Representative of an entire people Role model of power, Yet epitome of grace. As she goes about her life, she keeps her position of prestige in her mind. One of few left of her kind, Yet she does not lower herself to the pessimistic ideals of her race. Definition of faith. Constantly presented with cliffs and ledges. As soon as she jumps her wings appear. Her heart and mind becoming clear, And she soars without asking any questions.
--Jessica Chapman, 19 - North Carolina Jr. Correspondent
Are you between the ages of 13 -19 and like to write? Submit articles and poems toBrownstoneMag@gmail.comto be featured as a Jr. Correspondent.
If you're a girl who loves learning about the latest gadgets or anything related to tech for that matter...and even for you're an undercover geek who is ashamed to reveal her techy side ;) - then you'll love our new section called the Tech Corner. Each month, we'll talk about some of the newest products and trends coming out in technology. Check out this month's post:
Can You Hear Me Now?
What would you do if your mom could listen in on your calls?...and she found out that you were skipping P.E. to hang out with your friends. Or what would you do if your dad could check your text messages?...and saw that you called him a fat loser when he wouldn't let you go to your crush's party last week. Well beware this may be an available feature on cell phones very soon!
Last week, the Taser International (the company that makes Taser guns to help law enforcement subdue unruly suspects) announced the Protector Family Safety Program--a series of products designed to help parents monitor and control what their kids are doing with their phones. Scary huh?
Here are some of the Protector's key features:
Provides a summary report of incoming and outgoing numbers of people you call or text
Allows parents to listen to actual calls and read text messages
Provides software that parents can use to route any inbound call, text, or e-mail, so that parents can allow it, block it, send it through, listen in, or record the conversation
Set "favorites" list to let some calls and messages go through according to parent's approval
Examine e-mail attachments
The purpose of the Protector is to monitor inappropriate behavior and of course for safety, but do you think it's a little too much? Do you think the Protector violates the trust between a parent and their child? How would you feel if your mom was using the Protector to monitor your calls? Has technology gone too far? Let us know your thoughts.
Now, more than ever, it’s increasingly important to be aware of the political environment affecting our nation. And as a world leader, the United States has a dominant influence in global affairs. With the political atmosphere changing every day, from the health care debate to various topics in international affairs, it may seem overwhelming to keep up with it all. Fortunately, it’s easier than you think to increase your political aptitude. And remember that developing habits take time. It won’t be easy at first if you don’t already have a general interest in politics and global issues, but taking 5-10 minutes out of your day to make an effort will go a long way in the end.
The first step is to find a credible source of news information with a balanced perspective. Regardless of where you live, the Internet makes global news accessible 24/7. And even looking on the homepage and choosing a few top stories to keep up with will make an impact. Most newspapers have an online counterpart like NYTimes.com and LAtimes.com, but there are also purely online venues that are dedicated to news.
Especially with the print industry of news declining and the increasing preference toward online versions, it’s even easier to follow the news. One way that I keep up with what’s going on in the world is to follow news organizations on Twitter. Various news organizations use Twitter to post a short blurb on breaking stories as they’re happening. They all have Facebook pages as well. Through Facebook, it’s easy to stay updated because news is integrated into your Live Feed. Some of the organizations that I personally follow are:
Christian Amanpour (CNN Correspondent) – @AmanpourCNN
If you’re already on Twitter as much as I am (Follow me: @blessed_ballen), then following these groups is the easiest way to get a comprehensive picture of what’s going on in the world. It’s effortless because they tell you what’s going on without you having to seek it out yourself. And they always post a link to their main websites and the story they’re reporting on, so you can get the full story if you want to know more.
Again, don’t worry if it seems like a lot to handle – you’ll never be able to know everything and no one expects to you. As you get older however, it will become more important for you to have a general understanding of global affairs. Don’t be afraid to talk to your parents too; chances are they read the paper and probably would enjoy talking to you about what’s going on. All in all, take it slow and remember: a little bit of effort is better than none.
The holiday break is over and now it’s back to the grind of school, homework and extra curriculars. After being off for a few weeks, it’s easy to get used to the lifestyle of waking up late and hanging out with friends. Everyone would love to be on permanent vacation, but in the real world it’s just not possible. Because of the recent break, you may be tempted to create your own break from responsibilities and ditch school. But is ditching right for you? Let’s explore…
Pros
• Missing School – It may be good just to get out of that boring Algebra class or avoid a Spanish test, but I’m 99% sure you will have to make it up later.
• Movies, Mall & More – there is so much to do on your self proclaimed free day, but have you thought about your finances? Will your parents be curious about why you’re asking for more lunch money than normal this week? I know mine would!
• Veg Out – So maybe you thought about just sitting at home, watching TV and being a couch potato all day. Sounds like fun, but can’t you do that on the weekends?
Cons
• Getting caught – trust me, your parents’ eyes and ears are everywhere. A neighbor or friend of the family could spot you and let your mom know what’s up. You’re bound to get caught, so this might not be a good idea!
• Playing Catch Up – Is a day off really worth having to make up an entire day of school work, tests and activities? If you are trying to ditch to get out of academic obligations, talk to your teacher. They may be able to offer you an extension or provide extra help to simplify the subject matter. No how many days you ditch, that Spanish test will definitely be waiting for you when you return.
By no means am I promoting ditching. It’s important as you become a young woman to develop responsibility and accountability for your actions. Once you’re in college or start working a full time job, there are no teachers taking attendance or parents keeping track of your schedules. You are solely responsible for getting to class or work, and if you don’t make this a priority, there will be consequences. Don’t start a bad habit and jeopardize your future success. I know it’s tempting, but go to school every day!
I think India Arie described it best. Brown skin is beautiful, symbolic, intriguing….and list could go on forever. I think we have every right to outwardly love our skin by voicing the beauty and legacy it holds. Afterall, it is truly something to celebrate. But being that our skin holds so much history and preceeds us everywhere we go, it’s important to take care of it and treat it with lots of love. That means having a skin care regimine that fits your daily life and has you looking and feeling FLY. Right ladies?
Here are some helpful tips to keep our skin looking and feeling healthy...
Healthy living
Healthy skin starts with maintaining a healthy diet. That's right! We actually have control over the appearance of our skin just by eating right. It’s important to realize that our skin can reflect what we eat, just like any other part of our body. This doesn't mean our skin will break out instantly if we have an occasional chocolate bar or can of Coke. But it does emphasize great skin as an added benefit of maintaining balance with our food. For example, drinking lots of water will help flush out impurities that can often cause breakouts. Exercising is important too! Just remember not to wait to long after you exercise before you wash your face. The sweat/dirt combination can be lethal for those pores.
Products
How do you know what products are right for you? It helps to start off by determining your own skin type. For example, if your skin is super dry like mine, it’s best to use skin care and cosmetic products that also function as moisturizers. Look for a face wash (to cleanse), toner (to even skin tone) and a moisturizer (to keep your skin lubricated.) It’s good to use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen to help protect your skin agains the sun and harsh weather. I would also recommend testing the products on your hand to make sure they aren't too greasy. Too much oil in your products can also lead to clogged pores. Don’t feel pressured to spend a lot of money on your skin. If you can afford it, go ahead and splurge on your favorite spa cleanser or eyecream. But there is nothing wrong with cheaper products for everyday use.
Some of my favorite skincare products/brands include:
-ProActiv 3-Step System (for when my skin decides to have a mind of its own and break out everywhere)
-Abmi (great for softening the appearance of blemishes and evening out my skin tone)
-Cetaphil (mild, gentle and nourishing—perfect for everyday)
Many say: wash, tone and moisturize your face a least twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Just make sure you don’t wash your face too often. This could make your face noticably dry, tight and unhealthy looking. Keep it simple, but treat your skin too. Exfolients, facials and peels will leave your skin feeling great!
Try in home masks
One of my favorite in home masks is the Egg Whites and Yogurt Mask. It’s gentle, easy to make. All it takes is 2 egg whites (separated from the yolk) and 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Mix them together and you’ve got a great mask. Apply all over your face and let it sit for 5-7 minutes and rinse with warm water.
This works great for me, but there are plenty in-home face masks to choose from! The key is to pay attention to your skin and its needs. Feel free to share your skin care tips with all of us!
Facebook seems to be the grand daddy of all the social networking sites out there these days. It seems like everyone and their mama (even my mom tried to join) has a page. Last year, FB had approximately 350 million members. That's crazy right ?!? What's even crazier is that as a collective, these 350 million members spend 10 billion minutes of their day checking into the site. Now that's A LOT of time!
So, how much time do you spend on Facebook? Are you one of the 350 members that spend countless hours checking in and updating your friends on what's going on in your life? Here are some signs that you may be spending a little too much time on FB :/
1. You login into FB every morning before going to school.
2. You check FB all day, everyday (in the computer lab or on your phone it doesn't matter).
3. You update your status frequently. (I'm pretty sure your friends don't need to know what you ate for breakfast or that you're bored at home watching tv on a Saturday night.)
4. Hours pass before you realize you’ve done nothing but surf Facebook.
5. You pride yourself on having over 200 friends on FB. (Come on now, we all know that you don't know that many people in real life.)
6. You know people by their FB profile.
7. You'd rather send someone a message on FB than call them.
8. You have almost every application on the site. (You're the queen of quizzes and sending gifts)
9. You have have the FB app on your phone, so that you can get instant updates.
10. You spend more time looking through your friend's photo albums than talking on the phone.
Sound a little like you? Do you have a slight obsession with FB? Then you might be a FB addict. It's okay! You're not alone. We understand! It's easy to get caught up, especially when people are making their lives soooooo public these days. But at the same time, FB shouldn't take away from the time you spend on important activities like doing your homework or working on or college apps. You have to find a balance!
Treatment Now every addiction requires some sort of treatment. Check out the Brownstone FB Recovery Program to help cure your obsession. Some of you may need to enroll today ;)
1. The first step is to admit that you have a problem. Say it with me, "I am a FB addict."
2. Write down exactly how much time you spend on each site.
3. Define your goals on FB. Make a list of what you really want from it. Why did you originally sign up? Find and keep old friends? Meet people with similar interests? Whatever your goals may be on FB, you need to make sure that you devote your time there to accomplishing those goals, instead of going off track with activities that get you nowhere or looking like a stalker.
4. Minimize the time you spend on FB. Give yourself a set time of the day to visit.
5. Stop using FB mobile to update your status etc. Uninstall it from your phone if you have a downloaded version (ie. iPhone, Palm etc.)
6. Turn off email notifications.
7. Think of other things you could be doing with your time spent on FB. When you get the urge to go on FB, call your bff, listen to your iPod (make a FB recovery playlist..lol) or read the Brownstone Blog ;)
8. Start a FB obsessed support group with your friends. You don't have to do the program alone. Ask your friends to help hold you accountable.
9. If steps 1 - 8 don't work, you may need to go cold turkey and leave FB for a while. Read this article to see how some teens defriended FB.
Yes, the road to recovery will be long and hard for many. You may even experience extreme anxiety or withdrawl, but we believe that you can do it! Stay strong and find your inner will power to guide you. Besides there was a life before FB, it was this thing called face to face communication ;) Let's bring it back in 2010!
**Was FB a distraction for you? Did you end up giving it up or minimizing your time on the site? Share how you did it with our readers.
Happy 2010! Cheers to the beginning of a brand new year :) With every new year comes resolutions of how you plan to make this year better than the previous. You may be thinking "What's the point of making resolutions if I neverkeep them?" Well it's about being real with yourself and setting goals that you know are attainable. Start small and dedicate yourself to a couple of goals. Check out how the Brownstone Team plans to make 2010 a productive and prosperous year!
Tymika Morrison, Founder/Editor-in-Chief
I really hope that I'll start taking care of my body more, which means stop snacking and start eating more balanced meals. Hopefully this will bring out my domestic side and force me to start cooking. Also learn to live in the moment and stop worrying about the future. Challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and take risks. Fear is not an option in 2010!
Kyle Holland, Managing Editor
Hey everybody! My New Year's resolution is to stay happy, healthy and employed! I have so much to look forward to this year and I am so excited to share my journey through 2010. I wish you all peace and happiness.
Martine Rouzan, Marketing & Events
My New Years Resolution is to live healthier in 2010. Everyone always focuses on losing weight (which I want to do also!) but more importantly I want to live a better lifestyle. More physical activity, eating healthier and scheduling time for personal days in my busy schedule. A healthy mind, body and spirit in 2010!
Brittany Allen, Writing Intern
1. Maintain and improve mental and spiritual health. 2. Maintain close relationships with a small network of trusted individuals -- less drama and more meaningful friendships.
3. Do something just for me for an hour everyday. Aka have some me time.
4. Use responsible fiscal judgement. Save for later instead of buying everything at the mall like it won't be there later.
Rebecca Matey, Writing/Marketing Intern
There are a few New Years Resolutions I HOPE I can keep! First and foremost, get fit again in attempt to lose this freshman 15 I managed to gain last year! But most importantly, I just want to be IN SHAPE! Secondly, get over public transportation and explore LA more! I need to stop complaining about this city, and get up off my hiney and see the beautiful culture of Los Angeles.
As a team we hope to continue to bring you fun yet engaging content tailored to reflect your interests and experiences. We have a lot of exciting projects coming up and we look forward to launching the magazine version of Brownstone later this year. Thank you for your continued support and please continue to spread the word about Brownstone. HaPPy NeW yEaR!
Sound a little like you? Do you have a slight obsession with FB? Then you might be a FB addict. It's okay! You're not alone. We understand! It's easy to get caught up, especially when people are making their lives soooooo public these days. But at the same time, FB shouldn't take away from the time you spend on important activities like doing your homework or working on or college apps. You have to find a balance!
