Sick people who hurt innocent animals

In an article from fox news a few months ago two teenagers named Angelo Monderoy, 18, and Matthew Cooper, 17, broke into a vacant apartment in Brooklyn and set a cat on fire. The kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes said that the teenagers poured charcoal lighter fluid on the cat while holding it down. They then set fire to the cat causing very deep wounds and fourth-degree burns. The cat was found outside, unable to move and was crying but still alive and later was euthanized at an animal hospital. The ASPCA which stands for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigation lead to the capture of these two teens and they were indicted. In addition the fire also damaged the building where other people were in fact living. Because of this the two teenagers could spend 25 years in prison for allegedly torturing and killing a cat they set on fire when they broke into an apartment in New York City. The charges they face are second-degree arson, second-degree burglary and aggravated animal cruelty. Image was found on flickr.

Another incident of this happened in Mount Vernon recently where someone set a draw which had kittens in it on fire. The kittens were only 2 weeks old when they were set fire The kittens were rescued and survived but were meant to be left for dead. According to Shannon Laukhuf who is the executive director for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Westchester says that “Unfortunately we have been seeing a lot more cruelty lately than we care to see…But I've never seen anything like this though, when four kittens were blatantly set on fire."

After these two stories I am sickened by it because I have no remorse for people who hurt animals. People who hurt animals are usually sociopaths who are people who don’t feel emotion. If these people are hurting animals what’s to stop them from hurting people too. These people belong in jail for the maximum sentence and should definitely seek mental help. If you think someone is hurting or neglecting an animal you can call the SPCA’s of Westchester’s 24 hour confidential tip line at 914-941-7797.

Swine Flu how did it get here????

A group of students from Queens might be the reason that the Swine flu. Image is from flickr. According to an article from the nytimes says that Esti Lamonaca and her friends are under a national spotlight as the health officials try to figure out whether this group of teenagers are the reason there is a swine flu outbreak in New York. This group of students spent five months planning a trip to Mexico to celebrate their senior year of high school. They choose the Oasis Cancun hotel, and it was a dream vacation for the students. Esti Lamonaca said the trip was “awesome”.

This new flu strain is responsible for killing 149 people and sickened more than 1,600 in Mexico. This could easily become a global pandemic, because of all the traveling people do. About 45 cases have been confirmed in the United States and 28 of them were from students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, where Ms. Lamonaca and 7 of the 11 friends she vacationed with are students.

Health officials caution that they are not sure yet whether the vacationers, who came back to school on April 20 after the six-day trip, caused the outbreak. There was a questionnaire given to students at St. Francis asked about travel to Mexico, but also to California and Texas. Ms. Lamonaca said it was not fair to blame her and her friends for the outbreak and says “No one can prove it”. Ms. Lamonaca said she began to feel sick last week, with a sore throat, aching back and a cough, and is now feeling better. However the article states that she had not been tested for the swine flu. So how can we blame someone for this epidemic if they haven’t even been tested for it to confirm they brought it hear?

Car Crashes

In an article from the nytimes says that car accidents and crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged 16 to 20 years old. Image is from flickr. There are about 5,500 or more teenagers who are drivers or passengers that die from car crashes each year. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 450,000 teenagers are injured, 27,000 of them requiring hospitalization because of these accidents. From the amount of people who are killed 63 percent are the drivers and about 37 percent are passengers. Males make up two thirds of the fatalities in these crashes. Teenagers make up only 6 percent of all drivers but are implicated in 14 percent of fatal crashes which is almost nine times the rate of the population.

In reaction to this problem the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents have teenagers sign a “driving contract” that goes over when the teenager can use the car and who can be in it. They also recommend that if the contract is violated that they should take away the privileges. I think this is a good idea because parents and teens are on a contract which says what you can do with the car and what you can’t. I personally used to skip a lot of school in high school and my parents tried to track my mileage to see if I was actually in school or not and that didn’t work for too long. Eventually I broke the rules so many times they stopped caring. I think this is a way better way to achieve a common ground with driving expectations.

Another thing that the article explains is how important it is to have experience and it really does matter. The article says that factors like “alcohol, drugs and distractions like the stereo naturally come to mind, the single biggest reason for both fatal and nonfatal crashes involving teenage drivers is inexperience” (JANE E. BRODY ,2009). In a recent study the highest rate for crashes usually happened within the first month of getting your license and the rate drops down after 5 months of time.

Distractions in the vehicle contribute to accidents for both teenage and adult drivers. But distractions are a more serious problem for beginner drivers because they tend to look away from the road for longer periods and may then drift out of their lane or fail to respond in time to a need or hazard. When I first got my license I got in an accident because I looked down at my radio to change the station. The American Academy of Pediatrics noted that “eating, drinking and adjusting the radio or the climate controls each cause more crashes than cellular phone use…Hands-free cell phones have not reduced the risk significantly”.

Teenagers also tend to be greater risk-takers than adults because they think everything they do is right. They are less likely than adults to use seat belts, especially when driving with other teenagers even though it saves lives. In 2004 a study conducted about teenage car crashes says that 58 percent of people died as a result of not wearing a seat belt. The article says that teenager’s use of seat belts is least likely in the most dangerous of conditions including, when driving at night, under the influence of alcohol or with several teenage passengers.

Myth About Teen Promiscuity

In an article from the nytimes says that there is a myth of rampant teenage promiscuity. Teenager’s parents are constantly worrying about changing moral values and risky behavior among this group. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, reported that the rate of births for 15- to 19-year-olds rose for the first time in over a decade. Although this is alarming news in reality most teens are waiting to have sex and are said to be “more conservative about sex than previous generations” (TARA PARKER-POPE, 2009).

According to the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey the percentage of teenagers that has had sex is 47.8 but in 2007. This percentage is down from a 54.1 percent in 1991. In another report from the Department of Health and Human Services showed that 30 percent of teenage girls ranging in age from 15 – 17 in 2002. This rate was down from 38 percent in 1995. For teenage boys who have had sex in the same age range was 31 percent which was down from 43 percent in 2002.

In the same report, the rates went down for younger teenagers as well. In 2002 only 13 percent of girls had sex before the age of 15 which was down from 20 percent in 1995.
According to Kathleen A. Bogle who is a professor at La Salle University she says that “There’s no doubt that the public perception is that things are getting worse, and that kids are having sex younger and are much wilder than they ever were, But when you look at the data, that’s not the case.”

One main reason people misinterpret teenage sexual behavior is because dating and relationships had changed over time. In the first half of the 20th century, “dating was planned and structured — and a date might or might not lead to a physical relationship” (TARA PARKER-POPE, 2009). This scares the parents of teens now because things aren’t the way they used to be. This new pattern of dating is in forms of gatherings and hook ups. It could also be like this picture. The current rise in teenage pregnancy rates is cause for concern for both parents and teens. It could also be like this picture.

Today there are all types of contraceptives including condoms, birth control and abstinence. The rate has dropped drastically since 1950 same with abortion rates. According to Maria Kefalas who is a professor of sociology at St. Joseph’s University she says that “There is a group of kids who engage in sexual behavior, but it’s not really significantly different than previous generations…This creeping up of teen pregnancy is not because so many more kids are having sex, but most likely because more kids aren’t using contraception.”

According to the Nation Statistics on behavior about 16 percent of teens say they had oral sex. Today’s teens are said to have a more relaxed attitude towards oral sex than previous generations. Also some think this is safer form of sex and pregnancy isn’t a problem to worry about. All it takes for teens to have sex is that it requires time and lack of supervision.

Immigrants in the United States

According to cnn there are 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States which make up 4 percent of the United States population. Most of the illegal immigrants come from our boarder in Mexico which is estimated to be 7million people. In a study conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center estimates there are 4 million children who have at least one parent who entered the United States illegally. Once here these children were born in the United States and are now U.S. citizens as a result. There are about 5.5 million children of illegal immigrants inside the United States, according the Pew study. Image is from flickr.com

The study also stated that there is an estimate of 1.8 million children of undocumented immigrants live in poverty, “among children whose parents are unauthorized immigrants, one in three is poor” (Wayne Drash, 2009). This is a very high rate for children living in poverty who are children of immigrants. Also a lot of these children have parents who are constantly working to help make a better life for them here. The study also stated that “children of illegal immigrants make up an even greater share of students in America's primary and secondary schools, with nearly 7 percent enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade” (Wayne Drash, 2009). People from all around the world come to the United States to get an education and opportunity. The Pew Hispanic research also said that children were more likely to live in a two parent household compared to the other parts of the population. The study states that the “vast majority of all children with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent live in two-parent families which is 80 percent” compared to children who had parents U.S. born being 71 percent. This information is explaining how more immigrants are willing to stay together and be depended on each other to manage rather than to just leave or divorce.

However now in our current economy why would you want to come here when companies and banks are failing? Our current unemployment rate right now is 8.5% people who are citizens and illegal are being laid off in all fields. Many people are in debt and borrowed more than they should have and it’s a big mess. But according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Immigrants without citizenship make up more than 5% of the United States. Immigrants are willing to take the jobs that others don’t want to do but times are now changing and many people are desperate and laid off so this (economic recession) might end up affecting more people than previously thought.

Sex Trade: The New slavery

The Federal Beau of Investigation estimates that there are more than 100,000 of children and you women are trafficked into the United States every day. These children can range in age from nine years old to nineteen. Human trafficking is the current slavery of our time. About 200 years ago, the United States outlawed the transatlantic slave trade. And only a few years later the practice of slavery was stopped in Northern part of America. It took the civil war to abolish slavery in the southern states after years of war. While much has changed since the days of the transatlantic slave trade, the “new slavery is now being practiced with children and teenagers. Here is a link to this image .
This is a very big problem which should be addressed and I think that this is more important than the war on drugs. Children, teenagers, young women and men are being bought and sold for their services worldwide by Horney dirty people. People from the United States go to other countries like Mexico and Twain to have sex with young children. My boyfriend’s friend went to Mexico over his spring break and said that people were walking up to him asking him if he wanted sex and one even said “I have a nine year old for you”. This grosses me out and it’s scary to think that someone you know may be involved in this trade. Prostitution is considered the oldest form of work dating back to before the bible.
There are many victims of this and seen as a monetary value not a person with feelings, needs and wants. Many of these victims come from good families and are tricked or kidnapped and forced to do sexual things or their captures threaten their families and their lives. These people are said to be in fact owned by another person. If you think you have come in contact with a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1.888.3737.888.

Sexting???

Most children especially teenagers have cell phones now a day and most have camera’s in their phone. However there is a new trend going on that has criminal consequences which could end your child in trouble. Have you ever heard of sexting well neither did I until today. Sexting is “the practice of taking a sexually revealing picture of yourself, typically from a cell phone and sending it to someone” (Larry Magid, 2009). There are also legal consequences with sexting especially when you’re a child or teen. You can actually be charged with child pornography but how could a child be charged with child pornography? Image is from flickr.com/photos/robwallace/736541861/

At Glen Rock Middle and High School police say that there are nude cell phone self-portraits of an eighth grade girl circulating around the schools. The girl sent the pictures to a friend last fall in confidence however started to circulating last Friday. In reaction to this the “school called parents with a stern warning: anyone found with the photos could be prosecuted”. The police also said that if anyone had the pictures "That if they had it to bring it to the police or to delete it within 24 hours." The school is also sending out a letter to parents explaining how these photos are child pornography and “Having or distributing them is considered endangering the welfare of a child”.

Alana O’Neill, a student at Glen Rock explained how she though "I didn't really know that until my mom mentioned it the other day that you could get in trouble for it. And I don't think that many kids know that anything bad can happen from it". This is because children this age think there invincible and that the law doesn’t apply to them but it does.

There have not been any charges filed yet for students having or distributing the photos but are giving a deadline until April 9th to get rid of them. After this date police say they will fill charges. This Thursday the police and Bergen County will have an assembly for students at the Glen Rock schools explaining the child pornography laws.

Children shouldn’t being sending sexting messages because it is degrading to themselves and there are too many people out there who are sick and get off on pictures like that so why would you want your pictures seen by everyone I sure wouldn’t. Things that you do when you’re young have consequences including the things you post and take pictures of once you send a message or post something it’s out there in the virtual world and you can’t take it back most of the time. So my advice to adolescents is being careful and try goggling yourself you might be surprised about what’s out there about you! This is a link to the news cast: wcbstv.com/video/?id=126291@wcbs.dayport.com

economic crisis

Dealing with the fallout from the financial crisis and the concern about your job and finances is tough for everyone right now. However taking to teens about what’s going on is very important. In an article from cnn explains the importance of taking to your children about the economy because “it's a conversation worth having, especially now that they're old enough to share the stress”. Mary Gresham a psychologist who specializes in financial issues says that taking to yours teens about the economy will “Not only can you ease their concerns… and you can turn these into teaching moments". Image is from flickr.com/photos/jpellgen/3345383578/

The last recession was in the beginning of the century and teens now were too young to remember what was going on. Now they are old enough to know what’s going on and the harshness of the situation even if they don't fully understand it. To get the conversation going parents should explain what's happening in our economy and around the world. You should include how “consumers are spending less, stocks are falling, companies are cutting jobs and put it in perspective” (cnn). According to David Barnett a financial adviser in California to engage discussion “Use headlines about rising bankruptcy filings or news of a friend's parent being laid off to underscore the importance of saving money”. Also explain to them that recessions occur on a regular basis and that while this current one may be particularly harsh, the economy will bounce back in time. At this point you can tell them how it is affecting the family and your finances. Explain also how it will ultimately affect them. "You don't want to convey anxiety, just the facts… Start with what's not at risk: their allowance, say, or your ability to pay the mortgage” (cnn).

The next topic you may discuss with your teen could be the vulnerability of your job and that you may not be able to cover all college costs. It is important for teens to know this and to have a plan to pay for college “Tell them exactly how you plan to cope” (cnn). According to psychologist Marlin Potash, who focuses on money and relationships says that you must not tell your children Were going to be ok without explaining why were going to be ok. Let your teens know about choices that affect them like credit cards and loans and give them a chance to share their feelings and suggestions. According to Kathy Stepp, a financial adviser in Overland Park, Kansas says "I want them to understand the concept of living within their means…and the potential consequences if they don't." David Barnett explains how important it is to save money "Times like these really help explain why you need that emergency fund." These teens are the next generation and will soon be trying to get jobs and start earning a salary and it is important for them to know early how to save and mange their money in a smart way so they don’t end up in trouble with their finances.

In a recent poll by Junior Achievement, with the support of The Allstate Foundation, conducted its tenth annual “Teens and Personal Finance” poll in late February of 2009. The survey assesses how the current economic climate has impacted the spending and saving habits of American teens. The poll also looks at how the economic crisis is having an impact on families. It includes recreational activities, such as going out to eat and going to the movies. Also families and teens are taking less expensive vacations or staying home. Teens also report they’re getting reduced allowance and cutting back on extracurricular activities.

The economic crisis appears to be influencing the behavior and spending habits of teens, which have conventionally been the “demographic with the highest percentage of disposable income” (Junior Achievement). Teens today admit to being “anxious about the economy and their current spending habits underscore just how concerned they are” (Junior Achievement). Teens in the workforce are facing similar challenges to those faced by adults including wage reductions, their schedules are being cut, or are getting laid off. Also many teens fewer jobs and there is more competition for the jobs for which they’re applying.
Our economy is so bad that parents are asking teens to contribute to the household. Image is from flickr.com/photos/bearmancartoons/3101840139/

The choking game

According to a article in the nytimes, in the last few years there is an estimate of 82 children who have died because of playing the choking game. The Choking game is a unusual and gradually more common practice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This game has many names including “Blackout, Flatliner, Fainting Game, California Choke, Dream Game, Airplaning, Suffocation Roulette, Space Cowboy and the Pass-Out Game” (Tara Parker, 2008). and this video is one girl’s experience on this disturbing game. Image is from flickr.com/photos/bishi/2106685096

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocf9aaIXsBg

The Choking game, which involves deliberately trying to choke yourself to get a quick high is said to have been around for years but is starting to spread. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the “choking game is a dangerous activity that older children and early adolescents sometimes play to get a brief high…they either choke each other or use a noose to choke themselves…after just a short time, children can pass out, which may lead to serious injury or even death from hanging or strangulation”. A theory for this is that “the Internet has made it easier for kids to learn about the game... a search of YouTube turns up several videos warning about the practice, but also several troubling demonstrations by giggling adolescents showing how to play”(Tara Parker, 2008).

Since 2005 there have been at least 60 of the deaths as a result of this game. However sometimes it may be hard to rule out if it is a death or suicides, so sometimes people may be said to have died from one but it was really the other. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the “number of deaths is probably understated, and other experts agree, noting that choking game deaths, which involve accidental strangulation with a rope or belt, often look like suicides”(Tara Parker, 2008).

There is a website that is named GASP, which stands for Games Adolescents Shouldn’t Play, says that “65 children died in 2007 and 1,800 people in the United States had died playing the game in the past 10 years and most were children and teenagers” (Tara Parker, 2008). Many people haven’t even heard of this game until now including myself that why it is important to know what’s going on with your loved ones before it’s too late, “The C.D.C. reports that most adults haven’t even heard of the choking game and have no idea their kids are playing it” (Tara Parker, 2008).

The game can be played in many ways but the goal is to cut off the oxygen to the brain in order to get high before passing out. Adolescents may used their “hands to squeeze the necks of friends, or they may use computer cord, scarves or ropes” (Tara Parker, 2008). In another way is when, “kids bend down and try to induce hyperventilation by taking deep breaths followed by a “bear hug” from a friend” (Tara Parker, 2008). Signs that a child may be engaging in the choking game include “bloodshot eyes, marks on the neck, severe headaches, disorientation after spending time alone, ropes, scarves and belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor, or the mysterious presence of things like dog leashes, choke collars and bungee cords” (Tara Parker, 2008). People need to discuss the effects of the game with their loved ones and parents should be there to listen to their children.

gang life

Teenage gangs are becoming more of a problem lately for adolescents, communities and families. According to a survey conducted in 2006 by the National Youth Gang Survey estimated that there are about 26,500 youth gangs in the United States. There are an estimated of about 785,000 members total. People involved in gangs are usually “responsible for a large share of the violent crimes committed by teens in large urban areas” (Melissa Klein, 2009). Current Health 2 and in Seattle Washington, gang members were responsible for “85 percent of the robberies committed by teens in 1998” (Melissa Klein, 2009). Image is from flickr.com/photos/olifhar/690621013/. The most severe gang activity is usually evident in larger cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. However, other gangs can also near or in suburbs and small towns, according to James C. Howell, who senior research associate at the National Youth Gang Center.

Here is a table which explains how the rate of gangs is shown from 2002 to 2006:

Table Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting Gang Problems, 2002–2006.

A gang has many different definitions it can be a group of people who share a common interest or lead to criminal activity. A common definition of a gang “is a group of three or more individuals who engage in criminal activity and identify themselves with a common name or sign”. A gang is not just a social group of people getting together to hang out. According to Arthur Lurigio, professor of psychology and criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago says that gangs are "If there's no criminal activity, then you are not a gang…. A social group is not a gang”. Arthur Lurigio than says that people involved in gangs are “barely teenagers, while others are your parents' age… The level of involvement in the gang may also vary from hard-core members to wannabe gangsters”.

What makes teens want to become involved in gangs is it might lead to a sense of belonging or family. The attractive appeal for teens is the promise of a sense of belonging that they might not have at home or at school and "the gang becomes the parent for many kids… it becomes the school, the church”, according to Carl Taylor who is a professor of sociology at Michigan State University. Carl Taylor also describes gangs as having a appeal to them for the ones that don’t fit in. Also family members may join to be around older family members. According to Arthur Lurigio Gangs give” teens increased avenues to become involved in criminal activity... "If you are in a gang, you are more likely to be committing every type of crime… You are more likely to carry a weapon; you are more likely to drop out of school”.

Another reason teens may join gangs is because of the “mistaken belief that membership will protect them” (Melissa Klein, 2009). However people involved in gangs are more likely to be involved in crimes than people not in gangs and gang membership extend to the entire community, with some neighborhoods terrorized by drug dealing or robberies. One of the reasons for the gang appeal experts say that the “glamorization of gang life in music videos, video games, and movies fuels the desire to belong to one or just dress and act like a "G" or gangster” (Melissa Klein, 2009). However gang life is not like the TV or music it is often very different than people who join previously thought “Several studies have found that most people who join gangs drop out within a year because the experience is not what they thought it would be... Short-term members typically can leave gangs without consequences, although sometimes they are "beaten out" by other members” (Melissa Klein, 2009).