Comment on Andrew Kirby's Blog ‘What kind of role-model is Barbie really’

I do agree that Barbie is to blame for young girls wanting to look good. The brand Barbie even has its own make-up range out for young girls, encouraging young girls to wear make-up is bad enough but these girls are never going to be able to create Barbie’s flawless look. It worries me that when failing to achieve this pristine image, young girls will become anorexic or suffer with other eating disorders, due to their low self-esteem.

Bad Comedians

I have always been a fan of both Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand; however their actions towards Andrew Sachs were appalling and bordered on bullying. To leave a 78 year old man an offensive voice mail message discussing his granddaughter’s sex life on a BBC 2 radio show is far from funny. Both Jonathan and Russell are intelligent men and should have known better.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/1030/1225303610588.html

Adopting from abroad

It concerns me that with celebrities like Madonna and Brangelina adopting from abroad others will soon follow the trend, forgetting about the children in our country who are also in desperate need of a family. The long-term effects of abroad adoption also worries me, e.g. African children will at some point begin to question why they look so different to their (unnatural) brothers and sisters.

I must stress that while I do believe couples that adopt are extremely kind and generous, I consider the children in this country to be as important as those from other countries and that they are also in need of a family. More media attention needs to be on UK orphans!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6061466.stm

Benefit Fraud

After completing my A Levels I decided to work full time for a year before entering higher education. After several monthly payslips I was horrified to discover nearly £500 had been deducted from my pay, it was at that moment I was introduced to the harsh reality of working full time and paying tax.

It angers me that so many people commit benefit fraud and in some cases they don’t even realise their guilty of it. A perfect example being when a person claims Job Seekers Allowance while working and being paid cash in hand, also when claiming to live alone with a low income and in fact another working individual is also living there and contributing towards rent bills. It is the tax payer who funds fraudsters’ bank accounts and in my opinion these benefit thieves are as bad as shoplifters if not worse.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BenefitFraud/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Money

PDA (public display of affection) Shouldn’t Be Allowed

Holding hands fine! Quick friendly hug not a problem! But couples who see no wrong in playing tonsil tennis less than two metres away from me I draw the line at! This applies to couples of all ages. Do whatever you like behind closed doors but please control yourselves in queues, at bus stops and supermarket aisles! Not only is this bad behaviour it is also down right gross!
http://www.thesite.org/sexandrelationship/couples/lifeasacouple/publicdisplayaffection

Comment on Sarah Rushworth’s Blog ‘Judging a Book by its Cover’

I agree that first impressions are usually the most accurate but like many I cringed as Susan Boyle entered the Brittan’s Got Talent stage, her drab attire didn’t suggest that her act would stun the nation. However, had she been attractive and stylishly clothed the shock of her astounding voice wouldn’t have been so extreme.

Sun beds

Living in a society where the majority focus solely on their image it comes at no surprise that young girls are rushing to the tanning salons to achieve the best possible tan. However, what they fail to understand is sun beds dramatically ages skin, so while they may think they look tantastic now at 30 they will look much older. More importantly sun beds increase the risk of skin cancer, is looking tanned worth risking your life?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2935875.stm

Comment on Sarah Rushworth's Blog 'Smokers'

Though not a smoker myself I agree with Sarah’s views that smoke from cigarettes causes little pollution is comparison to factory companies and car users. I feel before moaning about smokers one should consider what they may be doing to contribute to air pollution.

Not so Goody

Jade Goody’s battle with cervical cancer has made popular discussion for debate. To learn that Jade’s life will be made into a film makes me cringe. Jade herself would have rightly admitted to not having the most remarkable life so why are certain magazines stating she did. I can’t forgive her appalling actions on celebrity Big Brother and refuse to forget her behaviour due to her tragic illness. While I have much sympathy for her family and find it deeply upsetting that a woman of such young age has lost her life to cancer my opinions on her remain negative.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/15623/Jade-Goody-admits-It-was-racist-I-am-a-bully.html

Kids

It comes at no surprise that when released Kids caused much upset and debate, not only was the film dreadfully violent but was also extremely disturbing, for example Casper one of the main character drank juice from a tampon. The film failed to mirror teenage life and the purposes of the offensive scenes were solely there to shock audiences.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113540/

Shhhh!

I find it odd that some people (usually a gang of teenagers) pay to watch a film at the cinema then talk (usually loudly) through the majority of it. Not only does this mean they are missing vital parts of the film, it means everyone else around them is too. I hate to sound like a killjoy but there’s a time and a place to have a natter with friends and the cinema certainly isn't one of them. This is definitely bad behaviour!

http://www.bizcommunity.com/PressOffice/PressRelease.aspx?i=121201&ai=30549

Violent Video Games

With technology ever-growing game producers have simulated reality as best as possible meaning violence and gore is now more realistic and dramatic. With the majority of game users being adolescent boys the affect and influence these brutal games can have concerns me. Are the young adults who regularly play these horrific games capable of understanding that the actions they observe on video games shouldn’t be imitated in everyday life?
http://www.apa.org/releases/videogames.html

Date Rape Drug

There are two drugs known as date-rape drugs, GHB (also known as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and benzodiazepines (also known as Rohypnol or roofies). GHB is odorless and invisible when dissolved in water, although it does have a saltish taste to it, however, when dissolved in soft drinks and alcohol it is undetectable. Rohypnol quickens the time it takes the victim to become drunk and helps them stay that way longer. 1,000 women in Britain have reported being raped while drugged, however due to the difficulty of proving a crime that the victim cannot remember; there have been little successful prosecutions. Both men and women need to be wearly when offered a drink from a stranger and more importantly keep their drinks with them at all times.

http://www.healthtests.co.uk/medical/daterape.htm

Gambling

I personally enjoy an annual bet on the Grand National and buy the odd lucky dip; however, I do believe there is a fine line between gambling being fun and becoming dangerous. Take Las Vegas for instance, the bright lights, the compelling atmosphere and the sound of coins falling from the fruit machine lures people to spend their hard earned money. I believe it takes much self discipline to decipher when enough is enough and unfortunately doubt that many have this capability.

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/

Infidelity in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

My initial opinion on infidelity was that it could have been simply a weakness, and a way of boosting ones self-esteem. However, after completing the novel and much thought, I developed a newfound sympathy for both Daisy and Myrtle, though both unfaithful. I began to understand why infidelity occurs within unhappy marriages, and comprehend why many stay married to their unfaithful partner, whether it be through fear, low self-esteem or financial stability.

http://www.shmoop.com/theme/literature/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-great-gatsby/marriage.html

Body Modification

By using cosmetics to create a certain image I am altering my natural appearance. This change may not appear as drastic as a person with a tattooed face but still we are equally guilty of body modification. I began to consider the reasons behind why a small minority of people go to such extreme measures to transform their appearance. These reasons could be; low self-esteem, attention-seeking or simply a love of body art.

http://www.bodymod.org/showCase.aspx

Stealing

Is stealing from a supermarket or department store as bad as stealing from someone’s home? Thieving from a person’s home is an invasion of privacy, the thought of a stranger going through my own personal belongings sends shivers down my spine. Surely a family waking up to find their television has been taken during the night is far more disturbing and upsetting than Alan at Currys learning two widescreen TVs have been stolen. I do consider stealing to be wrong, however, if faced with a situation where stealing is the only escape, without doubt shoplifting is less destructive than thieving from a family home.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4477596.stm

Illegal Download

Letters are now being sent from police warning those guilty of downloading music illegally. If the act is continued after receiving the warning a fine will be given. After considering how effortless creating a CD can be and how little blank discs cost I began to question who the actual criminal was. Record companies are making huge profits through selling their music at ridiculously high prices, surely if CD prices were lowered dramatically less people would be tempted to download illegally.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3353387.ece