Snooki is Pregnant

   This article is mostly about how Vinny, from Jersey Shore, thinks that his cast mate, Snooki, will be a good mother. In the article he says that he thinks it's a good wake up call and that she has already made drastic changes in her life. He doesn't think the show will change after this because it is too big of a hit and people get such a kick out of it.
   I'm not surprised that Snooki is pregnant, I'm surprised it hasn't happened before this. She is also now engaged to her boyfriend most likely due to the fact that she is expecting. Personally, I feel like the marriage won't last long at all. Not because it's Snooki but because her and her boyfriend fight so much on the show but who am I to judge? If they are both happy then great. Plus the TV show probably blows everything out of proportion just to get a good rating. It's amazing what people can do these days with just a little editing.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20581677,00.html

Benefits of Reading with Children

   Reading with children can significantly help them. It's fun, gives you a chance to bond,and it helps their literary and language skills. When reading to a child it's important to show them that you are also enjoying the book or else they will sense a lack of excitement and not enjoy reading either. It's also important to be dramatic when reading a book. It brings the story to life and will help them use inflection when they start reading on their own. Over time children will understand basic story structure. Ask them what happened at the beginning, middle and end of the book as it can help them understand and remember what happened int he book.
   I've always known that reading to kids is important for their development but I had no idea that you need to have enthusiasm and be dramatic with them. I especially didn't think that they could pick up on your lack of excitement and that it could cause them to not enjoy reading later in life. When I read to any kid from now on I'm going to be sure to be very excited about it and dramatic about the book.
http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Benefits-Does-Reading-With-Your-Children-Have?&id=2013723

Does Acupunture Help Depression?

   This website says that acupuncture definitely helps with depression. The author of this article uses acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine to help with emotional issues. Traditional Chinese medicine includes using things like herbal medications and dietary therapy. People who practice traditional Chinese medicine believe that to treat emotional issues, one must treat the physical body. They believe that depression is a blockage of ones internal organs (also known as "energy pathways.") Acupuncture is meant to release the blockages in ones energy pathways so one may feel relaxed again. Many people report being extremely calm after the needles have been inserted.
   Personally, I don't believe that you can be stressed because you have a "blockage" in an "energy pathway." I can understand that acupuncture can be relaxing but at the same time I don't think I could ever go through with it. I couldn't relax with a bunch of needles in my skin. I would be so worried that one would go too far in or one would be placed incorrectly and something terrible would happen. However, my biggest fear with acupuncture would be that I would roll over with all of the needles in my back and they would be jammed into my skin. I'm wincing at the thought of it right now. In any case, yes, people do believe that acupuncture can help depression.
http://kelliekrasovec.com/articles/anxiety-depression-or-insomnia-feel-better/

Music Can Help

   It has been proven that music can actually help one study. Certain music can put your mind in a sort of relaxed mood which can help you study better, do homework, and in general just concentrate better by cutting down the distractions. This is called the "Mozart Effect." It has been proven that listening to Mozart can help in the short-term with certain mental tasks.
   I have heard that listening to music can help you focus but I didn't know that it is mostly classical music. After reading this article I immediately went to look up Mozart music and started playing some. It's nice to listen to while working on school work because it doesn't have any words to it so if you need to talk to yourself to figure something out, you can. On the website it also gives a list of what type of music you should listen to depending on what you're doing/ what mood your in. I did know that music can change your mood and I've used that technique many times and it works quite well for me. I actually think that listening to Mozart while writing this has helped. I've finished this faster than most of my other blogs and I really don't mind the music at all.
http://uncc49er.com/622/music-can-help-you-study/

Can Your Name Affect Your Personality?

   This article seems to think that a child's name doesn't affect their personality. They give an example where a child named Winner grew up to lead a life of crime and a child named Loser grew up to graduate from collage and become a Sargent in the local police department. So were their actions effected by their names or were they just born to do those things?
   I think that it is simply impossible to tell if your name affects your personality. It's not like you were ever without your name so there really isn't a way to tell if you change by what your name is. I guess one could make the argument of people who change their names and how it might be because they feel that their personality didn't match up to their name, but other than that I really don't see how one could even try to experiment with this question.
http://filthyrichmind.com/2011/10/does-your-name-really-affect-your-personality/

The Origin of St. Patrick's Day

   This article says that St. Patrick's is actually a religious holiday and a cultural holiday. It celebrates Saint Patrick, the most recognized or the patron saints in Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is celebrated by wearing green, having parades, having a feast and, of course, drinking alcohol. Today St. Patrick's Day is probably the most widely celebrated saints day.
   I had no idea that St. Patrick's Day is when Christianity was 'brought' to Ireland. That is so cool! I guessed I never really thought about the reasoning behind St. Patrick's Day besides it just being another reason for people to go out and party. I find it really interesting that the celebration of Christianity in Ireland is celebrated by so many people who have zero ties to anything having to do with that day. I also find it funny that to celebrate it people go out and get drunk and party.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day

Can Music Affect Plant Growth?

   This article is all about how plants are effected by music. People have thought that classical music has positive effects on plants whereas rock music or other loud music has a negative effect. A recent study at the University of North Carolina has actually shown that plants that receive 100-110 decibels of noise grow better than those plants that don't. This article however, is not very decisive about the topic. It mostly says that one must do the experiment for the right reasons and not just to prove that rock music is harmful.
Personally, i didn't like this article. i was hoping to find something with a more definitive answer. This article basically just said that how plants react to music can't really be related to how humans react to music. It also said that while doing this experiment the conductor of it could see the results he or she would like the see and not the actual results. He or she could be biased toward one side or the other and the experiment would not be credible.
http://amelia-hill.suite101.com/does-music-affect-plant-growth-a282993

Are Crime and Race Related?

   This article is asking if crime and race are related. It says that African Americans make up only 13% of the United States population but they make up 39% of the incarcerated population. So are African Americans more likely to commit crime? Not necessarily. Of all the reasons that someone would commit a crime 60% of it has to do with what type of environment a child grew up in. A child in a poverty-stricken area is more likely to commit a crime than those who aren't. The same thing goes for children being raised by a single parent, If a child only has one parent they are more likely to commit some type of crime.
   This article didn't really surprise me that much. I guess the thing that shocked me the most was the percentages it showed at the beginning of the article. The fact that a child in a lower class area would be more likely to commit a crime makes total sense to me. Maybe the child needed to steal food to survive or maybe he or she needed to steal something to sell in order to pay for school or something. Now I'm not saying that it's okay; I'm just saying it's not all that surprising to me.
http://skovacs.wrytestuff.com/swa609105-Race-And-Crime-Is-Crime-Color-Related-Racism-In-America-And-Education.htm

Man Almost Dies After Drinking Red Bull

   This article says how a man, Matthew Penbross, almost died after drinking eight Red Bull's in five hours. He was at a motocross race and wanted an edge on his opponents. He said after the incident how important it is to get started and be the first person around the first corner. After finishing the race that day he noticed his heart was racing and all of the sudden he collapsed. An ambulance rushed to the scene and Matthew needed defibrillation. After his recovery, he said that warning labels need to be improved on energy drinks. The labels say that "X" amount should not be consumed but they do not say what will happen if you do drink too much. Matthew Penbross has sworn off Red Bull.
   Wow! That is really scary! I had no idea Red Bull could actually cause your heart to stop beating. I knew that energy drinks weren't good for you and could eventually harm your health but I didn't know they could stop your heart. I guess it makes since though. It raises your pulse which can put a strain on your heart.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/08/18/1186857834956.html

Should the United Staes Legalize Gay Marriage?

   This article talks about gay marriage and if it should be legalized or not. Certain states have already legalized same sex marriage but many haven't. Many states seem to be against it with the main argument being scripture or somehow religiously based even though the United States has no official religion. So if the United States has no official religion why can states use scripture as an argument against gay marriage?
   Personally, I think that gay marriage should be legal due to the fact that every person have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (specifically the pursuit of happiness.) I think that everyone has the right to  be happy and live the way they choose, and if that means they would like to marry someone of the same gender then so be it. I think that if the United States is considered to be secular then arguments using any kind of religious tie should not be credited or even listened to. Marriage isn't just about two people of the opposite gender but rather a relationship built on love, support, and trust. If someone finds that in their same gender then I see no problem with that. 50% of marriages end in divorce anyways so why not try something different? I doubt the gay community could do any worse.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2011/07/07/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-in-the-entire-united-states

The Latest and Greatest in Fashion

   Everyone realizes that in fashion there are trends. Things go in and out of style before you can even swipe your credit card. So how do we predict what will be "in" this season? There is actually a study called "fashion trend forecasting" or "fashion trend analysis." It's a process in which fashion experts analyze fashion history, current trends, and consumer and retail trends. Also, some fashion forecasting involves seeking out new styles and color schemes. Fashion forecasting is often done in over a year in advance and is used by many to choose what to make, buy, and carry in their lines. Fashion forecasts can actually be purchased online from certain companies. Research indicates that this whole idea is still pretty new but, it's developing quickly.
   I had no idea that there was even really such a thing as fashion forecasting. I always just thought it was designers kind of guessing at what might be popular next season and getting lucky. I'm surprised at how scientific it sounds. There is research and everything done for it. The thing that I think I'm most shocked at is how far in advance these predictions are made. I mean, an entire year in advance? How in the world could anyone possibly know what will be popular next season let alone next year? That just blows my mind. From now on I'll have more respect for those in the fashion industry.
http://www.baystaters.org/fashion-trend-forecasting/

The Effects of Chewing Gum

   Chewing gum is often a passtime in classes. It lets kids do something without actually doing something. It helps to keep some kids focused and gets others distracted. Chewing on some gum can actually help you feel less hungry. Chewing gum before an afternoon snack can help you eat (on average) 25 less calories. That's not a huge number but, over time even small numbers add up. A study was done on 60 adults between the ages of 18-54. Each person had a sweet and salty snack either after chewing gum or not chewing gum at all. Along with less calories consumed, patients were in a better mood due to less stress and anxioty.
   I love having gum. I probably have at least two pieces a day at school. I completely agree that it helps to keep you focused. It keeps you busy doing something without actually getting up and walking around or interupting a class. I didn't realize, however, that it could help to reduce ones appitite. I always just liked it because it keeps my breath fresh and it lets me keep busy. I would also completely agree that it helps relieve stress and puts me in somewhat of a better mood. I have had it in class where someone was bugging me but I wasn't going to say anything and I just chewed on my gum very forcefully and it made me feel better. Over all I just enjoy having gum while I'm in class.
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2007/10/effects-of-chewing-gum-and-fast-food-on-diet.ars

The Effects of Drinking Coffee

   Lots of people rely on caffeine to wake them up or to keep them going. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, making you feel less tired, and improving your focus. For most people the normal amount of caffeine (per day) is about 200-300 mg or about two to four cups of coffee. That amount isn't harmful but, once you start ingesting about 500-600 mg (per day) you might start noticing issues. Things including: insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stomach ache, fast heartbeat, and muscle tremors. Some people are more sensitive caffeine than others. Your sensitivity to caffeine might have to do with how much caffeine you ingest regularly. Other factors may include body mass, age, medication, and pre-existing conditions such as anxiety.  Research also shows that men are more susceptible to the effects of caffeine than women.
   I never knew that one gender would be more sensitive to caffeine than the other. I also never knew that there was a certain amount of caffeine you could have before you started noticing major side effects. I always just thought that once you were hyper that was the point at which you should stop drinking caffeine. I think its interesting how Americans are so addicted to coffee. I have a friend who tried to quit drinking coffee for a few weeks; she wouldn't do anything until about noon or one in the afternoon. I just find the effects of caffeine interesting.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/NU00600

Can Animals Help Humans Heal?

   Everyone knows that animals and humans share a special bond but this article says that this bond goes deeper than just emotional support. There are cases where dogs have detected cancer and seizures in humans. Several studies have credited pets with things like: lowering blood pressure, helping people cope with the lose of a loved one, better communication in a marriage, helping people cope with cancer, and even given a sense of consistency to foster children. There are also records of children having better posture, muscle control, and balance after riding horses. There are many remarkable stories of animals healing people.
  As a big animal lover I enjoyed reading this article. It's so heart-warming and just makes me happy in general. I have a dog and it gives me comfort knowing that some dogs can pick up on illnesses like cancer. I never really understood how animals could help people heal but i never doubted it either. I had heard that dogs can smell cancer but I always just assumed it was a myth. I find it interesting how animals can help people cope with things like the loss of a loved one. I never doubted that because my dog has helped me cope with things of that nature. I'm not sure how animals do it but, they sure make people feel good.
http://www.naturescornermagazine.com/healing_power.html

Does Weather Affect Our Mood?

   This article talks all about how weather can affect our mood. It says that when there is high humidity, people have less vigor and tend to want to just sit inside. While spirits tend to rise with increased time in the sun. After multiple studies it has been concluded that people differ in sensitivity to weather. Some people are greatly effected by weather while others just aren't. We are able to change our own feelings. You may not be able to make the sun shine but, you can still make yourself feel happy. At the same time, our brains release different hormones when we see light or lack there of. When we see darkness, our brain wants to go to sleep. When we see light, our brain says "Hey it's time to wake-up. let's be alert now." So when it's a nice, sunny day out everyone should go outside and enjoy it.
   I never really realized that weather could have such an impact on someones mood. I mean it makes sense that people are happier on sunny days and sadder on gloomy days but I guess I never really put the two together. In part of the article it says "rain is guilty by association, not causation." I think that makes sense but this article almost contradicts itself by saying that. It has that line towards the beginning but then it goes on later to say that our brains release hormones according to the light. I guess they are both partly true. Our brains do release hormones but at the same time we can change our mood at any point. I think a lot just depends on whats going on in your life.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/does-weather-really-affect-our-mood

How Birth Order Affects Personallity

This article is all about how birth order can affect a child's personality. It says that before just a few years ago there really was no research to back up the idea of birth order affecting a someones personality or IQ. It says that the size of the family matters. A child in a family with only two kids has a fifty percent chance of being the first born where a child with four other siblings has only a twenty percent chance of being the first born. More children mean that the parent's resources are spread more thinly and that could have something to do with it. They also say that ethnicity, wealth, and education might have something to do with it. In 2007, there was a study done that proved that a persons IQ has a small relevance to birth order. The study said that the oldest child would have the highest IQ and it would decrease as a family had more kids.
I find birth order very interesting. I can't quite decide if i believe it or not. There is evidence that shows common traits between children in the same birth order but I think that at the same time your personality depends on so much more then whether your the first born or last born. I think it depends on your family, friends, class type, (high class, middle class, and low class) and just how your raised in general. Even though i don't have a strong stance on birth order, I think it's very interesting to read about.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ruled-by-birth-order

Teen Mom Attacked

Leah Messer, a star on the TV show "Teen Mom," was attacked after exiting a movie theater this past weekend. As she was leaving a woman started to heckle her and called her names. She did her best to ignore the woman but suddenly two other women showed up and started to join in the fun. Not only was Leah verbally abused but the three women started to hit her. Luckily for Leah Messer, her fiance was there and so was a security guard to help pull the women off her. She sustained considerable damage to her face and neck.
I think this is just ridiculous. Why would someone bother to go out of their way to harass and even get physical with someone you don't even know? Why did that woman choose to pick on Leah? Was it because this woman doesn't agree with the fact that Leah got pregnant before she was married? Or did this woman just just choose to pick on some random person that just so happened to be a teen mom? My real question though is what was up with the two other women joining in on the fight? Did they just see a fight and go "Hey! That looks like fun! Let's join in!" Or did they recognize Leah? I think that violence is wrong and I see absolutely no point in fights, especially this one.
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/teen-mom-2-star-leah-messer-attacked-women-w-va-saved-fiance-jeremy-calvert-article-1.1026475?localLinksEnabled=false

Five Things to do to Help the Earth

   This article is all about how to save the earth and the ten best ways to do that. The first way you can help is watch how much water you use. Every time you turn off the water while your brushing your teeth makes a difference. The second way you can help is driving less. If possible, try to combine your errands as much as possible. Thirdly, you can walk or ride a bike more. Not only will you save gasoline but you will burn calories. The fourth way to help is simple; all you need to do is recycle. It's as simple putting a soda can in a different bin. The filth way to help the planet is to compost. A plus to composting is that it's a great natural fertilizer.
   I think that it is really important to try to take care of our earth. God put us here to be stewards of this earth and to take care of it. I think that the best ways to help save our earth are also the easiest. Take recycling for example; it's honestly as easy as putting a pop can in a different bin. Some people might not recycle because they think that it doesn't help that much or they think that it's a pain to get up and walk the other way to recycle a pop can. To me that is just pathetic. I can't stand it when people say or do things like that. The bottom line is that we need to care for our earth or it really might end in 2012.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/save-earth-top-ten.htm

Remember that Dream?

This article talks about how to better recall your dreams. It offers suggestions on what to do to remember your dreams better  First it says that to really help your dream recall skills you must desire to remember what your dreams were. You must believe that remembering your dreams will benefit you somehow. Second, you should understand that dream recall is like a muscle. If you use it often then, it will become stronger. Also, if you choose not to use it often, it could shrink. This article suggests that you keep a journal at your bedside to record your dreams and other thoughts when you wake. It suggests that should tell yourself what time you wish to wake up without using an alarm as this may help your dream recall. It also says that once you wake up, you should stay still and close your eyes and try to remember anything you can from your dream(s) that night. It could be feelings, a story, or anything but, make sure you write it down or say it into a tape recorder. Over the week try to picture in your mind what you wrote or said in your dream journal as this action may also help you to recall your dreams. To end, this article says that it's important that you not try too hard or be too serious as that could limit you and your recall skills.

Wow. I found this article really interesting. I had no idea that recalling your dreams is like a muscle and that the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. I've actually started trying some of the things that this article suggests and they do work. I haven't written my dreams down but I at least try to tell someone my dream(s) each morning. In the article it mentions to try drinking one or more glasses of water before going to bed but, I'm not sure I'd be willing to try that. It doesn't quite make sense to me to try to get yourself to wake up in the middle of the night just to remember your dreams. I mean I'm all for trying to remember dreams but I'd choose my sleep over recalling dreams. I think I might start keeping a notepad by my bedside just to jot down random thoughts. I think that dreams are, in general, very interesting.
http://www.dreams.ca/recall.htm

Demi's Search for the Fountain of Youth

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's marriage has been on the rocks for a little while and they are currently in the process of getting divorced. Demi struggles with feeling young and staying skinny. One source said that she needs to constantly be reassured that she is still attractive. She focused so much on being young and the only thing that she felt tied her to that was her marriage to a younger man and hanging around young people.
Personally I think its sad that Demi feels the need to stay young. I mean can people not love each other for what they're worth? She was admitted to the hospital after having a nervous breakdown and she is now seeking treatment. Was she so stressed about staying young and skinny that she had a breakdown? Or was it the fact that her younger husband was cheating on her possibly due to the fact that he wanted to be with a younger woman? It's all just speculation but still, are people that obsessed with looks? I mean I can understand people wanted to stay in shape for health reasons but if you're being admitted to the hospital, that's not healthy. If someone wants to stay young then that is just too bad because life doesn't work like that. People are meant to age; we are meant to grow old and (as morbid as this may sound) eventually die. Basically I just think it's pathetic how this article portrays Demi Moore and her need to stay young.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20566147,00.html