness. So, how should celebrities react to negative comments and rumors? These rumors are usually ignored, but will.i.am. is one of the few celebrities to take physical action.

Do you agree with the alleged violence that will.i.am. might have taken against Hilton? Perhaps there are several other celebrities who would like to do the exact same thing to any other critics? One will never know...but until then, tell me your thoughts!

To look at Hilton's comments pertaining to the Black Eyed Peas, click here.

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Summertime is...Funtime?

Finally, with semester final exams over with, I can get some rest. It's time to tan, swim, eat, sleep, eat some more, and relax! Summer time is a chance for teenagers to recharge after the labor-intense academic year. We can all hit the mall, eat ice-cream (or is frozen yogurt the latest trendy froen snack), and go to the beach - there are no worries...Right?

Unfortunately, for many, this fantasy will remain just that - a fantasy this summer. A large percentage of teenagers will be job-hunting. Many of my own friends have been anxiously looking for openings at the nearest Yogurtland, Jamba Juice, and Oakley store. However, their earnest searches have produced
nothing but rejections. So...I asked myself...Why?
Why are all these energized, intelligent young individuals being denied the opportunity to work?

Teenage unemployment this year has increased over the past years. Last year, as of July 2008, the teenage unemployment rate had been had its highest in 15 years (Read More Here). This year, as of February 2009, the unemployment rate for teens hit 20%. Though it may be more devastating to families for the adults to not be able to get a job, I, being a teenager, think it's also important to note that teenage unemployment might be something to pay attention to. Since jobs are becoming harder and harder to find, many adults will likely try to take the easy, non-experience required jobs. Hence, when the employer comes to the decision to choose between an inexperienced teenager and a more mature, possibly more experienced adult, it's obvious that the adult is a more favorable candidate for the job. However, depriving eager young adults of the capability to work might be denying them opportunities to gain not only job experience, but real world experience that might be useful in the future.

So...my fellow teens, what will you do this summer? If you find yourself having nothing to do but watch T.V., check Facebook, or sleep, you might try volunteering (if you're not already). The nearest community center, YMCA, assisted living center, hospital, or park could probably use your help! You can even drag your friends along - you'd be surprised at how fun volunteering can actually be. If not...I'm sure you can make a lemonade stand on the corner of your street.

25 cents anybody?

To read more about Teen Unemployment:

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Photo Credit: KEWL Magazine

Wiki Wiki What?

Research Paper. Wikipedia.

Those two different things go together like peanut butter and jelly, as they say. For a majority of high school students, research papers/questions usually begin with the infamous Wikipedia search. According to Wikipedia itself, Wikipedia is a free multilingual enclyopedia project supported by the non-profi Wikimedia Foundation. Not only are there usually the basic facts necessary to even begin research, but Wikipedia is easily accesable for the average high school student. Why not use it? Of course, there are always the pre-research warnings of only using Wikipedia as a source to gather ideas for further researching from other, perhaps more reliable, sources. However, how many students actually listen to this advice?

It is important to remember that almost anyone can go onto Wikipedia to edit a search page. I have realized that it is not only the high school student, but even college students and thousands of others who use Wikipedia frequently. One of my friends even likes to Wikipedia in his free time to read about random history or geography. Sure, Wikipedia is a useful tool that we all like to have at our disposal, but how far will we take it?

Apparently, some will take it too far. Irish 22-year-old Shane Fitzgerald decided to hold an "experiment" of sorts with Wikipedia. Majoring in sociology, he wanted to see how dependent the 21st society media-users was on this Wikipedia site. After inserting a false quote on the page of Maurice Jarre, several blogs and websites across the world were shown to have used this quote. The Wikipedia monitors immediately removed the quote, but the damage was done. Outraged, the authors of the sites critized Fitzgerald for his cruel prank; however, who was really the fool - Fitzgerald or the site-authors? To not even check the validity of the quote they were using on a public site reveals the fatal flaw of being too trusting of the Internet. Perhaps Fitzgerald's method of testing this theory of society's flaw was too rash and affected a bit too many people, but in the end, truth was revealed.

Today's society has become dependent not only on Wikipedia, but also on the internet and electronic sources in general. How ironic - since this blog is on the internet. So, remember, the internet is probably your second home, but remember to not become too dependent of the media. It's always a good idea to check your sources!

The R-Word

Though this post will deviate from my usual interesting tidbit about politics/news, I would like to draw attention to a particular topic that has caught my eye. As I was reading Seventeen Magazine the other day, I noticed a website for r-word.org and after visiting this site, I became very interested in participating in the Best Buddies program. This program helps teens with mental disabilities connect with others around them in their local communities; it's a chance for teens with and without disabilities to get to know one another in an environment that might not have been available beforehand. Although I am not an active member of the Best Buddies program quite yet, I do want to call all of your attention to the "r-word", in other words: retard. Retardation is quite often a mental disability that many in the world suffer from, and it does make the person who is retarded any different from a normal human being.

Often, myself included, people use this word as a derogatory term as a substitute for "stupid" or "weird." But to be perfectly honest, what gives us the right to use this word in such a way? To further ostracize these members of the community is something that I am going to try to prevent by promoting awareness at my school, and by attempting to get involved this summer to meet teenagers just like me who might be a little different (but everyone's different, right?). So please, pledge today at r-word.org and make that small difference.

Next time you want to say something's idiotic, remember: Don't Use That R-Word!

Want to know more about mental disabilities and retardation? Visit the Best Buddies website (or the Best Buddies California Information site)!

Prom Season? Or Not.

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Prom Couples

April and May are always referred to as "prom season" because most high schools hold their junior and senior proms at around this time. From the fashion magazines to the tuxedo rental coupons from Men's Warehouse, prom is in the air.

Thousands of young teenage boys spend hours planning their unique way to ask that someone special to prom - flowers, notes, scavenger hunts, videos...It just gets more diverse every year! On the other hand, you have your classical boys who have their bouquet of flowers along with the simple question, "Will you go to prom with me?" While the boys have their elaborate plans and tuxedos and the girls frantically try to pick the most elaborate dress they can find, all this hullabaloo is actually quite of the traditional fun high school students like to experience. When one thinks high school, what comes to mind is prom, football games, and massive homework assignments.

However, it is one thing to choose not to go to one's prom, as many of people I know have done, and a very different situation when a student is forbidden to attend a prom.

In Findlay, Ohio, 17-year-old Tyler Frost faces suspension, and possibly expulsion, if he attends a public school prom with his girlfriend. Arranged to graduate at the end of this month, Frost merely wanted to have fun at prom, but unfortunately his catholic high school had other plans. The school board and principal of Heritage Christian School has all its students sign an agreement at the beginning of the year which "forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing" according to Associated Press.

Heritage says it stands for the Christian ideals and morality, and these ideals are infringed upon with events such as prom. Perhaps these Christian ideals are being too strict and non-practical? Or maybe this set of rules is a way to promote good behavior and conduct. Who knows?

All I know is that, being a high school student myself, I hope Frost does not get suspended or expelled; he's almost done graduating!

White House Terrorism

The title was just to scare you all; don't worry, the White House is not a source of terrorism at the moment. Yet many New Yorkers today were frightened by the sight of an airplane flying low, dangerously close to the city buildings. Was it another attempted 9/11 attack?

In reality, it was merely one of President Barack Obama's airplanes...but he wasn't in it. Strange, no? There was no warning/notice beforehand from the White House military about the planned airplane flight. Even though the White House publicly apologized for the scare, the citizens of New York, along with Mayor Bloomberg, are probably annoyed for being frightened to death for no reason.

It's unfortunate that the White House cannot be proactive about these types of situations; scaring the public is no simple ordeal. Ever since the 9/11 attack eight years ago, U.S. citizens have been more cautious and alert. I know that whenever I'm in an airplane, I still get anxious until my feet are firmly planted on the ground at the airport, with the security guards stationed at the doors.


Perhaps this is a type of wake-up call to those who believe the war with terrorists is over - there are still terrorists out there, and there always will be.

5...4...3...2...1...BOMBS AWAY!

Well, in North Korea's case, it's more "missiles" away, but the threat is equally frightening.

After many threats, North Korea launched its rocket (Japan and several other nations are calling it a "ballistic missile") approximately at 11:30 A.M. Sunday (N. Korea time). Though this launch may be another mere test of its missile launching capabilities, the U.S., Japan, and the United Nations are very concerned. An emergency meeting has been set for tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, in New York to discuss this matter. Japan, in particular, has taken several security measures since N. Korea's missile launch in 1998; they will be on extreme alert at this time, more prepared than they were eleven years ago.

However, not only is the world itself in danger, but South Korea faces an imminent peril. With North Korea located on the same peninsula, South Korea's Blue House has set all its military units on red alert. Will South Korea be safe, or will its northern neighbor push forward to cause more distress?

Personally, I don't think North Korea would be foolish enough to continue to openly defy the United Nations and to further disrupt the global tranquility. To go against several powerful nations such as the United States and Japan, along with several others, would take serious planning and strong alliances.

Is North Korea merely trying to claim its place in the world as a fellow nation of power, or are there other unknown motives?

E-mail your thoughts and comments on this issue at wwatcher21@yahoo.com.

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