Tobacco is Wack...o....

The obvious answer the the question, "Should tobacco be legalized?" is no. Tobacco should be illegal or at least restricted for a number of reasons. Not only is tobacco just plain disgusting, but it causes severe health problems such as increased risk of lung cancer. Tobacco is highly addictive because it contains the drug nicotine. Every single form of tobacco, which includes cigars, cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, and pipe tobacco, contains varying ammounts of nicotine and can cause you to form an addiction. Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the U.S. and should therefore should not be totally legal under any circumstance. People may argue that it is their "freedom" to smoke, but with freedom comes responibility, and if people are not responsible enough to realize the facts about tobacco, then their freedom should be limited. Second hand smoke also puts non-smokers at risk of certain health problems. Perhaps enforcing non-smoking zones everywhere is a bit more reasonable than completely taking away one's right to smoke. After all, if somebody wants to put themself at a high risk of getting lung cancer, who's to tell them they can't? We live in America, where freedom rings no matter how badly your poor choices will affect your life. Perhaps smoking is a means of natural selection to rid the Earth of those who can't think for themselves. However, there is certainley no reason tobacco should be fully legalized; there always needs to be some restrictions. Tobacco companies make millions of dollars off of getting people addicted to their product. Without nicotine, there wouldn't be tobacco companies. Such companies could care less about the health risks involved with smoking, so long as they can make a profit. In the end, if people know the consequences of smoking and still want to take the risk, then, by all means, let them smoke. However, completely legalizing tobacco is probably a bad idea.

Too Young To Be a Dad

Even if I didn't see the video in class, it's incredibly obvious what pressures teenage guys into having sex. Most of the pressure, in my opinion, comes from the media. Every song you hear on the radio these days contains sex. Not to mention sex in movies and such. The media portrays sex as "masculine" and "fun". Apparently you're not a man until you've had sex. Another source of pressure for guys to have sex is peer pressure. Friends could possibly pressure you into having sex because they say it's "cool" and "fun", very similar to how the media portrays sex. I also heard somewhere that the average guy thinks about sex every seven seconds. If such is the case, then it's no wonder why guys are easily pressured into having sex. I guess it all come down to hormones and development.

I also think it's relatively obvious what pressures teenage girls to have sex: the media and friends. But other than those two, I think guys pressure girls into have sex as well. Since guys tend to think about sex a lot more than girls do (at least that's how it seems), guys are more likely to pressure their girlfriend or date into having sex.

Drugs and alcohol greatly influence people to have sex. Consuming either of these completely alters your way of thinking; you pretty much don't think at all. There's no way you can make a good decision under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so you're more likely to do things you wouldn't normally do when sober.

When taking sex into consideration, it's best to use the GREAT decision making model. The feeling/acting method seems kind of "go with flow". In my opinion, letting things just happen for no reason is one way people end up having sex in the first place. If you're making an important decision, it's best to really think things through and consider your options rather than just do everything loosey goosey.

Legalize Marijuana?

My initial reaction to the legalization of drugs was short and simple: NO! However, through careful research and better knowledge of the illegal drug trade, I am somewhat in favor of legalizing at least a few drugs. Perhaps the legalization and taxing of marijuana, an already widely used illegal drug, could help solve our economic crisis. The government is currently pouring tax payers' money into catching those who sell illegal drugs, prosecuting them, and placing them in jail. Let's face it, legalizing drugs is not going to encourage drug use. In fact, it may do just the opposite. Drugs lords only get involved with the drug trade because they can make around $5 billion annually, so legalizing and taxing drugs that are currently in the black market of the drug trade would cause the profit of illegal drug trading to go way down. Ultimately, this would encourage many people to stay out of the drug trade, as they are not tempted by the enourmous profits in the first place. However, even if drugs like marijuana are legalized, the government can still regulate them, which, in the end, would be profitable to our economy. Not to mention the gang violence on the Mexico-America border. The illegal drug trade has caused countless acts of violence in this particular region and many have been killed. Legalizing certain drugs would put a halt to such violence on the Mexico-America border. While there are probably no health benefits to legalizing drugs, there are certainley economic and safety benefits. Drugs like marijuana are already widely used, and legalization of such drugs would most likely not change how many people use them. Society would mostly remain the same if certain drugs were legalized. Marijuana is already legal in a few states anyways. One must ask the question, do the economic benefits outweigh the potential problems caused by certain drugs? I'm not sure; I'm kind of on the fence with this one, but if somebody wants to use drugs, does it really matter to you? Just because drugs are legalized doesn't mean you must use them. I for one would not smoke marijuana simply because it's legal. As long as people are educated on the effects of certain drugs, there is really no point in keeping them illegal; those who are well-educated should be able to make the right decision. Let the stupid people fuel our economy! Hoorah!


I kind of got a little bit loopy towards the end. Whatever.

Environmental Pharmaceutical Polution

Millions of various pharmaceuticals are perscribed annually. However, after a pill has been consumed, the active components of the drug are not completely absorbed by the body. Perscription drugs have been discovered in our soil, ground water, waterways, and drinking water. The last thing sewage treatment plants are looking for are perscription drugs, and they're not always removed properly. In addition to this problem are drugs that aren't used; some people dispose of drugs by flushing them down the toilet or storing them in land fills, which greatly affects the environment. It has been confirmed that most waterways contain at least some steroids, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or other household drugs. One problem that pharmaceutical polution has on humans is antibiotic-resistent bacteria. Compounds from antibiotics remain in the environment when the drugs are not properly disposed of, and bacteria in the environment is able to mutate into strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Among animals, pharmaceutical pollution causes abnormalities in reproductive cycles. This is seen particularly among fish. Drugs can also contaminate crops if the pollutants make their way into fertilizer. Some health problems caused by pharmaceutical polution are largely unkown, but there certainley needs to be something more done to prevent the growing problem of pharmaceutical polution.

Industrialized Farming

Everytime you go to the grocery store, chances are, you're going to find what you want. Such consistency and availability of products and groceries can be accredited to industrialized farming. However, industrialized farming is, in fact, a danger to our health and our environment. Think about all of the gas we use distributing the multitude of groceries to every store throughout the country. As long as industrialized farming exists as it does now, we are going to rely heavily on gasoline for our well-stocked grocery stores. Not only is our reliance on gas bad for the economy, but it pollutes the air we breathe.
Ever since the industrial revolution, when tractors were introduced to farming, we have been slowy becoming more dependent on machinery for our crops. Farmers currently use pesticides to prevent product loss to "pests." Presiticdes are dangerous to humans and can cause health problems. Profit seems to be more important nowadays to farmers rather than public health. Sure, groceries may be cheap and plentiful as a result of industrialized farming, but such farming techniques have negative affects on our health and the environment.
I feel that there needs to be some kind of innovation made to improve modern farming. Perhaps an alternate fuel source would get rid of some of the pollution done to the environment. Some kind of change is needed for industrial farming because we're certainley not going to get rid of it unless we absolutely need to. More often now we are seeing organic and pesticide-free foods in our grocery stores, which shows we are making at least some progress.

Soy Food and Health

Soy is a versatile type of bean used mostly in Asia. It is found in foods like soy milk, soy sauce, miso, and tofu. I happen to think soy sauce is delicious. Sometimes soy is added to foods like cereal, bread, and meat products. There are many benefits to soy, but there is also said to be a few negative consequences to eating soy foods. However, for vegetarians, soy is a great source of protein. Even if you're not a vegetarian, soy products can help you obtain your daily diet of protein.

So what are the benefits of soy? Other than protein, scientific studies have shown that soy can lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease. But be aware that the health claims of soy do no apply to all soy products; these health benefits only apply to soy protein. Something that is labeled as "whole soy" or "contains soy protein" would have such health benefits. Whole soy foods also offer other nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Choosing soy instead of meat can be a great way to avoid cholesterol and saturated fats.

Rumor has it that soy foods can help prevent cancer. Groups such as the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do agree, though, that diets that include 25 to 50 grams of soy protein a day can help to lower levels of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol, which is sometimes referred to as "bad cholesterol," is the type of cholesterol that is known to build up in and to clog blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of heart disease. This is one of the negative consequences to having a soy food diet. Not only that, but some soy foods aren't as healthy for you as their normal counterparts. A good example is milk. Soy milk does not contain nearly as much calcium as the milk from a cow does.

Soy foods are great in moderation. Those who think soy foods are fat free are wrong. Soy foods do contain fat, and it is not good to have a strictly soy food diet. The key to good health is eating a variety of foods and not focusing on just one. Gradually introduce soy into your diet, but don't overdo it. Remember that when you buy soy foods that you should look at the label to see if it is whole soy. Only then will you receive the health benefits of soy products!

Conflict Resolution

The conflict resolution method I found involves 6 steps to finding a solution to any conflict. These 6 steps are listed as follows:

1. Cool off
- I feel that this step is the most important because you are never going to solve a conflict when you are emotionally unstable. People tend to say things they don't mean when they are angry, so it's best to have a time where you just cool off. Take a deep breathe, and follow through with the rest of the steps when you feel comfortable.

2. Tell what's bothering you using "I messages"
- I also felt that this step was imporant because "I messages" are ways that you can express how you feel without blaming the other person. In order to solve a conflict, you can't talk about the other person or blame them by saying, "You did this," or, "It's all your fault." Those are what I like to call "you messages."

3. Each person restates what they heard the other person say
- This step is basically a form of reflective listening. It simply helps you identify why the other person in the conflict is in distress and it shows respect for that person because they know you are listening to what they have to say.

4. Take responsibility
- Taking responsibility for your actions is the most crucial step in a conflict resolution method. It enables both sides of the conflict to find a resolution. By stating that you did something wrong, you are switching gears of the conflict entirely. Remember that both sides of the conflict have some degree of responsibility, so don't act like you're completely innocent.

5. Brainstorm solutions and come up with one that satisfies both people
- In order to do this step, you must be open-minded and creative about finding a solution. What works for you may not always work for them, so be patient, and think of something that both sides of the conflict will be content with. It doesn't have to be a solution that you're both crazy about, just make sure that you're both leaving the conflict feeling content.

6. Affirm, forgive, or thank
- Forgiveness is a form of closure and will end the conflict. Maybe you could even throw in a hug! Hugs are awesome.


After closely analyzing each step, I can conclude that this 6 step method is a great way to settle conflicts. It cuts out the blaming and allows the people in the conflict time to cool off (which is very important if you're like me). We all know how we act when we're angry, so don't allow the conflict to escalate because of emotions. I don't see anything wrong with this method and it seems like a great way to solve conflicts.

Decision Making Models

Last week in class, we learned about the "GREAT" decision making model. It has you analyze the situation in 5 steps in order to pick the best decision. The book described this decision making process as follows:

Give thought to the problem. Do not impulsively make a decision. The consequences may not be rewarding and cause you to regret your decisions.
Review the choices. Come up with a list of ways to handle the situation.
Evaluate the consequences of each choice. This is the time to start thinking of what would the short-term and long-term consequences be if I choose choice A or if I choose choice B.
Assess and choose the best choice. Now, pick the choice that you feel is best for handling the situation.
Think it over afterwards. Reflect on the choice you made. Do you regret it? Could you have picked a better choice? Are you happy and know that you did the right thing?

Another decision making model I found was the "Pros and Cons" list. In this form of decision making process, you take out a piece of paper and divide it in half. One side says "Pros" at the top, and the other says "Cons." On the side that says Pros, you write all of the things that are good about your decision, and on the side that says Cons, you write all of the things that are bad about your decision. After weighing the pros and cons, you'll be able to see which decision is the best. However, this decision making process is really only good when you're making a decision with one choice. A decision with many choices and outcomes isn't a time for making a pros and cons list, because there is a lot of gray area in between; not everything can be labeled as a "Pro" or a "Con." Therefore, the GREAT process is probably a better way to make decisions than the Pros and Cons list.

The Third decision making process I discovered was the PLUS process:
Step 1: Define the problem
Step 2: Identify available alternative solutions to the problem
Step 3: Evaluate the identified alternatives
Step 4: Make the decision
Step 5: Implement the decision
Step 6: Evaluate the decision

I felt that the PLUS process was very similar to the GREAT process. However, the GREAT process is more efficient in the sense that it has five steps, but there really is no difference between them at all. You can't go wrong with either of the two processes.

The Effects of Drinking

Let's face it: drinking is a huge problem in today's world. Whether you're a "problem drinker" or just an "average drinker," consuming alcohol can take a major toll on your health. Underage drinkers tend to neglect the fact that drinking can cause liver disease later in their lives, which can lead to death. Just because you're not identified as a "problem drinker" doesn't mean you won't be affected by alcohol. Sure, it may seem like a party to you, but let's take a look at the long-term affects of drinking.

Alcohol is a poison. When you consume alcohol, it goes through the stomach and into the bloodstream. There is no digestion involved; it is simply absorbed. Eventually, the alcohol absorbed into your bloodstream reaches your brain. However, it's not necessarily the brain that you need to worry about when it comes to alcohol; the worst impact of alcohol is on the liver. The liver normally uses fatty acids as fuel, but when alcohol is present, the liver is forced to use the alcohol instead and let the fatty acids accumulate. Seeing that the liver can only metabolize about 1/2 ounce of ethanol per hour (about 1 drink), the alcohol will begin to circulate to all parts of the body in excess. That said, it is probably not a good idea to consume more than one drink per hour. Overtime, heavy drinking can cause the liver to accumulate too many fat cells, which greatly affects the liver's ability to filter toxins from the body. When the liver fails to do its job, your body will suffer severe health problems. Worst case scenario, your liver fails and you die.

So what if you're only a casual drinker? There are still other health risks that you should be aware of, such as an increased risk of cancer (liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus). Consumers of alcohol also have an increased risk of heart disease. You don't have to avoid alcohol completely (unless, of course, you are underaged), but knowing the facts about how alcohol affects your health can help you make an informed decision about drinking.