I think that tobacco should be illegal. It is estimated that there are 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million deaths in the 20th century. Tobacco is a complete waste of money. It is also a waste of your health. Why would you want to smoke or chew? It's disgusting and there are so many health issues that go along with it. Tobacco affects the heart and lungs. Smoking can cause heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and cancer. The kind of cancers you can get are, lung cancer, cancer of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer. You can also get gum disease and loss of teeth if you chew tobacco. By chewing you can get cancers of the cheek, esophagus, lip, palate and tongue. You can also get receding gums, and ground-down teeth. You also have terrible breath. Not only are you affecting yourself, but you're affecting the other people that are around you when you smoke. You can get first hand smoke, second hand smoke, and you can now get third hand smoke. There are way too many health problems that are involed in using tobacco. Nobody should even risk it, it's the worst habit out there. It is also way too expensive. Why would you want to spend money on a product that is going to harm you when you can get a product that is more valuable? I just do not see the point in using tobacco. All it does is ruin your health and takes your money.

I think that all drugs should be illegal. I don't understand why people need to use and abuse them. It's sad that people have to resort to them just to have a "good time." I can understand if you are prescribed a certain kind of prescription, but when you start to take more of that prescription you are crossing the line. Many people these days are using and abusing drugs and don't think what they're doing is wrong. Drugs are way too dangerous to get caught up in. It is becoming more of a problem everyday. If drugs were to be legal I think they should have an age limit, yet I doubt that people would even follow that limit. Today many teens are finding different ways to get drugs, and I think it would still continue even if there was an age limit. No matter what we do or say I think that there is always going to be an issue in our country with drugs. People are that dependant on them, and it's absolutely pathetic. Many people are losing not only themselves but their loved ones. People become a disappointment to their family and friends. It's not worth it to get yourself wrapped up in drugs. They destroy you. If drugs were to be legalized there would just be more people that are becoming addicted to them. If drugs were legal the government is pretty much saying that it's okay to become addicted, it's okay to put our health in danger, it's okay to die a little more everyday. Well it's not okay. Although if drugs were legalized then the economy would benefit. Many people would buy drugs and it could then develop into an industry. I still think that our health is more important than the economy.
www.abovetheinfluence.com

Swine Flu- Lindsay Stephens

There are no vaccinations that are 100% safe. There are risks and side effects that come along with the vaccination. The swine flu shot is not new. It is the same as the seasonal flu vaccine. I believe that this vaccine helps protect against swine flu. If you get the shot you're at a less chance of getting it. If you choose not to get the shot than you're at a higher risk. You should get the vaccine because it's better to be safe than sorry. There are side effects that go along with this vaccine. Local side effects from approved H1N1 vaccines include tenderness, pain, redness, hardening of skin, swelling, and bruising. Some common systemic side effects from swine flu vaccines include headache, malaise (feeling out-of-sorts), muscle pain, chills, nausea, fever, and vomitting. Although there are side effects I think it's still important to get the vaccine. Side effects don't occur for everyone. Everyone is different. I think it's better to take a chance instead of waiting before it's too late.

Bullying- Lindsay Stephens

First of all I think all bullying is wrong. No one should put other people down in any kind of way. We're suppose to be there for each other and pick each other up when they fall behind. People need to start realizing bullying is only immature and it doesn't get you anywhere in life. It doesn't make you cooler, smarter, or better. No one deserves to be bullied. I think the hault program is taking the right action and helping many people. Honestly everyone has been getting along. I think that the halt program has helped a lot. People actually care about others and their feelings. If something gets out of hand people should tell an adult, or someone they can trust. They shouldn't hide it from anyone. It's better to get it out and get the problem resolved. You first need to be able to recoginze bullying. Then you need to address it to either your family, friends, or anyone else. Talking about it can help you cope with bullying issues. If you see someone being bullied you should stop it right away, don't let it get out of control. Step up to the plate and be the bigger person. If you don't have anything nice to say, or do then don't say or do it. Everyone should be treated equally.

Industrial Farming

Industrial farming has many pros and cons. I want to focus on the cons. Many animals are being abused and I think that's wrong. Farmers recycle manure on their crops as fertilizers. Mostof this manure just consists of waste. This waste can run off into streams and effect other living things. It can kill fish and contaminate human drinking water supplies. We need to take better care of animals and use products efficiently. We need to start caring about our environment as well. It is being polluted more and more every day. Everybody needs to take this into consideration and do the right thing.

Lindsay Stephens

I love to spend time with my family and friends. I love going to the movies, ice skating, mall, and just about anywhere else. I love to just hang out at home as well. I love singing and dancing. I think blogging is pretty neat. It's a different way of learning and it seems like it's going to be a lot more fun. I hope to learn how to cooperate well with everyone in my class. I want to participate and give it my all. I'm going to try hard in this class. I definitely want to go to college after high school. I want to be a drug and alcohol counselor, or a physical therapist. I hope to get married and have kids someday.