Media Consumption

Facebooking. Twittering. We all do it. But how much time are we spending on online chatting, txting, computer games, TV, and Xbox? Every waking minute--and now, even in school and at work.Today in America, kids and teens between the ages of 8 and 18 spend roughly seven and a half hours a day consuming media. Do we always turn to media as a way of spending our free time? Is this healthy? Are the parents to blame? Should they be doing more constructive things with their time? Many kids growing up have a decreased vocabulary and social skills as a result of over consumption of everyday media. What ever happened to reading and writing? How much time do you spend consuming the media, and how do you think it affects you?

Charlotte Brannon (8:00)

Long-distance loving?

Can a long distance relationship work?

What do you think are the potential drawbacks of having a long-distace relationship? Are there any positives about them--are they in some ways better than relationships where you see the person every day, or several times a week? Do you know of any long-distance relationships tha have worked? Have you ever been in one yourself?

Curtina (8:00)

Is It Fair????

So, you were brought to a different country when you were just a child; you learned the language, the culture, the way of being. You grow up feeling like you are from that country, respecting and following the laws like most other citizens should. You also have these god-given abilities in that you out-perform most people in athletics and in the class room.

When you get an offer for a scholarship, like any young person you take it with dreams of giving yourself a great life. At the climax of your excitement, the school calls you and tells you that because you are not born in the country you reside in, they are taking the scholarship from you.

Is it fair for them to take the scholarship from you? You work as hard as anyone else and out- perform most people, and you did not cheat. Why are they allowed to take the scholarship back?Because of politics? It was not your choice to be brought to this country, so is it fair that you must pay a penalty?

Aaron Vega (8:00)

Is fast food really worth it?

How many times a week do you eat fast food? These days, more children under the age of 10 can identify any fast food character before they can identify any historical figure. Most adults are setting their kids up for health issues by taking them to fast food restaurants a couple times a week. Children get addicted to the sugar, caffiene, fat, and salt used in the food products. The more fast food you eat, the more weight you will gain. So, are your children gaining weight because of the food you are feeding them? As the children grow older, they will still be addicted to the products used in the so called "food." They will also more than likely develop health problems like heart disease or obesity, both of which can lead to a death from heart attacks.

What are your views on this? Do you think most (some) people eat way too much fast food? How often do you yourself eat at McDonalds, Burger King, KFC or other fast-food chains? More than 3x a week? More than 5x a week? Never?

Finally, do you have any idea which fast-food chains are the least healthy and which the most most healthy?

Macy Shupe (8:00)

Should Truckers have their own Lane?

We all hate that moment when we have to get past the long, scary semi that takes up all of its lane and sometimes more . . . well, what if us little cars and trucks had an extra lane to get past without having to get run off the road or worse?

I know that some interstates (near big cities) have lanes designated for cars and small trucks only, so why not expand on this idea and make most interstates much more safe for driving?

This idea might sound silly or unrealistic to some, mainly because we spend so much on the interstates already, but what if this extra lane saved lots of lives? What if we could reduce that 4% of truck-driving related accidents that lead to deaths just by adding another lane on all interstates?

I chose this question because I travel.. A LOT.. and it's scary when I'm trying to get past a semi and they start to come over in my lane. Or when it's pouring down rain in the dark, and it's really windy, and driving is already super dangerous--do we really need 18-wheelers blowing by us at 70 mph to make conditions even more hazardous?

Your thoughts on this? Thanks!

Alex Segobiano :)