The Paw Print

Don’t be alarmed by the headline. Though mainstream media may convince you otherwise, Jihad is not simply holy war. I am not some misguided lunatic hell-bent on destroying America with a radical view of Islam.

If I had known today would be the last day I’d ever see you, I would have made up for all the pain I had put you through over the past couple of years. We came to this country together, and promised each other that no matter what it took, we would somehow create a better life in this alien environment. Unlike me, you stayed true to that promise. While you worked at the shirtwaist factory earning less than you knew you should, I couldn’t’t hold on to a job for more than a week. I hated the fact that you were the breadwinner of the house. So, I would beat you, and remind you that your place was in the kitchen. But you were either just plain foolish, or so committed to the promise we made that you took the abuse without revolting and continued to support me.

With that in mind, I further proved my wickedness by packing your stuff while you were getting ready for work, and than kicked you out of the house this morning. Disregarding your emotions, I tried to forget you ever existed. Probably an hour later, as I was walking down the street, I saw dark gray smoke and people frantically rushing to what looked like the shirtwaist factory. I hurried over to the building with others as we watched the factory burn. We watched as many barely escaped the horror, and many more taking their chances to jump into nets. I cannot begin to describe how painful it was to watch workers jump and even burn to their deaths. However, amidst the crowd I could not find you.

Then, all of a sudden, there you were by the window sill, for no more for five seconds. It was like time stood still when I saw you jump out that window, and I helplessly watched you plunge to your death. I felt so powerless alongside the other people. With your death a part of me died. Your death led to the death of all the memories we had and the bright future we both dreamed of. I’m disgusted that I have realized after your death how grateful I am for all you had done for me.  I regret telling you to get out of my life and to never show your face to me again. 

I am going to have to say that this has been the most exciting week for the journalism class. The guest speakers and tours were very fun and not to mention, inspiring. The past speakers have not been so encouraging. All of them seemed to say the same thing, “Yeah, I work 24/7 and for very little money,” or “Yeah, journalism school isn’t worth your time.” It got sort of boring, though the speakers did seem very dedicated and in love with their jobs. However, the speakers this week were just over the top!

This weekend was the first time Mad Decent Block Party came to New York City. I had the pleasure of attending the free concert and I had an absolute blast! Especially considering the slow pace of the quiet summer city. The headline event for Mad Decent was Zeds Dead, a ground consisting of two DJs, DC and Hooks. Their music is mostly dubstep with some house music. My favorite part of their performance was when they played the song “White Satin” because the drops they use in the song have incredible base and kept the crowd jumping out of their socks.

What made the concert especially fun were the people I went with, because it was all of my friends who are in the city and didn’t want to miss out on a free concert of this magnitude. Due to the fact that it was 90 degrees plus, the event sponsors gave out water guns, which were a blast. The concert also had mini blowup pools to fill up the water guns. Also, because of the heat, they were giving out bottles of water to keep everyone hydrated and comfortable to limit liabilities. All in all, it was an amazing event and hopefully the event will be sponsored for many years to come.

Michael Vick had proven last season that he is back to his fullest potential by leading the Philadelphia Eagles into the NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers.

Vick had won the award  â€œNFL Comeback Player of the Year” in 2010, because in 2006 Vick was found guilty of involvement with illegal dog fighting. Before going to prison, Vick was in the 2001 NFL Draft and was picked first overall by the Atlanta Falcons.

Vick went to prison for 21 months and was on home confinement for 2 months. During that time, it seems that Vick had gotten his mind together on where he wants his future to go. In 2009, the Eagles signed him for one year as their back-up quarterback. Even though he wasn’t a starter, it was a start to a comeback. But, in 2010, he would really make his presents known in The NFL League by playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Eagles won 28-3 , because Vick threw 291 yards.

Nike was a sponsor of Vick before he went to prison, but of course dropped him when he was found guilty. But recently, Nike had just signed him back! Meanwhile, Vick has only been back for 2 seasons in the NFL. I cannot wait to see what he will bring in his 3rd comeback season.

When Vick started his comeback, he signed a 1 year deal. This is exactly what wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, is doing with the New York Jets.

Plax was selected 8^th in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the dirty Pittsburgh Steelers. He played there for 4 years, and then moved to the New York Giants for another 4 years and won a Super Bowl.

Plax went to prison for 2 years for weapon charges. But, I would like to say, “Plax went to jail because he was stupid enough to shoot himself by ACCIDENT in his own leg!”

It is bad enough that he played for the Steelers, but it is even worse that he shot himself. But after 2 years, it is clear that Plax is going to make the greatest comeback, since he just signed with the best NFL team, the New York Jets.

Let’s hope that Plax has a great 2 year comeback like Vick has been lucky to have.

Through her Love is Louder campaign, it seems that starlet Demi Lovato is hoping she will not be another Lindsay Lohan, known for her struggles in rehab.

Now equipped with the words “Stay Strong” tattooed on her wrists and a new hit single, Lovato has pulled herself up using the Love is Louder campaign through battles with bulimia and being checked into a health center.

The Love is Louder campaign has been both an inspiration and support for teens who share similar struggles as Lovato.

Though the campaign was started by actress Brittany Snow, MTV and the Jed Foundation, Lovato has recently come on as a supporter with Seventeen magazine.

While Lovato was getting help, Seventeen magazine got letters from young girls that confessed how they cut themselves and developed eating disorders in order to deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed.

“We were looking for a way to help the girls cope,” said Seventeen Senior Editor, Jane Bianchi.

The campaign has given teens such as Ashley Heard hope that she is not alone. She said she felt grateful that she wasn’t the only one feeling the way she did.

“It made me appreciate the people around me, and appreciate the situation I’m in,” the 15-year-old said.

A fan of Lovato’s and the campaign, Ashley heard about the fact that Lovato was bullied during school because girls thought she was fat. Lovato developed an eating disorder soon after.

According to Bianchi, Seventeen wanted to start something that would shed light on the issues girls experienced and support them. The magazine, along with the Jed Foundation, heard about Lovato’s struggles, and decided to contact her publicists with the idea about the campaign because they thought she would be a good role model for teens due to her recent issues.

Once published, the story reached millions.

“The story just didn’t happen in the magazine,” Bianchi said. “It was viral.”

Once the story hit, a multitude of teens began following the campaign through social media sites. The campaign’s Facebook page alone has more than 70,000 fans. Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Colton Haynes and all the nominated Miss Americas have uploaded pictures of themselves with the Love is Louder symbol.

By the time the campaign became especially popular, teens followed celebrities’ footsteps and photographed themselves with ‘Love is Louder than the Pressure to be Perfect’ written on their hands.

Fifteen-year-old Kinyanna Evans said, “I would take a picture of my hands. I’m [Lovato’s] biggest fan.”

Last month, on June 23rd, I went to the Owl City All Things Bright And Beautiful concert, in Roseland. I went with two of my friends. I am probably the biggest fan of Owl City, and since this was basically the first concert I had ever been to, the whole day was a pretty big deal to me.

Christina Hong, 16, admits that even though she cares a lot about the grades that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene gives out to restaurants, it’s not the first thing she notices when going out to eat.

She says she doesn’t always pay attention to the grade in the window, but if she happens to notice, she won’t step foot into a restaurant if it doesn’t have an “A” grade.

“I’m one of those people who is constantly paranoid of food poisoning,” she said.

Teenagers all over the city are having mixed responses to the restaurant grades given by the DOH. Some teenagers notice the grade and only eat at certain places, where other teenagers don’t care too much about them.

Some teenagers’ restaurant choices have changed since the DOH has required eateries to post their grades. 

Nadine Ruiz, 18, says she pays attention to grades and certificates posted by the DOH. Although she would prefer to see her “usual and favorite eating spot has a high grade,” she does not walk past a restaurant if it has a “B” grade.

“Clean and a ‘B’ grade? Sure,” she said.

In some cases it is an issue of affordability.

“I can’t always afford to eat at a place with an ‘A,’” Ruiz said.

Hong and Judith Vigliotti also said some restaurants with an “A” are more expensive than they wish, but both are willing to spend the extra money for a top-graded restaurant.

Another reason why some teenagers eat in a restaurant with a “B” grade is because it just doesn’t matter to them.

Ruiz will eat in places that say “Grade Pending,” and says her friends agree with her. One of her friends, Caleb Olvera, 16, has the same views of the DOH’s restaurant grades.

As long as the food tastes good and they can afford it, then it “doesn’t really matter” whether it has an “A” or a “B,” both Ruiz and Olvera said.

Sixteen-year-old Vigliotti at first said she doesn’t eat at a restaurant with a “Grade Pending” sign and if it looks dirty.

But Vigliotti gave the benefit of the doubt.

“Every restaurant said ‘Grade Pending’ at some point,” she said.

Vigliotti kept reviews and reputation in mind when going out to eat. Prior knowledge of whether a restaurant has good reviews or is popular helped Vigliotti make her decision.

But when she learned what a “Grade Pending” sign meant, she started changing her mind.

On the DOH website, it says a restaurant can contest the violations against them, and while they’re waiting to contest their results at the agency’s Administrative Tribunal, “the restaurant has the option to post either the preliminary grade or a card that says “Grade Pending.”

Once Viglotti learned this, she said “why would you want to hide an ‘A’ grade?” and said she would no longer be eating at a “Grade Pending” restaurant.

The DOH website also states that a restaurant with an “A” grade can have “0 to 13 points for sanitary violations.” This worried Hong, and she said that she does not even feel 100 percent comfortable with an “A” grade now.

Hong also says that even a “Grade Pending” sign is important.

“I will not go in that restaurant,” she said.