By Isela Reyes
Identity theft can occur when someone takes and uses your personal information, like your name, social security and credit cards without your knowledge or permission and uses them to commit fraudulent crimes. Identity theft has been plaguing people and businesses alike for years now, growing as scam artists are making a career out of taking advantage of people. By focusing their efforts solely on scamming people, they have come up with more sophisticated ways of taking advantage of people and businesses alike. There are many common ways that people fall victim to identity theft and also very simple ways that you can protect yourself from identity theft.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, about nine million people become victims of identity theft in the United States each year. Workplace theft can occur when company information or information about customers has been leaked to outsiders. The biggest reason for identity theft among businesses according to the article is simple carelessness. It can be passed through someone not properly disposing of important documents, papers left on a desk or by not having properly stored computer files. This is a common occurrence in many businesses, and a study done by the Ponemon Institute found that eighty five percent of businesses have been exposed to the type of data breach that involves the loss of a customer or employee or consumer.
There are simple ways to protect you and your business form identity theft and the most common methods that thieves use to take advantage of people. For your personal papers, something as simple as investing in a paper shredder instead of simply tossing your papers in the garbage can help to protect you. Dumpster diving, when someone rummages through your dumpster or trash bins, is a common way that identity thieves use to target their victims. Another way to protect yourself from identity theft is by using and creating passwords to protect all your important files and by reducing the amount of usage of your social security numbers. Many identity thieves pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send out spam e-mails and pop up messages to people in hopes that they will reveal some personal information that they could use. They also go directly to the companies such as phone and banking institutions that you solicit, and pretend to be a customer so that the companies will give them access to your personal information. To avoid fraud in these situations, it is important for people to be more careful and suspicious of people or companies who are asking for personal information.
We are living in a time where people are making a career out of scamming people by using very sophisticated methods of stealing from you. Many times it takes a while before victims of scam artists are even aware they have been scammed. This can become an especially sticky situation for businesses that have to protect the privacy of their customers and employees alike. If there should be leak involving customer information, they can find themselves in hot water by the customers who may seek legal action against them for not properly protecting their information.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Birth control in High Schools
By Isela Reyes
Teen pregnancies have skyrocketed in the past few years throughout the country, raising questions over what needs to happen to protect and educate these children who are having children. It is more common these days for a young, single woman to have a baby then in years past. A lot of that stems from several factors including not enough resources and lack of education. Recently, a controversial idea has been raised as a response to a recent spike in teen pregnancies in a Denver area High School, the decision on this case may have the power to radically change the country’s belief system and pave the way for other controversial decisions.
According to the Denver North High School’s health clinic, at least one teenage girl enters a day wanting to do tests to determine if she is pregnant, and more often then not, she is. The city of Denver has more then double the amount of teenage birthrates than the countries average, leaving many to wonder if this is something that officials may do to help these rising statistics. Health clinic officials at the North High School are aware of the area’s inflated birth rates as they examine many teenage girls who come to their clinic for testing. As a result the school officials are considering a controversial proposal in which the high school clinic may offer contraceptives to students. The contraceptives will only be available in the schools six health clinics and will only be available to students.
Many people object to the proposal, saying that it would only serve to encourage the students to have sex and likens the idea to abandoning standards for kids. Those who object say there are better methods of teaching our children and preventing young girls from becoming pregnant. These parents are concerned that handing our contraceptives will make teenagers think they are incapable of conceiving, leading students to have sex more freely and putting them at risk of contracting a deadly disease, like HIV. Some studies suggest that dispensing birth control can increase the number of sexually active kids, but the amount of teen pregnancy does decrease as well. This is the type of evidence that concerned parents look towards when a proposal or idea such as this one arises in their area. They are concerned that their children will become far more sexually active when they are on contraceptives then not.
In Denver, one study done of the local adults found that seventy percent of parents said they were fine with schools offering contraceptives to students as long as the parents have given their consent. This way, those parents who want to protect their children may allow them to have access to birth control, and those who are against the idea don’t have to give their child access to the contraceptive. This is a highly controversial issue and often drives strong proponent reaction to such an issue involving teenagers. This is a strong case whose legal implications will have a strong impact on other rulings around the country if it is passed.
Teen pregnancies have skyrocketed in the past few years throughout the country, raising questions over what needs to happen to protect and educate these children who are having children. It is more common these days for a young, single woman to have a baby then in years past. A lot of that stems from several factors including not enough resources and lack of education. Recently, a controversial idea has been raised as a response to a recent spike in teen pregnancies in a Denver area High School, the decision on this case may have the power to radically change the country’s belief system and pave the way for other controversial decisions.
According to the Denver North High School’s health clinic, at least one teenage girl enters a day wanting to do tests to determine if she is pregnant, and more often then not, she is. The city of Denver has more then double the amount of teenage birthrates than the countries average, leaving many to wonder if this is something that officials may do to help these rising statistics. Health clinic officials at the North High School are aware of the area’s inflated birth rates as they examine many teenage girls who come to their clinic for testing. As a result the school officials are considering a controversial proposal in which the high school clinic may offer contraceptives to students. The contraceptives will only be available in the schools six health clinics and will only be available to students.
Many people object to the proposal, saying that it would only serve to encourage the students to have sex and likens the idea to abandoning standards for kids. Those who object say there are better methods of teaching our children and preventing young girls from becoming pregnant. These parents are concerned that handing our contraceptives will make teenagers think they are incapable of conceiving, leading students to have sex more freely and putting them at risk of contracting a deadly disease, like HIV. Some studies suggest that dispensing birth control can increase the number of sexually active kids, but the amount of teen pregnancy does decrease as well. This is the type of evidence that concerned parents look towards when a proposal or idea such as this one arises in their area. They are concerned that their children will become far more sexually active when they are on contraceptives then not.
In Denver, one study done of the local adults found that seventy percent of parents said they were fine with schools offering contraceptives to students as long as the parents have given their consent. This way, those parents who want to protect their children may allow them to have access to birth control, and those who are against the idea don’t have to give their child access to the contraceptive. This is a highly controversial issue and often drives strong proponent reaction to such an issue involving teenagers. This is a strong case whose legal implications will have a strong impact on other rulings around the country if it is passed.
Monday, November 26, 2007
More tea, better health?
More tea, better health?
By Isela Reyes
You’ve seen it all over the place, in all those starbucks, or specialty drink stores, maybe even target. Wherever it may be, it seems like green tea has been popping up everywhere. And not just green tea; white tea, black tea, Tao tea and many more have been making its way to stores and starbucks alike. Is the sudden upswing in tea drinkers just people trying to mimic each other and jump on the wagon, or are they really drinking it strictly for the health benefits?
New research has been popping up about the benefits of drinking tea. Specifically green tea, also called Camellia Sinensis, has been used for vomiting, stomach disorders, diarrhea, as an antioxidant, to prevent dental cavities, to lower cholesterol levels, to reduce cancer, and as a stimulant. Green tea is a natural and cultural way of achieving health that differs from western medicine. Because it is all natural and has been proven to help people, the popularity of this drink has skyrocketed here in the U.S.
Recent studies show that tea can be a key part of a healthy diet for three reasons; it has no calories, it keeps you hydrated and because it is rich in phytonutrients which are plant based substances that are known to have health benefits. Studies also show that tea has more antioxidants than any other food and its benefits will help your health in the long run if ingested on a regular basis.
To reap the benefits of this antioxidant, phytonutrient rich tea, researchers recommend drinking four to five cups a day to really benefit from the tea. This will put you in the highest percent for protection against common illnesses like stroke and heart disease.
But reaserchers also advise that drinking so much tea is not without its bad side. Tea is strongly caffeinated, and that may pose a problem if you have conditions such as heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, an anxiety or nervous disorder, or a bleeding or blood clotting disorder. It is recommended if you have these conditions that you consult a health physician before making tea a regular part of your diet.
Also, some teas like green tea, has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. This could mean that all potential risks and advantages or disadvantages of green tea may not be known.
Whether you are a believer of the benefits of drinking tea, it is not an altogether new idea. People have been drinking tea for thousands of years. It has only recently been popularized in stores everywhere because of the recent studies that show the health benefits. Whether you like tea or are just curious, try a cup today and find out for yourself whether it really is a pleasant drink, or just another way of taking your vitamins.
By Isela Reyes
You’ve seen it all over the place, in all those starbucks, or specialty drink stores, maybe even target. Wherever it may be, it seems like green tea has been popping up everywhere. And not just green tea; white tea, black tea, Tao tea and many more have been making its way to stores and starbucks alike. Is the sudden upswing in tea drinkers just people trying to mimic each other and jump on the wagon, or are they really drinking it strictly for the health benefits?
New research has been popping up about the benefits of drinking tea. Specifically green tea, also called Camellia Sinensis, has been used for vomiting, stomach disorders, diarrhea, as an antioxidant, to prevent dental cavities, to lower cholesterol levels, to reduce cancer, and as a stimulant. Green tea is a natural and cultural way of achieving health that differs from western medicine. Because it is all natural and has been proven to help people, the popularity of this drink has skyrocketed here in the U.S.
Recent studies show that tea can be a key part of a healthy diet for three reasons; it has no calories, it keeps you hydrated and because it is rich in phytonutrients which are plant based substances that are known to have health benefits. Studies also show that tea has more antioxidants than any other food and its benefits will help your health in the long run if ingested on a regular basis.
To reap the benefits of this antioxidant, phytonutrient rich tea, researchers recommend drinking four to five cups a day to really benefit from the tea. This will put you in the highest percent for protection against common illnesses like stroke and heart disease.
But reaserchers also advise that drinking so much tea is not without its bad side. Tea is strongly caffeinated, and that may pose a problem if you have conditions such as heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, an anxiety or nervous disorder, or a bleeding or blood clotting disorder. It is recommended if you have these conditions that you consult a health physician before making tea a regular part of your diet.
Also, some teas like green tea, has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. This could mean that all potential risks and advantages or disadvantages of green tea may not be known.
Whether you are a believer of the benefits of drinking tea, it is not an altogether new idea. People have been drinking tea for thousands of years. It has only recently been popularized in stores everywhere because of the recent studies that show the health benefits. Whether you like tea or are just curious, try a cup today and find out for yourself whether it really is a pleasant drink, or just another way of taking your vitamins.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies
By Isela Reyes
What do you get when you combine a guy with freaky abilities, a girl who is alive but supposed to be dead, a private investigator who is not above using shady tactics to collect a reward and a bubbly waitress? You get a new hit TV show called Pushing Daisies.
Pushing Daisies is a show about a boy named Ned who realized he had the ability to revive dead people simply by touching them. But he soon realized that his ability was not without its pitfalls. If he touched that person a second time then they would die again, permanently. If he chose to leave them alive, it would result in the death of another person within close proximity. Fast forward a couple years and Ned has used his abilities to open up a pie shop. When a private investigator accidentally discovers Ned’s abilities, he convinces him to help him solve murder cases and in exchange he will split the reward money. But Ned’s life changes when one case leads him to his childhood crush…dead. Ned brings Chuck back to life and chooses to keep her alive. After solving her case, Chuck goes back with Ned to work in his pie shop and help solve the murder cases.
This show has got all the elements needed to make it a hit. It’s got a fresh new plot that is unlike anything out today, which help to give it its own sense of uniqueness. It’s great cast, amazing narration and creative writers mix together to give you a show that’s like a fresh breath of air compared to everything out their today.
If you are looking for a break from all the criminal, drama, and played out comedies, then Pushing Daisies is the show for you. I never watched Pushing Daisies until this assignment, although my sister tunes in to it religiously, but since watching it, I know where I am going to be every Wednesday night at eight.
By Isela Reyes
What do you get when you combine a guy with freaky abilities, a girl who is alive but supposed to be dead, a private investigator who is not above using shady tactics to collect a reward and a bubbly waitress? You get a new hit TV show called Pushing Daisies.
Pushing Daisies is a show about a boy named Ned who realized he had the ability to revive dead people simply by touching them. But he soon realized that his ability was not without its pitfalls. If he touched that person a second time then they would die again, permanently. If he chose to leave them alive, it would result in the death of another person within close proximity. Fast forward a couple years and Ned has used his abilities to open up a pie shop. When a private investigator accidentally discovers Ned’s abilities, he convinces him to help him solve murder cases and in exchange he will split the reward money. But Ned’s life changes when one case leads him to his childhood crush…dead. Ned brings Chuck back to life and chooses to keep her alive. After solving her case, Chuck goes back with Ned to work in his pie shop and help solve the murder cases.
This show has got all the elements needed to make it a hit. It’s got a fresh new plot that is unlike anything out today, which help to give it its own sense of uniqueness. It’s great cast, amazing narration and creative writers mix together to give you a show that’s like a fresh breath of air compared to everything out their today.
If you are looking for a break from all the criminal, drama, and played out comedies, then Pushing Daisies is the show for you. I never watched Pushing Daisies until this assignment, although my sister tunes in to it religiously, but since watching it, I know where I am going to be every Wednesday night at eight.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
A Vision of Students Today
By Isela Reyes
The video that was posted on you tube, A Vision of Students today, is a very powerful video for all that watch it. Created by a professor in Kansas State and student contributions, this video speaks volumes about our educational system in colleges across the country.
Every year students pay an exorbitant tuition fee for just being able to go to class. And it seems as though every year that fee continues to grow, at least it feels that way here at Sacramento State. One of the notes that a student raised in the video that really stood out to me was how her neighbor in class pays these large tuition fees every semester, and yet this person never shows up in class to benefit from those dollars they are paying simply to sit in class. And the worst part about it to me is that students pay these fees to go to a school that has so many students enrolled, that the ratio from students to teachers is unbelievable. The student who wrote that her average class size is a whopping one hundred and fifteen, made me stop and really think about what we are paying for.
Like her, my classes are also very large, large enough that in half of my classes my teachers don’t even know their students names. Although I know in other classes that average is much lower, like the student who said that only eighteen percent of her teachers know her by name. These days, students are just faces in a crowd to our professors, and I’m not saying it’s their fault. On the contrary, how can you blame them when they get classes so large that it would take up a good portion of the semester just trying to learn all of their names? Some professors really try to know their students by name despite this. Like two of my professors this semester, whose classes were so large but they still wanted to be able to know us. So they brought in their cameras and asked to take our pictures and write our names under them just so that they can quickly get to know who is who in their classes.
One other thing that is very important is the purchase of textbooks. One student in the video said that he bought a hundred dollar textbook that he has yet to open. That is the one thing that bothers me the most after the high price we pay for tuition. When I first began school here at Sacramento State, I would by all of my books every semester so that I would be prepared with all the information that I would need to pass the class. Or that’s what I thought. Why else would our professors make us buy these books if they weren’t going to help us in school, right? Fast forward to the present and I am bitter about the fact that year after year, semester after semester I have spent hundreds of dollars on books that I rarely, if ever, used. I have a new method when it comes to books, I simply do not buy them unless by some miracle I actually have a professor who asks us to use our books to obtain information that they include in our tests. And you know what? I haven’t bought a single textbook this semester because I have yet to need or use them.
Why is this? We all need to stop and think about what is going on in our college campuses across the country. Why are students paying for an overpriced education in which they are forced to sit in overcrowded classrooms where their teachers will probably never know their name with an overpriced textbook that they will never use?
The video that was posted on you tube, A Vision of Students today, is a very powerful video for all that watch it. Created by a professor in Kansas State and student contributions, this video speaks volumes about our educational system in colleges across the country.
Every year students pay an exorbitant tuition fee for just being able to go to class. And it seems as though every year that fee continues to grow, at least it feels that way here at Sacramento State. One of the notes that a student raised in the video that really stood out to me was how her neighbor in class pays these large tuition fees every semester, and yet this person never shows up in class to benefit from those dollars they are paying simply to sit in class. And the worst part about it to me is that students pay these fees to go to a school that has so many students enrolled, that the ratio from students to teachers is unbelievable. The student who wrote that her average class size is a whopping one hundred and fifteen, made me stop and really think about what we are paying for.
Like her, my classes are also very large, large enough that in half of my classes my teachers don’t even know their students names. Although I know in other classes that average is much lower, like the student who said that only eighteen percent of her teachers know her by name. These days, students are just faces in a crowd to our professors, and I’m not saying it’s their fault. On the contrary, how can you blame them when they get classes so large that it would take up a good portion of the semester just trying to learn all of their names? Some professors really try to know their students by name despite this. Like two of my professors this semester, whose classes were so large but they still wanted to be able to know us. So they brought in their cameras and asked to take our pictures and write our names under them just so that they can quickly get to know who is who in their classes.
One other thing that is very important is the purchase of textbooks. One student in the video said that he bought a hundred dollar textbook that he has yet to open. That is the one thing that bothers me the most after the high price we pay for tuition. When I first began school here at Sacramento State, I would by all of my books every semester so that I would be prepared with all the information that I would need to pass the class. Or that’s what I thought. Why else would our professors make us buy these books if they weren’t going to help us in school, right? Fast forward to the present and I am bitter about the fact that year after year, semester after semester I have spent hundreds of dollars on books that I rarely, if ever, used. I have a new method when it comes to books, I simply do not buy them unless by some miracle I actually have a professor who asks us to use our books to obtain information that they include in our tests. And you know what? I haven’t bought a single textbook this semester because I have yet to need or use them.
Why is this? We all need to stop and think about what is going on in our college campuses across the country. Why are students paying for an overpriced education in which they are forced to sit in overcrowded classrooms where their teachers will probably never know their name with an overpriced textbook that they will never use?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Christmas
Christmas
By Isela Reyes
My favorite holiday wasn't always Christmas. Every year as a child I would always look forward to Easter, because it was always a time of gathering, family, good food and candy hunting. What child wouldn't like Easter. I never paid much attention to Christmas, it just always came and went, noticable mosty in stores where crowds would gather to buy their christmas gifts for others. I think my change of mind came when I began working in retail.
I started working for a large scale retailer in 2004, and over the years I have begun to look forward to Christmas season. It's not just the actual day that I like, but the whole season and the anticipation that builds and leads up to the day. My favorite time of the year is the winter, and that adds to my love of Christmas. I love stepping outside in the biting cold, all wrapped up in layers of coats, sweaters, scarves, gloves and boots. Seeing your breath come out in little puffs of air and sometimes sliding on the frozen frost that sparkles on the grass like tiny diamonds. It's a beatiful time during winter and having Christmas in the middle of winter just adds to it's charm for me.
Now I realize what I am about to say next may be cause for embarrassment, but I have to admit that I love that really cheesy christmas music that department stores play during the holidays. I look forward to the day after thanksgiving when I come in to work and the christmas music is already on. Christmas music always makes me feel better when I may not be having so great a day, it always lifts my spirits and makes me feel happy again.
What I especially love about Christmas is seeing all the gaudy decorations that you see draped across people's homes and scattered inside stores. Why, just yesterday in my own store we recieved a bunch of nutcrackers, ornaments and tree cloths. Just looking at them filled me with anticipation of the coming season. I love seeing the cute little santa's and snowmen ornaments that fill up the shelves of stores, each different and unique. All of these elements combine to make my Christmas my favorite holiday and time the year.
By Isela Reyes
My favorite holiday wasn't always Christmas. Every year as a child I would always look forward to Easter, because it was always a time of gathering, family, good food and candy hunting. What child wouldn't like Easter. I never paid much attention to Christmas, it just always came and went, noticable mosty in stores where crowds would gather to buy their christmas gifts for others. I think my change of mind came when I began working in retail.
I started working for a large scale retailer in 2004, and over the years I have begun to look forward to Christmas season. It's not just the actual day that I like, but the whole season and the anticipation that builds and leads up to the day. My favorite time of the year is the winter, and that adds to my love of Christmas. I love stepping outside in the biting cold, all wrapped up in layers of coats, sweaters, scarves, gloves and boots. Seeing your breath come out in little puffs of air and sometimes sliding on the frozen frost that sparkles on the grass like tiny diamonds. It's a beatiful time during winter and having Christmas in the middle of winter just adds to it's charm for me.
Now I realize what I am about to say next may be cause for embarrassment, but I have to admit that I love that really cheesy christmas music that department stores play during the holidays. I look forward to the day after thanksgiving when I come in to work and the christmas music is already on. Christmas music always makes me feel better when I may not be having so great a day, it always lifts my spirits and makes me feel happy again.
What I especially love about Christmas is seeing all the gaudy decorations that you see draped across people's homes and scattered inside stores. Why, just yesterday in my own store we recieved a bunch of nutcrackers, ornaments and tree cloths. Just looking at them filled me with anticipation of the coming season. I love seeing the cute little santa's and snowmen ornaments that fill up the shelves of stores, each different and unique. All of these elements combine to make my Christmas my favorite holiday and time the year.
Monday, October 15, 2007
NutriSystem
NutriSystem
By Isela Reyes
When my sister decided to get healthier she turned to a new eating program called NutriSystem. Designed to help you lose weight by controlling what you eat, the program promises results if used diligently. NutriSystem delivers a five week program of food right at your doorstep that consists of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts. The program also allows you to have unlimited fruits and vegetables.
The NutriSystem program is designed to include low glycemic index carbohydrates and the right amounts of protein and fiber, yet still be low in fat. The glycemic index means that the program includes the good type of carbohydrates that will allow for you to still enjoy pasta’s and certain desserts without having to sacrifice them. The meals are to be eaten five times a day to help reduce cravings between meals.
Always skeptical of dieting programs, I nonetheless supported my sister’s efforts at a healthier lifestyle. I too cut back on junk food and began eating healthier to support her, and together we joined a gym to complement our healthier eating habits. Once the food was delivered and sorted, my sister began the system the following morning.
Fast forward to five weeks and my sister has successfully completed her first round of NutriSystem and was sufficiently satisfied that she continued with a new shipment. A little wary from her first round she was more specific in ordering her food choices as the first time around was hit or miss as far as food preferences went. Confident that she would now enjoy all her meals as she now knew what she liked from the choices, my sister eagerly began the second round.
Her eagerness to continue with the program came from her satisfaction with the system. Within three weeks my sister had lost thirteen pounds from sticking to the program, eating unlimited fruits and vegetables and including physical exercise in her regimen. I myself became more of a believer and was happy for my sister. The reason the program works is because it is real food, eaten in smaller portions throughout the day and includes more fruits and vegetables than a person would normally consume in a day.
Now I know at this point most people would think, isn’t that something that anybody can do at home without paying money to some dieting company? The obvious answer is yes, but for most people it is hard to do because it all stems from our daily habits. To stick to such a plan requires such iron will and determination that quite frankly is hard for anyone to stick to. The great thing about NutriSystem is that it is a program that can help get you on track and on the right path to change your eating habits. Once you have been through a few months of the program, your habits have already changed for the better and with the weight loss it is much easier to maintain healthier eating habits once you decide you no longer need to use the program.
Seeing the change in my sister for the better has made me a believer of NutriSystem and that it can change your eating habits for the better. People may choose to mock dieting systems as a ploy to cheat people out of their money by praying on their desperation to lose weight. While I agree that there are a lot of scams out there, I believe that NutriSystem is a great program and if anyone were to ask, I would recommend it and tell people how it helped my sister.
By Isela Reyes
When my sister decided to get healthier she turned to a new eating program called NutriSystem. Designed to help you lose weight by controlling what you eat, the program promises results if used diligently. NutriSystem delivers a five week program of food right at your doorstep that consists of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts. The program also allows you to have unlimited fruits and vegetables.
The NutriSystem program is designed to include low glycemic index carbohydrates and the right amounts of protein and fiber, yet still be low in fat. The glycemic index means that the program includes the good type of carbohydrates that will allow for you to still enjoy pasta’s and certain desserts without having to sacrifice them. The meals are to be eaten five times a day to help reduce cravings between meals.
Always skeptical of dieting programs, I nonetheless supported my sister’s efforts at a healthier lifestyle. I too cut back on junk food and began eating healthier to support her, and together we joined a gym to complement our healthier eating habits. Once the food was delivered and sorted, my sister began the system the following morning.
Fast forward to five weeks and my sister has successfully completed her first round of NutriSystem and was sufficiently satisfied that she continued with a new shipment. A little wary from her first round she was more specific in ordering her food choices as the first time around was hit or miss as far as food preferences went. Confident that she would now enjoy all her meals as she now knew what she liked from the choices, my sister eagerly began the second round.
Her eagerness to continue with the program came from her satisfaction with the system. Within three weeks my sister had lost thirteen pounds from sticking to the program, eating unlimited fruits and vegetables and including physical exercise in her regimen. I myself became more of a believer and was happy for my sister. The reason the program works is because it is real food, eaten in smaller portions throughout the day and includes more fruits and vegetables than a person would normally consume in a day.
Now I know at this point most people would think, isn’t that something that anybody can do at home without paying money to some dieting company? The obvious answer is yes, but for most people it is hard to do because it all stems from our daily habits. To stick to such a plan requires such iron will and determination that quite frankly is hard for anyone to stick to. The great thing about NutriSystem is that it is a program that can help get you on track and on the right path to change your eating habits. Once you have been through a few months of the program, your habits have already changed for the better and with the weight loss it is much easier to maintain healthier eating habits once you decide you no longer need to use the program.
Seeing the change in my sister for the better has made me a believer of NutriSystem and that it can change your eating habits for the better. People may choose to mock dieting systems as a ploy to cheat people out of their money by praying on their desperation to lose weight. While I agree that there are a lot of scams out there, I believe that NutriSystem is a great program and if anyone were to ask, I would recommend it and tell people how it helped my sister.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
You Tube
You Tube
Isela Reyes
You Tube is a website much like myspace, in which people can log on and make videos of themselves and broadcast it online. You tube has quite literally become a cultural phenomenon since it exploded onto the internet scene in 2005. It was created my three friends who were all previously Paypal employees. They decided to create a website where people could go online and post, upload and share their videos with other online users. By allowing people to record and post their own videos on the website, the possibility of being viewed by millions is very much a possibility.
You tube has created an endless amount of possibilities for many entrepreneurs who use the website as a means to further their careers by posting videos of their products or business ventures. It is also used as a means for exposure by musicians who are looking to be discovered. The group Ok Go is a perfect example of this. They posted their you tube video of their song Here It Goes Again in which the whole video consists of them moving around in harmony on a bunch of treadmills that are lined up together while they do tricks on them. Since then, they have had their song become a hit worldwide and were even asked to perform at the MTV Music Awards.
Although their can be some positive things about you tube there are always the negative aspects that come along with an open internet site. Since its creation, you tube has had some issues with the content of videos that are being posted. To combat this, the website has posted some restrictions such as some videos only being allowed to be viewed by those eighteen and older if the contents are offensive to some. There has been a large outcry about you tube and the negative postings that are on the website. Some examples include postings by people that show others engaging in physical violence, sex, drug use and even animal cruelty. Some countries who do not approve of you tube have gone as far as banning it from their country, such as Brazil and Morocco.
I believe you tube can be a great way to express yourself and to people across the world. However I do believe there are some people who abuse the website, and when I mean abuse it I am referring to posting inappropriate videos that may contain violence, sex and drug use. This is a website that has millions of people logging on each day, and a large portion of them are children. The last thing we as adults want to do is expose them to those over video postings on the internet. I think it’s great that there are some restrictions to prevent this from happening but there are always ways to get around those. I think they need to reevaluate what the best way to allow safe, fun postings for everyone.
As a journalism student, I think you tube can be a great tool when looking for a story. You tube can give you a great lead on a story or it can be the story. This website is a great way for journalism students to find story ideas and leads. It’s also a great tool for professional journalists. However, they should express caution when using these as a basis for a story, as anything that is posted could be fictitious or simply a prank.
Isela Reyes
You Tube is a website much like myspace, in which people can log on and make videos of themselves and broadcast it online. You tube has quite literally become a cultural phenomenon since it exploded onto the internet scene in 2005. It was created my three friends who were all previously Paypal employees. They decided to create a website where people could go online and post, upload and share their videos with other online users. By allowing people to record and post their own videos on the website, the possibility of being viewed by millions is very much a possibility.
You tube has created an endless amount of possibilities for many entrepreneurs who use the website as a means to further their careers by posting videos of their products or business ventures. It is also used as a means for exposure by musicians who are looking to be discovered. The group Ok Go is a perfect example of this. They posted their you tube video of their song Here It Goes Again in which the whole video consists of them moving around in harmony on a bunch of treadmills that are lined up together while they do tricks on them. Since then, they have had their song become a hit worldwide and were even asked to perform at the MTV Music Awards.
Although their can be some positive things about you tube there are always the negative aspects that come along with an open internet site. Since its creation, you tube has had some issues with the content of videos that are being posted. To combat this, the website has posted some restrictions such as some videos only being allowed to be viewed by those eighteen and older if the contents are offensive to some. There has been a large outcry about you tube and the negative postings that are on the website. Some examples include postings by people that show others engaging in physical violence, sex, drug use and even animal cruelty. Some countries who do not approve of you tube have gone as far as banning it from their country, such as Brazil and Morocco.
I believe you tube can be a great way to express yourself and to people across the world. However I do believe there are some people who abuse the website, and when I mean abuse it I am referring to posting inappropriate videos that may contain violence, sex and drug use. This is a website that has millions of people logging on each day, and a large portion of them are children. The last thing we as adults want to do is expose them to those over video postings on the internet. I think it’s great that there are some restrictions to prevent this from happening but there are always ways to get around those. I think they need to reevaluate what the best way to allow safe, fun postings for everyone.
As a journalism student, I think you tube can be a great tool when looking for a story. You tube can give you a great lead on a story or it can be the story. This website is a great way for journalism students to find story ideas and leads. It’s also a great tool for professional journalists. However, they should express caution when using these as a basis for a story, as anything that is posted could be fictitious or simply a prank.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Peter Schrag
Peter Schrag
By Isela Reyes
Peter Schrag was born in Germany and came to the U.S. at a young age. He was raised in New York, where he attended public schools. Schrag graduated from Amherst College in 1953 and has been a lifelong journalist, writing for over forty years, most notably about education and other public policy issues. Schrag began his career at the El Paso Herald Post where he was a reporter and has worked for other publications including the New Public, the Atlantic, Harper’s, the New Nation, and the New York Times among others. Schrag has also worked for the Sacramento Bee where he held the position of editorial page editor for nineteen years and where he still writes weekly columns. One of Schrag’s books, Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, America’s Future was awarded New York Times Notable Book in 1998.
To be honest, when we were first given the assignment to profile a columnist, I was not sure who I would choose. I gather most of my news from the internet, much to the horror of one of my professors and his “generation” as he so worded it in class one evening (not Fitzgerald). Therefore, I was unsure of who to choose. I don’t follow any one news publication religiously; rather I gather my news in snatches from whatever newspaper, internet article or TV news that happens to be on or near me at the time. So when I happened upon a review of Peter Schrag, it peaked my interest because of how he expressed his writing about California education. It is no secret to Californians that the school system is suffering from overcrowding, lack of resources and teachers, but Schrag addresses these very same issues with the understanding of someone who has spent years studying them and whose own children attend.
In his book, Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, America’s Future Schrag addresses this very same issue, but goes back to what he states are the origin of this issue. In his book, Schrag writes that California was the leading state in everything from politics, to education to speedy freeways, but that has given way beginning in 1978 with the passing of proposition 13, which was a tax-cutting initiative, which began the downfall of California’s classrooms. Schrag argues that California may very well be the perfect example for the rest of the nation of what may become across the country if it is not properly addressed. He states that California has been the leading example for the country as a state that has adopted every controversial method first and that continues to be the leader in adopting new measures before anyone else. He also believes that if the issue of California schools continues unchanged, it may also serve as an unfortunate example of what other states will become as well.
Schrag has been writing for California for years addressing not only the issue of education but politics as well. Having served at the Sacramento Bee for so long he also serves a number of publications who continue to post his articles. I chose Schrag because he addresses issues as close at heart to me as a Californian, as a journalism student and as a member of this society.
By Isela Reyes
Peter Schrag was born in Germany and came to the U.S. at a young age. He was raised in New York, where he attended public schools. Schrag graduated from Amherst College in 1953 and has been a lifelong journalist, writing for over forty years, most notably about education and other public policy issues. Schrag began his career at the El Paso Herald Post where he was a reporter and has worked for other publications including the New Public, the Atlantic, Harper’s, the New Nation, and the New York Times among others. Schrag has also worked for the Sacramento Bee where he held the position of editorial page editor for nineteen years and where he still writes weekly columns. One of Schrag’s books, Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, America’s Future was awarded New York Times Notable Book in 1998.
To be honest, when we were first given the assignment to profile a columnist, I was not sure who I would choose. I gather most of my news from the internet, much to the horror of one of my professors and his “generation” as he so worded it in class one evening (not Fitzgerald). Therefore, I was unsure of who to choose. I don’t follow any one news publication religiously; rather I gather my news in snatches from whatever newspaper, internet article or TV news that happens to be on or near me at the time. So when I happened upon a review of Peter Schrag, it peaked my interest because of how he expressed his writing about California education. It is no secret to Californians that the school system is suffering from overcrowding, lack of resources and teachers, but Schrag addresses these very same issues with the understanding of someone who has spent years studying them and whose own children attend.
In his book, Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, America’s Future Schrag addresses this very same issue, but goes back to what he states are the origin of this issue. In his book, Schrag writes that California was the leading state in everything from politics, to education to speedy freeways, but that has given way beginning in 1978 with the passing of proposition 13, which was a tax-cutting initiative, which began the downfall of California’s classrooms. Schrag argues that California may very well be the perfect example for the rest of the nation of what may become across the country if it is not properly addressed. He states that California has been the leading example for the country as a state that has adopted every controversial method first and that continues to be the leader in adopting new measures before anyone else. He also believes that if the issue of California schools continues unchanged, it may also serve as an unfortunate example of what other states will become as well.
Schrag has been writing for California for years addressing not only the issue of education but politics as well. Having served at the Sacramento Bee for so long he also serves a number of publications who continue to post his articles. I chose Schrag because he addresses issues as close at heart to me as a Californian, as a journalism student and as a member of this society.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Climate Change
Isela Reyes
Climate Change
Bush continues to reject the Kyoto Protocol, whose purpose is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that could result in disastrous climate changes, sparking criticism among international leaders. The Kyoto Protocol, which opened up for signatures in 1997 but did not come into action until 2005, would lower greenhouse gas emissions through mandatory cuts that would put a limit to the amount of gas emissions that a country produces. Bush has stated that he is not against lowering greenhouse gasses; rather, he is opposed to a treaty that does not have 100 percent participation, noting that India and China have certain exemptions that he does not agree with.
Bush’ rejection of the Kyoto Protocol was never more apparent then on Monday, during the United Nations climate change summit, held in New York where republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, talked of a new plan that would “move past the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and includes developing and wealthy nations”.
Schwarzenegger also called on California as a major contributor that could get the ball rolling on helping the U.S. do its part to lower the amount of greenhouse gasses it produces. According to Schwarzenegger, California is responsible for changing the U.S. policy regarding climate change, doing so to bring a positive change where the Bush camp is doing nothing to reform. California has jumped on board this year when Schwarzenegger signed a 2006 law that requires the state to lower the amount of emissions 25 percent by the year 2020. The warp speed at which California moves through everything from politics to economy can help serve the country by pushing other states to follow its example. Specifically, Schwarzenegger wants California to pave the way for more affordable “clean technology” making it more affordable and as a result, more attainable to the greater public, which in turn will curb the greenhouse gas emissions that the United States contributes.
All the campaigning by Schwarzenegger and other international leaders is great, but may be to late according to scientists, who say that the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate are already present. The recent hit of storms and hurricanes over the past few years are most likely due to the damage already done to the climate, noting that the increase in the number and strength of recent hurricanes like Katrina and Wilma are a direct result of climate change. According to scientists, when global temperatures change, the amount and strength of hurricanes also increase. Scientists are also predicting that the glaciers will melt away within 50 years, which can lead to rising sea levels.
The changes caused by the increase in global temperatures is too late to stop because it is already here, but it is still possible to change the future by preventing the climate from changing any more than it has to, according to scientists. To do this, the United Nations needs to work together collectively to create a policy that will help change the worlds future. Something that Bush says he is not opposed to; rather he encourages a policy that will include full participation by all countries.
Climate Change
Bush continues to reject the Kyoto Protocol, whose purpose is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that could result in disastrous climate changes, sparking criticism among international leaders. The Kyoto Protocol, which opened up for signatures in 1997 but did not come into action until 2005, would lower greenhouse gas emissions through mandatory cuts that would put a limit to the amount of gas emissions that a country produces. Bush has stated that he is not against lowering greenhouse gasses; rather, he is opposed to a treaty that does not have 100 percent participation, noting that India and China have certain exemptions that he does not agree with.
Bush’ rejection of the Kyoto Protocol was never more apparent then on Monday, during the United Nations climate change summit, held in New York where republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, talked of a new plan that would “move past the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and includes developing and wealthy nations”.
Schwarzenegger also called on California as a major contributor that could get the ball rolling on helping the U.S. do its part to lower the amount of greenhouse gasses it produces. According to Schwarzenegger, California is responsible for changing the U.S. policy regarding climate change, doing so to bring a positive change where the Bush camp is doing nothing to reform. California has jumped on board this year when Schwarzenegger signed a 2006 law that requires the state to lower the amount of emissions 25 percent by the year 2020. The warp speed at which California moves through everything from politics to economy can help serve the country by pushing other states to follow its example. Specifically, Schwarzenegger wants California to pave the way for more affordable “clean technology” making it more affordable and as a result, more attainable to the greater public, which in turn will curb the greenhouse gas emissions that the United States contributes.
All the campaigning by Schwarzenegger and other international leaders is great, but may be to late according to scientists, who say that the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate are already present. The recent hit of storms and hurricanes over the past few years are most likely due to the damage already done to the climate, noting that the increase in the number and strength of recent hurricanes like Katrina and Wilma are a direct result of climate change. According to scientists, when global temperatures change, the amount and strength of hurricanes also increase. Scientists are also predicting that the glaciers will melt away within 50 years, which can lead to rising sea levels.
The changes caused by the increase in global temperatures is too late to stop because it is already here, but it is still possible to change the future by preventing the climate from changing any more than it has to, according to scientists. To do this, the United Nations needs to work together collectively to create a policy that will help change the worlds future. Something that Bush says he is not opposed to; rather he encourages a policy that will include full participation by all countries.
Monday, September 24, 2007
tainted spinach
Isela Reyes
The use of pesticides on plants raise questions over the safety of consuming fruits and vegetables that have been exposed to pesticides. More recently, her in northern California, we have seen a rise in food safety concern ever since the news coverage of local farms with products that have caused some people to end up in the hospital. More notably was the E.coli outbreak in 2006 believed to have originated from the spinach that was locally grown in the Salinas area. The FBI and the Food and Health organization believed the outbreak was caused by the intentional disregard for food safety procedures by the employees at the Salinas produce farm.
A number of tests issued to the Salinas farm concluded that there was no contamination of the E.coli in the processing center of the spinach. However, further testing in the surrounding areas showed that there was contamination in the feces found in the pasture that was adjacent to the spinach farm. The Salinas factory that processes the spinach now tests each batch of spinach before it is processed and shipped out.
The food safety ban was placed in late august to prevent further disease was lifted two months later in October and it is now safe to consume spinach once more.
The use of pesticides on plants raise questions over the safety of consuming fruits and vegetables that have been exposed to pesticides. More recently, her in northern California, we have seen a rise in food safety concern ever since the news coverage of local farms with products that have caused some people to end up in the hospital. More notably was the E.coli outbreak in 2006 believed to have originated from the spinach that was locally grown in the Salinas area. The FBI and the Food and Health organization believed the outbreak was caused by the intentional disregard for food safety procedures by the employees at the Salinas produce farm.
A number of tests issued to the Salinas farm concluded that there was no contamination of the E.coli in the processing center of the spinach. However, further testing in the surrounding areas showed that there was contamination in the feces found in the pasture that was adjacent to the spinach farm. The Salinas factory that processes the spinach now tests each batch of spinach before it is processed and shipped out.
The food safety ban was placed in late august to prevent further disease was lifted two months later in October and it is now safe to consume spinach once more.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Bad Service
Isela Reyes
Journalism 131
A recent trip to an Italian restaurant left me baffled as I walked out with my co-workers, wondering how service could have slipped to such a poor standard. On a recent trip to Walnut Creek for a work meeting, my co-workers and I decided to stop off and grab a bite at an Italian eatery. We arrived around one and were quickly seated at a table. Our server showed up and made the usual server chit chat before asking us if we wanted drinks. Once we were situated with our drinks, we began checking the menu for what we wanted. Our server returned minutes later and asked if we were ready to order. He began by telling us the special of the day −or he tried to. “Our special of the day is…ummm…” he began, staring at the ceiling as if it would magically reveal the answer he was looking for. He seemed far too pre-occupied with checking out my co-workers to remember much, as he lingered far too long at our table.
Talking over our salads much later, my co-worker Julie sets her wineglass down rather quickly with an odd expression on her face. “There’s a friend on my glass”, she says. Carolina and I lean over and see her friend, a spider that is sitting on her wine glass quite near to the rim. She motions to the nearest server who comes and takes her wineglass, looking as baffled as Julie and walks away without saying a word. Our original server appears moments later and brings Julie another wineglass with double the amount of wine she had as a sort of apology for the spider. Our food arrives minutes later and we all get down to business putting some serious dents in our food. Our server, who is obviously interested in Julie, interrupts our conversations more than necessary to ask how our meal is.
Later our plates are cleared away and our server asks if we would care for dessert, to which Julie and I pass, but Carolina orders a cappuccino. We are sitting at our table talking and waiting for Carolina’s cappuccino. Fifteen minutes pass and we begin to wonder where her drink is. We scan the restaurant and see our server leaning against the counter up front flirting with the hostess, oblivious and ignoring the tables he is in charge of. We wait five more minutes hoping he will get back on track, but to no avail. Carolina flags down the nearest server and asks them to cancel the cappuccino and just bring us the check. The server, not knowing what’s going on tells our server and he walks over and asks why Carolina wants to cancel her drink. “It’s just taking to long, we need to go”, she replies. “You know what” he answers, “I’m going to put your drink in a to-go cup, because I think you really want it”. His tone of voice is what really annoyed the three of us, he sounded like she was a child who didn’t know what she wanted and he was telling her in a very commanding and final tone that she was taking her drink to go. “That’s fine, can you just bring us our check?” was her frustrated reply. Amazingly we have to wait another five minutes for her drink and our check, making our total wait time for a cappuccino twenty five minutes. He handed us our check with a bag of cookies to make up for our lack of service, I’m assuming, and he didn’t even take the cappuccino off the tab for Carolina, which she later told me, she would have appreciated more than a few cookies.
Journalism 131
A recent trip to an Italian restaurant left me baffled as I walked out with my co-workers, wondering how service could have slipped to such a poor standard. On a recent trip to Walnut Creek for a work meeting, my co-workers and I decided to stop off and grab a bite at an Italian eatery. We arrived around one and were quickly seated at a table. Our server showed up and made the usual server chit chat before asking us if we wanted drinks. Once we were situated with our drinks, we began checking the menu for what we wanted. Our server returned minutes later and asked if we were ready to order. He began by telling us the special of the day −or he tried to. “Our special of the day is…ummm…” he began, staring at the ceiling as if it would magically reveal the answer he was looking for. He seemed far too pre-occupied with checking out my co-workers to remember much, as he lingered far too long at our table.
Talking over our salads much later, my co-worker Julie sets her wineglass down rather quickly with an odd expression on her face. “There’s a friend on my glass”, she says. Carolina and I lean over and see her friend, a spider that is sitting on her wine glass quite near to the rim. She motions to the nearest server who comes and takes her wineglass, looking as baffled as Julie and walks away without saying a word. Our original server appears moments later and brings Julie another wineglass with double the amount of wine she had as a sort of apology for the spider. Our food arrives minutes later and we all get down to business putting some serious dents in our food. Our server, who is obviously interested in Julie, interrupts our conversations more than necessary to ask how our meal is.
Later our plates are cleared away and our server asks if we would care for dessert, to which Julie and I pass, but Carolina orders a cappuccino. We are sitting at our table talking and waiting for Carolina’s cappuccino. Fifteen minutes pass and we begin to wonder where her drink is. We scan the restaurant and see our server leaning against the counter up front flirting with the hostess, oblivious and ignoring the tables he is in charge of. We wait five more minutes hoping he will get back on track, but to no avail. Carolina flags down the nearest server and asks them to cancel the cappuccino and just bring us the check. The server, not knowing what’s going on tells our server and he walks over and asks why Carolina wants to cancel her drink. “It’s just taking to long, we need to go”, she replies. “You know what” he answers, “I’m going to put your drink in a to-go cup, because I think you really want it”. His tone of voice is what really annoyed the three of us, he sounded like she was a child who didn’t know what she wanted and he was telling her in a very commanding and final tone that she was taking her drink to go. “That’s fine, can you just bring us our check?” was her frustrated reply. Amazingly we have to wait another five minutes for her drink and our check, making our total wait time for a cappuccino twenty five minutes. He handed us our check with a bag of cookies to make up for our lack of service, I’m assuming, and he didn’t even take the cappuccino off the tab for Carolina, which she later told me, she would have appreciated more than a few cookies.
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