This article is about tips and tricks for shopping today on "Cyber Monday." Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving when there are countless online deals. It has become the number one day for Americans to shop--even more than Black Friday. Last year, 96.5 million Americans shopped on Cyber Monday versus the 79 million that went out and shopped on Black Friday. Even though shopping online has its advantages, like no parking lots, or getting up insanely early to snatch the deals, shopping online has its downfalls as well. Some people are simply trying to fraud online shoppers. The article gives readers some tips, including: protect your computer, shop on trustworthy websites, protect your personal information, beware of deals that sound too good to be true, beware of "phishing," (or phony companies emailing you), confirm your online purchase is secure, pay with a credit card, keep documentation of your order, check your credit card statements often and know your rights.
To be completely honest, I didn't even know Cyber Monday existed until this year. The number of online shoppers astounded me. I actually did go out on Black Friday at 2:30 AM to stand in line at Target, waiting for the best deals. I actually wish I would've known that Cyber Monday was the big day to shop--I could've saved myself some sleep and pain. Although I think it's a good thing companies are shifting more towards online shopping, which saves gas, time and hastle, I think people need to be cautious. Online shopping does not permit you to try things on, or to even be sure your purchase exists. Things sold online can be very faulty. I once heard of a family spending over a thousand dollars on a saxophone, but when they actually received it, the saxophone didn't even play any notes. It's stories like that that prevent me from participating in Cyber Monday.
11/19/2010
What's on Santa's list? Same for kids and adults
This article is about how children and adults are starting to want the same types of gifts. For example, young kids are starting to want gizmos like cell phones capable of anything, ipods, video games, etc., and adults are starting to want these same things. The top three gift categories for this year are clothing and accessories, toys and games, and electronics. One family's seven-year old son is wanting a second generation iPad, which does not even come out until 2011, but he believes Santa can bring it. They are trying to decide if they want to show convince him to request something else, or have Santa leave an "IOU." Kids are quickly catching up to their tech-savvy parents. The average family will spend $716 on presents this holiday season, and families who earn >$100,000 will spend an average of $1,384 this season on gifts.
It does not surprise me how kids are becoming to tech-savvy. Parents and older generations did not grow up with these things: they're not used to needing them. This lifestyle is all kids know. I remember growing up, watching VHS videos. Times have changed so much even since then. VHS is a thing of the distant past and DVDs are the thing of now. I've heard younger kids saying, "What were those things called? VHS?" It's amazing how quickly our technology is evolving. Kids keep wanting more things because companies keep making more things. For example, how often do you hear commercials for "the new iPod?" I personally think our society should shift its focus more on heart-felt gifts, not technology. No one really NEEDS the second generation iPod.
It does not surprise me how kids are becoming to tech-savvy. Parents and older generations did not grow up with these things: they're not used to needing them. This lifestyle is all kids know. I remember growing up, watching VHS videos. Times have changed so much even since then. VHS is a thing of the distant past and DVDs are the thing of now. I've heard younger kids saying, "What were those things called? VHS?" It's amazing how quickly our technology is evolving. Kids keep wanting more things because companies keep making more things. For example, how often do you hear commercials for "the new iPod?" I personally think our society should shift its focus more on heart-felt gifts, not technology. No one really NEEDS the second generation iPod.
11/09/2010
1,000 tigers killed in decade; extinction near
This article starts off by talking about how over 1,000 body parts of different tigers were found this past decade. This is an astonishing amount since there are only an estimated 3,200 tigers living around the world. An average of approximately 119 tigers were killed per year, with India being the highest of those. This is not surprising since India has approximately half of the world's tigers. People have been smuggling different parts, including skin, bones, claws, teeth, skulls, meat. These body parts have been used for various purposes, like decoration or medicine. The article examines the enforcement of these laws, and ends with saying that approximately 100,000 tigers were alive about one hundred years ago.
Before reading this article, I was relatively clueless as to the status of tigers. I knew they were endangered, but I didn't know their extinction was this close. It's heartbreaking that people continue to kill tigers, even though it's so obvious that they're endangered, and for such trivial reasons such as good luck charms. I think people need to really start changing the punishment for killing tigers. I can't imagine what it would be like to say, when I'm twenty, "Remember when tigers existed?" How sad. If there's an extremely large punishment for killing tigers, and it's monitored more closely, it would be hard for people to commit the act in the first place. I'm glad I read this article--I had no idea the problem was so serious.
Before reading this article, I was relatively clueless as to the status of tigers. I knew they were endangered, but I didn't know their extinction was this close. It's heartbreaking that people continue to kill tigers, even though it's so obvious that they're endangered, and for such trivial reasons such as good luck charms. I think people need to really start changing the punishment for killing tigers. I can't imagine what it would be like to say, when I'm twenty, "Remember when tigers existed?" How sad. If there's an extremely large punishment for killing tigers, and it's monitored more closely, it would be hard for people to commit the act in the first place. I'm glad I read this article--I had no idea the problem was so serious.
11/03/2010
FBI: Shots at Coast Guard office linked to others
This article is about shootings that have been occurring on the east coast, aimed at coast guards. There were five shootings in all, and all occurred near Washington (Woodbridge, Virginia; Triangle, Virginia; Chantilly, Virginia; the Pentagon). These shootings are apparently linked, since the weapons used were all the same, says the FBI. No one has been harmed in the shootings. Since three of the five shootings have been at the Marine Corps, it is assumed that she shooter is angry with the Corps for some reason or another.
This article scares me. The fact that a citizen of our nation is trying to scare, harm or even kill someone who is selflessly protecting our country is frightening. Being in the military is definitely not the life for me, but I have enormous respect for those who volunteer their lives for the cause. The article says that the FBI thinks the shooter might not have been trying to harm the coast guards. This sounds a little ironic to me... why else would a person be shooting at someone? I hope that whoever is doing the shooting starts to have a little more common sense: our nation NEEDS coast guard members.
This article scares me. The fact that a citizen of our nation is trying to scare, harm or even kill someone who is selflessly protecting our country is frightening. Being in the military is definitely not the life for me, but I have enormous respect for those who volunteer their lives for the cause. The article says that the FBI thinks the shooter might not have been trying to harm the coast guards. This sounds a little ironic to me... why else would a person be shooting at someone? I hope that whoever is doing the shooting starts to have a little more common sense: our nation NEEDS coast guard members.
11/02/2010
Berlusconi: Better to love girls than gays
Milanese political official Silvio Berlusconi has been causing some uproar lately. Apparently, Berlusconi believes that it's "better to love beautiful girls than gays." This angered many gay rights activists. Arcigay president Paolo Pantane said that Berlusconi was legitimizing discrimination. Some of Berlusconi's publicists were trying to say he was just kidding around, and he did not want to offend both women and gays. Berlusconi had allegedly been visited by a young girl named Ruby. Many women are coming out with stories of spending nights with Berlusconi.
I think this scandalous issue is very embarrassing for Silvio Berlusconi. Not only has he obviously made himself look like he sleeps around, he has offended gay people. Personally, I'm fine with gay people. It's not my business to interfere with their lives. I don't think too many people actually choose to be gay; I think it's something you're born with. It's important for people, especially government officials, to accept people for who they are, or else problems could arise. Also, I think it's very disgusting that such a high up official has been having relations with younger women. Government officials should be the face of the nation: what they do represents the country. Italy most likely does not want a man like Berlusconi representing their country, and neither would I.
I think this scandalous issue is very embarrassing for Silvio Berlusconi. Not only has he obviously made himself look like he sleeps around, he has offended gay people. Personally, I'm fine with gay people. It's not my business to interfere with their lives. I don't think too many people actually choose to be gay; I think it's something you're born with. It's important for people, especially government officials, to accept people for who they are, or else problems could arise. Also, I think it's very disgusting that such a high up official has been having relations with younger women. Government officials should be the face of the nation: what they do represents the country. Italy most likely does not want a man like Berlusconi representing their country, and neither would I.
11/01/2010
First Thoughts: Unchanged
This article is about the elections that will occur tomorrow, 11/2/10. It says the GOP party is headed for major gains (most likely 50-55 House seats). Many Americans (60% of regiestered voters) are not pleased with where the country is headed, and 70% of the group would like to see more GOP representatives in office. It seems that many Americans want more of the change that Obama promised. A large 63% want more change. This includes 47% of democrats. Many Americans are hoping for Nancy Pelosi to be fired. The Tea Party is also growing, with 28% of voters. 85% of them would be voting GOP, with only 10% of them voting Democrat. The article goes on to discuss recent campaigning activity.
I think the reason the GOP party is up so much is due to the fact that Democrats are controlling Congress right now, and there's hardly any change happening right now. Americans are in desperate need of change, and they see none happening. I obviously agree that change needs to occur, but no one is actually making this happen. Time after time, I've seen people of every party describe the change they're going to make happen. GOP or Democrat, everyone wants change, and says they're going to make it happen. Yet absolutely no one has done that yet. I think what this country needs is someone to go to Washington and actually do something, because I, along with 60% of my fellow Americans, do not like where this country is headed.
I think the reason the GOP party is up so much is due to the fact that Democrats are controlling Congress right now, and there's hardly any change happening right now. Americans are in desperate need of change, and they see none happening. I obviously agree that change needs to occur, but no one is actually making this happen. Time after time, I've seen people of every party describe the change they're going to make happen. GOP or Democrat, everyone wants change, and says they're going to make it happen. Yet absolutely no one has done that yet. I think what this country needs is someone to go to Washington and actually do something, because I, along with 60% of my fellow Americans, do not like where this country is headed.
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