New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun

       There is a new fashion out that allows people ,with a permit, to carry a gun called "Chino Pants" by the Woolrich Elite Concealed Carry line. The Chino pants are said to be "elegant and sturdy...with a clean profile and fabric that provides comfort and flexibility". This new fashion attracts the attention of fashion conscious people while still allowing gun carriers to be comfortable and incognito. Recently, this alternative style of dress has become more popular with now seven million customers as opposed to the once five million in 2008. The loosening of some state laws has in part been a contributor to this massive change in consumerism. Some customers specifically appreciate the styles that the shirt offers, one man said once his girlfriend called him "sloppy" before he got the shirt.
       The same company has also already thought of some new ideas. They will be introducing a water-proof vest this fall that will also be gun-friendly. Other companies are beginning to compete with this new style, like Under Armour. Nonetheless, there are still gun carriers who are in opposition to the new style, and who feel that the traditional pant pockets are the better, more dependable method for gun carrying. 
       I think this new clothing line will become increasingly popular and attract many customers. However, I also think people should not be allowed to carry guns; some laws are too strict. Ultimately, people can and will begin to take advantage of the right to carry a gun, licensed or not. I believe that if more people carry guns that crime rates will increase as people will feel more compelled to use a gun when they are being sold clothing that makes it seem commonplace. 

Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/us/fashion-statement-is-clear-the-gun-isnt.html

Afghan Girl Scarred by acid

       In this article by, New York Times writer, Dexter Filkins a group of teenage girls and teachers, including 17 yr. old Shamsia Husseini, attending Mirwais School  for Girls was attacked by 8 men on motorcycles with acid. The girls were scarred all over their faces preventing them from reading or seeing clearly. "They hit 11 girls and 4 teachers; 6 went to the hospital." The acid attack attempted to scare the children as well as the teachers into staying out of school, which failed completely. According to the article, "The attacks appeared to be the work of the Taliban, the fundamentalist movement that is battling the government and the American-led coalition. Banning girls from school was one of the most notorious symbols of the Taliban’s rule before they were ousted from power in November 2001". When the Taliban moved into the Mirwais area posters appeared in local Mosques saying things like, “Don’t Let Your Daughters Go to School”. Exactly who was behind the acid attack is a mystery. "The Taliban denied any part in it".
  
     I truly think it's a shame what happened to these students and teachers. No one should be harassed like that and especially not for wanting to get an education. I feel as though the men jailed shouldn't be released for their crime. They terrorized innocent children with a deadly 'weapon' (acid)

and it's not acceptable. Also, I think the Taliban had everything to do with the acid attack because these acts came about when they moved into the Mirwais area. All evidence points to the Taliban. 






http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/world/asia/14kandahar.html?pagewanted=all

Facebook Is Using You

Lori Andrews is a law professor at Chicago-Kent College Of Law. She has written an article titled
'' Facebook Is Using You". In the article she discusses the truth of how Facebook makes profit. The article states '' Facebook makes money by selling ad space to companies that want to reach us. Advertisers choose key words or details — like relationship status, location, activities, favorite books and employment — and then Facebook runs the ads for the targeted subset of its 845 million users.'' This statement explains how our 'free' Facebook account makes Facebook so wealthy. The article then states ''Facebook made $3.2 billion in advertising revenue last year.....Yet Facebook’s inventory of data and its revenue from advertising are small potatoes compared to some others.'' Facebook isn't the only one selling data there are other companies that support this seeling trend such as Google, Yahoo, Twitter and many other social networks. Although sometimes the advertisements are useful they can also be harmful. According to the article, ''The bits and bytes about your life can easily be used against you. Whether you can obtain a job, credit or insurance can be based on your digital doppelgänger — and you may never know why you’ve been turned down''.

When I first read this article I was seldomly surprised although I had a clue that they were doing these things. I already knew that once something was put on the internet that it would always be there. The fact that they're selling people's private business is very wrong and it shouldn't be allowed. So you should always be aware that the internet is not a safe place and that nothings is ever sacred on the web. Anyone can access information that you post.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/facebook-is-using-you.html?pagewanted=all

I'm a criminal and so are you

            Michelle Alexander wrote this article to persuade people to understand criminals on a more non-critical level. She states that everyone is a criminal whether they approve or not. She says you just haven't been caught yet, so it's not fair that we brand each-other. ''Once labeled a felon, you are ushered into a parallel social universe.'', she claims. She then implies that President Obama is a criminal as well. The article states, "I doubt Barack Obama thinks of himself as a criminal, though he should. He has admitted to using illegal drugs during his college years -- lots, in fact."

Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell

         In this article Dr. Farid and Eric Kee are trying to discover a software tool for measuring how much fashion and beauty photos have been changed. They have arranged a scale from 1-to-5 to determine how much pictures can be altered. These images mainly contribute to "eating disorders and anxiety about body types", especially among young females. Eva and Seth Matlins, the founders of an online magazine for women called, Off Our Chests, are trying to gain support for legislation in America. They proposed, the Self-Esteem Act. It portrays photos that have been changed a little bit to tremendously.
          I think it's a good idea to show how much the pictures that we see in magazines have been altered because there are young teens that see these pictures and think the are perfect. Then they develop a low self-esteem. Low self-esteem contributes to all types of disorders whether it's anxiety, eating, personality or whatever.

Link To Article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/technology/software-to-rate-how-drastically-photos-are-retouched.html

Obama Backs Limit on Sale to Teenagers of Morning-After Pill

      According to The NY Times Obama, as well as Kathleen Sebelius (Obama's secretary), is putting restrictions on the availablity of the morning-after pill formerly known as Plan B. President Obama states,“The reason Kathleen made this decision is that she could not be confident that a 10-year-old or an 11-year-old going to a drugstore should be able — alongside bubble gum or batteries — be able to buy a medication that potentially, if not used properly, could have an adverse effect”. He then adds,“And I think most parents would probably feel the same way”.
     I agree with what Obama says because if it weren't for age restrictions teenagers would try to buy PlanB; it would be dangerous for them to use so the restrictions were much needed. Young teens or teens period shouldn't need to use PlanB anyway so maybe they could learn from their actions and the outcomes later on in life. 


To read article visit: www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/us/politics/obama-expresses-support-for-plan-b-decision.html