How Music Affects Teens

Music is something that every person has his or her own specific opinion about. Different people have different taste, and various types of music have many ways of leaving an impact on someone. It can be relaxing, angering, soothing, energizing, and many more.


There are so many types of music out there today. Rap, pop, rock, country, indie, alternative, hardcore are some of the abundant types in the world. Music sends out either good or bad messages that have big impacts on how people act. People usually become friends with others who have a same taste in music as the rest of the people they hangout with, or it can be vice versa. People may not want to associate with people who have different tastes in music because they’ll argue about what they think is better but its just their own opinions.


Rap and Rock music are two very important types of music in the world. They both send out different messages and help kids. The lyrics sung or rapped by the artists can be things going on in their own personal lives, and people with the same types of problems can listen to them so they know theirs hope and theirs people like this out there in the world. Music can also serve as a catalyst for new ideas. When people listen to the new things out there, they learn different things going on in the world and they become more open-minded because they’re exposed to different people like the artists.


A lot of people come to the conclusion that rap music has a very big impact on the world. Listening to the lyrics, they usually revolve around sex and drugs and those are topics many parents don’t want their kids being involved in. Many of the music videos made by rap artists in the world show these topics in them. Studies show that people who are more into rap music do drugs one time in their lives.


People can use music to express themselves, in ways it can’t be expressed through behavior, or art. You can usually tell how someone’s feeling by the type of music he or she is listening to at the time. It’s a tool used by many. Groups of people around the world can come together and gather at concerts, shows, and venues to show what their interests and likings are and you see how many people have similar likings as you.


I can personally relate to the effects that music has on its listeners and users because it’s a big part of my life. Every day I listen to the words and sounds of different singers/bands with contrasting ideas and opinions. The music I listen makes me who I am.

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Minnesota Starvation Experiment

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment was a study on the effects of human starvation to be used by aid workers following World War II. The study lasted over one year, with the volunteers undergoing a control period before a six month “semi-starvation” period with daily caloric intake at approximately 1500 calories per day. The participants lost approximately 25% of their body weight during this period before two separate rehabilitation periods. The results were published in 1950 under the title The Biology of Human Starvation.

Read full article on Wikipedia: Minnesota Starvation Experiment

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Top 5 Reasons Why Online Poker Rocks

1. Winning Millions of Dollars from Playing Cards is CoolPoker is full of rags to riches stories and it's one of the few sports or games around where you truly can turn a $39 tournament entry into millions of dollars, just like Chris Moneymaker did in 2003 when he turned his $39 satellite tournament victory into a win at the 2003 WSOP Main Event worth more than $2.5 million.

2. Be Your Own BossIf you have the chops to be an online poker pro, you can bid adieu to the 9-5 grind and annoying bosses. You don't need specialized degrees, letters of recommendation, or millions of dollars in start-up capital. All you need is a bit of starting money in your poker bankroll and the ability to play poker better than the majority of the other players at the table.

3. Travel the WorldOnline poker sites regularly offer tournaments that give players a shot at winning a trip to play poker throughout Europe, North America, Asia, and South America. For just a few dollars you can win the trip of a lifetime to cities like Paris, Melbourne, Amsterdam, or Las Vegas.

4. Become a TV StarESPN and other networks broadcast a wide range of poker tournaments and shows, so one of the best (and realistic) ways to get your smiling mug on television is to sharpen up your poker skills.

5. Get a Cool NicknameWant an awesome nickname like "Texas Dolly", "Amarillo Slim", or "The Cincinnati Kid"? Those are just a few of the poker nicknames of great players both real and fictional, and all you have to do isplay Texas Holdem poker if you want to get in line for a nickname of your own.

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Childhood Obesity May Boost MS Risk

Very obese children and teens may be at risk for multiple sclerosis, a new study suggests.

In the study, very obese girls (those who had a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher) were nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed withmultiple sclerosis (MS) within the study period, compared with girls who were normal weight. The link was strongest among teenagers.

No link between obesity and multiple sclerosis was found for girls in other weight classes, or for boys.

In people with MS, the immune system attacks the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord, producing symptoms such as numbness, loss of balance, weakness and tremors. MS is rare in children — about one to two kids out of every 100,000 will develop the condition. Symptoms are similar in children and adults, although youngsters may also experience symptoms not typical of MS, such as seizures or lethargy, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The findings suggest that, as the prevalence of childhood obesity increases, so will cases of multiple sclerosis, said study researcher Dr. Annette Langer-Gould, of Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation in Pasadena, Calif.
"Our study suggests that parents or caregivers of obese girls and teenagers should pay attention to symptoms such as tingling and numbness or limb weakness, and bring them to a doctor's attention," said Langer-Gould.
However, the study only found an association, and cannot prove that obesity causes multiple sclerosis. It could be that an aspect of the condition itself — such as having trouble exercising before the condition is diagnosed — predisposes youngsters to obesity. But if this were the case, researchers would expect to see the same link in girls and boys, which the study did not find, Langer-Gould said.
The researchers analyzed information from 75 children and teens ages 2 to 18 who were diagnosed with pediatric MS, and compared them with more than 913,000 children and teens who did not have MS. For those with MS, BMI was measured before the condition was diagnosed.
Obesity is known to increase inflammation in the body, which may be involved in the development of MS, Langer-Gould said. Estrogen, a female hormone, also increases inflammation, and together with other inflammatory factors released from fat cells, could accelerate the development of MS, Langer-Gould said. The involvement of estrogen might explain why the link was only seen in girls.
"The authors certainly have opened the door to an interesting association," said Dr. Michael Duchowny, a pediatric neurologist and director of academic affairs at Miami Children's Hospital Research Institute, who was not involved in the study. "These findings need to be repeated, expanded and clarified further" with additional research, including studies that test the estrogen hypothesis, Duchowny said.
Previous studies in adults have suggested that obesity, or related factors, such as levels of appetite hormones, play a role in the development of MS, said Dr. Steven Mandel,  a neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
"It doesn't mean that if you're obese or overweight ,you're going to develop MS," but rather, that a link between the two conditions exists, Mandel said. The findings may be another reason to bring childhood obesity under control, he said.
Although preliminary, some saw the findings as hopeful.
"We're beginning to accumulate a good deal of information about some of the environmental factors that may play a role in MS, and environmental factors that are possible to be modified," such as smoking and obesity, said Dr. Nicholas LaRocca, vice president of health care delivery at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "That’s a very exciting possibility," LaRocca said.

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Worlds most dangerous animals

The shark

Sharks have a terrible reputation thanks to films such as Jaws and Deep Blue Sea, but it’s one not entirely without cause. It seems that although great whites are often blamed for unprovoked attacks on humans, it is more likely to be down to those snappy bull sharks, who are very aggressive. Out of 360 species, only four are known killers: tiger, great white, oceanic whitetip and bull sharks. However, as we’ve seen with bears, although there are a high number of shark attacks, actual fatalities are fairly low.

Responsible for: An estimated 100 fatalities a year.

Hangs out in: Florida, Australia, Hawaii and South Africa.

Method of dispatch: Sharks attack the only way they can – by lunging with fearsome teeth. Sharks can grip their prey easily in their powerful jaws and are capable of biting through almost anything.

Useful avoidance techniques: Don’t wear yellow or orange, as sharks have good eyesight and these colours in particular seem to irritate them. If you are cut, get out of the water as they will smell blood from miles away. Engage in your aquatic recreation in groups – sharks are more likely to attack solitary prey. If you are attacked, punch the shark on the nose and claw the eyes and gills as these are sensitive spots.

The crocodile

Crocodiles are dreaded prehistoric creatures capable of wreaking a terrible punishment on puny human flesh. North American, Estuarine and Nile crocodiles are the most dangerous and probably kill more people yearly than figures show due to the isolated areas where attacks are likely to take place and distance from help. One meal will keep a crocodile sated for a good while, so they like to wait in the water for the perfect time to strike.

Responsible for: An estimated 600-800 fatalities a year.

Hangs out in: Africa and Australia.

Method of dispatch: With terrifying speed, crocodiles can launch themselves out of the water like a missile and latch hold of their prey. They then go into a death roll, spinning the victim around and around to disorientate, thereby lessening its chance of escape.

Useful avoidance techniques: Straight from the society of stating the obvious: do not swim in areas where there are crocodiles. It may be hot, and you may want a swim, but the croc will see you coming and the rest doesn’t bear thinking about. If you’re unfortunate enough to be grabbed, shout, scream, claw… and pray.

The bear

Forget gentle Ben – when a bear rears on its hind legs you know you’re in trouble. Although bears have a fearsome reputation, you are statistically more likely to survive a bear attack than to perish, but that’s small consolation to those who are faced with a bristling bear. With five attacks in Canada in 2005 alone, it seems that they’re on the increase due to human destruction of, and encroachment on, bears’ natural habitat.

Responsible for: An estimated 5-10 fatalities a year.

Hangs out in: North America, Canada, North Pole, Russia and isolated pockets around the world.

Method of dispatch: There are many different sub-species of bear and not all of them are vicious. However, the polar, black and grizzly varieties are deadliest. Bears will trample, maul and generally savage their prey until they’re frightened off or finish the job; and will attack for a variety of reasons, hunger being one. You should always keep food well away from your camp.

Useful avoidance techniques: If you are faced with an angry bear (categorised by snorting, false bluffs, ground beating, etc), slowly back away from the bear, watching it all the while. DO NOT turn and run. If it continues to act aggressively, you should respond in kind by shouting and throwing sticks and stones while continuing to back away. If a bear is upon you, fight back as you will stand a better chance of survival than if you play dead.

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Top 10 Things Not to Do On the Internet When Drunk

Coming home drunk and then go online can bring you lots of fun, but also lots of problems second day.

This is our top 10 list of things you should avoid doing on Internet if you are drunk.

 1. Respond to anything work-related

No matter how capable you think you are, just don’t do it. Any mistake will be instantly explained by the 4am reply time. Besides, alcohol breeds carelessness, and ending an email to an attractive co-worker with a pun on how she’s good at “every job there is” with a winky-face is definitely not a good idea.

2. Chat with family members

Just because your weird step-uncle Dale just got off work from the recycling plant does not mean that it’s the perfect time to organize that trip to insect museum he’s always been bugging you about. This will come back to haunt you in the form of a doorbell ring at 6am the following Sunday. 

3. Change your password

Of all the things to forget about the previous night, the fact that your email’s new password is “burgerkingroxxx” is one of the most costly.

4. Use your credit card

No, don’t order that Viking helmet off of eBay that would be perfect for that Kegger on Thursday and no, you don’t need to sign up to three more porno sites.

5. Describe your level of intoxication in a status update

Look, everybody out that saw how drunk you are. Everyone online going to see how drunk you were when you’re tagged the next morning in a sequence of photos illustrating your attempt to chug a mixture of vodka and apple sauce. Nobody needs to be reminded via an intentionally misspelled status update.

6. Email an ex

It’s like texting, except you can fit a hell of a lot more in. While a text message limits you to a simple “want 2 see u” an email can easily turn into a seemingly appropriate compliment that “ur way better at kissing than ur sister.”

7. Forward a funny email

People haven’t done this since 2001, and no matter how much you believe you won’t get kissed for two years if you don’t pass it along, please try and refrain.

8. Film a YouTube response video

I don’t know what sorts of assholes are making all of these YouTube response videos, but I’m assuming most of them must be plastered, so everyone cut it out: nobody cares.

9. Download p0rn

I know it’s hard to find the Kim Kardashian sextape but just pay for it when you’re sober if you’re so desperate, because you’re going to get a bunch of Trojans if you drunkenly download anything p0rn-related. They invented streaming for a reason.

10. Read the news

This isn’t a good time to catch up on the latest on the Obama administration, and you’re going to forget all of it anyway. You may as well just turn on some Dave Chapelle stand-up and enjoy yourself while you’re still conscious.

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Most Bizarre Things Insurance Can Cover

When it comes to insurance, most people think about the basics - health, life, home, auto. Some people consider disability and burial insurance as well. However, most people don’t think that they’ll need alien abduction insurance, and most men don’t think about getting paternity insurance. But these insurance policies are real. Here are some of the bizarre things you can actually get insurance coverage for:

Alien Abduction
If you are concerned about being abducted, against your will, off the planet Earth, you can purchase insurance that might help compensate you for the psychological and physical damage you experience. You can get coverage for a relatively low amount ($25 to $50 for a lifetime policy), and the payout can be up to $10 million. Of course, if you do make a claim, you are likely to find that the payout is $1 to $5 a year – for the next 2 million to 10 million years. Make sure you read the fine print.

Paternity
Are you a ladies’ man? If so, you might consider paternity insurance. This is an insurance policy that is purchased to help cover the costs of a paternity suit, if one is brought against you. The insurance could help you cover the costs of child support as well. It’s extra insurance, for just in case other precautions don’t work.

Fantasy Football
There are a number of hard core fantasy football players out there, marshalling their teams and vying for number one spots, proving that they could be great coaches. While many leagues are free, there are also plenty of paid fantasy football leagues. So, what happens if you are paying to play fantasy football, but one of your picks is injured? You are out the money – and the season. Unless, of course, you have insurance. Fantasy Sports Insurance is a company that will insure your fantasy team players, no matter which sport you follow. If your star player sits out a specified number of games, your fantasy league entrance fee will be refunded.

Wedding
It’s supposed to be the most memorable day of your life. But your wedding can also be very expensive. What happens if you shell out $10,000 to $30,000 for a wedding, and it doesn’t happen? That’s a lot of money you’ll never see again. More and more people are opting for wedding insurance coverage. You can be reimbursed for your expenses if the wedding is cancelled due to weather, death or illness, or because the couple decides not to go through with it. It’s also possible to get wedding insurance that will help you pay for damages to wedding pictures, stolen gifts and damages to the bride’s wedding dress or other items in her trousseau.

Reincarnation
Worried about being reincarnated into a dog in your next life? Or maybe you’re concerned about the financial circumstances in your next life. In order to protect against such calamities, consider purchasing reincarnation insurance. It’s designed to compensate you for wherever karma places you on your next earthly sojourn. However, there’s a rub. You’ll have to figure out who you were in your last life in order to make a claim. Then there’s the trouble of filing a claim as a dog. You may just have to wait until yet another life for your payout.

Prize Payout
Some game shows don’t want to pay up if you win a major prize. One of the most famous examples is the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” which insured against having to pay out major prizes. The idea was that if someone actually did become a millionaire, then an insurance company would cover the prize money. Others have insured against big prizes as well. Taco Bell once insured itself against having to give everyone in America a free taco and a whisky company covered itself in the event someone actually captured the Loch Ness Monster.

Kidnapping
No one wants to think that they’ll be kidnapped. But if you’re worried about it, you can purchase a policy to cover you. And, in actuality, wealthy families and companies are known for buying kidnap and ransom coverage. Wealthy families know that their children could be targets for ransom schemes, and companies know that key people in places like the Middle East, South America and Russia can be kidnapped and held for ransom.

Horse Breeding
Only those involved in horse racing would truly understand this insurance policy. However, there are several insurance companies that offer policies that will protect you in the event your horse can’t breed. This is important, since many horse owners make a tidy profit by allowing mares to mate with prime stallions. If it turns out that your healthy horse can’t reproduce, you could get a payout to compensate you for what you would have lost.

Lottery Winnings
This insurance is designed to protect employers. In the United Kingdom, it’s possible for employers to purchase insurance policies that offer a payout if two or more workers leave because they won the lottery. The costs of replacing employees can be high, and having good workers leave due to a large change in financial circumstances can leave an employer in the lurch.

Key Business Players
In some cases, the CEO, CFO or other prominent figure in a company is so important that the company insures these people. It’s often called “Key Person” or “Key Man” insurance. Apple insured Steve Jobs and Microsoft did the same for Bill Gates. This way, the company gets a pay out if its financial future is affected by the loss or disability of a key player.

Bottom line: In the end, it’s possible to get an insurance policy for almost anything. As long as you are willing to pay the premium, and the insurance company feels it’s taking on an acceptable risk, it’s possible for you to protect those things that are most important to you, whether you’re concerned about your next life or your lavish wedding.

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