Average Student Loan Debt Rises

CNN states that "The average debt load for the class of 2012 was $29,400 -- up more than 10% from the previous year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Institute for College Access & Success' Project on Student Debt." It's funny though, because colleges have been raising the tuition per year. As colleges become more expensive, family incomes' become less and less. According to research, seven in ten seniors graduate from college with student loan debt. Among them, a fifth of that debt was owed to private organizations. They usually have the highest interest rates, which equals more unnecessary money being paid. With that being said, a job after graduation is not even guaranteed. A college degree is much better than none at all. "Despite discouraging headlines, a college degree remains the best route to finding a job in this tight market. But students and families need to know that debt levels can vary widely from college to college," TICAS president Lauren Asher said. College debt is good debt. New Hampshire is reported to having the highest amount of average student loan debt. It racks up to $32,698. Needless to say you should shop around before drowning yourself in debt that will only increase.There are actually 5 myths of college costs that no one knows. Myth #1: Saving for college will hurt your chances of getting financial aid. Why? What matters most for federal financial aid is income. Myth #2: You can't afford a private college. Why? A $39,000 school may actually give so much merit aid to a good student that it would be cut down to $10,000, not including loans. Look for what colleges will give out the most money depending on the circumstance. Myth #3:  A liberal arts degree won't pay the bills. Why? The top-earning 25% of history majors earned a median annual lifetime income of $85,000 vs. $82,000 for computer-programming majors, per a recent analysis by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. Also, lower paying jobs typically have better job security, so it would pay off in the long run. Myth #4: Student loans will cripple you financially. Why? Education is important, and student loan debt is good debt. Keep in mind that the loan has to be paid off eventually, it is NOT free money. Be reasonable. Myth #5: Starting at community college, then transferring, is a great way to cut the cost of a BA. Why? Students who start at a community college are less likely to earn their bachelors' degree. Many 4 year colleges make it difficult for credits to transfer over. Check before you put down your first payment.

Why are we such in a hurry to grow up?

Think about it. It's your first day of your senior year and your teacher explains student loans. Overwhelming, isn't it? And in the next minute you're buying a car, and then renting your first apartment with 4 roommates. In a blink of an eye, we move on to the next stage of life. It's so sad because, as teenagers, we forget to stop and take it all in. Every move we make have some impact, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time, on our future selves. There's a misconception that when we reach a certain age, something magnificent will happen. Truth is, even if you're 40, there will always be someone telling you what to do. At 35, there are going to be so many bills you won't be able to stand it. At 24, your car might break down. Just because you turn 18, you don't suddenly gain a sense of mature wisdom that you didn't have yesterday. Life isn't about getting to a certain point of absolute bliss. The real enjoyment is getting to take each step along the way. Be smart. Be savvy. Don't waste time wishing for the future, welcome it. So...what does yahoo answers have to say about being in a hurry to grow up? One answer was "Everyone is in a hurry to get where they think they want. Then once they get there, they realize that where they were, was where they they wanted to be." Another answer was "There is a lot of invincibility one feels at that age - kids just don't see that there are potentially dangerous repercussions. The real problem is that even when parents try to tell kids about the dangers, kids don't believe them because in most cases their life experience has never suggested that dangers exist. (seeing is believing)." Although these answers may be cliche and cheesy, they are correct. Think about the future, embrace the surprises, and change with the times.

Good Citizenship Gone South?

Recently, I've noticed so many words of anger and hostility towards our country and our president. This makes me so sad, because I believe everyone is walking around and acting like a victim when really we should be thinking of new ways to solve our problems in this wonderful country. I just read an article by Kelly Wright, a contributor to the Fox News Opinion page. His article is titled "Why We Can't Live Without Encouraging Words" and it can be found here. I think everyone in America should take a step back and read it. First thing, people got into an uproar over pictures like this, when that's the last thing we should be worrying about. Who cares if he didn't want to get his suit all wet? We're going to criticize a man, who is pretty important in our world, who just doesn't feel like getting wet? But we'll praise George Bush for holding his own umbrella, even though he sent thousands of our soldiers to war? I'm not for or against Obama, mostly because I believe he is a good man with good intentions. But just like everyone, we have our faults. Does anyone think it's easy being president? Does anyone want to give it a try? How about instead of wasting our breath talking trash about people who are just trying to make a difference in the world, we use it to surround ourselves with positive energy. Kelly Wright says it best when he says, "We can blame the president, congress and other leaders for the palpable anxiety in our land but we really need to take time out and look at the person in the mirror. It’s tough to admit but we the people are the cause of the trouble we’re in." We set off our own chain reactions and dig ourselves into a deeper hole than we were in. For example, let's take a look at the effects of global warming. The Philippines is not doing so good right now, since the largest typhoon in history has just struck them. Global warming is real, and it is our fault! (I mean collectively over the years of course). Why do we spend thousands and thousands of dollars looking for cures to illnesses that could have been prevented. Obviously there are many tragic illnesses that can't be avoided. But if a person could avoid getting lung cancer, wouldn't they want to try?! It just angers me that people could sit there and talk about how we are in trillions of dollars in debt, but they aren't doing everything in their power to help it. The next time you light up a cigarette, think of the effects on not just yourself or the people around you, but the country. Instead of thinking so negatively and blaming everyone else for our problems but ourselves, START THINKING POSITIVELY. Be courteous! Be a good American! Like JFK's famous inaugural address, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

Too Quick to Jump the Gun

On Tuesday, October 22nd, a thirteen year old boy by the name of Andy Lopez Cruz was shot and killed to death by a California police officer. He was walking the streets of Santa Rosa with two fake guns, a replica of an AK-47 and a hand gun. "The Santa Rosa City School District family is deeply saddened by the loss of Andy Lopez Cruz," a school official statement said. "This is a tragic event for family, schools and the community. His administrators and teachers will remember him as kind, intelligent and capable."  Two police officers pulled over to the side of the road, and shielded themselves behind the open passenger door. They yelled at Cruz to put his weapon down, and as he turned around the cop began to feel extreme fear. The statement from the report said the officer thought the barrel of the assault rifle was rising up and turning in his direction. One officer shot Cruz and was immediately handcuffed. An ambulance was called, but nothing could be done about the wound. The fake handgun was tucked into the teen’s waistband and the rifle lay beside him.  Middle School Assistant Principal Linsey Gannon told CNN, "He was a very popular student. He was a handsome young man with many friends and a lovely family. He will be missed." On Wednesday night, a crowd gathered to hold a memorial. They grief-stricken members of the community congregated in the dirt field where Cruz was shot. It turned into a rally against the police officers that shot the teen. Cruz’s’ mother was too upset to comment. Obviously this casts a black shadow over the Santa Rose police department. Recently, school shootings have been out of control. Are people going to understand the officer’s brash reaction? Or was the police officer too quick to jump the gun?

Boy who cried "bully"?

Are we too quick to cry 'bully'? That's what some researchers are now saying. After the tragic teen suicides in Connecticut, New York, Nova Scotia and Britain, the world has closely related even the slightest amount of teasing to bullying. Since the beginning of October, many new campaigns expressing the importance of ceasing all acts of bullying have erupted. The word "bullying" has been abused in the last few years. Joking, teasing, or fighting has been automatically assumed to be bullying. The issue should, by no means, be taken lightly. But the casualness of the word has depreciated the problem, and people are failing to see the seriousness of it. The awareness campaigns have started an uproar in many schools. But despite the positive energy these campaigns produce, there are unfortunate side effects that were not intended. "Everyone wants to adopt it," said Elizabeth Englander, a professor of psychology and founder and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University. CNN states that "people sometimes confuse bullying with the unfortunate -- but normal -- moments of angry, thoughtless or hurtful behavior. Actual bullying, many educators and social scientists say, is intentional, repetitive abuse by a powerful person toward a less powerful target." Say the word "bully" in school, and people are quick to react. The situation is handled differently around the country and different punishments are given for different types of bullying. Some states passed laws on the horrible act, but most states, educators, lawmakers, parents are to play it by ear. The reaction is mostly helpful, but some say it hinders the child's ability to cope with minor conflicts independently. So the question is, which cases should you investigate? Or should all educators, parents, and lawmakers revert back to the old days -- look the other way?

October 3rd, historically known as a "busy day"

As you look through the past, history is made literally every day. Some days are "busier" than others, which is why October 3rd is such an amazing day. I'm actually from Buffalo, so to learn that on this day, in 1964, the first Buffalo wings were introduced to the Anchor Bar. 

Pretty awesome, right?

Or how about that on October 3rd, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln officially proclaimed the national holiday of Thanksgiving? Or even more modern, Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy was attacked by one of their show tigers in 2003. 

Scary.

Also, in 1974, incredible racial barriers are broken. Frank Robinson was the first black manager of a major league baseball team. He signed with the Cleveland Indians, and forever forced that wall between races. In 1990, Germany became a whole nation once again. The German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin was once again reunited into a single city. This picture is historically known as a huge democratic win for years to come. In 1993, two US Special Forces Helicopters were shot down in Somalia, killing 18 Americans. That was twenty years ago, and still this casts a long shadow of wrongful foreign intervention. In 1995, the O.J. Simpson case was watched by millions of Americans everyday. He was convicted of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. O.J. was acquitted o October 3rd of all murder charges. Now here comes the fun part, not only was O.J acquitted on this day, but thirteen years later convicted of a different crime. In 2008, he was found guilty on a couple felonies. This includes kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and assault with a deadly weapon. Somehow these were all in connection with a Las Vegas hotel room robbery. This man that caught the attention of the world and passed by came back into the system. I think it's karma. Simpson is currently serving a 33-year sentence for armed robbery at Lovelock Correctional Center. 

What exactly are you putting in your mouth?

Research has been done to show that electronic cigarettes are slightly more effective for making people quit smoking than traditional methods. That’s good news, right? Well new studies are showing that children and teens are more inclined to try e-cigarettes. Smoking is at the top of the list of causes for avoidable death. They are not FDA approved for quitting, but many people are using them in this manner. The electronic cigarette was created by a pharmacist in China. Most scientists believe that nicotine itself is not the cancerous ingredient. It’s the toxic chemicals that come from the burning of tobacco and filler products that create problems. The device atomizes a pure liquid solution of nicotine. There isn’t any smoke or ash to go along with it, though. The consumer inhales vapor from the device, which is claimed to be harmless. It is definitely a better alternative for the community. People surrounding them aren’t breathing in secondhand smoke, which is incredibly harmful to their health. Electronic cigarettes are not healthy, but they are not as bad as a regular cigarette. It is estimated that one in five adults in America have tried e-cigs—that’s 6% of adults who smoke. That number is growing rapidly as well. Not only adults, but teens have been buying and trying e-cigs. These devices are very easy to get; so easy that you can buy them from convenience stores or online. The growing epidemic is the worry for children. Parents are worried that new flavors, such as cotton candy, cookies and cream, and gummy bear, will attract the younger generations. Only 20 states forbid the sale of e-cigs to children. For some of those who can’t do mental math, that’s 30 states where the issue has not been addressed. One in ten high school kids have reported trying these devices last year, but this issue is only at the beginning. Some schools have even gone so far as to ban then from school premises. In contrast to underage drinking, the use of e-cigarettes is only a small percentage.

                So much is still unknown about these devices. No one knows for sure what the long-term effects are. It’s troubling that so many children and teens find them attractive. But, on the other hand, how can you talk down the use of e-cigs when it seems to be such a great alternative? E-cigs are unregulated in the United States. That means that the manufacturers don’t need to let consumers know what’s in their products. Who knows what you’re inhaling? CNN states: “In 2009, a FDA test on a small number of e-cigarette samples found ‘detectable levels of known carcinogens and toxic chemicals to which users could potentially be exposed.’ They found diethylene glycol in one cartridge at a 1% level; this is an ingredient used in antifreeze and can be toxic to humans in large quantities. Diethylene glycol is also found in some dental products and in some pharmaceuticals.” We will not know the long-term effects on health for years to come.

Cold case of 1971 revisted, after car was spotted in creek with human remains

Pamela Jackson (left) and Cheryl Miller (right)

In 1971, Cheryl Miller and Pamela Jackson were on their way to a party at a gravel pit. The two seventeen girls never showed up to this party. The high school girls were never found. It was speculated that there might have been foul play involved. Maybe the girls just took a wrong turn. The real answer will never be known, since the car they were driving was found, only a half mile away from the original destination, in a creek. Only the car was turned upside, and has been sitting at the bottom of the creek for forty-two years. The license plate number and hubcap directly matches the one the girls were driving. It has been said that skeletal remains were found. The timing is especially sad, since Pamela Jackson’s father died last week at the age of 102. His funeral was last Saturday, and the car was found Monday. The reason authorities weren’t able to see the car until now is because the dry weather in South Dakota has slowly been drying the creeks out. But this raises a question; why wasn’t the vehicle found right after the disappearance?  Why didn’t authorities check the creeks around the intended destination? Was the car there this entire time, or was it recently put there? The forensic team has to do some serious digging to make sure the ending to this cold case is legit. A fisherman spotted the 1960 Studebaker Lark in Brule Creek. The car is covered in mud, and it’s going to take a very long time peel the layers. This case has been opened and reopened many times before, but the answer was never there. State prison inmate, David Lykken, was charged in the case six years ago. The chargers were dropped, though, after authorities learned the confession was false. The true answer to this terrible disappearance has still not been uncovered. Last week, two cars were found in the bottom of a lake in Oklahoma. Each car had human remains in it. There is speculation that one car may have belonged to a teen who vanished with two friends in 1970, only one year before Pamela Jackson and Cheryl Miller. The other car might be linked to another cold case involving the disappearance of a man in the 1960’s. These sudden appearances of cars with dead remain inside poses many new questions. Are they somehow all linked?

The car was found on the bottom of Brule Creek near Beresford, South Dakota.

So what exactly is happening in Syria? I have found that many high schools students are not entirely aware of what is going on the world. Syria has undergone a civil war within their country, and it is speculated that almost 1,000 Syrian people have been killed by chemical warfare, which is illegal throughout the world. The President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, has intentionally killed almost 100,000 of his own people. The President of the United States wants to authorize an attack on Syria to stop the killing innocent people, especially with the use of chemical weapons. Recently, Russia has gotten involved in the race to stop the mass murders. Why isn't the United Nations getting involved? Because Russia, one of the permanent members, voted it down. Why did Russia vote a military attack on Syria down? Because Syria buys almost all of their weapons from Russia. Which means attack on Syria= financial hurt on Russia. Al-Assad told Russian TV on Thursday that the United States must call off any potential attack on Syrian government forces before he gives up his large chemical weapons. Weapon experts say that the idea of taking control of Syria's chemical weapons would be virtually impossible while a civil war is occurring. Syria is beginning to cooperate, and Syria told the United Nations on Thursday that it has sent the paperwork for joining the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans all use of chemical weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov continue to have more talks about the Syrian crisis. In 2011, there were few talks about trying to consolidate peace throughout the Syrian regime. But since then, the process has been on hold. If the talks between Kerry and Lavrov go well, the peace talks can be initiated once again, and the renewal of peace in Syria can be established. While the threat of a military attack is subsided, there needs to be an establishment of a serious consequence if this happens again. As the Secretary of State John Kerry says, "This is not a game."

• 22,530,746: Syria's estimated population in July 2012, according to the CIA World Factbook

• 0.311: Approximate percentage of the Syrian population killed so far 

0.311% of the population would be 976,066 people for the United States, 196,077 people for the United Kingdom and 4,177,476 people for China.

(source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/08/world/meast/syria-civil-war-compare/index.html)

Many American high school students graduate without ever knowing what the difference is between Democrat and Republican. These two political parties dominate America. Democrats have recently taken back the lead in party-affiliation, as of a recent Gallup poll during January-December, 2012, with a random sample of 20,800 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Forty-seven percent of these subjects identified or leaned to Democratic. Forty-two percent of the 20,800 subjects identified or leaned to be Republican. So what exactly does that mean?
(source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/159740/democrats-establish-lead-party-affiliation.aspx)

Most teenagers grow up with the same political beliefs as their parents, which is perfectly fine. But wouldn't it be nice to have an opinion of your own? That you believe with your entire self being? Here is a chart of the most simplest differences these two major parties have. This cracks the surface into forming an opinion of your own just by looking at a straightforward chart.

	Democrat	Republican
Philosophy:	Liberal	Conservative
Economic Ideas:	Favor minimum wages and progressive taxation (higher tax rates for higher income brackets.)	Believe taxes shouldn't be increased for anyone (including the wealthy) and that wages should be set by the free market.
Stand on Military issues:	Decreased spending	Increased spending
Stand on gay marriage:	Support (some Democrats disagree)	Oppose (some Republicans disagree)
Stand on abortion:	Should not be made illegal; support Roe v. Wade (some Democrats disagree)	Should not be legal; oppose Roe v. Wade (some Republicans disagree)
Stand on Death penalty:	While support for the death penalty is strong among Democrats, opponents of the death penalty are a substantial fraction of the Democratic base.	A large majority of Republicans support the death penalty.
Social and human ideas:	Based on community and social responsibility	Based on individual rights and justice
Traditionally strong in states:	California, Massachusetts	Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas
Symbol:	Donkey	Elephant
Color:	Blue	Red
Founded in:	1824	1854
Website:	www.democrats.org	www.gop.com
Senate Leader:	Harry Reid	Mitch McConnell
Chairperson:	Debbie Wasserman Schultz	Reince Priebus
Famous Presidents:	Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter	Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Richard Nixon