Wednesday, December 8, 2010

My critique of TSA...IDK' post


















           I disagree with your commentary on the full body scans not seeing you naked. Here is a picture of one of the full body exams. This is the TSA Security Laboratory Director Susan Hallowell and you can find it on Wikipedia. I think that is crazy and a little unprofessional. She looks pretty naked to me. This could be a pretty embarrassing thing for someone. What if they were not very endowed (female or male) or they had some type of implantation. Airport security gets a pretty good idea of what you look like up close and personal. I believe this is more of an invasion of privacy than a pat down or at least equivalent.
These are virtual strip searches without probable cause which could questionably be illegal and violate basic human rights. Also, x rays produce radiation. If these things are not handled correctly could have some long term health effects as well.
        On the other hand, I can see where they are really useful. They are quick, effective, and potentially save lives. Which is more important our privacy or safety? I am leaning toward safety. I do hope the people doing the scans are not able to save the pictures. If they can’t I dont think they are as harmful. The problem you get is when you start seeing them pop on the internet like this picture.
        My last comment is your post seems a little unclear as to what’s your argument. Are you for or against the scan? How do you think the government should regulate this issue? What would you do if you were the government? I think if you just cleared up these questions you would have a stronger post. Otherwise, I liked what you had to say and I could definitely see people causing a scene. Your argument could be that the drama from the scans could be counterproductive to the so called time you are saving by having the scans....

Friday, December 3, 2010

Should the US government take control of our children’s nutrition? YES YES YES!!!

I believe the government should pass the Child Nutrition Bill.  The $4.5 billion Senate bill, which passed with unanimous consent in August, would expand eligibility for school lunch programs, establish nutrition standards for all school meals, and encourage schools to use locally sourced food. It would also raise the reimbursement rate to 6 cents per meal, marking the first time in over 30 years that Congress has increased funding for school lunch programs. The House of Representatives has delayed their vote on the subject.
I support Obama’s crusade on nutrition. Yes, it may seem expensive at first but it will save out country billions in the long run. I grew up in a middle class home but nutrition was not a priority. Not because my parents hate me. Physical exercise was a daily part of my life. But, I also drank sodas and ate ice cream every night as well. I was skinny so everybody looked at me like I was healthy. Unfortunately, these bad habits stay with you throughout life unless you change them. It is a lot harder to break bad habits and form good habits. This is not entirely my parents fault. They were not educated on nutrition and didn’t understand the importance on health. I was literally addicted to sweets.
However, my boyfriend was raised up not eating sweets and drinking sodas. He also learned the value of nutrition. He has taught me a lot and I now lead a healthier lifestyle. But, it is a constant struggle. One good side effect, I don’t get migraines anymore. I save over $200/month by not having to buy medication for migraines. It really took me being educated on nutrition (at the University of Texas) and a support system (my boyfriend) to stay healthy.
What I am getting at is a healthy life starts when you are young. This is when it is a lot easier to establish and maintain healthier eating habits. The problem is that most of the parents don’t know what is really healthy. Most labels say the healthy but they are full of preservatives, sodium, and artificial sweeteners. You could solve this by having at least one meal that is healthy at school. This will cut down on health problems and create a healthier future of Americans. It is time for the government to step in and take control of our nation’s obesity problem. This is one way for them to do it. The quicker this is passed the better for everyone.

ABC News