Life after Juniors section: Woman shopping Faux Pas

Too often while shopping I see a woman clearly out of an appropriate age shopping for herself in the junior section. Everyone has seen this type of woman. She is the lady decked out in a Juicy Couture velour set perusing the racks at Forever21 or Bebe. Essentially, she is a living version of the character played by Amy Poehler in “Mean Girls.”
Obviously, once a woman reached 30, the juniors’ section should be a foreign concept, a long lost memory of happier and more carefree times. It is because of this that I was completely appalled at finding an article early last month by fashion blog Refinery29 titled “How to Shop at Teen Stores at Any Age!”
The article was comprised of nine slides with alternating pictures of “Dos” and “Don’ts” to commit while shopping at teen stores. Although I completely agreed with all of the “Don’ts” I was little more than dismayed by some of their “Dos.”
The first “Do” on the first slide was the worse. It instructed its readers to make teen stores their first stop when looking for dresses for events as they tend to be inexpensive. What the article’s author failed to mention was that these dresses also tend to be clingy and are not suited for every body type, much less the typical mom, who is forever complaining about the extra weight she never managed to lose after the birth of her first child. Even if an older woman was amazingly fit, teen dresses tend to be too short for a woman past her 20s and in some cases even a teenager.
Many of the women who commit the heinous fashion crime of dressing younger than their age do so in order to fill a gap, because they feel as though dressing younger will make them feel younger and thus bring back the blissfulness of their youth. However, dressing like an adolescent does not reverse the aging cycle. If a 40 year-old dresses in overalls and ties her hair in pigtails, it does not magically make her five again, the same holds true for dressing like a teen.  Age reveals itself through wrinkles and experience, and truthfully there should be no shame in showing off how wise the years have made someone, even if it is through something as taboo as wrinkles.
Fashion does not make you  youthful. There are plenty of clothing stores that have chic, more flattering selections for older women. Being an aging woman does not mean being a boring one who wears nothing but black clothes from neck to ankle like a second skin. It simply means a more mature, sophisticated person and so their fashion should reflect the same.  Older women should own up to their age with and show teenagers that age is nothing to be afraid of.

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Nickelback Point-Counter-Point; Jack McCraw

The Canadian hard rock/alternative band Nickelback began their career in 1995 with the release of their first full length album “Curb.” According to letssingit.com  the release of their third studio album “Silver Side Up” and the major success of their hit single “How You Remind Me,” pushed Nickelback into the mainstream.

As my all-time favorite band, I am astonished as to how many people hate Nickelback just because it seems the popular thing to do. I truly think that Nickelback is an amazing band, and they certainly do not deserve all the criticism they are given by their haters.

Nickelback has sold almost 45 million albums worldwide. Their albums “All the Right Reasons” and “Dark Horse” are their most successful to date. Together the albums have released 10 top 100 singles, four of which were in the top for several weeks. “All the Right Reasons” alone sold 11 million copies worldwide. Their immense popularity shows that they are a popular band.

I grew up listening to Nickelback and I went to every one of their shows in Houston. Thus, I have a strong connection with Nickelback. When I was younger and arrived home from school, I would put in my Nickelback CD everyday, and get lost in their amazing music. There was not a single song made by Nickelback that I do not have, or do not like. I have my own personal collection of Nickelback memorabilia. I have every CD ever released by them.

Most of Nickelback’s critics state that Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger cannot sing, or that all of their music sounds very similar. Chad Kroeger’s voice obviously is not annoying, as the band has sold millions of albums worldwide. Furthermore, they are not one noted, because they are very diverse in their music. Nickelback plays love songs, party songs, depressing songs, and inspiring songs. That is a pretty wide range of style to say that Nickelback is one noted. Examples would be “Far Away,” a mellow love song, “Burn it to the Ground” which is a hard rock party song, “Hero” is a somber song and “Rockstar” is a very inspirational song to many listeners.

I truly believe that Nickelback is one of the best bands of our generation, and that they are bashed on too severely by their critics. I think Nickelback should be given more credit by their fans and less hate by their haters.

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Senior uses talent to impress on stage

While on stage, the stares of the audience seem hotter than the lights hanging above. Being judged weighs more on the mind than remembering what one needs to say. I have felt and embraced this pressure before, not as an actor or singer, but as a public speaker.
I often surprise people when they hear me speak so easily in front of a large group. Being the reserved person I am, I often hear the remark, “wow, I didn’t even know you talked.” Being reserved, but not necessarily shy, I feel that I do not get chances very often to show people how charismatic and enigmatic I can be.  Therefore, I take advantage of any chance I get to do so.
I began my public speaking career, in eighth grade. Being band president at the time, I was obligated to speak at concerts. I informed the crowd about concert etiquette, recent band accomplishments and events to come. While I looked forward to making speeches more than some of my peers, I still had little experience in the field.
I developed from a slouching, quiet boy staring at his papers while speaking, to a captivating and alluring orator in a matter of a few months however, I had a long way to go if I wanted to make a career out of this talent.
I enjoy public speaking because I do not share fear others have of it. I have never thought of it as being an impossible feat or something that could ruin my social reputation if I slipped-up. It is just talking after all, which people do most of the day. Along with that, almost everyone in the crowd can relate with the speaker on stage. So I figure, while on stage I need only seem confident, and everyone will be impressed with my style. I have to make sure I do not put too much emphasis or embellishment in my speeches, which challenges me the most because I find it very easy to start rambling while trying to make myself look smart or over-enthusiastic.
I am one of the fortunate people that have a knack for public speaking, a knack I will be able to take advantage of for the rest of my life. It has boosted my confidence and brought me from a shy, awkward pre-teen to a more confident young man. I dream of being a news reporter or even an anchor, or anything that utilizes my voice. Still, I think good communication skills will be necessary in any career path I chose. Thankfully, I will be able to use the skill to propel me through life.

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Nickelback Point-Counter-Point; Raymond Perez

People love to hate Nickelback, the Canada-based act with 32 awards and 71 nominations for their songs and albums. Over half of which were earned in Canada making those awards irrelevant to the rest of the world.

Their fans, mostly concentrated in their home country, love them but they make me feel nauseous. Every time their number one hit single to date “If Today Was Your Last Day” comes on the radio, I switch the station as fast as humanly possible. Hearing their songs makes me want to plug my ears with wine corks.

Nickelback’s lyrics come down to two main topics. Their songs are all about the same old thing, living your life and looking back on the past, two conflicting points. You cannot live your life to its fullest and live in the moment when you are wondering about your past. Their songs “Rockstar” and “How You Remind Me” play to this point.

Nickelback’s songs are also outdated and pointless. When I turn on the radio to pass the time and fill in the void of silence while driving, I do not want to hear a song about someone looking at old pictures and commenting on their life in the past. I would not even consider “Photograph” a song. The lead singer is not even singing. He just talks in a auto-tuned voice. In fact, “Photograph” was voted number five on “Most Annoying Songs of All Time” in a 2005 Rolling Stone poll. However, I think I have to give Nickelback some credit for one song.

Their song “If Everyone Cared” has a direct message and the song made sense.  All the digital sales from of this song were donated to charities in Canada. The song ties into the theme of their donations and of caring about something to work towards the improvement of people. Nevertheless, one good song does not make a band great, or worth listening to. What makes a band great is having fantastic lyrics, talented band members and a solid fan base.

Nickelback has been a band since 1995, which was over 15 years ago. Most of their core fan base are in their late 30s  and maybe even 40s. Moreover, they are still playing songs to the old demographic. They should stop playing music and stop producing the same ancient song repeatedly and stop calling it new. Alternatively, Nickelback should go back to the drawing board and start anew.

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Stop Online Piracy Act sparks online uprising

House Judiciary committee Chair Lamar Smith introduced the Stop Online Piracy Act on Oct. 26 of last year. SOPA aimed to protect companies from copyright infringement on the Internet by giving the government the power to shut down infringing websites. When the Internet community caught wind of this, large-scale protests began in order to prevent SOPA’s passing. It was through these protests that I became familiar with SOPA and the injustice it aspires to bring.
America boasts a government working for the will of the people, however, seven million signatures on Google’s petition against the bill,  did not stop SOPA. The government simply postponed SOPA until February, to allow the bill to lose attention so as to pass with ease. Although the government “upholds” the will of the people tricking us is does not reflex that and goes against the ideals of American society.
The United Nations even declared Internet access a basic human right. With SOPA, we would still receive Internet access, but in an altered manner. Under the “free” American ideals, I did not expect to be treated like a prisoner only allowed to see and do government-approved things. I find infringing on copyrighted material a lesser crime than infringing on a basic human right. I should not fear that my government will manipulate the Internet and alter the information I absorb.
I understand that companies want protection from copyright infringement, but the Digital Millennium Copyright Act already provides that. The DMCA allows companies to request that infringing material be taken down. Clearly this works, when I have looked up clips from a TV show or movie on YouTube I am faced with a “We’re Sorry” message stating that the video contained copyrighted material. Any desire for more protection through the government stems from a want of increased power.
SOPA expands the government’s power to a scary height and goes against American ideals of freedom. The government needs to recognize that SOPA contradicts the will of the people and should terminate all attempts to pass it.

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Tragedy inspires junior to live life to fullest

The average American female born in 1994 will live about 64 years, according to Social Security Online. Although 17 years do not seem like a long time, I have completed roughly a fifth of my life.
After a recent tragedy, I have realized that I have not lived my life to its fullest potential. My 99-year-old grandfather’s death left me to think about my own life and what few accomplishments I have to show for a person of my age.
By my age, my grandfather had taught himself how to speak five languages, fly small air crafts, ride horses and play almost any instrument imaginable. Some people find their calling at an early stage.
My life seems so insignificant if compared to Angela Zhang, a 17-year-old from California, who discovered a particle with the potential of altering cancer treatments.  I look like a complete couch potato next to 16-year-old Amelia Hempleman-Adams, the youngest person to ski to the South Pole.  Yet, I do not compare myself to them because I have different goals.
I am perfectly fine that I will not be remembered as the musician or athlete in my family; we have plenty already. My grandfather found creative outlets to take his mind off the Great Depression. The songs he wrote as a teen serve as a reminder of a time where people scrambled for food, boarded-up factories dominated the skyline and all one could do was hope for the best. I have my whole life to figure what I am meant to do but I have to start searching. 
I figure if I do not start living my life to the fullest now, I will try to overcompensate when I am old. I refuse to be the mid life crisis on a motorcycle giving society a piece of my insanity. I realized youth was slipping through my hands like grains of sands but time has made me appreciate it.
If there is something my grandfather taught me, it is that through times of tranquility or anguish you should always be determined to try your best. Time cannot be explained in just seconds and hours.
I leave you with the knowledge my grandfather passed on to me.
Experiences and memories are acquired throughout the years. Time withers away the tallest mountains and cripples the mightiest of rulers. Everybody ages but the memories and our legacies we create keep us young forever.

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Closing of gates not favorable decision

With the closing of the gates leading to the teacher parking lot on Jan. 17, traffic in front of the school has increased, making driving to school in the morning more of a hassle for students and parents.
Traffic in the morning is a hassle for students and teachers getting to school. The goal of the gate closing was to make it easier for busses trying to get into the parking lot, which is sometimes hard with the presence of parents dropping off students by the school’s northern entrance. There are better ways to help busses, while not causing headaches for students and parents.
The biggest consequence associated with the closing of the gates is increased traffic on Ella Blvd and the circle in front of the school. The cars that once dropped off students in the teacher parking are now dropping off students in front of the school, sitting on Ella waiting to enter the circle or trying to avoid the gridlock that goes along with the six-way light at Ella and Spring Cypress Rd.
Students and teachers can see that some students are rushed when trying to maneuver through the parking lot. Some parents now drop their students off in the student parking lot, which can cause a backup itself. Even worse, it causes impatience among students who may then drive more erratically and irresponsibly. Pedestrian safety can be jeopardized because of the frustration.  
The busses still must cross busy lanes and intersections to get to their destination. A more efficient solution would be opening the southern access road to busses so they do not have to fight traffic to enter the school. Busses would enter the road from Spring Cypress and drop off students at the road next to the southern end of the school. This would open the old bus parking lot and give much more room to parents dropping off students. The circle in front of the school could also be widened to encompass more of the area in front of the school’s main entrance, alleviating much of the traffic on Ella.

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Methods of beef production focus on profit, prove unhealthy for customers

Beef. As a key element of a well-rounded diet, the red meat presents itself in nearly every meal of mine. A few pieces of sausage for breakfast, a pre-packaged oven-heated hamburger for dinner, the cow follows us everywhere. After watching the 2008 documentary “Food, Inc.” I began to think twice about the staple food, and saw how food corporations manipulate it just to increase their profit. 

When I think of cows, the classic image comes to mind. A quaint red farmhouse sitting on the edge of a vast green pasture, filled with dozens of spotted  black and white cows grazing to their hearts’ content. While that may be true in California Cheese commercials, in the real world, cows find themselves trapped in confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs.

CAFOs cram hundreds of cows into a dark barn, where they wait among manure and deceased cows for their meals. However, instead of feeding cows grass, as a means of fattening up cows in order to fatten up their paychecks, major food corporations have turned to putting cows on a grain-based diet. The high starch levels cause cows to get fatter, thus providing more meat to sell. Although this may be marvelous news for CEOs, it is anything but for the citizens of America who remain ignorant of this situation.

Cows do not eat grain for a reason. Their stomachs cannot handle it. In order to prevent digestive issues in grain-fed cows, beef producers fill cow feed with heaping amounts of antibiotics, which are passed on to humans who eat the beef. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, this intake of antibiotics is in turn causing antibiotics to be less effective on human illnesses. By purposely feeding their cows corn, food corporations like Tyson Foods and Swift and Co. blatantly put their salaries above the health of American citizens.

The prime example of how to fix this problem sits just across the pond in Europe. In 2006, the European Union banned the use of antibiotics in meat production. Since then, not only have humans showed a lower immunity to antibiotics, but the European meat industry has flourished.

Until people realize the toxins they are being fed we will continue to be forced to eat dreaded mystery meat. Petitions wait for signers to keep corn-fed beef out of schools. Sign a petition, raise awareness, encourage the growth of grass-fed, antibiotic-free beef so beef-eaters across the nation will not have to worry about what else they might be eating.

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