America for the Win

Though America topped the charts at number one, this first place award isn’t exactly something to boast about.  In a recent report it was discovered that the U.S. is the fattest country with 68% of Americans overweight.  Not only is this issue concentrated on adults, but also on children today in the U.S.

After reading the article I couldn’t help but think about what I’m eating at the cafeteria.  Personally, I go from section to section filling my plate with whatever catches my eye. What’s more is I usually have five meals a day, none of which are breakfast since I don’t wake up that early. Maybe this freshman fifteen is slowly creeping up on me, and others as well.

Some economists like Franco Sassi, blame the continued increase of obesity on lower food prices. Food that for the most part is not healthy by any stretch of the imagination. I agree with Sassi’s claim in light of various TV commercials. Think of how many times a day you see a Taco Bell, Burger King, or McDonald’s advertisement rejoicing over the fact they have a new 99¢ meal. Not only do the prices and meals vary, but also fast food places are remaining opened at all hours of the day. Clearly there is a market if more fast-food places are opting to stay “opened til late”, as Taco Bell says. The lower food prices in conjunction with late hours, suit the American market since people are always in a rush to get somewhere.

Unhealthy habits are trickling down to younger generations causing an increase in childhood obesity. Childhood obesity cannot only scar a child due to bullying, but also increases the child’s health risks.  In my view, parents are to blame for childhood obesity. As mentioned earlier, many adults are too busy to make a home-cooked meal and thereby become fast-food addicts. Children then find fast-food an appropriate meal to settle for. On the other side of the spectrum technology hinders youth’s physical activity forcing children to choose playing video games and therefore be less active.

Check out both the article and the photos to see other countries that topped the charts.  Have any opinions on this growing trouble that is affecting younger generations at a steady rate?

Your Life Made Possible by Google

It’s funny how some words can become part of ordinary speech even if they aren’t traditional. Words like bling or how we use Google as a verb are two prime examples. Surely Google is a widely used search engine, but for it to become part of daily speech is quite interesting. Often times someone will be in search for something online, and the quick response is: Google it.

Clearly Google caught on to this craze long ago. Now in 2010, in a recent interview with Google’s CEO, Eric Shmidt says even more will be made possible by the search engine. How much more? Well the CEO believes the Internet already records so much information about people that teens will soon need to distance themselves from their pasts. He believes this “escape” will free people from bad pictures on risky nights and horrid memories. He went on to say that Google will even be able to know what is next on your “to-do list” based on recent searches and your present location because of Smartphone technology.

For the CEO these thoughts are nothing new. He expects Google to serve as an outlet for answers to our daily questions, and in turn help us plan our lives. I must admit this is quite horrifying. If anything it is as though “Big Brother” will now constantly have an eye on us. This new technology eradicates one’s personal liberty, maturity, and self-growth. Furthermore, the whole idea of removing parts of your past makes it seem as though people should be ashamed of their pasts. Shouldn’t our private lives remain private and thus a barrier should exist between one’s personal life and work life? What ever happened to one’s privacy?

If these advances are occurring now, what’s in store for future generations? I suppose the only thing that can be said for now is that time will tell.