Headphone usage damages hearing

Overusing headphones can deeply affect people`s personal life. The majority of teenagers nowadays are listening to music for more than 4 hours a day, 80% of that quantity using headphones, usually in the maximum volume. Using headphones on inappropriate situations may cause accidents, overusing it can interferes negatively on social interaction, and also can cause hearing loss.

Many traffic accidents are caused by drivers, or cyclists, who use headphones to listen to music while driving. The headphones obstruct drivrer’s and cyclist’s attention, in a way that they can miss traffick signs, horns, pedestrians crossing the road. The use can also impedes drivers from listening to sirens from police, fire engine, ambulance,  preventing them from reaching or helping someone by not moving over. Australian ad agency DDB Sydney, for instance, did an ad campaign for the New South Wales Police “to raise awareness of the fact that the number of teenagers dying as a result of listening to ipods while they drive, or ride bicycles is beginning to reach “epidemic proportions”. In Brazil, according to the national traffic code, the use of phones to listen to music while driving is forbidden. The penalty for the driver who disobeys it is R$ 85, 13, plus 4 points on his/her driver’s licence. Only a few people is aware about the consequences from matching music listened by phones and cars. Traffic authorities should increase the dissemination of informations related to traffic accidents caused by phones usage, as well as penalties for drivers who dismiss the law.

The oversuse of headphones can also prejudice a teenager’s social life. Many of them due to shyness, insecurity, lack of self-confidence, rather listen to music on their ipods, than interact with friends, becoming away from sociability.

When having a groom at the altar waiting on his groom to walk the aisle becomes a real possibility

Is it possible to imagine a marriage invitation with the names of the two brides or the two grooms? Certainly, it will not be a religious ceremony, in a church, but, yes; the idea of a gay marriage being recognized is getting stronger, since discussions about approving equal rights for gay couples have increased considerably. Same-sex couples may be given full rights to and benefits, considering that Catholic influences have declined, Congresses worldwide have been more tended to vote to recognize gay unions, homosexual couples are becoming more and more part of reality

Many countries have powerful catholic churches arguing that extending rights to same-sex couples would violate church doctrine. However, it seems that this huge catholic influence used to be stronger in the past than it is nowadays, in juridical issues. In a country considered catholic, like Colombia, for example, where the government is also conservative, the approval of a bill that concedes gay couples full rights to health insurance, social security and inheritance benefits is a reality. The Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, a conservative catholic, is one of those who support the bill. He is now expected to sign the measure, which has been already voted and approved by Colombia’s

Lately, there is an indubitable tendency of discussing this issue among congresses worldwide in an optimistic way for those who defend the equality of rights for gay couples. There is a reality already too. In the Americas, Canada has approved a similar law; in the United States, a handful of states entitle gay couples to health and other benefits, besides the fact of two states in particular (California and Massachusetts), which already accepts gay marriages. There are also other Latin Americans cities, besides Bogota, the capital of Colombia, that have traditionally been considered more tolerant of gays; Mexico City and Buenos Aires have passed laws extending health and other benefits to same-sex couples. Urugay is another example. Its congress has also approved a law, which would allow civil unions for gay couples. Like in Colombia, the Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez is now expected to sign the bill into law. In Europe, countries like Netherlands, Spain, do not discuss this issue anymore, once that legalization of gay marriage is already a reality.

The fact of the issue “gay marriage” has been being more discussed among juridical members worldwide, and being already accepted in many countries revels that homosexual couples are, indeed, part of our society. Even without the possibility of civil recognition in every country, gay marriages exist in everywhere, are more and more usual everyday. Gay clubs, parades, markets, parties, bars, even restaurants and shopping malls compose an entire gay universe. In Sao Paulo, for instance, there are several gay places, such as clubs, bars, malls, where is possible to see many gay couples together, as if they were a regular couple. In Sao Paulo there is also the largest gay parade of the world, which also helps to sustain that gay community is increasing more and more. Such a significant fact in our society should not be denied. In fact, principles such as freedom and equality, that are guarantied by brazilian’s magna charta, should be considered by political members when discussing the recognition of gay union. Gay couples are part of our society, whether conservative politicians or church members, want to, or not. They should simply have the possibility to constitute their families with all the rights and benefits, exactly like a straight couple.

Against all odds

Last year was a very special time for me. Unfortunately, “special “in an extremely negative connotation, however, I classify this way because it was very peculiar, very different from others bad moments that I had been thought.

After six months studying hard to get in the university, I passed, but I decided that the course, which was economy, was not what I wanted to do anymore. I used to study more than twelve hours a day at this time, because I spent 6 hours at the school, and at the afternoons, I went to the preparatory course, spent more 6 hours there, when I got home, I still tried to find some motivation to study what I had learnt that day.

After realizing that economy was not for me, I enrolled myself again in this preparatory course and spent a year there. This time, I was absolutely sure that my course was law, so I studied a lot to be confident and have good chances, since law is one of the most wanted careers; and I had my reward. I passed in PUC.

When I went to PUC for the first time, I was very excited. It seemed to be a place with a real university atmosphere, different people, different courses at the same campus, lots of bars in front of and the place itself with all your tradition really made me feel an university student. And I was right. The place and the people were great. The problem was the course. I got so disappointed at it, that I started to miss classes, not study for the tests, do my assignments without any effort, and have no commitment at all with the college.

This sensation resulted in the most terrible feeling of loss I had ever had. I felt that I should not have denied economy school, and that I was never going to find the right course for me, or be able to have a successful career and job. I was completely lost, without any courage and forces to quit law school and go back to preparatory course.

What came to me, was the possibility of trying to get in the journalism school, another of my great variety of careers options, without the preparatory course. This seemed to be the best alternative for me, so that was what I did. I prepared myself a little, and did the test for journalism at Cásper Líbero. Ten people obstructed me from passing. There were 100 vacancies; I was number 110 from the list.

After all this, I feel now that this defect flaw of mine, was the best thing that happened to me at he end of last year. The fact of not passing at Cásper, made me rethink a lot, and I gave law school a real chance of being part of my life in a way that I could be pleased about it. So I started to watch classes taking notes of the subjects, go to college frequently, do my assignments properly. And I really started to enjoy law school, and now I feel that I can accomplish goals in my professional life by fallowing this career. And I learnt that sometimes it is necessary to give a second chance in order to get to know better before jumping at conclusions. And I also confirmed that eventually, bad things happen to bring you good things. My failure on trying to get in Cáper shown me that. Instead of journalism, I could be able to be pleased doing a course, which I prepared myself one year for, and chose for my professional life.