Opinion

Weight Control and Youth Illness Survey

Oct 21st, 2013 in Community, Health, Lifestyle, Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

Poor academics, Child Obesity, and Chronic Illness have been associated with a wide variety of causes. The most popular appear to be the lack of physical activity participation and poor eating habits. Intimate Delights is conducting a short survey that takes less than five minutes, in order to gather more information about possible causes and to help present plausible solutions. Please take the time to complete the following survey. Your responses will be kept confidential.

Youth across the country are in a constant struggle with trying to eat right, keep good grades, and remain active in and out of school. In addition there have been ongoing issues such as chronic illnesses and obesity that continue to interfere with their efforts to conquer the battle and win the war. If there are one or two main contributors for what could be causing the decline in academics, adding to the rise in obesity or encouraging the lack of physical activity participation, then gathering data from surveys such as this one could shed some light.

The Center’s for Disease Control, (CDC), suggests that children and adults should engage in at least one hour of physical activity everyday. Doing so could put a stop to the increase in youth health issues and activate better choices when it comes to choosing what foods to eat.

The main purpose of bringing awareness to the underlying causes of obesity, etc., is to help prevent deadly health issues from arising in the future and to encourage healthy eating habits so that our youth have a fair chance of exceling to amazing heights academically.

Maryland Youth Sports Encourage Academic and Social Development

Sep 2nd, 2013 in Lifestyle, Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

Extracurricular sports activities appear to have a positive impact on its participants in more ways then we realize. According to an article written by Donna L. Merkel, entitled, Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes, ”Children are healthy and happy as they engage in this traditional pastime.” The article talks about how sports aid with weight control, however, one ten-year-old youth from Upper Marlboro, Maryland introduces another positive aspect.

Young Male Searches For Promising Future

Aug 26th, 2013 in Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

Unemployment among young people between the ages of 16 to 24 has grown according to an article provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Young adults seem to have a tough time adjusting to adulthood, especially when all odds appear to be against them. Brandon Taylor, a 22 year old from Atlanta, Georgia will not give up, “I’m going to go to the unemployment office and see what kind of help they can give me,” says Taylor.

Gas Prices Cause Anxiety

Jun 12th, 2013 in Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

Gas prices continually rise and when they do it can cause anxiety for some motorists. Brielle Hamilton is starting a new job at a local clothing store but feels she might be working only to put gas in her car if the prices remain high. In the suburbs of Atlanta, gas is $3.51 per gallon.

Duluth, GA. (June 8, 2013) Brielle Hamilton prepares for the start of a new job by filling up her gas tank. With the rise of the cost of gas and low paying jobs, anxiety sets in on whether or not to fill it up or stop at half. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

Duluth, GA. (June 8, 2013) Looking at the price of gas, Hamilton begins to pump. She says, “I know people have to work in order to earn a living but with gas so high, I can see why someone would not want to work when most of their pay is going in the tank and I’m only 19.” (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

Duluth, GA. (June 8, 2013) The fuel gauge remains on empty even while the gas is being poured into the tank. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

Duluth, GA. (June 8, 2013) With a half hearted sigh of relief that the pump stopped, “See, look! Here is my point! It just cost me $40 to fill up a small car,” Hamilton said. “I hope it lasts for at least two weeks,” she added. Hamilton hopes to one day have a career so that paying high prices at the pump becomes a distant memory. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

An Original Idea by One Person Makes Another Person Millions

May 6th, 2013 in Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

Many innovative thinkers believe that his or her new ideas belong to them simply because they thought of it first. Not according to the America Invents Act. Creative inventions are continually evolving.

Apple IPad 2, Apple iPhone 4S, and Mac Book. All ongoing innovations of the 21st century. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University)

The Committee on the Judiciary’s web site mentions that this act was designed to “Encourage innovation, job creation and economic growth.” However in the eyes of many, it threatens to diminish the current Patent system. The Judiciary web site also mentions that the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act “Implements a first – inventor- to-file for patent approval, creates a post grant review system to weed out bad patents, and helps the Patent Trademark Office (PTO) address the backlog of patent applications.” President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on September 16, 2011.

Toshiba is a platform for social media. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University)

In the world of social media and how web sites and their content are freely published, the creator must protect himself. A summary of the Leahy-Smith Invents act is clearly defined. If you publish material without a patent or copyright then someone else can steal it if he or she beats you to the patent office, however; with some exceptions.

In 1953 Robert Kearns invented a unique type of windshield wiper in the basement of his home. In 1963 Kearns introduced to the Ford Motor Company a windshield wiper that blinked or paused according to the manual manipulation of the operator. Ford allegedly, some years later, breached the patents of this inventor. Kearns who invented what is known as “blinking” wipers or “intermittent” wipers essentially sued Ford in 1978 and then the Chrysler Corporation in 1982. The auto industry’s argument according to the Kearns v. Ford Motor Company court documents, were that “invention is supposed to meet certain standards of originality and novelty.” Ford claimed that “The patent was invalid because Kearns’ intermittent windshield wiper system had no new components.” Kearns won both the cases.

Ford and Chrysler rejected Kearns’ initial proposal for the invention, but in 1969 they began to install the windshield wipers to their cars. These cases were of the best known cases of patent infringement, to date.

Stephen Olson, a Patent Attorney for Harness Dickey, a law firm in Troy Michigan said, “ The American Invents Act went into effect on March 16, 2013.” Olson reiterated that, “Once upon a time a person who was considered the first to invent got the credit. But now it is the one, who is the ‘first to file,’ who essentially gets the credit.” He goes on to say that. “In March of this year, I have had about 800 patent applications. Some will be granted and some will be denied based on inventions that occurred prior.”

There are a number of publications available to educate an inventor on how to patent and protect his or her material. The key is to know the law and to understand your rights as an innovative creator.

Various Books available with Patent information. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University)

Access Denied

Apr 29th, 2013 in Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

Some federal agencies require certain public records be released under an approved Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The Freedom of Information Act is a “law that gives you the right to access information from the Federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.”Although the act provides a “right to access,” access is not always readily granted. Jason Leopold, an investigative journalist sued the FBI, CIA, and DOJ alleging they were in violation of FOIA. Leopold claimed he waited over a year to obtain documentation needed to support his investigative reporting. He believes the long wait could be due to the tremendous amount of requests that come in regularly causing a huge backlog.

In 2007 and amendment was made to the Act allowing those making requests an opportunity to inquire about a completion date for his or her FOIA request. The amendment states: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(7)(B), “Each agency shall … establish a phone line or Internet service that provides information about the status of a request to the person making the request …, including … an estimated date on which the agency will complete action on the request.” Whether or not prompt responses are granted is open for debate.

Social Security Administration building. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

In spite of a so-called backlog, the Social Security Administration does attempt to address the requests in a timely manner. According to the SSA web site, the agency tries “to handle your request within 20 days from the date we receive it. Sometimes it may take us longer depending on the difficulty of finding the record and how much other work we have. We process requests on a “first in, first out’ basis using the following three categories: normal, longer, longest.”

Kimberly Seymore, a former FOIA request attorney for the Chicago Housing Authority, stated that, “Those requesting information under The Freedom of Information Act have usually thoroughly researched the law for the requests being made.” Seymore added, “Most requests are honored unless there is a substantial basis for denying the request such as security reasons.”

There is no main or home office that handles these requests. Each individual agency will prepare records according to the FOIA requests.

U.S. White House Dome. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

Court Imposed Gag Orders Hinder Journalists

Apr 22nd, 2013 in Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

Crucial details of certain trials, legal proceedings, court proceedings, etc., are not always revealed to the general public. According to the U.S. Constitution and under amendment one, Americans have a right to exercise his or her Freedom of Speech. However, there are certain limitations. Revealing information that is confidential or classified are some of those limitations that can cause a judge to introduce a gag order.

Brielle Hamilton demonstrates the simplicity of a gag order; don’t tell. (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

The intentions of a journalist are to capture a story that interests the people then tell them some details about what they will want to know. For instance, in the case of State v. Andrea Sneiderman, she was blamed in 2012 for being a key player in the fatal shooting death of her husband outside of a daycare center in Dunwoody, Ga, and the public desperately wanted answers. The story was headline news. Due to a judge imposed gag order placed on the state’s attorneys— journalists were not privy to the information surrounding it. The gag order was imposed to forbid the attorneys from making comments about ongoing developments.

Scott Stucky, News Operations Manager at Fox 5 Atlanta, stated that, “Gag orders are essentially ordered by a judge. If the plaintiff or defendant is requesting the order, they would still have to go through the judge.” Stucky added, “When that happens it forces journalists to be creative and it also forces them to find other ways to cover the story.” Only certain cases will capture the attention of the masses. “Talking to some experts about what they believe, experienced, or know about what happened in court, are some of those ways to be creative,” Stucky said.

Dekalb County Courthouse (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

Dekalb County Courthouse Atlanta (Photo by: Robin Hamilton/Full Sail University).

According to the spring 2001 edition of, ”The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press,” “Journalists could challenge the gag orders. Courts generally accept that media organizations or journalists have ‘standing’— a sufficient interest in the matter to be allowed to make arguments to the court— to challenge a gag order. However, not all arguments to support standing are successful.”

The American Dream is Fading Into a Nightmare

Mar 25th, 2013 in Opinion by Robin L. Hamilton

A top of the line education, three square meals a day, a well paying job, a car to drive and a roof over our heads is what every American attempts to acquire in one way or another, but fails to achieve on a daily basis. Living that type of lifestyle sounds easy however, this simple accomplishment is out of reach for many families in this country. In the midst of the battle between the Republicans and the Democrats, the number of Americans falling into poverty still rises. It is poverty by design because part of the battle by the two parties is not about how to eradicate it, but it seems to be more about how to make the problem worse. Cutting programs or reducing funding for things that were put into place to help an American grow as citizens only creates more problems and creates problems that are not yet taken into consideration. A good example would be the Head Start programs that are being affected by the Sequester.

Its not a new concept that a good education, coupled with diversity in the workplace that is also lined with plenty of opportunity, is not only the foundation that is essential for getting out of poverty, but it is what is needed to stay out of it.

ABC News, Ashley Horton

NBC News reported a story entitled, “In Plain Sight.” The piece addresses how many college students who are working hard to finish his or her education are in need of food to eat. Some colleges are attempting to bring food pantries to their campuses to help the problem, but some students are not in a hurry to accept.

“Ashyle Horton, 22, was reluctant take help from a University of Arkansas food pantry because of the stigma of need. That program, like others, works to decrease the shame of seeking assistance.”

Although it is not the responsibility of the government to ensure that every American live the dream, it is their responsibility to provide access to whatever tools and resources that are needed for one to realize his or her vision. Being ashamed of assistance is a product of our nation’s leaders who want to label others as being part of the, “47%.” Much like the comment made by the 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate, former Mass., Governor Mitt Romney. There is only one percentage to take into consideration and that would be 100. Everyone is equipped to play a role in the life of another in order to help him or her succeed. Pointing fingers, placing blame and making the simplest of achievement not available to the masses creates poverty. That is why it is by design. If policy makers talk to everyday citizens and ask them what would be needed to help fix the problems surrounding the issues of poverty, they just might be surprised. Getting insight from those who have or are in the situation would bring about the best advice for plausible solutions.