Gangs and social media?

My dad used to — and at some points still does — say: “Some day your mouth is going to get you in trouble.” This age old wisdom is very much true for every generation. However it seems to be adolescents and teens who need the most help in this area.

The difference between current and previous generations is now we can talk to others from behind screens. E-mails, texting and social media have become socially acceptable ways to communicate through the Internet. And since most people seem to be connected to the Internet in some way, once information is out, it spreads like a wildfire. This can be a great way to broadcast important information fast, such as an Amber Alert.

Sir Isaac Newton is famously credited for stating that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. Newton may have been referring to the scientific motion that occurs in physics, but his law seems to be applicable to the rest of the world.

For instance, social outlets such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter popularity are soaring. We have nonprofit organizations that utilize these outlets to connect with its supporters and the people it helps. And that’s not all. Businesses both large and small use these outlets to offer coupons, news organizations promote its products, and even celebrities use social media to connect with fans. There are tons of people and organizations using the Internet for a lot of good reasons.

However, there is that equal and opposite force that exists — gangs.

MySpace, being the oldest, remains a top choice among gangs. “Crips, Bloods, Florencia 13, MS-13 and other gangs,” are all avid users of MySpace, according to an article on MSNBC.

The article said gang members are using social media to, “make threats, boast about crimes, share intelligence on rivals and network with people across the country.” It seems students are no longer the only ones networking for future jobs.

Luckily, the police are attempting to keep up with the online generation. The article said police are using these social outlets to catch criminal activity and monitor possible threats.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy David Anguaino was quoted at the end of the article, saying “you want the fame so you’ve got to go out there and talk about it. That’s when your mouth gets you in trouble.”

“Someday your mouth is going to get you in trouble,” my father said.

Maybe some more people should listen to their parents?

What do you guys think, are gangs a threat online and should police be allowed to monitor social outlets?

—Jennifer Pearsall

Should OCCC be open today?

OCCC resumed classes today after shutting down during last week’s ice storm.

Do you think the college should have opened or stay closed again? Why or why? Leave us a comment and let’s see what you think.

Fair or not?

For many students attending a school whether it be high school or college, many have music as a major part of their lives. There are different genres out there and almost everyone has heard of the famous rapper Lil’ Wayne.  True he isn’t the most innocent person alive, but his music and  life story has inspired many. In February, Lil’ Wayne will be sentenced for pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He is expected to receive one year in jail sentence.

I am a fan of Lil Wayne and I enjoy his music. I’m not trying to make excuses for why he is going to jail or about him going to jail at all, but I am having a slight issue with for how long his sentence is compared to other famous celebrities. Paris Hilton has been arrested for drunk driving, speeding, driving with a suspended license and just basic reckless driving. For all those driving violations, Miss Hilton only received 23 days in jail. How is that justice? Her driving was a danger to many whereas Lil’ Wayne was participating in illegal activities, but not really posing a threat.

The weapon was on Lil’ Wayne and he was smoking marijuana. He was basically hanging out with a friend and relaxing. Hilton posed a greater threat to people because she was driving reckless. She could have ended a life along with injuring others. She knew she had a suspended license and yet, she still chose to drive.

Maybe it’s just me because I like Lil’ Wayne, but his one year sentence compared to Paris Hiltion’s 23 days does not seem fair.

—Landa McClure

Dirty hands and empty values

John Edwards has officially rendered his political career and hopefully for good. Why? Well, he’s a flat out liar and utter hypocrite. He recently confessed to having a baby out of wedlock with his mistress, all while his wife is battling breast cancer and was advocating his candidacy for presidency.

He initially denied accusations, with his painted smile. On Nightline in 2008 shortly after his bid for president fell short he said “I would welcome participating in a paternity test. I know that is not possible the child could be mine because of the timing of events.”

“Timing of events,” what’s that supposed to mean?

Now, he says “It was wrong for me to deny she was my daughter.” I guess his career was far more important than the ego inflating affair he had behind the back of his wife while deceiving her, his children and the people that believed in him.

This is the good ole’ southern boy who told crowds of ill informed people that he was all about family values and his christian background. His actions completely contradict what he stood for and when you choose to be a public servant, you’d better put your bad habits to bed.

My, sounds like he’s turned himself into an oxymoron or moron at that.

—Justin Combs

Is that Herpes?

A close friend of mine found herself falling in love with a man she had known for years. We will call her Mary. Since the age of 16, she always wanted to date him but he always had something going on in his life preventing it from ever getting too far. We will call him Ted.

About two years ago Ted made contact with her after not speaking for over a year and said he wanted to try and make their relationship blossom into something more than just friends.

Mary told me he did have some strange behaviors. Her desire to love him and be loved prevented her from seeing that things just were not right, no matter what I said.

The major oddity for her was he didn’t want to have sex. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it is great when someone can hold off their physical urges until they find the person who completes them. But this man was not a virgin, said he wasn’t trying to wait until he got married, and the couple had fooled around a few times but just didn’t go all the way.

Ted also told her he was uncomfortable being to close to her because he had shingles and he felt she would not be accepting of it. Shingles is a type of herpes, but it is only contagious to people who have not had chicken pox. If someone has had chicken pox, then shingles is not contagious and the other party has nothing to worry about. Mary had chicken pox when she was younger so she was not at risk. Being the sweetheart she generally is, she told him she didn’t care about his disease — she loved him regardless. Ted and Mary never did have sex, but oral sex was involved.

Mary told me last month she has herpes.

After having an outbreak of her own, she went to the doctor and learned of her condition. When Mary confronted Ted, he apologized and said he knew he had a more serious disease, but kept it from her, due to embarrassment. Turns out, Ted has the herpes simplex viruses, in addition to shingles. His inconsiderate ways and cowardly attitude have changed my friend’s life permanently.

Lets be real. No one has the right to ever keep secrets of this magnitude from anyone and in the same instance, no one should be ignorant of the fact that STDs do not discriminate.

The most common types of herpes are HSV-1 and HSV-2, both of which Ted has. HSV-1 is the virus that causes cold soars or fever blisters, and HSV-2 causes genital herpes. The truth of the matter is that HSV-1 and HSV-2 are virtually identical. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes and HSV-2 can cause cold sores.

I’ve seen the Valtrex commercials stating one in five people in the U.S. have herpes, but these advertisements do not include those who have HSV-1. In fact, according to herpes.com, 50 to 80 percent of the U.S. adult population carries some form of oral herpes.

There is a great post by Christopher Scipio titled “I have Herpes, Don’t you?”  that all sexually active individuals should read. Even if you are having just oral sex, you are in danger of getting herpes.

Of course the best practice is abstinence but, obviously, not everyone follows this practice.

If you are thinking about being sexually active, or already are, get tested immediately. More specifically, get a blood test done for LgG. This test is the most accurate in testing for herpes.

Mary was still willing to be with Ted even after his betrayal, but she told me it wasn’t because she still loved him. Instead, she was staying with him because she felt like no one else could ever love her. However, in educating herself about the disease and with close friends keeping her spirits up, she has officially decided she will always love herself first and finally let Ted go. Woohoo!

If you are suffering from herpes and feel like you have no one to confide in, there are forums all over the Internet such as herpesonline.org.

Life doesn’t end with an incurable disease, it simply changes it.

—Chavon McMillian

How far is too far?

I think it’s safe to say  that everyone’s heart goes out to the nation of Haiti. The devastation caused by the earthquake is unimaginable, the death toll catastrophic and the heartbreak devastating. Nations all across the word are working together to bring aid to a country that was already poor and impoverished.

As a Christian and a human being, my heart goes out to the people of Haiti and everyone else affected by the earthquake. This is a chance for Christians and human beings all over Oklahoma, and America, to put their money  where their mouth is. It’s a chance for us to band together, despite doctrinal differences, and show them the compassion we are always talking about.

Here in Oklahoma our very own Christian radio stations — 90.9 Air-One and 88.9 K-Love — are doing pledge drives and sending relief teams. Red Cross and Salvation Army are in first gear, doing what they do best. Obama himself pledged to send 5,000 troops to Haiti in order to help keep the peace. Our Navy is currently in the process of shipping supplies to Haiti as well.

However, Pat Robinson, once again, is unable to not start a controversy by spouting radical, right wing lies. He said that God was punishing Haiti for a “pact with the devil.”

I did the research and looked into Haiti’s historical background. There was no such thing. Robertson’s statements were wrong on several different levels. His statements were not backed up by research. They were ungrounded in truth and had no facts support them.

This isn’t the first time Robertson has caused controversy after or over calamity. Back in 2001 Robertson partly blamed the homosexual’s and abortionists in America for the attacks and that God was punishing them for their wickedness. I find his remarks extremely arrogant and self-righteous. And I’m a Christian too!

I am not the only who feels this way.

“Pat Robertson’s bizarre and offensive statements come at a time of horrific human suffering,” said Ari Rabin-Havt, vice president of communications and research at Media Matters. ” … They represent right-wing media figures’ willingness to use any tragedy to forward its own agenda.”

Rev. Paul Raushenbush, a Baptist minister and a religion editor at the Huffington Post, wrote: “Go to hell Pat Robertson — and the sooner the better. Your ‘theological’ nonsense is revolting. Don’t speak for Haiti — and don’t speak for God. Haiti is suffering a catastrophe and you offer silliness at best and racism at worst.”

Because of his statements, Robertson has given Christians in America a bad rap. CBN, the network which his show runs on, is shown world-wide. Now all across the world, people have seen the  arrogance and callousness of a supposed “leader” of American Christians.

What do you think? How far is too far?

—Ethan Hendricks

A question of role models

As an unabashed fan of Twilight ­— I know, I know, but I beg of you to contain your groans of disappointment until the end ­— I cannot help but notice that criticism of the series has recently skyrocketed. Some complain, and rightfully so, of the sheer overexposure of the vampiric saga, and I cannot blame them for such. I wouldn’t enjoy incessant talk of something I genuinely disliked, either. Others criticize author Stephenie Meyer for lackluster writing skills — again, this is pure opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own.

One thing I cannot stomach, however, are the multitudes of people decrying the series solely for its heroine, Bella Swan. I will be the first to admit that Bella is far from a perfect character. She is klutzy, whiny, and at times downright annoying — and this is coming from a devoted fan. But guess what? She is a fictional character. She is not a real person. She is not supposed to be a role model, as many angered parents make her out to be.

On the drive home yesterday, I could barely keep from changing the radio station when a local mom called in to complain about the series, and of Bella in particular. She condemned the books for glorifying a female character who plays the part of a damsel in distress, and whined about how poor of an example this sets for her own teenage daughters, who she wants to become strong, independent young women.

But you know what? Parents should count on themselves to be respectable role models for their children, not relying upon fictional characters to do so. Girls (and boys) today should not be looking up to the Bella Swans, Paris Hiltons, and Lindsay Lohans of the world, but instead to their family members, their teachers, and other respectable figures in their community.

What about the firefighters, police officers, and servicemen and women who put their lives on the line for us on a daily basis? What about people who have overcome crippling illnesses, horrific injuries, or unthinkable tragedies to become inspirations to the rest of us? What about the everyday men and women who sacrifice their own wellbeing in order to provide for their families? Those are the true heroes, not the fictional character of a teen romance novel.

The Twilight saga is by no means a literary masterpiece, nor would I ever claim it to be. It is, however, a perfect example of what a fictional book is supposed to be: fun. It is entertaining. It is fiction. It is not to be taken seriously. It is not a babysitter for parents who would rather plop their kids in front of a television or computer screen rather than actually parent them. And it is certainly not encouraging young girls to become weak, insipid beings incapable of higher thought.

Don’t criticize Bella. Don’t criticize Stephenie Meyer, or the Twilight saga in general. Criticize the lazy parents who need to step up to the plate and provide something for their children to look up to.

—Whitney Knight

Tips to avoid holiday stress

With the holidays in full swing and finals right around the corner, people can easily become stressed by the holiday entrapments. Jenna Howard, mental health counselor, said stress during the holidays is triggered by five different factors: Unrealistic expectations, unhealthy habits, financial issues, relationship problems, and not managing your time properly.

Students can overcome these triggers by following these simple suggestions:

Unrealistic expectations
During the holidays, people tend to have a very unrealistic idea of what the holiday should be. These expectations have led to a rat race which has replaced the real meaning of the holidays.
One solution counselors recommend is to not place the idea of the holidays into a box.
Every holiday is different and special in their own way and there is no real way to celebrate. If a person celebrates in their own way, they could experience a little less stress.

Unhealthy habits
Many people enjoy alcoholic eggnogs, ciders and punches during the holidays. There is nothing wrong with drinking; however, too much of anything is bad for people. In addition, alcohol is a depressant and can cause stress and depression in some people. Eating too much also can cause depression. Many people promise every year not to over indulge and then they leave the buffet with arms loaded like they have been on a shopping spree. Eating less during the holidays is accomplished by planning out meals and parties ahead of time. This way a person can eat less and enjoy the party.

Financial issues
Finances are one of the largest causes of stress during the holidays. The current economical crisis does nothing to help this. Counselors at the college suggest creating a budget and sticking to it. This way everything a person plans can be achieved. Remember to be realistic. If a gift cannot be bought or someone has to be left out, this is no cause for alarm. Be honest with family and friends. Tell them not to expect large gifts. In addition, gifts can be made. There are lots of gift ideas online. People can make fudge, cookies or anything else that is yummy. Another idea is to take hot chocolate mix, candy and a mug and wrap it all up in seasonal clear plastic. A can of soup in a soup bowl with crackers is a nice warming gift. The point is to be creative. There are plenty of cost effective gifts that can be made.

Relationship problems
Relationships can be stressful at any time, however, add regular relationship stress and holiday stress and you have a great big ball of destructive fire. Listening is one of the primary keys to any relationship. Make sure to take time for yourself during the holidays. In addition, try not to satisfy everyone. Try to compromise. Importantly, let family and friends know what to expect. Tell them ahead what can and cannot be done. Remember to stick with the decision. Each person should try and make their own traditions.

Poor time management
Time management and planning is the key to most holiday stress relief. When everything is in chaos, then stress is bound to happen. Makes schedules, plan budgets and check ahead for gift availability. Most importantly, people shouldn’t take on more than they can realistically do. A person who is realistic, healthy, and well planned can overcome most of the stress that comes with the holiday season.

Happy Holidays from everyone at the Pioneer!

—Mark Smith

More Troops?

President Barack Obama recently announced his decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, making this his second deployment of soldiers since becoming president. Do we really need to send more troops? This question has been asked so many times and I believe the answer is no. The soldiers need to come back.

Innocent lives are being lost and sending more troops is not going to change anything. Countries will always do what they want to do. According to CNN.com, Obama said he’d begin sending the additional troops “at the fastest pace possible” starting in early 2010 “with a goal of starting to withdraw forces from the country in July 2011.” He needs to withdraw the troops now. In February of this year, Obama said the combat mission in Iraq would be over, so he’s bringing soldiers home and sending others out?

The U.S. can not be Superman. Countries have to learn how to be independent and Afghanistan did not even ask for our help. I completely agree with  Sen. Russ Feingold , D-Wis, when he said “I do not support the president’s decision to send additional troops to fight a war in Afghanistan that is no longer in our national security interest.”

The war in Afghanistan has nothing to do with the U.S. Our troops need to come home!

—Landa McClure

What Smokeout Challenge?

The Great American Smokeout Challange took place today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society, more than one million smokers either cut back on smoking or didn’t smoke at all. The goal of the Smokeout was to promote a better environment and to help smokers become aware of the tools and resources available to them which can help them quit.

The Smokeout was acknowledge by a news sources and a few articles in the Oklahoman focused on it as well:

• CNN.com
• FoxNews.com
• NewsOK.com
• NewsOK.com

Despite this, when students at OCCC were asked about the Great American Smokeout Challenge almost all of them, whether smoker or non-smoker, had never heard of this day.

The Smokeout is aimed at the smokers and yet, not many smokers at OCCC were aware of this day. The articles about the Smokeout were not very big and most were buried beneath other stories. What good can a Smokeout do when the very people it is trying to help are unaware?

I personally think more attention should be given to the Smokeout by newspapers, news shows, etc. This would help get the word spread to smokers and increase the level of awareness.

Smoking is the cause of 30 percent of all cancer cases in America, according to the American Cancer Society. Not only that but the enventual build up of tar in the lungs causes them to lose their elasticity; thus decreasing the amount of air you take in per breath.

And if that’s not enough, you know that stuff that comes out of the exhaust pipe of a car? Carbon Monoxide?

When you exhale smoke from a cigarette, you are exhaling carbon monoxide. This dangerous chemical reduces the hemoglobin in our bodies from carrying oxygen, thus starving the brain and heart of oxygen and causing brain and heart damage.

Most people know you’re not supposed to be in an enclosed room with a running car for a long period of time due to the carbon monoxide emitted. What’s the difference between that and living in a house or apartment where carbon monoxide is produced by smokers?

I know several smokers who say they want to quit and wish they could. That is what the Smokeout is for. It’s to show them they can quit for one day and to make them aware of the resources at their disposal.

If someone wants to smoke, even if they know all the effects, I am not going to bash them for it. It’s their right and it’s a free country. I just don’t agree with it. I have several good friends and co-workers who smoke, and I get along with them fine.

I worry about my friends who smoke though, and I try to get them to quit. Some people might say I should mind my own business but when I’m the one inhaling the carbon monoxide everytime I walk into a smoker’s house or sit in their car, I figure I at least have some right to speak out.

So those of who know about this day, whether smoker or non-smoker, be pro-active. Get out there and tell others about the Smokeout and spread the word and give hope to those who wish to quit.

—Ethan Hendricks