Gastric Bypass – Why do it?

May 23, 2011
By Shane

by Shane Russo

Being over weight is detrimental to many aspects of life. Cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes are just a few of the health issues over weight people must concern themselves with. Health problems are not the only aspect of life that are negatively effected by carrying excess weight. The psychological toll that one must pay is also great. Self-esteem, self-worth, body image, and the over-all feeling of happiness are impacted. There is a financial price to be paid as well. While it is true that much of the food that aides in obesity comes relatively cheap, see McDonald Value Menu for an example of this, it is also true that with declining health comes increased healthcare expenses. There is also the fact that, in many stores, the “plus size” clothing costs more. Shirts for men in the big and tall section of Walmart are about two to three dollars more than their regular sized counterparts.

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Establishing Identity Though Literature: Otherness

May 20, 2011
By Shane

by Shane Russo

Otherness is a term used to describe a person, or group, which is seen as being outside of the norm (Melani, 2009). Also according to Melani, “the Other is almost always seen as a lesser or inferior being and is treated accordingly” (Melani, 2009). For example, to the white middle class of the 1950s, the blacks were the Other. Otherness can take on many forms and can be found in almost every situation. It can be based on race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, political views, or social class (Melani, 2009). One would think that these things would automatically make the Other a numerical minority. However that is not always the case. A group being ruled imperially will become the Other even though they are in the numerical majority (Melani, 2009). Otherness is so prevalent in our culture that a person really needs to try hard to separate oneself enough from a situation to realize that he may be viewing it in the light of otherness.

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Underestimating “Sexting”

May 19, 2011
By the intellectual

It may seem harmless, taking a picture of yourself topless to send to your boyfriend.  Every one of your guy friends has a sexy naked picture or two of his girlfriend on his cell. Every couple you know of at school does a little “sexting” every now and then, and they’re having a blast doing it. Even a few young famous celebrities have “sexted.” But what might seem harmless at first can actually reap dire consequences, which is what is happening to a lot of teens and young adults in America today who’ve fallen into the new “sexting” trend. It just takes one click of that “Send” button to potentially change your life forever. The repercussions of sending a nude or explicit image or video of yourself to someone’s phone or even to their email inbox can hit on a deep, personal level for both parties involved, even a legal one, and the negative, life-changing effects can stay with you for years, even a lifetime.

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Why Is Calculus So Hard?

May 14, 2011
By the intellectual

Why is calculus so  hard?

For years I was absolutely terrified of calculus. Looking at the inside of a college calculus textbook was like looking at a foreign language in my eyes. All those weird looking symbols and operations, man was I ever intimidated. Even when the college professor would try their best to explain the concepts in “mathematical terms” I would seem to get lost ever more in the dark deep galaxy known as Calculus.

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