College hazing rituals have been around for decades. This is really just a part of the standard process of joining a fraternity. Hazing is important for some frats because it is a way for them to see whether the student is really serious about becoming a member. Since fraternities try to stick together even through the difficult times, having hazing beforehand allows the other fraternity members to find out if the new student/member will be loyal to them

At first, pledge week was only about self-mortification and disgusting/difficult things to do. In an effort to one-up each other pledge week quickly incorporated hazing rituals. Some hazing rituals can be as bad as beating someone till they are bruised all over. Below are ten YouTube videos that show hazing. Some may be mild but others could be really bad so viewers BEWARE.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7sP5CuJtc8&feature=related – the video shows a large group of students being together in an n open area. The guys in white are probably the frat members who had the authority to do anything to them. Lots of water were thrown to them from above which is very embarrassing for them.
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w8p45IOYo8 – this video shows an initiation process during the 60s. Watching this is quite shocking, since decades earlier, I thought hazing wasn’t as common yet. The video shows a student being cut in the face using a shaving knife. All the frat members have the same cut so to be one of them, he must do the same. There’s also a part wherein a college student is forced to go baldheaded as five people catch up with him bringing a shaver.
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tma3EbI3Vs8&feature=related – although the video is old, it shows the same rituals being done today. A fraternity candidate is being hazed by his superiors by hitting him with a paddle in the butt. There are many people around while this happened, and that’s not all. He had to wear a “scum” sign in the end before his initiation is finished.
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6R04ZuC_i4&NR=1 – you don’t have to understand the language to see what’s being done to the students here. A famous fraternity in a university made headlines when they had very harsh hazing rituals. This news clip shows the poor neophytes feeling the heat of the wax burning from a candle. They same people are beaten severely before they can join this popular but extreme frat.
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyqTt2d-aQs&NR=1 – The woman who made this YouTube video tells about the initiation process being done to other schoolmates. This is just a mild hazing ritual since no one is really physically hurt. This is more of a game rather than torture as you can see from other videos.
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rX0NsK3lM8&feature=related – You can hear the screams of the people who feel the brunt of the hazing. They are beaten with a bat/paddle while people around them act as if it’s a common occurrence. What made this worse is the insensitivity of those who saw what happened and didn’t do anything about it.
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CaCD9d1vyo&feature=related – Women aren’t exempt from hazing rituals. You can see here the embarrassment female students feel as they willingly join the hazing to be a part of a sorority. The student here was collared like a dog, pathetically talked to a cute guy, and so much more. While we may think that females have it easier, the emotional violence they feel is probably worse.
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVWvA31FM4A&feature=related – although this one is a fake hazing ritual, it still shows hazing being done to people who want to join fraternities. Some hazing can be mild and could turn bad to worse all in one day. People can be beaten, embarrassed, and do things they normally wouldn’t do.
9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0rInWD_fkM – Collared like a dog, paddled like a slave, naked with only underwear: these are the things some students in New York go through in order to join a fraternity. The neophytes are walking around with collars while being dragged by those who “want” to be friends with them.
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPCuguB62S0&feature=fvsr – This news video shows some of the consequences students can face if they are discovered to be part of hazing their fellow students. This is in light of what happened to a Maryland student who died after participating in a deadly ritual.

As college students know, it is hard to be alone in a new environment. This is the reason why fraternities and sororities are very popular and why people choose to participate in them. Of course everyone knows that the hazing rituals can be dangerous yet they continue on.

Health care reform has been a big issue for quite a while now. Both sides are very fervent in their ideas of what is wrong and what is right. Of course, we have our own opinion in this matter, which is why there are multiple blogs and sites that do just this. They voice their opinions for the entire world to see and read.

The Obama administration, since the start, has been very pushy in their idea of a better health care system. They want the American people to have an equal chance at health care, and at a more affordable price. As of now, we really can’t do anything about this, whether or not the reform will push through depends on the Senate now. As for the blogs and websites pertaining to health care reform, I listed the top ten which I really liked.

1. http://alankatz.wordpress.com/ – this blog by Alan Katz tells about the health care reform from his point of view. The blog has a lot of interesting issues that’s being talked about here, and because the blogger is experienced in the field of health care, he has many things to say.
2. http://www.healthreform.gov/ – this site talks about everything related to health care, most especially its benefits. Because this is a government site, it’s biased towards the good health care can bring us. “Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government”, “guarantee choice of doctors and health plans”, and “improve patient safety and quality of care”: these are just three of the benefits being explained in this site.
3. http://whyhealthcaremattersblog.com/ – the blog talks mainly about the problems that come with a health care reform. It tackles the issues we often hear in the media and the blogger gives his perspective to the issue at hand.
4. http://healthcareforamericanow.org/ – the goal of this blog is to convince the politicians into doing their job to fight the insurance agencies who opt not to have health reform. The blog talks about their belief in the health care system: it is for the American people. They have principles that they stand by and use when writing blog entries.
5. http://rubinhealth.com/ – Rubin Health gives the latest information regarding health care. The good thing about this site is, their target reader are not followers if the issues that are coming out. That said, they really explain everything and tells the truth about the subject. There are no political agendas here, so it’s easy to create your own opinion.
6. http://shargel.com/healthcarereformblog/ – Susan Shargel is the blogger here. She knows a lot about the insurance industry, yet she thinks that having a health care reform is a good idea. She specifically wants to target small business owners, since she knows they are having a hard time earning money, and health care reform is one way of reducing their expenses.
7. http://www.midcoasthealthcarereform.org/index.html – This blog is for the health care reform. For them, the lower cost and benefit of health care is enough reason for us to have it. They say that our current health care is corrupt that needs immediate change, because it’s getting much worse.
8. http://healthcarereformnow.blogspot.com/ – Like many of the blogs listed here, this one is also against our health care today. They want change! The American people are wasting a lot of money in health insurance, when in fact, it can become cheaper yet more effective in doing its job.
9. http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/ – This is a newspaper blog which keeps us updated on the health issues. The blog helps us make sense of it because they know that health care is a complicated subject with many angles to it, both positive and negative.
10. http://www.rwjf.org/ – This site is made by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, whose main goal is to lead the Americans into receiving the best possible health care. This is only possible with the reform that Obama is trying to make and pass through Congress.

It’s the start of a new year, yet the big issues are still pending. We can’t make a stand as to how our health should be handled. If you want the reform, you still have to wait for the results. There are so many people who fight it, simply because of the disadvantages that come with it. Either way, it’s not a win-win situation. In the end, one side will lose and the other one will be happy with the result.

The Maury Show is a really popular show. The show is all about DNA tests being conducted to know whether or not the man in the hot seat is the father of the baby in question. The Maury Show is fun to watch because its’ full of twists and shocking admittances. Moreover, the cases are something we don’t hear about often, nor see in real life. Thanks to DNA, paternity tests have become possible so that fewer families will have worries about who the real dad is.

Below are YouTube videos on DNA testing. Because the Maury Show is famous, the videos listed came from that show. The show has views of over a million in some videos while many of them reached hundreds of thousands views. If you want to know what it is really about, go to the link and see for yourself.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SflqPlSQElw&feature=PlayList&p=530940AD7E6FF1A2&index=8 – This clip is about a DNA test revolving two white parents who take care of a black child. The mother of the baby cheated on her husband with a Native American, and obviously the result was a black child. The drama unfolds as the truth came out for the man who thought he is the father.
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Rmc1l4wLQ&feature=related – The video is about a man who slept with his ex-girlfriend’s daughter. The teenage daughter gave birth to a son, and she insists that his mother’s ex is the father. The man denies it vehemently and an argument soon follows. The result is shocking.
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okQsrwMhFjU&feature=PlayList&p=530940AD7E6FF1A2&index=18 – After 11 paternity tests, is this man the one? That’s the big question here. We don’t know whether the woman really did sleep with more than 10 men in a span of a few months, but she does insist that this current man is the real father. But then again, all women want closure. The reactions of both parties are quite something.
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE11tVeczS0&feature=PlayList&p=530940AD7E6FF1A2&index=7 – three women, one man. The women all have kids and they claim that the man is the father of the three young children. What’s funny and shocking at the same time is that the man already has 5 children from 5 different women other than the current three. It was the man himself who asked to be in the show because he thinks that the latest claims aren’t valid.
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTD7FmMiy7o&feature=related – The woman in this video can’t be cruel enough. She cheated on her boyfriend of 13 years hundreds of time throughout their relationship. This is the only time he found out about her cheating ways. Two of the woman’s children are having paternity tests because she’s not particularly sure who the father is.
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3dYOUkUrBU&feature=related – Black man, white woman: the baby should be black right? In this case, it’s white and the woman is claiming that the man is the father.
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwH-8tGA5Io – A woman made the mistake of her life when she had a one-time affair with her boyfriend’s brother. Now she has a one-month old baby and she doesn’t know who the father is. No matter what happens, this three-way relationship is pretty much ruined because of this.
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y974k-y04Y&feature=related – Another former couple with the woman having a child. The child is white and the man is partly black. They claim different stories with the woman saying he’s the father and the man saying he’s not.
9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEP-j-IqqQg&feature=related – this video is the funniest I’ve seen so far. This is the sixth appearance of the woman and she continues to want to find out who the father of her two babies are. She failed 5 times and now she has another baby. The man accused of fathering the baby is in complete denial and with good reason, because he had been on the show before with negative results.
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYpllbI0qF8 – this last video didn’t come from the Maury Show. Instead, this is about DNA sequencing and how it is done. This is such an effective method to know a person’s genetics which is why many are curious about the science behind it.

DNA testing is a new scientific discovery that has helped thousands of people wanting paternity tests. Aside from that, DNA has also lead the way to solving crimes using the DNA left as evidence since every person have unique DNAs on them. Without DNAs, it is impossible to know the results of these problems. There is no other way to do it other than checking the DNA.

If you are new to online education, then it is important for us to share with you a brief glossary of terms that you may hear every now and again as you go through the process of singing up for an online degree program and then as you complete your online courses.  Some of these terms are a bit dated and others are very current but if you hear a professor or fellow student mention some term that you think you should probably know… you can come back here and check it out.

Online Education Glossary

Analog: A signal that is received in the same form in which it is transmitted, while the amplitude and frequency may vary.

Amplitude: The amount of variety in a signal. Commonly thought of as the height of a wave. American Standard Code for Information Interexchange (ASCII): A computer language used to convert letters, numbers, and control codes into a digital code understood by most computers.

Asynchronous: Communication in which interaction between parties does not take place simultaneously.

Asynchronous Transmission Mode (ATM): A method of sending data in irregular time intervals using a code such as ASCII. ATM allows most modern computers to communicate with one another easily.

Audio Bridge: A device used in audioconferencing that connects multiple telephone lines. Audioconferencing: Voice only connection of more than two sites using standard telephone lines.

Backbone: A primary communication path connecting multiple users.

Band: A range of frequencies between defined upper and lower limits.

Bandwidth: Information carrying capacity of a communication channel.

Binary: A computer language developed with only two letters in its alphabet.

Bit: Abbreviation for a single binary digit.

Byte: A single computer word, generally eight bits.

Browser: Software that allows you to find and see information on the Internet.

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The component of a computer in which data processing takes place.

Channel: The smallest subdivision of a circuit, usually with a path in only one direction.

Codec (COder/DECoder): Device used to convert analog signals to digital signals for transmission and reconvert signals upon reception at the remote site while allowing for the signal to be compressed for less expensive transmission.

Compressed Video: When video signals are downsized to allow travel along a smaller carrier.

Compression: Reducing the amount of visual information sent in a signal by only transmitting changes in action.

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI): Teaching process in which a computer is utilized to enhance the learning environment by assisting students in gaining mastery over a specific skill.

Cyberspace: The nebulous “place” where humans interact over computer networks. Coined by William Gibson in Neuromancer.

Desktop Videoconferencing: Videoconferencing on a personal computer.

Dial-Up Teleconference: Using public telephone lines for communications links among various locations.

Digital: An electrical signal that varies in discrete steps in voltage, frequency, amplitude, locations, etc.. Digital signals can be transmitted faster and more accurately than analog signals.

Digital Video Interactive (DVI): A format for recording digital video onto compact disc allowing for compression and full motion video.

Distance Education: The process of providing instruction when students and instructors are separated by physical distance and technology, often in tandem with face-to-face communication, is used to bridge the gap.

Distance Learning: The desired outcome of distance education.

Download: Using the network to transfer files from one computer to another.

Echo Cancellation: The process of eliminating the acoustic echo in a videoconferencing room.

Electronic Mail (E-mail): Sending messages from one computer user to another.

Facsimile (FAX): System used to transmit textual or graphical images over standard telephone lines.

Fiber Optic Cable: Glass fiber that is used for laser transmission of video, audio, and/or data.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP): A protocol that allows you to move files from a distant computer to a local computer using a network like the Internet.

Frequency: The space between waves in a signal. The amount of time between waves passing a stationary point.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): A collection of information on the basics of any given subject, often used on the WWW.

Full Motion Video: Signal which allows transmission of complete action taking place at the origination site.

Fully Interactive Video: (Two way interactive video) Two sites interact with audio and video as if they were co-located.

Home Page: A document with an address (URL) on the world wide web maintained by a person or organization which contains pointers to other pieces of information.

Host: A network computer that can receive information from other computers.

Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML): The code used to create a home page and is used to access documents over the WWW.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): The protocol used to signify an Internet site is a WWW site, i.e. HTTP is a WWW address.

Hypertext: A document which has been marked up to allow a user to select words or pictures within the document, click on them, and connect to further information.

Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS): Microwave-based, high-frequency television used in educational program delivery.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): A telecommunications standard allowing communications channels to carry voice, video, and data simultaneously.

Interactive Media: Frequency assignment that allows for a two-way interaction or exchange of information.

Listserv: An e-mail program that allows multiple computer users to connect onto a single system, creating an online discussion.

Local Area Network (LAN): Two or more local computers that are physically connected.

Microwave: Electromagnetic waves that travel in a straight line and are used to and from satellites and for short distances (i.e., up to 30 miles).

Modem: A piece of equipment to allow computers to interact with each other via telephone lines by converting digital signals to analog for transmission along analog lines.

Mosaic: An example of browser software that allows WWW use.

Multimedia: Any document which uses multiple forms of communication, such as text, audio, and/or video.

Multi-Point Control Unit (MCU): Computerized switching system which allows point-to-multipoint videoconferencing.

Netscape: An example of browser software that allows you to design a home page and to browse links on the WWW.

Network: A series of points connected by communication channels in different locations.

online: Active and prepared for operation. Also suggests access to a computer network.

Origination Site: The location from which a teleconference originates.

Point of Presence (POP): Point of connection between an interexchange carrier and a local carrier to pass communications into the network.

Point-to-Point: Transmission between two locations.

Point-to-Multipoint: Transmission between multiple locations using a bridge.

PPP: A software package which allows a user to have a direct connection to the Internet over a telephone line.

Protocol: A formal set of standards, rules, or formats for exchanging data that assures uniformity between computers and applications.

Satellite TV: Video and audio signals are relayed via a communication device that orbits around the earth.

Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP): Allows a user to connect to the Internet directly over a high speed modem.

Server: A computer with a special service function on a network, generally receiving and connecting incoming information traffic.

Slow Scan Converter: Transmitter/receiver of still video over narrow band channels. In real time, camera subjects must remain still for highest resolution.

Synchronous: Communication in which interaction between participants is simultaneous.

T-1 (DS-1): High speed digital data channel that is a high volume carrier of voice and/or data. Often used for compressed video teleconferencing. T-1 has 24 voice channels.

T-3 (DS-3): A digital channel which communicates at a significantly faster rate than T-1.

Telecommunication: The science of information transport using wire, radio, optical, or electromagnetic channels to transmit receive signals for voice or data communications using electrical means.

Teleconferencing: Two way electronic communication between two or more groups in separate locations via audio, video, and/or computer systems.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): A protocol which makes sure that packets of data are shipped and received in the intended order.

Transponder: Satellite transmitter and receiver that receives and amplifies a signal prior to re-transmission to an earth station.

Video Teleconferencing: A teleconference including two way video.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL): The address of a homepage on the WWW.

Uplink: The communication link from the transmitting earth station to the satellite.

World Wide Web (WWW): A graphical hypertext-based Internet tool that provides access to homepages created by individuals, businesses, and other organizations.

The advent of the Internet has had a profound influence on our way of life. In the last two decades, it has grown from a fledgling new media to a worldwide information highway. It now affects the way we buy, the way we live and the way we learn. The personal computer and laptop computer are now our gateways to virtually everything we want to know. Moreover, the Internet now permits us to pursue the education required for a new or better career from home and at somewhat less cost than the traditional campus education.

The healthcare industry is growing by leaps and bounds and nursing is an important segment of that industry. In fact, nursing offers unusually-good job security, an excellent salary and benefits package and more, because there is a significant nationwide shortage of nurses. This makes nursing a great career choice.

A nursing online registered school provides a widely-accepted education

Nursing is a career with an outstanding upward mobility path due to the fact that you can train for higher positions as your career progresses while you are employed through continuing course education nursing online. You can gain your initial certification as an LPN (licensed practical nurse) or LVN (licensed vocational nurse), start in that position, progress to a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and then on to a master of science degree in nursing (MSN) at home, at your own pace through a college degree nursing online school. You save the time and expense of commuting to and from a campus institution and never have to leave your present job while you train for a more advanced position as a registered nurse (RN). Perhaps the best news of all is that hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and doctors consider your online training just as valuable as traditional training.

What it takes to be a good nurse

There are certain personal and personality factors that are required to be an effective nurse at any career level. These include:

-You should be a good listener, be unbiased and care about others

-You must be able to handle suffering, traumatic situations and death without becoming overly stressed

-You need to be detail oriented

-You should have stamina, endurance and good mental & physical health

-You should keep a well-groomed, professional appearance

-You should be willing to accept ethical and legal responsibility for your actions

-You must respect all people regardless of their race, age and social status, sexual orientation and religious beliefs

-You must be willing to work night shifts, days, evenings, weekends, holidays

-You must be able to remain cool in a crisis and never panic

-At higher levels, you will need leadership skills and be a take charge person

-You should enjoy a fast-paced work environment

-You must respect confidentiality and protect others privacy

If the above characteristics describe you, chances are excellent that you will find nursing a highly-rewarding career.