How to cook trout

There are many ways to enjoy the most delicious fish of the freshwaters.

But first, you can’t enjoy eating a trout that is not, in the first place, available at hand. How and where do you catch one?

Trout are very common along cold mountain streams. To catch one, you must move quietly toward a stream. Trout are easily agitated by movement and sounds. That’s the reason why you must be careful in avoiding your shadow cover the water. Actually, most trout are not much bothered by shadow, but still try not to show it as it stirs them.

Trout also love hiding in remote and brushy spots. They also prefer huge spaces in between rocks. Meanwhile, bigger trout are frequently located in tails of pools.

Once you are there, try to settle in a good spot. Eddies in a stream are ideal trout-locating spots. Trout enjoy positioning behind rocks as the water’s current delivers food effortlessly to them. If it is fast moving water, throw your bait more upstream.

It is better to stay down, best to kneel, in scanning the water for trout. The lower you are in the bank or in the water, the less chance trout has of sensing you. If it is possible, position yourself in front of a row of bushes or a high bank so that your body’s outline could “blend in” and trick fish.

An acceptable outfit for trout fishing includes a very light, quick-spinning rod between 4 and 5 feet long, a light-duty spinning or spin casting reel connected to a four- to six-pound test line. Regular shank bronze hooks between the sizes 10 to 14 and some small split shot should be available if ever you need to put your bait down in quick water. Finally, a canvas creel and a small knife complete the trout fishing outfit.

Be alert in watching the water for signs of fish. A quick flow of water or a flash of fin must not be ignored. Using sufficient weight on your line, bump the stream’s ground and let it float along.

With properly selected bait, catching this kind of fish is not a tedious task. Trout are easily lured by flies, salmon eggs, and mealworms.

Keep in mind that the cast-and-retrieve method works best in catching trout. Put a little weight on around the length of a fingertip to elbow-length up the line. Then, allow the bait to be carried downstream by the current. A trout will bite soon, so be ready to set the hook at once before reeling it to the shore.

Also, try using new fluorescent lines in catching trout. This is a good idea, as trout cannot see it, while you can.

Fishing resorts in Texas

Besides being the second largest state of the United States, Texas has more to boast. This bright, temperate region of more than 260,000 square miles does not only have the Great Plains of the Panhandle and the shimmering beaches of Gulf Coast. Besides its famed authentic Tex-Mex food, its historical sites like the Alamo and Space Center Houston, Texas also offers fun and relaxation for hungry anglers.

The Falcon Point Ranch in Seadrift provides an unmatchable view of the San Antonio Bay while providing you with luxury. Whether you’re adventurous or laid-back, you won’t run out of things to do! Fishing and duck hunting are both exciting, as well as kayaking. You can stroll miles of hiking trails, while the sight of birds perched around you is fantastic. Falcon Point Ranch’s rooms are lushly decorated and offer spectacular view of the ocean from private porches. It is open year-round and pets are allowed, as well. Falcon Point Ranch allows more than just relaxation; comfort and outdoor adventure is here too! Here, your interests in boating, watercraft, hunting, shooting, wildlife, nature, and photography can be fulfilled.

Since 1956, Rocky Creek Lodge has provided good service and fun vacations for people of all ages. As the largest covered and lighted fishing dock at Lake Whitney, it has become a favorite destination. Rocky Creek Lodge makes its guests feel at home at once through its immaculate cabins, which were designed by a professional designer. Once you’ve settled in, get out and taste one of the best fishing experiences in Texas. Then go to the game room and narrate your fishing tales, or watch your team on the 108-inch screen TV. Enjoy playing poker, billiards, and other gaming tables. Open from March 2 to November 30, Rocky Creek Lodge also welcomes guests with their pets. Freshwater fishing and swimming pools and lakes are also available.

Also located in Whitney, Texas, White Bluff Resort stands overlooking two majestically designed 18-hole golf courses and the resplendent waters of Lake Whitney. Relax in any of The Inn’s 47 luxurious rooms or settle in spacious condominiums or log cabins. The smell of flavorful burgers prevails in the cool atmosphere at The Trophy Grille while seafood dishes add to the elegance of The Lighthouse Restaurant. Plush robes are provided during rejuvenating therapies at this resort. Swimming, fishing, and tennis are all unlimited recreational activities available to the whole family and group. Although White Bluff Resort does not allow pets, activities such as biking and freshwater fishing can more than compensate. You’ll be happy to know that it is open year round.

Whether you’re after wild excitement, or simply some relaxation, the possibilities are endless in "The Lone Star State” and its resorts.

Fishing for whitefish

Whitefish is very popular among aficionados of winter ice fishing. On some lakes, this kind of fish can weigh from one up to 15 fifteen pounds. Lake Simcoe, which is just an hour of driving from Toronto, became famous for breeding “whiteys” which weighed over 12 pounds.

Since it is quite easy to catch, whitefish is a favorite of many anglers. This fish is much fun to catch during winter. You just have to look in fairly deep waters, around 70 to 85 feet, and get ready to catch one.

If it is not winter—hence, no ice fishing—don’t be depressed. Whitefish is also abundant in early spring or in fall. Because they prefer areas with strong current, spring and fall are the times when groups of whitefish move to rivers and lakes. Since they have small and tender mouths, most people who catch whitefish were actually Walleye fishing using small hooks and minnows or very small jigs. As we said, you don't have to wait too long to catch a whitefish.

During the first days of spring, schools of whitefish move to rivers and streams to eat the spawning walleye, pike, and sucker eggs. The best place to catch whitefish during spring is in a river and the ideal method is using a four-pound test line. You also need small hooks and one salmon egg, grub, a small ball of Berkley Power Dough or the best bait, Wax Worms. Allow the bait float downstream and over deeper pools behind the spawning beds.

When May Flies start hatching, schools of whitefish are tempted to move out of the river and wait below the surface of the lake to feed on these flies. When the May Fly hatch is over, whitefishes return to deep waters.

Since it is in the nature of a whitefish to go deep, it does so during summer. You can easily catch one during summer use a three-way swivel system with a Zero Mepps or Blue Fox. Submerge any of these two very slowly for as deep as 60 feet and you’ll be having a whitefish in a minute.

It is during fall season that whitefishes breed. They relocate to rivers and spawn in the same spawning beds as the walleyes. During fall, whitefish eat only during the day, which is the opposite of what most kinds of fish do. The logic is that when it is dark, whitefish lose interest in eating and spend their time spawning.

During winter, most whitefish stay at shallow waters. But whatever the season you want to grab a whitefish, remember that smallness is the key. A whitefish is effortlessly lured by smaller baits. A whitefish won’t ignore lures such as a small Rapala or Thunderstick. However, the hooks on these are frequently too large for the whitefish's tiny mouth, so stick to smaller baits.

Crappie Fishing in Kansas

From its great water reservoirs, down to its packed lakes, Kansas can certainly boast about its year-round crappie fishing grounds. More than just the Sunflower State, Kansas is definitely crappie territory. State Fishing Lakes like Bourbon, Crawford, Meade, and Ottawa are chockfull of white crappie; and so do smaller lakes like those in New Sedan City, Osage City, and Plainville. Wyandotte County Lake also carries an abundance of black paper mouths.

But definitely, the best black crappie hotspots are those in major water reservoirs that dot the expanse of the state. Council Grove Reservoir, La Cygne, Melvern, and Toronto have paper mouths growing large and in great abundance. Fall River, although not generally known as crappie habitat, is surprisingly one of the best places to scope this fish year round. Smaller lakes and rivers are also hotspots for anglers who want to stray away from the major fishing sites, and competition. These waters include Council Grove, Kanopolis, Lovewell, Perry and Pomona.

Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white crappie (Poxomis annularis) are also known by a host of names like bridge perch, goggleye, paper mouth, and speckled perch. Crappie is from the sunfish family. It breeds prolifically across the state of Kansas, and other lakes in the US. Both black and white crappie can grow to over five pounds. Its white meat is sweetish and tender, perfect for broiling or pan frying.

The key to catching crappie is temperature – water temperature, that is. The warmest waters usually bring an abundance of this fish. Spring is spawning season, and crappie tend to favor shallow recesses, especially the larger, heavily pregnant females. During this time, crappie favors live bait, as this would help packing on protein needed for breeding.

Another key to a successful catch is variety. This fish is known to be somewhat finicky in nature, and seasoned anglers usually resort to an assortment of arsenal, usually shifting from live baits (insects, minnows, small crustaceans) to small plastic jigs to lure; or they try shifting in technique - from casting, drifting, trolling or even by still-fishing.

The final key to crappie fishing is to fish year-round. Although during the summer season, crappies go to the deeper part of the waters, they still remain prolific in number. The larger fish do, however, tend to shy away from very loud noises, and so a quiet lake with little or no competition from fellow anglers can give you a good, if not, a great catch at the end of the day.

Lake Burton Fishing

Lake Burton is not only huge in size; it is also “huge” with fish varieties.

Covering 2,775 acres, Lake Burton is located near Clayton, Georgia. It serves as a home to a number of sport fish such as largemouth and spotted bass. Brown trout, though not a native species to the reservoir, is slowly becoming a fishing industry. The steepness of the shorelines and abundance of baitfish makes the location a challenge to anglers. If recreational boating is what you are looking for, this is one of the places you should not miss. Deep and clear waters are the reservoir’s main attraction.

Anglers who want to get some spotted bass should go offshore. You could use different kinds of baits according to your preference. Spinning, casting and fly fishing gear with natural or artificial baits can be of good use.

On the other hand, if you are trying to catch some largemouth bass you should try going to the shallow regions of the lake. Spring and fall are the best time to do that, but you could go deeper during summer and winter. Largemouth bass in Lake Burton are larger in size compared to its spotted bass. However, largemouth bass’ population is a bit smaller than the spotted bass’.

The brown trout fisheries only started when they were brought into the lake by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. This act was because of the proliferation of the blueback herring, which is another nonnative fish species there. The brown trout preyed on the herring, which resulted into the birth of a new fishing industry.

White crappies are also abundantly found in the lake. Although a good number of black crappies can also be found there, their population is too small. Even with their abundance, white crappies are found to have very poor growth. Most of the crappies caught in the lake measure only up to seven inches.

Another kind of sport fish found there is the bluegill. Its population is starting to increase due to the decline in the number of largemouth bass. Most of the bluegill in the lake measure only up to 6 inches.

For the past few years, Lake Burton has become known as the only lake in Georgia to have trout. Favorable water temperature for this kind of fish was due to the cold water flowing into it from nearby mountains all year round.

If you want more species, try going to areas near the dam or the Moccasin Creek. Fish stay in those areas because of the abundance of food and adequate water temperature.

Health Care in South Africa

A Research Paper

South Africa is recognized as the first state to perform a heart transplant to a living person. It is also home to the most advanced health care system in Africa. However, in the World Health Report 2000 of the World Health Organization (WHO), South Africa ranked a depressing "175th in overall performance and 182nd in efficiency" among 191 countries worldwide.
The WHO asks, "How is it possible that such a well-developed infrastructure supports one of the worst health systems in the world?" Some studies show that besides medical care, public health measures matter as well. South Africa is well known to be living in a post-apartheid era. Along with this epoch, inequity continues to prevail in much of its society.

Apartheid Instituted
The word "apartheid" comes from the Afrikaans word for “separateness”. In 1949, Daniel Malan of the National Party (NP) became prime minister of the country. He enacted the doctrines of apartheid, or racial separation upon winning. NP "legalized white economic exploitation, political domination, and social privilege." The Group Areas Act was passed in 1950, which provided separate areas for the four major racial groups in the country: whites, blacks, coloured, and Asians. The blacks were divided into ethnic groups and assigned to 10 "bantustans", or homelands. Access of blacks to areas reserved for whites was restricted. In fact, millions of blacks who remained for more than 72 hours in an area reserved for a white without a pass were imprisoned. The government also banned marriages between whites and blacks.
When Malan retired, his policies were continued by another NP leader, Johannes Strijdom. Strijdom was succeeded by Hendrik Verwoerd. Verwoerd passed the Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act, which offered blacks participation in a political process within their Bantustans and ended their representation in the parliament. The government was relieved of welfare responsibilities toward millions of blacks while keeping the benefits of cheap black labor.
All apartheid legislation was repealed only in the early 1990s. In April 27, 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first president in a representative democratic election. Mandela was a known anti-apartheid activist and was the leader of African National Congress (ANC). Mandela became a worldwide “icon of freedom and equality” and was often compared to Mahatma Gandhi. Unlike Gandhi, he was pliable to using violence for political change. Called by many South Africans as “mkhulu” (or grandfather), Mandela received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

Discrimination in health care
Health care greatly affected by the legacy of apartheid. During the reign of apartheid, hospitals were consigned to racial groups (i.e. white) and concentrated in white districts. Those from rural zones had to travel long distances for basic health care. There are post-apartheid implications.
South Africa’s health system has a “large public sector and a smaller but fast-growing private sector”. The service provided varies substantially between the two. Basic primary health care is provided free by the state; on the other hand, “highly specialised hi-tech health services” are available only for those who can afford, including the private sector and those with insurance.
Though the government allocates 40 percent of its expenditure to health, it is pressured to serve 80 percent of the population. The private sector, largely commercial, satisfies middle- and high-income earners which represent only 18% of the total population. The government spends US$ 3.1 billion on 35 million people, while the private sector splurges US$ 36.5 billion on only seven million. Foreigners are also included in the private sector. Most health professionals, except nurses, are drawn to this sector because of higher compensation and more benefits.
In 2000, drug expenditure was 8.25 billion rands. Of this, only 24 percent was spent by the government. Therefore, 800.29 rands was spent for every person in the private sector, while a meager 59.36 rands was spent per person in the public sector. Forty percent of pharmacists work for the private sector in the province of Gauteng (the business capital) alone. Also, there are 50 available MRI scanners in the private sector and only four in the public sector. In 2002, there were 161 private hospitals. Of these, only 19 are found in non-urban areas. The government’s allocation of health resources and the quality of health care differs in each of the nine provinces. “Cash-strapped provinces” like the Eastern Cape, with less resources and greater poverty, face more health risks than richer provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape.
This first- and third-world variation was in the mind of Sampie Terreblanche. Terreblanche was a member of the pro-apartheid National Party before he transferred to ANC. In his popular book “A History of Inequality in South Africa 1652-2002”, he subtly criticized inequality and globalization in his country. He wrote about an “incomplete transformation” from 1994 which featured “enormous problems of poverty, health, hunger, and lingering racism and exploitation.”

Overall health and Aids
“Poverty-related” illnesses are prevalent in South Africa. South Africa is one of 22 countries with the highest cases of tuberculosis (TB). More than half of these are HIV-related.
Another widespread illness is malaria, which affects mostly north-eastern provinces. In 2000, 62000 came down with the disease—423 of which died. Drug resistance, cross-border travel from Mozambique, decrease in DDT use, and HIV are all pointed as causes of malaria’s upturn.
However, Aids presents the “biggest threat” to the country: South Africa is considered as having the most severe HIV outbreak in the world. Six million are “expected to die from Aids-related diseases over the next 10 years.” The UNAIDS 2006 Global Report estimated that in 2005, there were 320000 AIDS-related deaths in South Africa. A survey by the country’s Department of Health estimates that 4.5 million South Africans are infected with HIV in 2000.
The United Nations estimates that of all adults in South Africa, 20 percent are HIV-positive. Life expectancy is expected to fall to only 35 years by 2010. It is not clear how much of AIDS can be blamed to the flawed health system. Many believe that other factors, particularly “cultural, anthropological, or social”, are propelling AIDS in South Africa.
The largest cities in the country are Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. Cape Town is the legislative capital, Durban is the leading port, and Johannesburg is the “commercial capital and metropolis of the goldfields”. These are considered most urban of the cities; thus, are provided with relatively better health care. They also have higher numbers of English-speaking whites.
The Hope Cape Town Trust & Association was formed in Cape Town in 2001. HOPE Cape Town is a non-profit organization “providing outreach, education and counselling at the community level” with focus on HIV, Aids, and TB in the Western Cape Province. In 2006, it launched a trust fund to guarantee the association’s existence on a long-term basis.
Meanwhile, people of Durban fear HIV spread because of its increasing number of commercial sex workers (CSWs). These CSWs have high HIV-awareness, yet continue to engage in “risky sexual behaviour”. Many of them adopted strategies to cope with possible infection, including denial of risk, fatalism, economic rationalization, partner categorization through condom use, deliberate ignorance of HIV status, and repudiation of responsibility to practice safe sex.
In Johannesburg, women have gathered from all sectors to proclaim their position on Aids on April 6 and 7, 2006. Including HIV positive women, women's rights activists and feminists, scholars, professionals, community workers, and policy makers even from outside the city, the women of Johannesburg recognized that the pandemic has “devastating impact” on the lives of African women. They urged a “critical need to move from rhetoric to action” to combat Aids.

Children and Aids
Three years ago, there were 2.2 million orphaned children in South Africa. This number corresponds to 13% of all children. Almost half of these orphans were estimated to have lost parents because of Aids-related illnesses (UNAIDS, UNICEF, USAID, 2004)”. The children most affected are those in “deeply impoverished households”. Their health is in danger because of “infection, inadequate nutrition, and poor health care. Their livelihoods are also lost because of the illness and death of their family’s breadwinners and other working adults. Their families are broken when they are separated from their parents and siblings and sent to live with relatives. Finally, children’s social networks are fragmented as they are separated from their loved ones and friends, both physically and psychologically.
In addition, the rape of almost 60 children every day is linked to the "Virgin Cure", which is the belief of many South Africans that having intercourse with a virgin prevents or cures HIV/Aids.
Doctors play an important role in health care and Aids prevention. Sadly, South African doctors suffer from “brain drain” and are sought after in other countries such as Canada and Great Britain. Many leave because of the higher standard of living and superlative technology abroad.
Meanwhile, Aids Foundation South Africa, blame “poverty and social instability, high levels of sexually transmitted infections, the low status of women, sexual violence, high mobility (particularly migrant labour), and lack of good governance.” A 2005 report of the United Nations’ "3 by 5" initiative, blames “bureaucracy, poor management and inadequate funding”.

Battle against Aids
The whole society is affected by Aids and its disastrous effects on a disproportionate health care system. A 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu was a cleric who became known as an opponent of apartheid in the 1980s. Tutu is currently very active in leading the battle against Aids. In fact, he has served as honorary chairman for the Global AIDS Alliance. After Pope Benedict XVI’s election in 2005, Tutu voiced out his sadness because of the Catholic Church’s rejection of condoms. Tutu believes that the use of condoms can prevent Aids.
Many businesses initiated awareness and education programs against HIV. Most Anglo-American companies offer free antiretroviral (ARV) medicine treatment for their employees.
Only in April 2002, the Cabinet agreed that ARV should be given to all rape survivors as “post-exposure prophylaxis”, and that the state must introduce ARVs to the public. On November 19, 2003, THE Cabinet “announced the rollout of a comprehensive AIDS treatment plan that would offer free ARVs”; however, Health Minister Tshabalala-Msimang encouraged a diet consisted of beetroot, olive oil, African potato and garlic for people with HIV.
For the health care system as a whole, legislations have been passed in recent years to “make drugs more affordable and promote the use of generic equivalents, regulate the medical schemes industry to prevent it from discriminating against "high risk" individuals like the aged and sick; legalise abortion and allow for safe access to it…; and limit smoking in public places and make the public aware of the health risks of tobacco...”

References: (APA style of citation):

1. Coyne, J. & Hilsenrath, P. (2002, January.) The World Health Report 2000: Can Health
Care Systems Be Compared Using a Single Measure of Performance? American Journal of Public Health. Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1447380

2. Lemon, A., O'meara, P., & Winchester, N. B. South Africa. Microsoft Encarta Online
Encyclopedia 2005 [CD-ROM]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

3. (2006, October 9). Health care in South Africa. Big Media Publishers (Pty) Limited.
Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/health/health.htm, http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/health/923086.htm, & http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/health/923087.htm

4. Bassett, H. (2004, September 3). Healthcare in South Africa. Medhunters Magazine.
Retrieved April 8, 2007 from ???

5. Coyne, J. & Hilsenrath, P. (2002, January.) The World Health Report 2000: Can Health
Care Systems Be Compared Using a Single Measure of Performance? American Journal of Public Health. Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1447380

6. (2005.) HIV/Aids in South Africa. Aids Foundation South Africa. Retrieved April 8, 2007
from http://www.aids.org.za/hiv.htm

7. (2005, November 28.) Nothing changes – AIDS drug goal defeated by bureaucracy. News-
medical. Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.news-medical.net/?id=14717

8. Taylor, M. (2002.) HIV/AIDS, the stats, the virgin cure and infant rape. Science in Africa. Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/april/virgin.htm

9. (2001.) Hope Cape Town Trust & Association. Hope Cape Town Trust and Hope Cape Town Trust Assocation. Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.h-o-p-e.net/06English/about_overview.html

10. Varga, C. (2001, June 1.) IngentaConnect Coping with HIV-AIDS in Durban's commercial sex industry. Ingenta. Retrieved April 8, 2007 from http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/caic/2001/00000013/00000003/art00009

11. (2006, April.) The Johannesburg position on HIV/AIDS and women's and girls' rights in Africa. Southern African Regional Poverty Network. Retrieved April 8 from http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0002000/index.php

12. Nelson Mandela. (2007, April 6.) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., US.

13. Desmond Tutu. (2007, April 9.) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., US.

14. Limb, P. (2006.) A History of Inequality in South Africa, 1652–2002. Retrieved Retrieved April 8 from http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v8/v8i3a14.htm

Effects of Rap Music on the Self-Esteem of Girls

A Research Paper

ABSTRACT
This paper is designed to investigate whether rap music has an effect on the self-esteem of girls. This paper is likewise intended to examine whether repeated exposure to rap music that depicts women as sex objects engenders in girls a longing to be “sexy”. The ultimate objective of this said thinking would be to gain men’s desire and truly be considered a “woman”.
This study involves girls listening to rap music in three groups. The first group of girls will first listen to rap songs with lyrics. The second group will hear neutral pop music. Finally, the control group will not hear any music. Then, they will be permitted to “go out” and there they shall experience negative treatment from boys. They will be observed and all kinds of their reactions to the disrespect of boys shall be inconspicuously observed and recorded.

INTRODUCTION
When rock and roll music emerged in the 1950’s, there were many admonitions as to how its lyrics and beats would adversely affect its listeners, particularly teenagers. Now, what appear more potent are two genres that have emerged over the decades: heavy metal and rap music. Rock music seems to represent the ubiquitous “adolescent themes of rebellion and autonomy”. Meanwhile, rap music is “infamous for its inflammatory remarks towards women”.
This proposal would focus on rap music. Of the two, rap seems to cause more concern to society. Rock music, is said to symbolize the emotions (e.g. angst and rebellion) of teenagers. On the other hand, rap music is seen as a perpetuator of evil, particularly in the treatment of women.
Hip hop is a cultural movement started by inner-city youth in New York City during the 1970s. Rap or hip hop music is one of its ingredients. Rap music consists of rhythmic lyrics and uses techniques like assonance, alliteration, and rhymes.
Together with its complementary slang, fashion, and other elements, hip hop music has been received by many countries worldwide. Hip hop has also popularized the so-called “bling-bling” lifestyle, which glorified material wealth and social status, much to the horror of society.
Of all forms of popular music in the past decades, hip hop is the most censored because of its excessive use of expletives. It is also seen as an anti-establishment; many of its songs portray coup d’etats and even wars. After censorship, sometimes songs are left completely unintelligible for hearing. A famous parody of this was displayed in “Austin Powers in Goldmember”, in which a character’s entire verse was blanked out.
However, the influence of “bling-bling” and the pervasiveness of its expletives are not all of hip hop’s faults. There appear much more pressing matters than these.
A concerned Black citizen, Ife Oshun, reminisces how almost 50 years have passed since Dr. Kenneth Clark has proven in a test how “African-American children suffered from low self-esteem as a result of internalized racism”. Oshun asks how now, a seven-minute high school’s documentary has proven that things have not much changed. He concludes that the “popular culture” is part of the problem. He refers to the rappers and singers who “routinely spit… ‘bitch’”. They, Oshun believes, uphold power to “affect the minds of people” and either “negate racial stereotypes or perpetuate them”.
Bryon Hurt, a 36-year-old filmmaker and fan of hip-hop, claims that over time, he “began to become very conflicted about the music [he loves].” In his new documentary which was aired as part of a PBS Series in February 2007, he “questions the violence, degradation of women and homophobia in much of rap music.” His intended audiences were “young fans, hip-hop artists and… executives who profit from the… music… that “glorify swagger and luxury, portray women as sex objects, and imply… that education and hard work are for suckers and sissies.”
What hurts Hurt and other scholars most is the “domination of the hip-hop market by more violent and sexually demeaning songs and videos.” Many of today’s popular artists (e.g. Rolling Stones, Kid Rock, and Snoop Dog) “have capitalized on blatantly misogynistic lyrics, making the objectification of women as much a part of their acts as electric guitars or heavy bass”.
Ronald Ferguson, a Black education expert at Harvard University, states that the success of hip-hop produced “positive influences on the self-esteem of black youths”. However, he fears that children who become hooked may adopt hip hop’s themes “as their lens for viewing the world.” Today’s successful gangsta rap and their music videos often depict men as “extravagant thugs” and women, as mere sex toys.
“Misogyny and sexism are big… in American culture,” points out Michael Dyson, professor at the University of Pennsylvania. “The degrading of women is from time and memorial” and “is visualized and vocalized “in a very violent fashion” through hip hop.
In August 2006, RAND, a nonprofit think tank, found in a study that teenagers “start having sex sooner if their preferred music has sexually degrading lyrics.” Through telephone interviews, RAND gathered a sample of 1,242 kids, between 12 and 17 years old. After receiving parental consent, the teenagers were asked about their sexual behavior. They were interviewed one and three years after. Teens were also asked how they listened to 16 popular music albums of that time, of which the “most likely to contain degrading lyrics were from the rap… genre.”
"Lyrics classified as degrading depicted sexually insatiable men pursuing women valued only as sex objects," RANS researcher Steven Martino and colleagues said. The RAND researchers suggest degrading music offers teens a "script" dictating how to behave in “ambiguous situations”. RAND claims how this repeated exposure to such scripts may gradually cause teens to “act out these stereotyped gender roles”. Girls may gradually “expect to take a submissive role in their sexual relationships and to be treated with disrespect by their partners," Martino and colleagues write. Meanwhile, boys may come to “interpret reckless male sexual behavior as 'boys being boys' and dismiss girls' sexual preferences and desires as inconsequential," they say.
Videos of these rap songs could only be worse. Morgan Crooks, a 16-year-old high-school student from New Jersey “watches music videos with the devotion most record companies long for.” She says, “Mostly, in videos, the women are there to serve the men.”

METHOD
Participants:
120 girls between 13 and 17 years of age were randomly selected for this experiment. They were from six different schools representing six different states. Two of these states are classified as urban, another two semi-urban, and the last two rural. This was done to observe the difference between the acceptance of rap music in different states.

Materials:
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered in a pre-test and a post-test. The BDI is a 26-question survey that rates feelings of depression on a scale from zero to three. A higher score indicates a higher level of depression. Feelings of self-dislike and amount of crying are also included in its headings. STAI is a test used to measure “anxiety proneness and the current level of tension and apprehension state.”

Songs:
The rap songs used were Ice Cube’s “No Vaseline”, Tupac Shakur’s “Hit’em Up”, and Eminem’s “Kim.” All these contain denigrating lyrics (see Appendix C). The pop songs to be used are M2M’s “Pretty Boy”, The Corrs’ “Summer Sunshine”, and Westlife’s “Evergreen”.
Equipment:
Three soundproof rooms in three different schools were provided. This provided more room for the experiment. All of these rooms were equipped with tables, chairs, and proper music equipment. Outside the rooms, along the hallways, and outside the building, hidden cameras and microphones were installed. Pens and papers were provided to the assigned boys.

PROCEDURE
Parents’ consent were provided before the experiment (see Appendix A). Questionnaires were administered to the girls and their parents/guardians. The questionnaire for the girls focused on demographics, music preferences, music listening habits, perception of men, and psychosocial functioning. The questionnaire for the parents covered past and current psychosocial functioning of their children and themselves, family demographics, music preferences and listening habits.
The questionnaires have no identifying mark, except for each family bearing the same number, and were answered separately. Then, they were sealed and tallied. The girls were told beforehand that they will participate in a study of teenage girls’ ability in memorizing popular song lyrics.
Participants in room one listened to rap music with misogynistic lyrics. Subjects in room two listened to pop music with romantic lyrics. Room three will be free of any music. The decibel level in rooms one and two were identical and remained constant. The six songs (three rap and three pop) lasted approximately four minutes each. The two sets were looped for five times, and played for approximately 60 minutes. This repetition or cycle of songs was explained to “enhance assimilation and comprehension of the songs’ lyrics for the two sets of participants”.
While in the separate rooms, the teenagers were pre-tested with the BDI and STAI questionnaires. Then, they were left alone to concentrate on memorizing the songs they will hear. After one hour, both sets of music stopped, the experiment administrator returned and announced that snacks are provided outside the building. Each girl can leave the room only after five minutes since the preceding girl has come out. Each is allowed to pass by the restroom. The remaining girls were provided paper in which they must write all lyrics they remembered.
As each girl came out of the room, she encountered negative treatments from boys. (Boys were carefully chosen and briefed before the experiment.) First, a boy accidentally bumped each girl in the hallway. The boy shrugged and didn’t say or act “sorry”. At the end of the hallway, a group of boys smirked and lewdly asked for each girl’s name. Outside the building, a boy asked each girl for a kiss in exchange of her snacks. All of the girls’ verbal and non-verbal reactions were recorded using pre-installed video and audio recording equipment (e.g. hidden cameras and microphones in the hallway, by the mirror in the restroom, and by the snacks table) and tallied. Whether the girl “prettified” herself in the mirror at the restroom was also be noted. The assigned boys were also be provided with paper and pen in which they noted the expressions and reactions of each girl that they encountered. These were kept out of the girls’ sight.
After getting their snacks, the girls immediately returned to the room and were seated in the front. They ate their snacks in the classroom and remained silent (or continued writing down lyrics) until everyone returned. BDI and STAI post-tests were administered to pin point discrepancies in the scoring. Once all subjects have completed the experiment they will be given a debriefing (see Appendix B) that would explain the true nature and purpose of the experiment.

RESULTS
All of the 120 girls were available and present during the entire duration of the experiment. The complete tallied tables listing all the recorded observations of the girls based on the hidden cameras and notes of the boys are available in Appendix C.

CONCLUSIONS
From the results of this experiment, it is evident that rap music (particularly misogynistic ones, which characterize almost all) has an effect on the self esteem of girls and also engenders in them a desire to be “sexy” to please boys.
From Table 1, we see that all the girls who listened to rap music took the administrator’s suggestion and passed by the restroom. All of them, except one, spent minutes in “prettifying”. An astonishing 34 spent more than five minutes in preparing to go out and face the boys. Only 28 from the girls who listened to pop music spent more than five minutes in front of the mirror. From the third group, only nine did the same. Also, from the third group, five opted to not pass by the restroom at all.
From Table 2, we see that the self-esteem of Group 1 girls has somewhat lowered after listening to misogynistic rap music. Of 40, 32 kept silent after colliding with the boy (with the boy shrugging at the most), while no one retorted at all. On the extreme are girls from Group 3. Of them, no one kept silent. Moreover, 35 shouted to the boy and demanded for a “Sorry” and declared light insults.
When a group of boys whistled at Group 1 girls, no one dared to say anything, while 27 acted as if she can’t see or hear at all. On the other hand, 19 of the girls from Group 3 and 16 from Group 2 bravely confronted the boys.
Finally, when asked for an undeserved kiss, nine from Group 1 readily gave the boy one, while not one from Group 3 did the same. On the opposite are 11 girls from Group 3 who had the guts to either say that they were offended or to attempt to hurt the harasser.
This experiment can serve as a mirror to the effect of listening to rap music to girls. We can conclude that listening to misogynistic lyrics of hip hop music can make girls feel less because they are viewed in rap music as mere sex toys for boys. This thinking eats up their self-esteem and causes them to be less aggressive and thus, more submissive to the threats of men and their domination of women.

References: (APA style of citation)

Steinem, Gloria. (2005). Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2005 [CD-ROM].
Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

King, S., McConnell, J., Orr, M., Schreiber, T., Chase, T., Thornberg, S., Wolfe, J. (n.d.).
Effects of Rap and Heavy Metal Music Lyrics on Adolescent Behaviors. Retrieved April 4, 2007, from West Chester University Web site: http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/325.asp

Hip hop music. (2007.) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., US.

4. Oshun, I. (2006). Assorted Rants. Retrieved April 4, 2007, from Rants, Observations and
Musings from Ifè Oshun Web site: http://blogs.hiphoprnbsoul.com/ifeoshun/2007/01/19/does-rap-music-help-destroy-kids-self-worth/

Eckholm, Erik. (2006, December 24). Fan asks hard questions about rap music.
International Herald Tribune Americas. Retrieved April 4, 2007 from http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/24/america/web.1224hiphop.php and http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/24/america/web.1224hiphop.php?page=2

Musoke-Nteyafas, J. (2007, March 1). Help! My Teenager Wants to Be a Video Girl.
Culture Shox Media. Retrieved April 4, 2007 from http://www.afrotoronto.com/Articles/Feb07/Videogirl1.html

Amber, J. (n.d.). Dirty Dancing. Essence Communications Inc. Retrieved April 4, 2007
from http://www.essence.com/essence/takebackthemusic/dirtydancing.html

Williams, D. (2003, August 12). BEYOND RAP: Musical Misogyny. Tolerance.org.
Retrieved April 4, 2007 from http://www.tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=831


APPENDIX A
Consent Application

I understand that my daughter has been asked to participate in a research project designed to test the short-term memory of girls regarding popular music lyrics. The number of participants in this study is 120. The girls come from six schools representing six states. The subjects range in age from 13 to 17. The study is being conducted to see how well girls in this age group remember popular song lyrics played within an hour. They will be given different types of written scales and assessments to complete before and after the study. These surveys will enable us to determine the students’ state of mind before and after listening to popular music. The entire study will be under video surveillance. Rest assured that the records will be kept completely confidential.
There will be minimal risk to the subjects that partake in the study. They will be listening to music with negative and/or explicit lyrics. There are no foreseeable long-term effects from participating in this study, but the youths will be listening to popular music that some find objectionable, but is played on area radio stations and MTV. There will be test administrators on hand to make sure any possible problem will be settled immediately. There will be no charge for participation in the study.
I understand that any information pertaining to me and/or my child obtained from this research will be kept strictly confidential. It has been explained to me that my identity will not be revealed in any description or publication of this research. Therefore, I consent to publication for scientific purposes. “An exception to confidentiality is information on child abuse or neglect that is obtained during this research. The information will be reported to the appropriate local or state agency in accordance with Pennsylvania law”.
I understand that I have the right to refuse to participate in this study or withdrawal at any time. I also understand that I may be withdrawn from the study at any time.

Signature of Legal Guardian _____________________________Date _____________
Signature of School Principle_____________________________Date______________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX B
Debriefing

Thank you for taking part in this study. The nature of this study was not to test the short-term memory of girls regarding popular music lyrics, but rather to examine the effect of rap music to the self-esteem of girls and to their ideation that they must be “sexy” to please men. The study was conducted to see if there is any change in behavior and or mood after listening to rap music that contains misogynistic lyrics. During the session some participants listened to rap music with negative lyrics, some listened to pop music that contained neutral lyrics, and the rest did not listen to music at all. Students were also given different types of written scales and assessments to complete, before and after the study. These allowed us to analysed their state of mind before and after the experiment.
Through this study, and others like it, we hope to gain a better understanding of the effect of rap music on girls’ self-esteem and beliefs. There are no foreseeable long-term effects for the girls who took part in this experiment. The subjects were never in grave physical danger.
Thank you for your time and if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX C
Tables of Result:

Table 1: Results when each girl who goes to get her snacks was allowed to pass by the restroom to “freshen up” since many school boys were seen around. In the x-axis are the reactions; in the y-axis are the groups.

Group
Spent at least five minutes in front of the restroom’s mirror in “prettifying”
Spent some time prettifying but less than five minutes
Passed by the restroom but only peed
Did not pass by the restroom at all
Group 1 (with misogynistic rap music)
34
5
1
0
Group 2 (with neutral pop music)
28
9
3
0
Group 3 (with no music at all)
9
5
21
5
TOTAL
73
20
25
2

Table 2: When boy bumps girl in the corridor and does not say sorry.

Group
Stared at boy; kept silent
Opened mouth as if to say something but seemed to change mind
Said “I’m sorry” to the boy
No reaction
Glared at/after the boy
Told/shouted at the boy to “Say sorry!”, “Hey! You bumped me.”, “Are you blind?!”, etc.
Group 1 (with misogynistic rap music)
32
2
5
0
1
0
Group 2 (with neutral pop music)
4
2
3
2
2
27
Group 3 (with no music at all)
0
2
0
0
3
35
TOTAL
36
6
8
2
6
62


Table 3: When a pack of boys whistle at and ask for a girl’s name while she’s passing by.

Group
Avoided looking at the boys; acted as if she didn’t see or hear anything
Looked at boys but didn’t say anything
Looked at the boys; hurried walking
Slowed pace of walking and said her name to the boys
Glared at the boys but didn’t say anything
Glared at the boys and asked “Why are you whistling at me?”, “I’m not a dog”, etc.
Group 1 (with misogynistic rap music)
27
11
0
0
2
0
Group 2 (with neutral pop music)
14
3
2
3
17
1
Group 3 (with no music at all)
6
8
1
4
5
16
TOTAL
47
22
3
7
22
19


Table 4: When a boy asks for a kiss from the girl in exchange for the snacks.

Group
Willingly gave the boy a kiss on the first time he asked
Gave the boy a kiss on the second, third, and so on time he asked
Tried to compromise (e.g. instead of a kiss, a hug instead, etc.)
Told the boy that she’ll return to the room and complain to the administrator if he still doesn’t give her snacks
Showed signs of aggression (e.g. put her hands on her hips, said “Will you give my snacks or not?”, etc.)
Shouted, “Give my snacks now!”, “How dare you ask for a kiss!”, attempted to punch/kick the boy, etc.
Group 1 (with misogynistic rap music)
9
16
10
5
0
0
Group 2 (with neutral pop music)
4
7
15
7
5
2
Group 3 (with no music at all)
0
2
8
10
9
11
TOTAL
47
22
3
7
22
19

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX D
Lyrics:

Ice Cube’s “No Vaseline” (from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/icecube/novaseline.html)

Got damn, I'm glad ya'll set it off.Used to be hard, now you're just wet and soft.First you was down with the AK,and now I see you on a video with Michel'le?Lookin' like straight bozos.I saw it comin', that's why I went solo.And kept on stompin', when ya'll mothafuckers moved straight outta Compton.Livin' with the whites, one big house,and not another nigga in site.I started off with too much cargo,dropped four niggas now I'm makin' all the dough.White man just rulin'.The Niggas With Attitudes -- who ya foolin'?Ya'll niggas just phony,I put that on my mama and my dead homeys.Yella Boy's on your team, so you're losin';Ay yo Dre, stick to producin'.Callin' me Arnold, but you Been-a-dick;Eazy E saw your ass and went in it quick.You got jealous when I got my own company,but I'm a man, and ain't nobody helpin' me.Tryin' to sound like Amerikkka's Most,you could yell all day but you don't come close.Cuz you know I'm the one that flown,ya done run 100 miles, but you still got one to go.With the L-E-N-C-H M-O-B, and ya'll disgrace the C-P-T.Cuz you're gettin' fucked out your green by a white boy,with no vaseline...[Refrain] [L.L. sample:] "Now you're gettin' done without vaseline..." [3x][Biz Markie sample:] "Damn, it feels good to see people...on it"The bigger the cap, the bigger the peelin',who gives a fuck about a punk-ass villain?You're gettin' fucked real quick, and Eazy's dick, is smellin' like MC Ren's shit.Tried to tell you a year ago,but Willie D told me to let a hoe be a hoe, soI couldn't stop you from gettin' ganked,now let's play big-bank-take-little-bank.Tried to dis Ice Cube, it wasn't worth itcuz the broomstick fit your ass so perfect.Cut my hair and I'll cut them balls,cuz I heard you're, like, givin' up the drawers.Gang-banged by your manager, fella, gettin' money out your ass, like a mothafuckin' Ready Teller.Givin' up the dollar bills,now they got the Villain with a purse and high-heels.So don't believe what Ren say,cuz he's goin' out like Kunte Kinte,but I got a whip for ya Toby;used to be my homey, now you act like you don't know me.It's a case of divide-and-conquer,cuz you let a Jew break up my crew.House nigga gotta run and hide,yellin' Compton, but you moved to Riverside.So don't front, MC Ren, cuz I remember when you drove a B 2-10.Broke as a mothafuckin' joke.Let you on the scene to back up the Verse Team.It ain't my fault, one nigga got smart,and they rippin' your asshole apart.By takin' your green, oh yeah,the Villain does get fucked with no vaseline.[Refrain scratched] I never have dinner with the President.I never have dinner with the President.I never have dinner with the President.And when I see your ass again, I'll be hesitant.Now I think you a snitch,throw a house nigga in a ditch.Half-pint bitch, fuckin' your homeboys.You little maggot; Eazy E turned faggot.With your manager, fella,fuckin' MC Ren, Dr. Dre, and Yella.But if they were smart as me,Eazy E would be hangin' from a tree.With no vaseline, just a match and a little bit of gasoline.Light 'em up, burn 'em up, flame on...till that Jheri curl is gone.On a permanent vacation, off the Massa plantation.Heard you both got the same bank account,dumb nigga, what you thinkin' bout?Get rid of that Devil real simple, put a bullet in his temple.Cuz you can't be the Nigga 4 Life crew with a white Jew tellin' you what to do.Pullin' wools with your scams, now I gotta play the Silence of the Lambs.With a midget who's a punk too,tryin' to fuck me, but I'd rather fuck you.Eric Wright, punk, always into somethin', gettin' fucked at night.By Mista Shitpacker, bend over for the gotdamn cracker, no vaseline...

Tupac Shakur’s “Hit’em Up” (from www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/2pac/hitemup.html)

I ain't got no mutha fuckin friendsThats why I fucked your bitchYou fat mutha-fucka {Take Money}West SideBad Boy Killers {Take Money}You know who the realist isniggas we bring it to {Take Money}(ha ha, that's alright)First off, fuck your bitchAnd the click you claimWest side when we rideCome equipped with gameYou claim to be a playaBut, I fucked your wifeWe bust on Bad Boysniggas fuck for LifePlus Puffy tryin' to see me weakHearts I ripBiggie Smalls and Junior MafiaSome mark ass bitchesWe keep on comingWhile we running for yah jewelsSteady gunningKeep on busting at them foolsYou know the rulesLittle Ceasar go ask you homieHow i'll leave yahCut your young ass upSee yah in piecesNow be deceasedLittle Kim,Don't fuck around with real G'sQuick to snatch your ugly ass, off the streetsSo fuck peaceI'll let them niggas knowIt's on for LifeDon't let the west sideRide the night (ha ha)Bad Boys murdered on Wax and killfuck with meAnd get your caps peeledYou know, See[Chorus]Grab your glocks when you see 2pacCall the cops when you see 2pac, UhhWho shot me,But, your punks didn't finishNow, you 'bout to feel the wrath of a menacenigga, I hit 'em upCheck this outYou mutha-fuckas know what time it isI don't know why I'm even on this trackY'all niggas ain't even on my levelI'm going to let my little homiesRide on yahbitch made ass Bad Boys bitches{ahh yo, yo, hold the fuck up}Get out the way yoGet out the way yoBiggie Smalls just got droppedLittle move pa*s the macAnd let me hit 'em in his backFrank White needs to get spanked rightFor setting up trapsLittle accident murderersAnd I ain't never heard of yahPoise less gats attack when I'm serving yahSpank the shankYour whole style when I gankGuard your rankCause I'm a slam your ass in a pangPuffy weaker than a fuckin' blockI'm running through niggaAnd I'm smoking Junior MafiaIn front of yah niggaWith the ready powerTucked in my GuessUnder my Eddie BowerYour clout petty sourI push packages ever hourI hit 'em up[Chorus]Grab your glocks when you see 2pacCall the cops when you see 2pac, UhhWho shot me,But, your punks didn't finishNow, you 'bout to feel the wrath of a menacenigga, We hit 'em upPeep how we do itKeep it realIts penitentiary steelThis ain't no freestyle battleAll you niggas getting killedWith your mouths openTryin' to come up off of meYou and the clouds hopingSmoking dopeIt's like a Shermineniggas think they learned to flyBut they burn mutha-fucka you deserve to dieTalking about you Getting MoneyBut its funny to meAll you niggas living bummyWhile you fucking with me?I'm a self made MillionaireThug livin', out of prisonPistols in the Air {Air} (Ha Ha)Biggie remember when I use to let you sleep on the couchAnd beg the bitch to let you sleep in the houseNow its all about versaceYou copied my styleFive shots couldn't drop meI took it and smiledNow I'm back to set the record straightWith my A-KI'm still the thug that you love to hateMutha-fucka I'll Hit 'Em UpI'm from N E W Jers.Where plenty of murder occursNo points to comeWe bring drama to all you herdsNow go check the scenerioLittle Ceas'I'll bring you fake G's to yah kneesCopin' pleas with theseLittle Kim is yahCoked up or doped upGet your little Junior Whopper click smoked upWhat the fuck?Is you stupid?I take money,crash and mash through BrooklynWith my click looting, shooting, and polluting your blockWith fifteen shot,Cocked glock to your knotOutlaw Mafia click moving up another notchAnd your Pop stars popped and get dropped and moppedAnd all your fake ass east coast propsBrainstormed and lockedYou'se a beat biterPac style takerI'll tell you to face, you ain't nothing shit but a fakerSo fill the Alize with a chaser'bout to get murdered for the paperE.d.i I mean post the scene of the caperLike a loc, with little Ceas' in a choke (uhh)Toting smoke, we ain't no mutha-fuckin' jokeThug Life, niggas better be knownBe approachingIn the wide open, gun smokingNo need for hopingIt's a battle lostI gottem crossed as soon as the funk is bopping offnigga, I hit 'em upNow you tell me who wonI see them, they run (ha ha)They don't wanna see usWhole Junior Mafia clickDressing up to be usHow the fuck they gonna be the Mob?When we always on out jobWe millionaire'sKilling ain't fairBut somebody got to do itOh yah Mobb Deep (uhh)You wanna fuck with usYou Little young ass mutha-fuckasDon't one of you niggas got sickle-cell or somethingYou fucking with me, nigga ?You fuck around and catch a seizure or a heart-attackYou better back the fuck upBefore you get smacked the fuck upThis is how we do it on our sideAny of you niggas from New York that want to bring it,Bring it.But we ain't singing,We bringing dramafuck you and your mother fucking mama.We gonna kill all you mother fuckers.Now when I came out, I told you it was just about biggie.Then everybody had to open their mouth with a mother fuckin opinionWell this is how we gon' do this:fuck Mobb Deep,fuck Biggie,fuck Bad Boy as a staff, record label, and as a mother fuckin crew.And if you want to be down with Bad Boy,Then fuck you too.Chino XL, fuck you too.All you mother fuckers,fuck you too.(take money, take money)All of y'all mother fuckers,fuck you, die slow mother fucker.My fo' fo' (.44 magnum) make sure all yo' kids don't grow.You mother fuckers can't be us or see us.We mother fuckin' Thug Life riders.West Side till' we die.Out here in California, niggaWe warned ya'We'll bomb on you mother fuckers.We do our job.You think you the mob, nigga, we the mother fuckin' mobAin't nuttin' but killersAnd the real niggas, all you mother fuckers feel us.Our shit goes triple and four quadrupleYou niggas laugh cuz our staff got guns under they mother fuckin' beltsYou know how it is and we drop records they feltYou niggas can't feel itWe the realistfuck 'em.We Bad Boy killas.

Eminem’s “Kim” (from www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/kim.html)

[Eminem]Aww look at daddy's baby girlThat's daddy babyLittle sleepy headYesterday I changed your diaperWiped you and powdered you.How did you get so big?Can't believe it now your twoBaby you're so preciousDaddy's so proud of youSit down bitchIf you move again I'll beat the shit out of you[Eminem](Eminem as Kim)(Okay)Don't make me wake this babyShe don't need to see what I'm about to doQuit crying bitch, why do you always make me shout at you?How could you?Just leave me and love him out the blueOh, what's a matter Kim?Am I too loud for you?Too bad bitch, your gonna finally hear me out this timeAt first, I'm like all rightYou wanna throw me out? That's fine!But not for him to take my place, are you out you're mind?This couch, this TV, this whole house is mine!How could you let him sleep in our bed?Look at KimLook at your husband now!(No!)I said look at him!He ain't so hot now is he?Little punk!(Why are you doing this?)Shut the fuck up!(You're drunk! You're never going to get away at this!)You think I give a fuck!Come on we're going for a ride bitch(No!)Sit up front(Well I can't just leave Haley alone, what if she wakes up?)We'll be right backWell I will you'll be in the trunk[1] - So long, bitch you did me so wrongI don't wanna go onLiving in this world without you[Repeat 1]You really fucked me KimYou really did a number on meNever knew me cheating on you would come back to haunt meBut we was kids then Kim, I was only 18That was years agoI thought we wiped the slate cleanThat's fucked up!(I love you!)Oh God my brain is racing(I love you!)What are you doing?Change the station I hate this song!Does this look like a big joke?(No!)There's a four year old boy lyin' dead with a slit throatIn your living room, ha-haWhat you think I'm kiddin' you?You loved him didn't you?(No!)Bullshit you bitch don't fucking lie to meWhat the fuck's this guy's problem on the side of me?Fuck you asshole, yeah bite meKim, KIM!Why don't you like me?You think I'm ugly don't you(It's not that!)No you think I'm ugly(Baby)Get the fuck away from me, don't touch meI HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!I SWEAR TO GOD I HATE YOUOH MY GOD I LOVE YOUHow the fuck could you do this to me?(Sorry!)How the fuck could you do this to me?[Repeat 1 (2x)]Come on get out(I can't I'm scared)I said get out bitch!(Let go of my hair, please don't do this baby)(Please I love you, look we can just take Haley and leave)Fuck you, you did this to usYou did it, it's your faultOh my God I'm crackin' upGet a grip MarshallHey remember the time we went to Brian's party?And you were like so drunk that you threw up all over ArchieThat was funny wasn't it?(Yes!)That was funny wasn't it?(Yes!)See it all makes sense, doesn't it?You and your husband have a fightOne of you tries to grab a knifeAnd during the struggle he accidentally gets his Adam's apple sliced(No!)And while this is goin' onHis son just woke up and he just walks inShe panics and he gets his throat cut(Oh my God!)So now they both dead and you slash your own throatSo now it's double homicide and suicide with no noteI should have known better when you started to act weirdWe could've...HEY! Where you going? Get back here!You can't run from me KimIt's just us, nobody else!You're only making this harder on yourselfHa! Ha! Got'cha!(Ahh!)Ha! Go ahead yell!Here I'll scream with you!AH SOMEBODY HELP!Don't you get it bitch, no one can hear you?Now shut the fuck up and get what's comin to youYou were supposed to love me{*Kim choking*}NOW BLEED! BITCH BLEED!BLEED! BITCH BLEED! BLEED![Repeat 1 (2x)]

M2M’s “Pretty Boy” (from http://www.lyrics007.com/M2M%20Lyrics/Pretty%20Boy%20Lyrics.html)

Verse 1I lie awake at nightSee things in black and whiteI’ve only got you inside my mindYou know you have made me blindVerse 2I lie awake and prayThat you will look my wayI have all this longing in my heartI knew it right from the startChorusOh my pretty pretty boy I love youLike I never ever loved no one before youPretty pretty boy of mineJust tell me you love me tooOh my pretty pretty boyI need youOh my pretty pretty boy I doLet me insideMake me stay right beside youVerse 3I used to write your nameAnd put it in a frameAnd sometime I think I hear you callRight from my bedroom wallVerse 4You stay a little whileAnd touch me with your smileAnd what can I say to make you mineTo reach out for you in timeChorusBridgeOh pretty boySay you love me tooChorus

The Corrs’ “Summer Sunshine” (from www.lyricstop.com/s/summersunshine-thecorrs.html)

Everyone's changing, I stay the same I'm... a solo cello outside a chor-us I've got a secret, It's time for me to tell that you've been keeping me warm Just sweet beginnings and bitter en-dings In coffee city, we borrowed hea-ven Don't give it back, I've never felt so wanted Are you taking me home? You tell me you have to go... [chorus]In the heat of summer sunshine I miss you like nobody else In the heat of summer sunshine I kiss you, and nobody needs to know Now that you've left me, there's no retur-ning I keep comparing, you're always win-ning I try to be strong but you'll never be more wanted Will you make me at home? Don't tell me you have to go... [chorus]In the heat of summer sunshine I miss you like nobody else In the heat of summer sunshine I kiss you, and nobody needs to know Ya da... ya da... ya da To sweet beginnings and bitter en-dings In coffee city, we borrowed hea-ven Don't give it back Winter is coming and I need to stay warm The heat..... [chorus]In the heat of summer sunshine I miss you like nobody else In the heat of summer sunshine I kiss you, and nobody knows [chorus]In the heat of summer sunshine I miss you like nobody else In the heat of summer sunshine I kiss you, and nobody needs to know

Westlife’s “Evergreen” (from http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Evergreen-lyrics-Westlife/BF1E28353E5F8B4D48256AFC00256787)

Eyes Like a sunrise Like a rainfall Down my soul And I wonder I wonder why you look at me like that What you're thinking What's behind Don't tell me But it feels like love ChorusI'm gonna take this moment And make it last forever I'm gonna give my heart away And pray we'll stay together Cause you're the one good reason You're the only girl that I need Cause you're more beautiful than I have ever seen I'm gonna take this night And make it evergreen Touch Like an angel Like velvet to my skin And I wonder Wonder why you wanna stay the night What you're dreaming What's behind Don't tell me But it feels like love Chorus(Oh yeah don't tell me But it feels like love) I'm gonna take this moment And make it last forever I'm gonna give my heart away And pray we'll stay together Cause you're the one good reason You're the only girl that I need Cause you're more beautiful than I have ever seen I'm gonna take this night And make it evergreen

"Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus"

“A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.” Thus proclaims Gloria Steinem, an American writer and activist who is also recognized as a prominent figure in women's rights movement. Steinem’s one-line quotation has captured the essence of the plight of many women in the past decades. Those decades have seen a major revolution on the part of women. The gender which has, since time immemorial, been treated second-rate has finally seemed to have awakened. Women have emerged more empowered now more than ever to demand for equal treatment and for the protection and provision of their collective rights.

This sweeping change is proof of the increasingly modern views and enlightened philosophies of the 21st century. The fresh way of treating women and the states’ provision of their various bids has led to a seemingly freer society. We are witnesses as to how society is increasingly being governed by female leaders and being commanded by female professionals.

As this women’s rights movement progresses, societies are led to appear fairer, more just. On one hand, however, societies also seem to be losing something. In its bid to exhibit equality between the sexes, society is geared toward losing its heterogeneity. This happens as the numerous well-established differences between men and women are steadily being crushed by the waves of modern thinking. To discuss some of these gradually dissolving differences, how they are portrayed, and what their consequences are is the purpose of this paper.

Thomas Bätzler listed in his Internet homepage (http://baetzler.de/humor/differences_men_women.html) differences which he had observed between the two sexes. First, Bätzler notes that men do not call a relationship what it is. "That time when me and Suzie was doing it on a semi-regular basis" was the alleged assertion of most men. After a breakup, a woman weeps and cries her eyes out to her girlfriends. She throws his gifts away, tears his letters, and erases his electronic messages. Then she moves on. A man has more trouble forgetting and getting on. He calls back his ex after some months to express undiluted hate, and then before hanging up, indicates his willingness to reconcile. In addition, Bätzler points out that women’s favorite movie scene is in "Gone with the Wind", when Clark Gable kisses Vivien Leigh for the first time. Men’s favorite, on the other hand, is the scene in "Public Enemy" when Jimmy Cagney thrusts a grapefruit in Mae Clark's face.

While in and even without a relationship, women are generally more romantic than men. While in a relationship, the man seems less serious than the woman; yet after a breakup, he seems more ill-equipped to give up what have been. This difference often leads to problematic relationships and confused partners. A man usually takes the relationship for granted, which gradually leads to the breakup. When it is the end, the man is stunned and realizes the relationship’s worth, but it is often too late, as the woman has moved on.

This is related to another observation of Bätzler. He observes that women mature faster than men. “Most 17-year-old males are still trading baseball cards and giving each other wedgies after gym class.” This is the reason why “high school romances rarely work”.

In writing, men “just chicken scratches”. Bätzler contrasts how women “use ridiculously large loops [in the letters]”, “use scented, colored [stationeries]”, and “even when she's dumping you… put a smiley face at the end of the note.” A man is contended to have “at most six items in his bathroom - a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of Dial soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn”; whereas, a woman can have hundreds. A woman, Bätzler asserts, will dress up before shopping, emptying the garbage, reading a book, getting the mail. He adds that weddings and funerals are the only occasion men dress.

All these observations show that women are more conscious of their appearance. They spend much time in making themselves look good. As a result, men find it hard to resist their allure. In the negative side, men sometimes accuse women of being ridiculously vain. The overemphasis of women on looks also compromises their tasks. Time which could have been spent on achieving goals is used up in prettifying oneself; thus, in the long run, women are not able to maximize their potentials. Society’s expectation that every woman must look neat and tidy all the time—even under stress—further aggravates women’s dilemma.

Bätzler further emphasized the disparity by surveying the way men and women use the telephone. For a man, it is simply a tool for communication, one in which he could call the pizza parlor for a delivery, or inform his friend about a big soccer match. It is much different for a woman. Meanwhile, Bätzler observes, “A woman can visit her girlfriend for two weeks, and upon returning home, she will call the same friend and they will talk for three hours.”

This dissimilarity is not only about telephone use; it is about how the two communicate. Men are generally more frank and prefer short talks, while women hog the telephone for hours. A man could relay a message in ten seconds, while a woman might take minutes to convey the same message. A woman often sugarcoats her words; a man doesn’t care if he sounds impudent, as long as his point comes across—in the shortest possible time. In effect, men usually see women as phonies, because women seem ingenuine just to maintain good relations. Women, on the other hand, find men inconsiderate and insensitive when bluntly voice out their views.

Michael G. Conner, Psy. D., a clinical and medical psychologist, believes that “It is important to honor and rejoice in both our nature and our individuality.” This would entail not only an understanding of oneself and one’s gender, but an acceptance of the opposite gender’s uniqueness as well.

Bibliography (APA style of citation):
Bätzler, T. (n.d.). The Differences Between Men and Women. Retrieved April 1, 2007,
from Humor on the Internet Web site: http://baetzler.de/humor/differences_men_women.html

Conner, M. (2000). Understanding The Difference Between Men And Women. Retrieved
April 1, 2007, from Oregon Counseling Web site: http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/DifferencesMenWomen.htm

Steinem, Gloria. (2005). Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2005 [CD-ROM].
Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

Antique Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamonds are forever. Diamonds are girls’ best friends. The value that societies place on diamond is undeniably impressive. But what is a diamond? A transparent form of carbon, its claim to fame is its composition: it is the hardest known natural mineral.

Diamond boasts two distinctive properties: brilliance and fire. Diamond has a high index of refraction. This means that more light is reflected by diamond to the observer’s eyes, causing it to appear more brilliant. It also has a high dispersion value. This leads to the white light being split into more rainbow colors, making it appear as if caught in fire. Among all natural, transparent, and colorless materials, diamond has both the highest index of refraction and highest dispersion value. A diamond could serve a variety of purposes, including as a cutting tool and an abrasive. The composition, appearance, uses, and fame of diamonds provide people with enough reasons to crave for this highly prized gemstone.

Diamond is highly prized and is highly priced as well. In spite of the bill, there is no stopping people from fancying these treasures. Countless jewelry shops offer diamonds in a variety of cuts, shapes, and settings. Buyers can select from available pieces or design one themselves. The most common enthusiasts of diamonds are lovers.

For many lovers, antique diamond engagement rings are of particular interest. The earliest record of one being given was in 1477. Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg commissioned a ring which he gave to Mary of Burgundy in order to unite their houses and let their marriage serve as a unifying symbol to the country. Today, these rings are preferred by increasingly many couples because of their magnificent, first-rate craftsmanship. The refinedness of these works of art are a far cry from the blandness of most modern rings.

Many antique diamond engagement rings come from unsold inventory of jewelry shops which closed some decades ago. Some are produced at the present and could even be hand-engraved to create custom-made rings.

Only high-quality diamonds are suitable for use as gems. However, eighty percent of natural diamonds obtained from mining contain flaws or have impurities that make them unsuitable gems. How does one choose an antique diamond engagement ring?

The four C’s—carat, clarity, color, and cut—still apply with antique diamonds. The bases of carat and clarity remain the same. However, in the 1930s and 1940s, diamonds were popularly set in white gold squares. This was done to make the diamond appear larger, creating an "illusion" setting. These antique rings give today’s budget-minded consumers the "look" of a larger diamond at the price of a smaller one. The color can vary depending on individual taste. Antique diamond, unlike modern laser-cut diamond, was cut by hand and thus, seem to have “preserved the hand of its artist”.

Moreover, there must be a fifth C in judging antique diamond engagement rings: character. This refers to the detail and workmanship of the ring. The major difference between antique rings and modern rings is the precision and uniqueness of the former. As it is costly to replicate such meticulous details nowadays, one can foresee the value of antique diamond engagement rings increasing continuously over time.

Among the rich and famous, Camilla Parker Bowles received an antique diamond ring in her engagement in 2005. Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. These antique rings can cost up to US $28,000. But in the romance arena, what is a few thousands? When such relic symbolizes the everlasting promise of love, price is nothing.

"Erasing the “Pause” in Menopause"

What do many women fear the most? Clue: every woman cannot escape it. It’s not menstruation or death. It’s menopause.

Decades ago, society has considered menopause akin to a woman’s death. Sure, it is not merely a “pause” but the end—but only of a woman’s reproductive ability. Today, the topic is no longer as embarrassing. Today, menopause is no longer a scary word.

Around 4,000 women face menopause every day. Technically, it refers to the period in which the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone drop. If that sounds too technical, let’s just say that menstruation stops permanently and eggs are no longer produced. Thus, a woman can no longer give birth, or be pregnant.

There are three ways to enter menopause. “Surgical menopause” is experienced by women when both of their ovaries are removed. “Chemical menopause” is experienced by those who undergo chemotherapy, because chemotherapy often leads to amenorrhea, or the cessation of menstruation. And then there’s “induced menopause”, which is caused by breast cancer treatment and x-rays.

Of course, “natural menopause” is the most common, that which we hear most about. On average, it occurs between the ages 45 and 55, but it can begin as early as 35 or as late as 60. For most women, menopause lasts for only a couple of years, but a few experience its symptoms for up to six years.

Jokes about women’s menopause are very popular. You hear them when an adult woman suddenly cries for no clear reason. Sometimes, your dad tells you to ignore your mom’s annoying nags—because she’s “menopausal”. As sarcastic as these jokes may be, most of them are based on truth.

Women undergo a lot of changes during menopause, most of them internally. These are shown externally in various physical symptoms. Most common are hot flushes or night sweats; irregular, scant, and/or heavy periods; dry or itchy skin; aches or pains; insomnia; “formication”, which is a sensation similar to having ants crawling on the skin; allergies; respiratory problems; and tiredness or lethargy. Many women are also bothered with increased body fat, hair loss, bladder problems (including urinary incontinence), and loss of vaginal elasticity.

That’s why we need to be more understanding of women in their menopause, because they experience many emotional strains. If you encounter women with mood swings, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, poor memory and concentration, and decrease in sexual desire, they most likely are in their menopausal stage, so keep an open mind. An exception though, some women actually find sex more pleasurable after menopause.

To avoid exhibiting physical symptoms and being called “menopausal”, women could wear clothes made from natural fibers such as cotton, avoid hot drinks such as coffee and tea, avoid alcohol, and lower their intake of salty foods. Sticking to a balanced diet, doing moderate exercise, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding smoking could also help.

In facing the emotional symptoms of menopause, women can get support from relatives, friends, charities, and NGOs discussing menopause; join support groups; maintain diaries; and to stay positive.

Who says you should “pause” during menopause? As they say: Life begins at forty. Enjoy life—no pause!

"Tough Daddy"

Men are tough. Men are logical. Men value their brains more than their heart.

These may be true, but that doesn’t mean that men don’t like kids. Sure, women are more caring, more open when it comes to expressing emotions, more thoughtful, more romantic. But men are still human beings; they also adore life—and giving life.

But for some men, the last can be difficult. Infertility is not only a woman’s dilemma, but a man’s as well.

Causes of male infertility can be divided into three factors. These are sperm abnormalities, structural abnormalities, and medical disorders.

Low sperm count is the most frequent guilty party. Quantity and quality both matter. Although only one lucky sperm can ultimately join with the egg, men whose semen have less than 20 million sperms per millimeter by and large experience problems.

In addition, the sperms’ ability to move (motility) and physical structure matter. Sperms with poor motility may not be able to swim the lengthy distance from the vagina to the fallopian tubes. Sperms with damaged DNA are of no value.

A varicocele, a tangle of swollen veins surrounding the testis, is the most common structural problem affecting sperm count. The vas deferens could also be blocked. It is also possible that the man has ejaculation problems.

Medical disorders include sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prostatitis (infection of the prostate gland), and mumps which can cause scarring and obstruction of the reproductive organs. Some medications, such as those for high blood pressure, ulcers, and depression, can impair the testicles. Exposure to high levels of environmental toxins, such as lead, mercury, and some pesticides are possible culprit. Some men also have inadequate hormone levels, causing low sperm count or inappropriate testicular function.

If you’re one of the millions of tough men hoping to be a daddy, don’t worry. Even among fertile couples, the chance of conception is only 20 percent every month. Plus, there are already various treatments available. Structural problems, such as varicoceles or blocked ejaculatory ducts can be treated through surgery. Practices which lead to lowered sperm counts or damaged sperm can be deliberately cut back, such as the use of certain medications, alcohol, marijuana, and hot tubs or saunas.

Fertility drugs, like the human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), can also be used to stimulate sperm production. If all else fails, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are also getting popular, but are successful for only 20 to 50 percent.

But if you really want a baby, you’ll take some steps and risks. Be a tough daddy.

"Genetically Alive"

Are you genetically dead?

If you haven’t given birth, yes you are. It simply points out that you haven’t passed on your genes—because you haven’t given birth.

For the millions who are no longer single, are sexually active, and are hoping for a child, being genetically alive is a problem. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, infertility affects around 6 million American couples.

For the gender which is known to be more caring and fonder of children, infertility is a major setback. In Biblical times, infertility connotes sin. Couples who do not have children are said to be “punished” by God. They were often spurned by society.

Times have become kinder. Today, thanks to medicine and technology, people have discovered more reasons than “divine punishment” for infertility. Infertility of women could be caused by structural abnormalities, hormonal imbalance, and other factors.

Some women are born with anatomical abnormalities or damaged reproductive organs. As much as 35 percent of barren women have blocked fallopian tubes. A malformed cervical canal and non-cancerous tumors and polyps in the uterus are also common.

Abnormal ovulation is likewise a frequent cause. Abnormal ovulation occurs when one or several hormones are not functioning. This leads to irregular ovulation, which usually means no egg is produced. This accounts for 25 percent of unfruitful women.

Illnesses of the endocrine system, such as thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, and polycystic ovarian syndrome also cause abnormal ovulation. Certain chemicals can affect hormonal levels and adversely affect fertility. Use of marijuana, for example, can shorten the menstrual cycle. And for smokers: cigarette smoking brings down some kinds of hormone production and can also deplete egg supply.

Other factors can also interfere. For instance, the cervical mucus (the fluid that protects the cervix and uterus from infection) may be too thick or chemically hostile to the sperm. A fertilized egg can also be stuck in the fallopian tube and result in an ectopic pregnancy.

More than 75 percent of infertility cases caused by hormonal problems can be treated using fertility drugs. One or more fertility drugs, such as clomiphene, human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), and an injectable form of follicle-stimulating hormone, may be prescribed to treat ovulatory disorders.

For women, though, fertility drugs pose health problems in some women, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a potentially dangerous disorder in which the ovaries enlarge and fluid accumulates in the abdomen. Unless you like multiple babies, better avoid fertility drugs, since they can cause more than one egg to be released.

If all these don’t work, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) could help. Most known of these is in vitro fertilization (IVF). You’ll receive fertility drugs to produce multiple eggs. These are removed from you, taken to a laboratory, and mixed with semen in a petri dish. If an embryo is formed, it is transferred to your uterus, leading a normal pregnancy. Warning: multiple pregnancies usually result.

At this time of high-technology, even “divine punishments” could be solved.

"When sex is no longer sexual"

Like other things that change along with the new age, man’s source of pleasures change along. The act which once was considered as purely relating to the sexual organs and was called “sexual intercourse” is no longer the single source of man’s carnal pleasure.

Sex today is more and more not just about the penis penetrating the vagina. Now, you can add the tongue, lips, and the mouth.

Oral sex is increasingly popular in the contemporary world. Oral sex is done using the mouth, and it includes the lips and the tongue.

Oral sex has long been and is up to now in some societies considered a taboo. Many are embarrassed to try it because they fear being rejected. Some men think that their penis is not big or straight enough. At the same time, some women think that their labia are too big or hairy.

Another reason is that some people fear that their partner might not find the odor too pleasant. For some, they feel that giving in to their partner makes them feel vulnerable. For the rest, they might be brought up to thinking that their genital organs are made only for penetration or accession and not for the taste buds.

Still, many couples find oral sex exciting for that reason. Because oral sex is often considered as taboo, it becomes even more exciting. Its image as not only being forbidden but also being disgusting stirs the curiosity and adds to the willingness of couples to try it.

Many who do oral sex also enjoy because they feel that they are “special” because they are worth “eating”. For many, it can be the supreme way of expressing that they are accepted and love.

What to do? Talk to your partner beforehand to know if he or she agrees to oral sex. If he or she does not, ask for the reason. If it is because of embarrassment, console your partner and affirm your love.

Once both have agreed, make sure you are both clean by taking a bath. But avoid spraying too much perfume or putting too much deodorant. It is often the natural smell that attracts.

If any of you are embarrassed, dim the lights or use candles.

What not to do? Although it’s often called a “blow job”, you must not really blow. This can cause an infection. Also, avoid biting too hard or exaggerating to the point of hurting your partner.

"Universal Fear"

The most feared illness of our time is no longer cancer. Today, cancer can be treated. AIDS cannot; it has no cure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a viral disease that affects humans and destroys the immune system. With the immune system down, the body’s ability to defend itself from infections and diseases is greatly weakened.

AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. A healthy person infected is unaffected, but infection to those with weak immune systems can be fatal.

The cure for AIDS has not yet been discovered. Fortunately, new drugs which can prolong the life span and improve the quality of life of infected people are now available.

Just because you’re infected with HIV does not mean that you have AIDS. Some people who are infected with HIV may not develop any of the illnesses that define the full-blown disease of AIDS for at least 10 years. The term AIDS is used by physicians for cases in which a person has reached the final, life-threatening stage of HIV infection.

It was in 1981 that AIDS was first identified among homosexual men and intravenous drug users in New York and California. Soon, AIDS epidemics grew even among heterosexual men, women, and children in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS quickly became a worldwide epidemic, affecting almost every nation.

The United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 40 million people were living with HIV infection or AIDS in 2003. The WHO estimated that 20 million people died because of AIDS between 1981 and 2002.

How does this terrible illness spread? First is by having sexual intercourse with an infected person. This is the most common mode of transmission and it includes genital, anal, and oral sex. The virus is in the infected person’s semen or vaginal fluids.

Contact with contaminated blood is also a cause. Direct contact with HIV-infected blood happens when heroin or other injected drugs are shared in hypodermic needles or syringes. Health professionals who accidentally stick themselves with needles containing HIV-infected blood or expose an open cut to such are lesser. Some cases of transmission from blood transfusions, blood components, and organ donations were also reported.

Finally, 90 percent of AIDS cases among children happen through mother-to-child transmission. This can be during child-bearing and often, during birth and breastfeeding.

Symptoms during the first weeks include symptoms like that of flu, such as fever, sore throat, headache, skin rash, tender lymph nodes, and a feeling of discomfort. Then a symptom-free period follows, which can last up to 10 years.

When the infection has reduced the number of CD4 cells to around 200 per microliter of blood, the infected individual enters a phase in which he may experience extensive weight loss and fatigue (wasting syndrome). Periodic fever, recurring diarrhea, and thrush, a fungal mouth infection, are also common. Usually, the virus is only discovered at this stage. Various illnesses, such as pneumonia, fungal infections, tuberculosis, and even cancers can then strike the victim.

While there is no medical cure yet, in the short time since the disease was first recognized, new methods to treat AIDS have appeared quickly. Health-care professionals focus on three aspects for people with HIV infection or AIDS. First is antiretroviral therapy, which uses drugs to control HIV replication. Next are medications and treatments which fight the infections and cancers that accompany HIV infection. Finally, support mechanisms which help in dealing with the emotional consequences of this disabling and potentially fatal disease are also considered significant.

"Crawling From Herpes"

Is the skin around your “private parts” red and sensitive? Do blisters appear? Is it painful or itchy? Burning or tingling? Uh-oh. You might have herpes.

You are not alone. 20 percent of Americans—equivalent to roughly 50 million—are infected with genital herpes. And guess what? The majority of them are unaware that they have it. Studies reveal that more than 500,000 Americans diagnosed with genital herpes for every year, and it is increasingly occurring in teens.

Herpes comes from the Greek word “herpein”, which means “to creep”. It refers to a group of viruses that produce painful sores and blisters. There are two kinds: herpes simplex and herpes zoster. The former causes cold sores around the mouth and around the sexual organs (genital herpes). The latter triggers chickenpox and shingles.

Genital herpes is easily spread, usually through sex, even oral sex. It can spread from one part of your body to another, such as from your genitals to your fingers, to your eyes and so on. And if you’re pregnant, be careful: it can be transmitted to your child during birth. Even if the person infected does not exhibit the symptoms, the virus can be transmitted. Scary, isn’t it?

If you think you have herpes, fret not. It is far from being deadly, not even dangerous. However, it can be a nuisance and can result to emotional trauma. Plus, there is no cure yet.

How do you know that it’s herpes? Usually, small, painful blisters appear in the first week. They could contain clear or cloudy fluid while the area under them could be red. These quickly become open sores.

Besides tender blisters and sores around your genitals, it may hurt to pee. You can also run a fever and exhibit symptoms of flu. Most people feel much pain early after infection, while some don't have any symptoms, and don’t even know they're infected.

The symptoms go away and ordinarily return after some time. When a recurrence occurs, the symptoms are not as bad as they were during the first attack. If you want to avoid a recurrence, avoid being stressed, getting sick, or feeling tired. Staying under the sun and having your menstrual period can also cause a recurrence. When you feel itching, tingling, or pain in the previously infected areas, watch out.

An uninfected person has a 75% chance of contracting herpes while making love with an infected one. To protect your partner or yourself from being one of the millions of herpes victims, don’t have sex when you have outbreaks. Use condoms every time you have sex, and make sure all infected areas are covered. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

"When A-B-C is not easy"

Most of the people all over the world have brown eyes. Some have blue; others green. And so on. But if you have yellow eyes, that’s not a matter of ethnicity. That’s Hepa.

Hepa is short for Hepatitis, a disease of the liver in which it is inflamed. Certain chemicals, autoimmune diseases, and bacterial infections can cause Hepa. But often, viruses are the culprit.

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) often exhibit symptoms of flu and jaundice. But for most people, it has no symptoms. HAV is rampant in places where the drinking water is polluted with sewage.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. HAV is the most common type of Hepa and is reported to be one of the most vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. HAV vaccination and good hygiene habits are effective in prevention. And if you have contracted it, don’t worry. The disease tends to resolve on its own. Good news: if you were infected with HAV, you will afterwards be immune to the virus for a lifetime.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) spreads through contact with an infected person's blood, tears, saliva, semen, or any other body fluid. It is spread through unprotected sexual intercourse and the sharing of infected needles or other sharp objects that penetrate the skin.

HBV is much more complicated than HAV. It can make you feel like you have flu, or it can have no symptoms. Unlike HAV, HBV can stay active in the body for years after infection. Sometimes, it can even permanently damage the liver.

If there’s an A and a B, then there’s a C. Hepatitis C is spread by sharing or being pricked with infected drug needles, sexual intercourse with someone infected, and being born to a mother infected with Hepatitis C. Sometimes, it can be through a tattoo or body piercing which used unsterilized and dirty tools.

Like HAV and HBV, there are also vaccines for Hepatitis C. If you have either Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C for several years, you may need surgery. If Hepatitis C has caused your liver to stop working, you will need to get a new liver through a liver transplant.

When it is the organ which performs 500 functions that is impaired, dealing with A, B, C is not as easy.

"When the Road to Pleasure is Bumpy"

Is something blocking your way to sexual gratification? Feeling a bump around you or your partner’s sexual organs? It could be genital warts.

Genital warts grow on the penis and inside or around the entrance to the vagina and anus. These are caused by a family of viruses known as human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts are transmitted directly through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. A mother can infect her baby through birth, but this is rare.

Genital HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) worldwide. There are as many as 6 million fresh cases of genital warts in the United States alone each year.

For women, growths or bumps in and around the vagina or anus or on the cervix in females are signs. For men, the same sight is on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. These could be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, and could be clustered together to form a cauliflower-like shape. These are usually the color of flesh and are painless.

It may take months or years before symptoms appear—if there are symptoms at all. The average incubation period is one to six months. Sometimes, the warts are too small and flat that they are ignored.

HPV can invade a woman’s vagina and cervix. The virus can lead to changes in the cervix that can cause cervical cancer, so if you feel such bumps, have them treated immediately. Men infected with HPV are not safe, either. They are at risk for cancer of the penis and the anus. But don’t be so bothered—only 10 to 15 of the 30 or more genital HPV types can cause cancer.

If the risk of cancer troubles you, remember that like most STDs, genital warts can be avoided by abstinence or by having sex with only a single, uninfected partner. Condoms also offer protection, but not if the warts are outside of the area protected they cover.

A vaccine called Gardasil has been formulated for women who are 9 to 26 years old. There is no cure for HPV infection; the treatment removes only the genital warts it causes. The therapies for genital warts are prescription medications, liquid nitrogen (called cryosurgery), and laser treatment.