Los Angeles Chargers?

San Diego is known for many things including the nice weather, beaches and many historical places but also the home of the San Diego Chargers. Although, the Chargers were initially from Los Angeles, they came down to San Diego and established their football team here. They have stayed in San Diego since 1961. The team`s desire for a new stadium has created many possibilities and also problems. Some solutions include creating a new stadium next to Petco Park and moving to Los Angeles. Many residents like the idea of the creation of a new stadium in downtown but don`t know how they can financially plan it and make it successful. Although, if they move to Los Angeles they would be able to get support from other organizations but not impress many. There has been a lot of buzz about Los Angeles getting their own football team but hasn`t exactly happened yet. Besides the San Diego Chargers, the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams are other options Los Angeles can call their own football team.
In my opinion, I believe that the San Diego Chargers should stay in San Diego. Even though they can get a lot of commission in Los Angeles, they should stay here. They should realize that not everything is about money. Besides the Padres baseball team, the Chargers are the only professional sports team in San Diego. Their settlement here is one of the reasons why San Diego has many visitors, especially during football season. It also allows the San Diego community to come together and cheer on as fans and supporters, win or lose. It helps local and small businesses and brings pride to the community when they win a game. If they want a new stadium, the Chargers should create a more realistic plan to create one in San Diego, not in Los Angeles. If it takes years to build a new one, let it be. They should fund first then create what they want. If the Chargers move, it will bring much disgrace to San Diego and their fans.

Turn off the TV!

Turning on the news can sometimes be regretful. Although it can help you with knowing what`s happening at the moment, sometimes it can be unreliable and gibberish talk. From celebrity divorces to retail store mishaps, news can sometimes be well, not news. For several years now, news has been a collection of stories that can sell money, money, money. During Western Civilization times, news was used to spread information about economic and war issues. Compared to today, it is nothing like that. You may here a story about a horrible accident at Iraq here or there but it never makes it big as Grammy winners news. When they talk about war or economics on the news, it`s usually biased or negative. For example, during elections, some news channels are known to be very biased. The candidates they support are usually less talked about and barely critiqued but the candidates they disagree are talked about significantly, in a negative way. So, next time you watch the news during the elections, do not be surprised on how one channel`s opinion is distinctive from one another. Also, whenever there is something about the economy, it`s usually something negative. Everyone knows that we have hardships so why emphasize it more on the news? Yes, it may be informational but it can make everyone be in a bad mood. From all the obstacles we already know and have, the news should air more positive stories.  Along with being biased, news can also be misleading. Sometimes, they are given inadequate information which correlates to their confusion but most of the time it`s because they are being paid to say certain details. News can sometimes give too much unnecessary information that it can lead to an uneducated and uninformed population. For example, a teenager may know who Kim Kardashian is but not Isaac Newton. The news gives so much information about celebrities and other figures that it sometimes erases our memory or information that is actually important and useful in life. This probably explains why some students have trouble remembering important figures from the nineteenth century. The news should be more cautious on what they share to the world and make a change!

Helping the Unheard

Throughout history, there has always been famine in one area or another in Africa. Many places in Africa have had faced famine for several decades. Some of these places are, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, and Niger. Today, about 13 million women, children, and many others are facing starvation and hunger in Africa. This concludes to, people begging for food, dying on streets, and the lose of population. Some children have even suffered stunted growth. According to Charles Bambara, an Oxfam officer for the West African region, once said, "People are eating wild fruit and leaves, and building ant hills just to capture the tiny amount of grain that the ants collect inside. The situation here in  Chad is desperate. There is not enough food in the country, over 2 million people here are not getting enough.” In the year of 2005, the world ignored about the warning signs about famine in Africa and many people have died. Because the world ignored the warning signs, starvation and hunger in Africa has increased rapidly. 
 
Many people want to solve and stop the crisis of famine in Africa. There are many solutions, but many of them are not that possible because of the lack of money. Some solutions are building markets that work and respond to the needs of Africa's poor and letting African children, especially girls, to be able to go to school and get educated. Building markets that work and respond to the need of Africa`s poor, is a great solution. This doesn`t have to happen right away, maybe we can combine all the donations from UNICEF and other fundraisers for a few years and make many markets that can save many of their lives. I also agree with letting African children, especially girls, to be able to go to school and get educated. Like in the US, public schools are open to anyone and  its even free. If the US has the chance of having their people getting educated, African children should have the same rights. Everyone should be treated equally.

In my opinion, I personally feel like everyone should help out or donate to stop this crisis. If the world would just all help out, people in Africa wouldn`t be dying on streets and begging for food. Even if you just gave a quarter for a donation,  it can contain hope of a person or two in starvation or hunger. Just imagine, if it was you on the streets begging for food, you in hunger, wouldn`t you want people to help you out?

How to Overcome Stress?

Stress is a factor a majority of students and even adults face on a daily basis Academics, taxes, the list of obligations we have are endless. How can a student possibly overcome this? Here are some tips:

1. Think about the future
I know that many people say to live every day as if it is your last but sometimes it`s hard to act like it is. Sometimes, your mind wanders from subject to subject and you forget to do so. If students thought about the future, they will have a certain goal they want to reach, they will become inspired and determined to do their best. Either graduating from your dream college, traveling around the world or raise a financially and happily stabled family, always think about it when you are stressed.

2. Relax and Meditate
Sometimes you`re too stressed that you just need a break. However, taking breaks can range from five minutes to an hour or two. If you take a break, just make sure to restrict your time. A break can mean using your electronic devices, reading a book or even just lying on the sofa but I have noticed that the most effective kind of break is meditation. I remember the day Mrs. Mathews gave us a day off to ease our minds and stress levels. She made us write our worries on a piece of paper, talked about major problems and much more. I can say that it made me, and the rest of the class, feel more alleviated and calm. I also read an article on the news which talked about a school district who restricts two fifteen minute periods a day just for meditating. The school district who proposed this idea noticed major changes and results. Suspensions decreased at least by fifty percent and academic scores rose dramatically. The environment of the schools were also becoming more safe and friendly, bullying percentages decreased and everyone was like a friend. This proves that meditation does take affect and makes things better. I think other school districts should consider doing the same.

3. DO NOT PROCRASINATE
 Stress usually comes from bulks of homework or studying a student has in a day, but the blame goes to us. If we managed time more wisely, we wouldn`t be so stressed out. Try to break down your study times equally so that you won`t miss out on a subject. Also, don`t waste too much time for breaks. Do your homework on weekends or whenever you have free time. You probably would want to do something else besides work or studying but if you did it right away, its one less problem for you in the future.

The Gift of Kindness

The news has always been filled with negative critiques and basically any story that can catch publicity. Lately, the news has been filled with stories about Michael Brown, Sydney Siege and other devastating events. Although these happenings are important and bring up many subjects, sometimes all we need on the news is a story which can bring a smile on our face, to brighten our day and the world while we go through this rough time.

On December 6, an Alabama woman was caught shoplifting eggs for her hungry family. They had not eaten for two days and were financially troubled. The women was short fifty cents and ended up stealing eggs due to desperation and need. When Officer Stacey was called in, he did not arrest the women but bought her a carton of eggs. Although shoplifting is a crime no one should commit, the officer understood the woman`s situation and left her handcuffed free. However, she did promise not to commit the crime again.

 From this heart-warming story, we can learn many lessons. First of all, it reveals the poverty and desperation not only this woman has but a majority of our population, including other guardians and even college graduate students. Either an immigrant or citizen, America needs to create more jobs for their own people or else future generations could see a bumpy road ahead of them. This story also shows that not all cops are bad and/or racist. Due to harsh actions taken by police in Ferguson and New York City, toward the black community specifically, people all over the country have been protesting about their actions and assume that most police officers are similar. Adding on, the police was white. The police officers who took actions which brought turmoil to the public were also white so there has been more anger on the white police officers. The woman who the police officer let go was actually black. This story proves that beliefs of racism and discrimination in the police force is false. Even though there are some officers who do not make the right decisions, does not mean every police does the sane. Every person is different, resulting to different mistakes and actions. Perhaps there are more individuals who do similar acts of kindness that never, but should, be publicized.

This is a kind of story that I would want to read on the news. The media should realize that not everything on the news has to be negative. They might think that they can get loads of cash for it, but a genuine story such as this one can do the same. Our generation must change the way the media is for the better. 

The Negative Effects of Black Friday

As Christmas approaches, everyone wants to find the best deals out there for gifts to save money and time. However, is cutting down family time on Thanksgiving Day, getting no sleep and waiting in line for hours worth it? Black Friday isn`t really the best day to grab bargains but a day which society has been brainwashed to think as. First of all, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. These two occasions happening around the same time don`t mix well together. Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for what you have while Black Friday is a day, or several days long event, to fight over a "great bargain". The idea that people are thankful one day and greedy the next is like breaking a promise and not sticking up to your belief. Over the past years, Black Friday has crept into our Thanksgiving Dinner time which shouldn`t. This day of the year is possibly the only time families  and/or friends have time to spend together and socialize about anything without any worries and intervening obstacles such as school, work, television, etc. Not only are you cutting time you have with spending with your family but also the workers in the stores time.

As a bargainer myself, I know that Black Friday isn`t the best day to buy necessities and gifts. Stores may say that it will be "The Biggest Sale of the Year" but it isn`t. What I have noticed is that you can actually get better deals when it`s not Black Friday. Not only can you beat the crowds but save more money and time. I have also noticed that they advertise things which are bad quality. If stores really gave those deals, they could end up bankrupt and demolished. For example, Best Buy has a deal on a 200 dollar TV. People will instantly get excited and want the TV but do they ever question themselves if it is really worth it? The brand, the quality, reviews, other features? Some do but most don`t until they find out themselves. Stores also maximize sizes of numbers (prices, percentages, etc) on flyers and minimize the words which make the most difference such as "up to". Although stores do this all the time, it is less noticeable when it is Black Friday because you think that there are suppose to be great deals. Also, the Black Friday deals are usually the same deals you will find on their online websites, plus free shipping. With the same sales and no shipping cost, this allows you to get the same things you want without wasting gas, getting trampled, and standing in line. Adding on to online deals, usually the same deals continue to go on for the whole weekend and Cyber Monday, the Black Friday for online.

People should realize the negative affects Black Friday has. The crowds of people going to malls and stores reveals our greediness and selfishness as individuals. You may experience it once or twice but after that, you should notice the patterns of what is going on. Society shouldn`t praise this day so greatly because it is worthless. Spending more time with family and getting more sleep, is the greatest bargain you could get.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/21/living/secret-of-black-friday/

Daylight Savings

When I was younger, my parents would tell me that we would lose an hour or gain one but I never understood what they meant and why it happened. As Daylight Savings Time approaches, I thought that it would be the perfect topic to talk about in my blog.

Daylight Savings is a yearly tradition when our clock settings move ahead one hour in the summer and then back again in the fall.  Since World War 1, Daylight Savings had come in effect not only in the United States but everywhere around the world. Germany and Austria were actually the first countries to adopt this idea because they needed to find a way to conserve fuel. Throughout the years, other countries also adopted this act, including the United States. One of the few individuals who sparked the idea was Benjamin Franklin. He thought that it would be an efficient way to limit the use of candles.

Daylight Savings hasn`t always been a tradition in the United States. In 1918, it was established but later repealed. From 1942 to 1945, the United States attempted this action again to conserve energy during World War II. After many attempts, the United States made Daylight Savings an official action in 1966, under the Uniform Time Act. This act stated that Daylight Savings would happen on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday in October. Nothing had changed about Daylight Savings again until 2005. Under the Energy Policy Act, Daylight Savings time would begin at 2 A.M. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. This act also gave each state the option of taking this act in effect or not. Some states who don`t do Daylight Savings time include Hawaii and Arizona

So, what are the benefits of Daylight Savings? Back in the day, many people believed that it was beneficial for farmers since it gave them more time to work on the fields. However, others don`t think it was that beneficial. Another benefit is that it influences people to enjoy the outdoors more which includes shopping, exercising and much more since there was more time of daylight. Today, Daylight Savings Time is done for one simple reason, energy conversation.

I believe that Daylight Savings Time was a beneficial action back in the day but not today.
As advancements in our technological and other fields continue to grow, so should our options on how to save energy.

 

http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/e.html 

http://www.gizmag.com/daylight-savings-is-found-to-waste-energy/8933/