Basically, this article is about the fact that the number of teen smokers has not declined in recent years, and it may even be rising. Some believe that they will be able to limit teen access to cigarettes by raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes to 21 years instead of 18 years old. They want to do this because smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Also, more than 40% of today's high school students have tried smoking before they graduate and more than a third of individuals who start smoking as teenagers become daily smokers by the time they turn 18.
Personally, I do not think this is a good idea. If a teen chooses to smoke, that is their choice. A person is legally an adult when they become 18, and they should have the freedom to purchase cigarettes if they choose to. At 18, a person can vote, be tried as an adult, play lottery, go to a club, buy porn, have no restrictions on working, buy rifles and shotguns, sign contracts, join the military, and get any piercing or tattoo. So how would it make sense to take away cigarettes simply because teens can get a hold of them? The legal drinking age of 21 is already very high and it would only make people very angry if they had to be 21 to buy cigarettes. Some people have their own house and kids at 21, and they wouldn't be able to buy cigarettes if they choose? I do not smoke but I think that taking this right away from other people would be a VERY bad idea.
Find the article here :)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Charlie Sheen is a nut.
Sheen's estranged wife, Brook Mueller, entered rehab the other day and now Charlie wants the twins. Mueller reported she entered rehab just in case Sheen's lawyer wanted a drug test.
Sheen's lawyer is asking for physical and legal custody to Sheen, and wants the judge to allow him to not have to pay $55,000 in child support to Mueller.
As of right now, unlikely ally Denise Richards offered to have the twins stay with her for the period of Sheen's tour, Torpedo of Truth. Sheen apparently said he would "keep her posted"
How would any judge on this planet allow an unstable man like Charlie Sheen to have sole custody of two children. I don't know how reliable these sources are, but many others are saying it is true, and if it is I am actually disheartened by this. Charlie Sheen has shown many signs of a possible mental illness and is clearly unreliable, and unstable. I just cannot believe someone would even consider giving him full custody.
The Future Kings and Queens
On the other side of the pond, the royal wedding is quickly closing in. What is different about this one, though, is that there are two queens in waiting, rather than one; a divorcee of Prince Charles will be in attendance, alongside the coming bride of Prince William. As William is the son of Charles and Lady Diana, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding any interaction Camilla, Charles' second wife, divorced, has with the royal family. More importantly, though, is the matter of succession, as many think the succession should skip Charles entirely and pass directly to William, when the current queen passes. Personally, I think that there is no reason for such an avoidance of Charles' being king, as he is of the line and has been more active in politics and other areas than any of the living royal family members. At once, though, there is a movement for Camilla to become queen, should Charles take the position of King; this would serve to restore the proper passage of the titles, and possibly mend the monarchy. Until any decision is made on Charles and Camilla, though, the world must sit tight and watch a joyous ceremony of two who may very well come to restore the monarchy to its past glories. Have a look at the article here.
Cops Get the Bad Dude in Darby
Police in Upper Darby shot and killed a man accused of stealing from five to six gas stations last night. They said the man reached into his shirt when they found him at the Sunoco. I don't know why they HAD to shoot him. The guy was stealing, yes. And he was suspiciously reaching into his shirt. But still, I think they could have handled this situation differently. Also, the reporter for this story is a total magoo.
94 year old woman to give birth (sort of)
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/04/14/2011-04-14_zsa_zsa_gabor_94_to_have_baby_via_surrogate_claims_husband_frederic_prinz_von_an.html
Anyone who knows me knows I'm not an age discriminator. I love old people. I love my grandparents, I love the old ladies in the "Life Alert" commercials, I love Mr. Rogers from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (or, I guess I loved Mr. Rogers since he, like so many old people before him, has passed away). The point is I enjoy senior citizens and I fully believe that they are still entitled to all of the rights they were given by the constitution because freedom has no age limit. Procreation, however, does. Or at least I think it should. Apparently Zsa Zsa Gabor, 94, doesn't seem to agree with me as recent reports have been saying that she and her 67 year old German husband are trying to have a baby (via surrogate, of course, but still). Now, this is wrong for several reasons. And by several, I mean a million. But for now I'll just list a few.
1. Biologically- The average age of a woman undergoing the process of menopause and thus losing the ability to naturally give birth is 51. Frankly speaking, Zsa Zsa Gabor is too old. About 43 years too old. The average age of a woman giving birth for the first time is 25 which means Zsa Zsa missed that cut by 69 years.
2. It's not fair to the child- When her child starts preschool she'll be about 98. When he or she starts high school, she'll be 108. When he or she graduates from college she'll be 116 which incidentally is two years older than the current oldest man in the world so...
3. She's way too old (have I mentioned that?)- When Zsa Zsa Gabor was born, Woodrow Wilson was President. The first World War was just ending. The NHL was just forming. Zsa Zsa Gabor is so old, her Bible is autographed. (That last one was just a yo mama joke I heard the other day but one that her son/daughter will likely hear for the rest of their life)
In order to make this nonsense happen Zsa Zsa and her husband are planning on using a surrogate, some frozen eggs and donated sperm so good luck explaining to your 5 year old son where babies come from. And why you're 70 years older than all his friends' moms.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm not an age discriminator. I love old people. I love my grandparents, I love the old ladies in the "Life Alert" commercials, I love Mr. Rogers from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (or, I guess I loved Mr. Rogers since he, like so many old people before him, has passed away). The point is I enjoy senior citizens and I fully believe that they are still entitled to all of the rights they were given by the constitution because freedom has no age limit. Procreation, however, does. Or at least I think it should. Apparently Zsa Zsa Gabor, 94, doesn't seem to agree with me as recent reports have been saying that she and her 67 year old German husband are trying to have a baby (via surrogate, of course, but still). Now, this is wrong for several reasons. And by several, I mean a million. But for now I'll just list a few.
1. Biologically- The average age of a woman undergoing the process of menopause and thus losing the ability to naturally give birth is 51. Frankly speaking, Zsa Zsa Gabor is too old. About 43 years too old. The average age of a woman giving birth for the first time is 25 which means Zsa Zsa missed that cut by 69 years.
2. It's not fair to the child- When her child starts preschool she'll be about 98. When he or she starts high school, she'll be 108. When he or she graduates from college she'll be 116 which incidentally is two years older than the current oldest man in the world so...
3. She's way too old (have I mentioned that?)- When Zsa Zsa Gabor was born, Woodrow Wilson was President. The first World War was just ending. The NHL was just forming. Zsa Zsa Gabor is so old, her Bible is autographed. (That last one was just a yo mama joke I heard the other day but one that her son/daughter will likely hear for the rest of their life)
In order to make this nonsense happen Zsa Zsa and her husband are planning on using a surrogate, some frozen eggs and donated sperm so good luck explaining to your 5 year old son where babies come from. And why you're 70 years older than all his friends' moms.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Smelly flower
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/weird_news/20110416_ap_stinky8footcorpseflowersettobloominohio.html
At ohio state university, an 8-foot tall plant known as the "corpse flower" is blooming. Being almost spring, it is ready to unravel it's umbrella sized petals. the greenhouse coordinator Joan Leanord has been growing five since 2001 and this one will be the first to bloom. It is called the "corpse flower" because it literally smells like a corpse. a rotting corpse. and they will have visiting hours for it. yum. and the thing dies after two days so all that work and growing for just a nasty smelling plant thats huge and dies after two days?
The "Big 3" of Poker Seized by F.B.I
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/861154-fbi-shuts-down-full-tilt-poker-pokerstars-and-absolute-poker-in-clampdown
http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/blog/2011/04/15/bergenholtz-racing-might-be-on-full-tilt/
11 people, including the founders of Full Tilt Poker, Pokerstars, and Absolute Poker, are being charged with money laundering and illegal gambling. According to this article, "It is currently against the law for US citizens to gamble online." That surprised me; online poker tournaments seem to be fairly popular in this country, and many of the top poker players started playing online.
The only reason I learned of this was through Wrecked Magazine (second link) and their post about Bergenholtz Racing possibly losing their main sponsor. The Bergenholtz Racing team is a great bunch of people, and the driver, Joon Maeng, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. We talked for a bit at Formula D last year in New Jersey, and I can clearly see why everyone calls him Joon "Gentle" Maeng. Best of luck to Joon in finding a new sponsor.
http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/blog/2011/04/15/bergenholtz-racing-might-be-on-full-tilt/
11 people, including the founders of Full Tilt Poker, Pokerstars, and Absolute Poker, are being charged with money laundering and illegal gambling. According to this article, "It is currently against the law for US citizens to gamble online." That surprised me; online poker tournaments seem to be fairly popular in this country, and many of the top poker players started playing online.
The only reason I learned of this was through Wrecked Magazine (second link) and their post about Bergenholtz Racing possibly losing their main sponsor. The Bergenholtz Racing team is a great bunch of people, and the driver, Joon Maeng, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. We talked for a bit at Formula D last year in New Jersey, and I can clearly see why everyone calls him Joon "Gentle" Maeng. Best of luck to Joon in finding a new sponsor.