How Heavy is the Baggage You Are Carrying?

        Why do we really hang on to things? Why do we spend our lives buying and storing unnecessary baggage? Is it to impress others or is it to make ourselves happy, fulfilled, and accomplished? All of these questions lead to one important realization: we basically buy things  because they are constantly advertised and are dangled in front of our eyes and make us feel a less of a human being if we did not own the newest and the best models of everything.  In my case, it is a combination of two things: impulsive buying and also buying things to explore new hobbies. When I took an inventory of my house, I discovered many hobbies that became obsolete in my life. Roller skates, roller blades, basketballs, bowling shoes, volleyballs, riding boots, ballet shoes, the flute. Every single one of these items had taken the center stage in my life at one point or another. And now, they are sitting in the attic, collecting dust to no end. Then, I came across a lot of items that have been made antiquated  by technological advancements, such as Nintendo DS, DVDs and CDs that are no longer relevant. All I need to replace these items is a tablet or a laptop, through which,  I can easily watch movies, play games, listen to music, and many more. The next time I purchase a new gadget in my life, I am going to have to find out the real reason why I am buying it.

How High Can They Fly and How Low Can They Go?

By Victoria Gill
bbc.com
March 26, 2014
"Scientists Film Inside a Flying Insect"

         British and Swiss scientists, in a combined effort, have managed to film inside an insect’s body as it flies. As a result of these snapshots, they have prepared a 3D reconstruction of how these blowflies use their muscles and hinges to fly. Researchers hope to use this knowledge to design micro-air vehicles. Dr. Simon Walker of the University of Oxford used extremely fast, intense X-rays to record the blowflies’ rapid movements. These insects are known to beat their wings fifty times in the time that it takes a human to blink once. In order to conduct this experiment, the scientists tethered the tiny fly to a vertical mount, which was rotated as the insect was X-rayed. They also had a small air blower around the insect to continually stimulate the fly to proceed beating its wings as they filmed inside its body. One of the most amazing discoveries was how small the steering muscles were and the rapid changes it made to the direction of the flight. Scientists hope to design a micro-air vehicle that would replicate the insect’s flight. These tiny, flying vehicles could be used to navigate through the smallest crevices to locate survivors and aid in rescue efforts during natural disasters.

Lose Your Gun & Lose Your Freedom?

          Gun control in America has always been a controversial topic
and recent mass shootings have wedged a deeper divide between the two sides.   The Daily
Show has masterfully satired how gun industries in the United States are
refusing to let Americans pass gun control legislations, despite the fact that
Australia has managed successfully and in a short period of time to implement
gun control legislation and  has avoided
a single mass shooting since 1996. The satire shows how similar the two
societies are  in that they were both
former British colonies with a frontier that were settled by brave men who
believed in equality for all of mankind. However, the Americans claimed that
they were very different from the Australians and that gun control would never
work in America. This comparison proves the opposite and shows how comical and
ludicrous the idea of hanging on to guns in America is, where mass shootings
happen if not daily at least on a weekly basis. I believe that The Daily Show has taken the pro-gun
slogan that, “Guns are not the problem; people are the problem” and has proved
the fact that some gun manufacturing and profit hungry people are responsible
for these mass shootings and ultimately are the problem in America.

What Was Your Name Again?

"12-Year-Old Couldn’t Begin To Guess Name Of Friend Whose House He Visits To Play Xbox"

    Twelve year-old Michael Cutler spent eight out of the last ten days at his classmate’s house playing Xbox. However, when asked the name of his classmate, he was at a loss for words. He could not simply remember his name. On the contrary, he had no problem remembering every snack in his classmate’s pantry or naming each of the twenty-one games in his house. This amusing article satires decreasing social skills among children who are addicted to playing video games. Soon, these Xbox playing and video game mastering teenagers are going to be in their twenties with the social skills of a twelve year old. They are not going to know how to make friends, talk to girls, or hang out. Even though playing video games could be beneficial to kids if played moderately, however, Xbox has invaded their entire lives. They are so addicted to playing video games, that they are becoming socially isolated, and are losing touch with reality. Instead of interacting with the real world, they prefer their “virtual” and “fantastic” world. Over the last thirty years, we have allowed technology to take over our lives and make us less social and communicative instead of using technology like a tool to learn skills such as hand –eye coordination, accuracy, and problem solving.

How High is the Cost of Your Education?

        The economy plays a role in the lives of every generation. When my parents went to college, they were fortunate enough for their parents to pay for their education and they never had to worry about putting a dent in their retirement account or never dreamed of working to put themselves through university. All they had to do was to concentrate on their studies. However, in today’s economy, things are very different for our generation. It is expected of every teenager to seriously think about their future and how they are going to afford higher education. I, like everybody else, am facing the same dilemma. Even though I want to pursue higher education in the best universities, however, do I want to burden my parents with this cost because the economy is not what it used to be or should I work and help pay for my education? If I let my parents pay for my higher education, am I endangering their economic future? I do not want my parents to retire later than usual just because of my education. These questions are more specific to our generation than to any other generation. Life expectancy has also skyrocketed and many people outlive their retirement plans. This is something I do not wish upon my parents.

Can Economic Stress Bring Success?

By Yojana Sharma
bbc.com
October 22, 2013
"Asia's Parents Suffering Education Fever"

          In recent decades, Asia has been suffering an educational fever that may last for years to come.  Economic studies show that Asian families spend most   of their income on education and less on vacations, entertainment, and even healthcare. Some people have been resorted to selling their apartments and homes in order for their children to attend prestigious colleges and universities. Asia has been suffering with this “fever” throughout their culture.  Traditionally, Asian families firmly believe that there is no other way to achieve success without a noteworthy degree from a renowned university. Therefore, Asian families go deep into debt just to send their children to receive a higher education. However, most middle class and working class families cannot afford to pay back the debt and end up spending their lifetime savings to pay back the student loans. Even though parents are the greatest contributors to their children’s education, grandparents have also gotten involved in this endeavor. China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore are the main countries that have high levels of education spending. Experts suggest that the solution to this problem could be to give university entrance exams early so parents do not have to pay extra money for high school or college tuitions. Students would have to go to school at an earlier age rather than the average age. Even though this “educational fever” has affected the Asian economy all the way down to their personal health and wealth, there is no end to this since the culture strongly believes in an educated mind.

How Tense Are Your Senses?

          As soon as I stepped outside, I felt a sudden rush of heat strike against my face, almost throwing me off my gentle balance. Squinting my eyes tightly, trying to shield them from the strong glare of the Sun, I worked my way up the garden, towards my favorite corner by the sea of Star Jasmines, that have taken over the fence. I placed myself on the warm brick wall, which separated the hill from the verdant, plush grass. The chirping sound of the carefree birds on the pomegranate tree mixed with the discordant sound of the pool pump, created an unusual symphony of harmony and dissonance which was not too unpleasant to hear. All of a sudden, the intoxicating smell of the Star Jasmines took over all my senses. All I could see, taste, hear, and feel was the heavenly, sweet, and warm smell of this exotic plant that took over my mind and soul. Suddenly, I was jolted back to reality by the intense heat of the Sun piercing through my skull, trying to drill its way towards the most protected, sacred center of my brain. I tried to protect myself from the aggressive and scorching rays by placing my hands over my head. Seconds later, the overpowering antagonist burned its way through the layers of my skin, once again reaching and drilling viciously towards my brain. I desperately tried to seek refuge by looking for a shaded spot. It was too late. This powerful invader had taken over my entire garden and was shining its intense rays down upon the garden, with all its might. I had to leave. I had to get away.