How is the Economy Affecting You?

With the economy being in a downward spiral recently, it is no wonder that college students are no exception to the affects that it is having on everyone. College is already expensive, and most students help to pay for their own tuition and work while their in school. Now, prices are rising, companies are having layoffs, and employers are even cutting back hours to try and save themselves from this gloomy era we have now entered.
Now, with these hard times, many students are finding that they are being forced to cut back on the things they love and are used to in order to survive and still be able to afford college.
Amy-Renee Stevens was under the impression that her schooling would be paid for by her parents with the help of the stock market. Unfortunately, she and her family were not able to forecast the downturn of the market. “If the stocks had continued in the up rise as they were in the 90's I would have 156,000 dollars in my college fund... Instead I have 36,000. I have had to apply for loans, but since FAFSA goes off the year before's taxes there was no help there. In order to still afford tuition I have moved back in with my parents, am trying to find someone to fill my apt, got a job, and don't enjoy any of the luxuries I once did,” says Amy.
As a result, Amy has now been picking up more hours than she ever has in order to save money for her own schooling.
Like Amy, other students from the University of Cincinnati are also finding themselves cutting back, even if that means cutting back at school. Amanda Woodruff says, “Driving/parking is overrated and unnecessary not too mention overly priced. By not parking my car at UC for class I save about $800 a year which is two months rent or four and half months worth of groceries.”
When gas prices rose, it really made people feel pain at the pump and thus, many people took the same approach that Amanda did and cut back on their driving and transportation means.
Although cutting back on your fuel intake is one way to save money, many other college students are cutting back in every little way they can. Jeff Geiser said, “I try not to spend money on things I can live without. Lately I've been packing my lunch and try to only eat what I bought at the grocery store. If I want to go out drinking on the weekends, I usually will pregame a lot this way I don't spend as much money at the bar.”
So, when it comes to the problems that people are facing with the economy and their money situations (or lack there of), know that you are not alone. Guesses are that it has affected you or someone you know. All I can say is that hopefully things get better soon, for all of us.

Is the Economy Pushing People Over the Edge?

It seems as though the economic downfall has had an effect on everyone recently. More and more people have found themselves cutting back on little things that they used to not think twice about, like eating out on their lunch breaks or stopping for that Cappacino in the morning. Many businesses and corporations have had to resort to laying off employees, giving pay cuts, or even offering early retirement to ease their hardships.
With these difficult times, it is clear that everyone seems to be suffering somewhat but to what extent? Over the past few years I think it's astonishing how many people have resorted to hurting themselves or even their family members out of desperation to escape it all and to "save themselves".
Fox news recently reported on a story where a family of 7 was found shot dead in their California home. Apparently, Ervin Lupoe was so distraught over he and his wife losing their jobs as medical technicians in a Los Angeles medical center, that he took the lives of his family members and then himself.
His children were an 8-year-old girl, twin 5-year-old girls, and twin 2-year-old boys.
Although this is a devastating story, it brings light to how serious the economy is affecting individuals across the globe. It comes as an example of what kind of a toll the economy is having on some of the unemployed workers who, sadly, are resorting to violence, feeling that there is no other options.
Even though the world is suffering in a major economical way, it is sad that there has been such a rise in violence among families who feel that it is their only option out.
I just can't believe it every time I hear a story reported like this because I can't imagine being so distraught and overwhelmed that I would want to take any of my loved ones' lives.
These times may be hard but it is affecting everyone and there is always help out there for anyone. There are ways out and people should really pull together and lend helping hands to the ones most affected so that we will not have to hear about these devastating stories anymore.

Presidential Campaigns

I'll be honest. I hate hearing about the presidential campaigns and everything that goes with it. One thing that drives me crazy is the commercials. I think it is awful how they try to bash each other into the ground to make themselves look better. They dig up things from peoples' past and then exploit it all over television. I don't see how it makes them look better to put their opponents down like that. It's just a sick way to try and get to the top.
Along with the commercials, I also hate how the media constantly talks about it over and over again. I honestly don't keep up on the presidential campaign. And probably because of these reasons. By the time the election date rolls around, I'm so sick of hearing about it that I just want it to be over with.
The talk shows like the O'Reily Factor drive me nuts because they tend to be so opinionated and think that their candidate of choice is the only right way to go. This drives me crazy because I don't really care to constantly hear about everyone else's opinions on issues. Maybe once in awhile, but not all the time.
Basically, I already can't wait for it to be over with.

What's really important to the media?

One thing that drives me crazy about the media is that it seems they focus more on the celebrities and what's going on in their screwed up lives than on the subjects that really need to be addressed. One celebrity in particular is Britney Spears. I am so sick of hearing about her and her latest public outcry for attention. She along with Lindsey Lohan are two figures that the public hear way too much about.
In my opinion, I think there should be less of a focus on the irresponsible figures for the young people in the world and more of a focus on the serious issues that need to be addressed. Issues like: third world countries and the problems they are facing, the environmental issues that need some attention (extinction of animals, etc.), lives still being lost from the war, and the millions of children who are starving because they don't have any food and don't even have a home.
These are the issues that the public needs to hear about. Maybe then, there would be more people awakened to what is really going on in the world. The TV is filled with shows about celebrities and gossip about their lives but is that really important? I mean what do people get out of that for their own lives-nothing.
Kids growing up today are so brainwashed with everything in the media, like what your supposed to look like or what your supposed to wear. These children are looking up to the wrong figures and are going to lack the realistic direction in their life because they think that they should act as their favorite celebrity and if they act out it's ok.
It just really irritates me that there is such a focus on things of unimportance these days. I mean is this really the kind of thing that needs to be blasted over the TV everyday? It's irrelevant to the everday Americans life. What is relevant are the issues that are truly affecting people around the world and the truth is that something can be done about it.
Instead of focusing on Britney, Paris, and Lindsey, why doesn't the media turn their attention to the celebrities who are truly trying to make a difference and doing good for the people?

The strength of a Reporter

In the wake of the wild fires of California, I have chosen to write about the reporter who's house was destroyed. I'm not sure of the man's name but I do know that the firefighters evacuated all of his neighborhood, including him because it was in the fire's path. Once the officials gave the ok for the residents to go see if their house was still standing, he still took to his job as a reporter and went in with a microphone in his hand.
It was heartbreaking to see his reaction to his destroyed home. He said, "On any other given day, I would say, "welcome to my home." Unfortunately this is all that is left".
I was amazed to see how strong he was during the whole ordeal. If it were me, I don't know that I would be able to remain composed and be able to still go on air. He basically saw what was left of his home in front of millions of people watching the news.
I feel that he probably knew that he had to show all of America how severe this fire truly is, however I think that it was one instance where I would draw the line. Once a story becomes personal, it takes on a whole other angle.
I give him a lot of respect for what he did. I'm not sure how others would have handled the situation if it where them.

My Blog about Blogging

First of all, let me start out by saying that I am not a big fan of blogging--at all. I think that blogging is completely taking over every one's computers and Internet searches. I get so frustrated when I get on the computer to find out about a certain topic and then all of a sudden, I am overloaded with a ton of blogs that have nothing to do with what I'm searching about. The Blog may contain one word from my search and from that I am then bombarded by every ones opinions on the topic.
It's not like I didn't give blogging a chance, because I did. It took me a long time to even be able to obtain my own blog, which was highly frustrating. I can't tell you how many times I have forgotten my user name and password. Even through all of the frustration I thought maybe I would be able to get used to it. I am sorry to say that I haven't. I am now one of "them".
I feel that blogs are for people who are just dying to get their opinion out there. They feel that their voice has to be heard. I can somewhat understand this, however, I don't care to read others' opinions when all I'm trying to do is find legit information when doing an Internet search.
Now that I'm am part of the "blogoshere", I guess I have to just get used to it and realize that it does come in good use for certain aspects of the media. I think blogs are a good way for the media to get peoples opinions on certain issues (if they post it on their own website).
I guess I am now finished ranting about how much I dislike blogging for now.
Now, I hope I don't receive a ton of comments from the "pro blogging team" to inform me on how wrong I am.

Connecticut Post

My opinion on the Connecticut Post goes like this....
I feel very strongly that the names and details of the jurors should not have been released to the public. There could have been information released about them but their names should never have been released.
In a case so severe as this, it is very possible that the advocates on both sides could possibly retaliate on the jurors if the outcome doesn't turn out the way they would like to. I fear that the victims families could turn on the jurors if Mr. Peeler is not prosecuted and sentenced to death as they feel he should. On the other hand, if Mr. Peeler is convicted and put to death his family and friends wouldn't be satisfied and they too could retaliate.
This is such a strong subject for both familes so I feel that the jurors names should never have been released, especially with their occupations and area they are located. With this information, anyone could find out where they live and come after them. This is the type of information I personally, would never want to get out about myself because you become vulnerable to all the crazies in the world. In this case, there would be many people upset with the jurors no matter which conclusion they come to. Either way they go, someone is not going to be happy with their decision.
I can't believe they would list that type of information about the jurors just because I too, would never want that information released about me to anyone. The world has become too dangerous to give out everyone's personal information. Now I sound way too old but it's true. There is way to much violence and craziness going on.