In "Jonesing for Braces" The New York Times Upfront discovers that teens in countries, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia are starting wear fake braces as a fashion statement. Usually braces are terrifying, but I guess it's not scary at all to the teens in the Southeast Asian countries. Even though, fake braces seem cool they are a bad idea.

This article includes facts from health officials. One fact that stood out to me was "Real braces, by contrast, cost about $1,200 in Asia, making them a luxury item for only the rich." This quote shows that only rich people could afford braces, even when not needed. This also means that poor people couldn't afford them even if they are needed. I think that the poor should at least get help from orthodontist to pay for their child's messed teeth. Another fact that stood out to me was "Health officials, however, are warning teens to stay away from fake braces, since they may contain lead and can be swallowed accidentally." This fact stood out to me because i would want to know how the lead in fake braces may affect your teeth, and what will happen? Also since each brace on braces are connected, how can you swallow?

I don't think there's anything wrong with fake braces. It's just a fashion statement for people who don't need them , or just want them. I think the problem will be, where teens get them from, or how they would them. You cant just go around sticking anything in your mouth. If i made fake braces i would at least go to the dentist and ask them what i could use to make them with. Fake braces is also a smart idea because, once your comfortable with making for yourself, perhaps you could create them for other people and charge them.

In "Historically Incorrect Canoodling" Stephanie Coontz explores that all the talk about modern Americans separating sex, love, and devalued marriage, Valentine's day is reminded of how romantic people are. Most of the article talks about how in the old days people didn't really care about love, passion, and marriage. Today, people celebrate Valentines day as a day to spend with their lover.

The article doesn't really include quotes from experts, but it states facts the past. One fact that stood out to me was, "...Feb. 14 St. Valentine's feast day in 498 A.D., it was not trying to celebrate romance." This Quote shows that back then people weren't even worried about romance, February 14th was just another day. Another quote that stood out to me is, "High expectations of married love can lead to huge disappointments..." This quote shows that if you have too many high expectations in your marriage, the love you and your spouse have together may go down.

Since this article is mainly about people today not being married but still celebrating the day of love. I don't think it's anything wrong with it. I think so because there are a lot of young people around my age celebrating valentines day that aren't married. They can't get married because of their age. If you could only celebrate valentines when your married it wouldn't be fair. Young people need love too.

This article reminded me of a time when i had a boyfriend but my  mom said I couldn't celebrate valentines day. It was because I was too young and didn't really understand love, even though i was just celebrating just for fun.

In "Failure is Not An Option" Sharon LaFraniere explores that teenager Liu Qichao is about to take the biggest test, and believes it's not an option to fail it. Most of this article explains how this text will determine everything. It's also nine hours long.

The article includes quotes from Liu Qichao and experts. One fact that stood out to me was "In 2007, a student arriving four minutes late was turned away, even after she and her mother knelt before the exam proctor, begging for leniency. This quote stood out to me because if this text is so important and determines everything why wouldn't they be able to take it, even if they are late? would they be able to take it another time?

I think it is important for people to be on time to take this major. When your taking a test you wouldn't want someone to knock on the door making noise why your trying to concentrate. I think part of the problem is that some people don't take it as serious as they should. They won't wake up on time, or study.

In "The New Face of America" Veronica Majerol concluded that "For the first time, more minorities are being born in the U.S. than whites. This means that now instead of the whites outnumbering minorities, minorities will outnumber whites, for the first time.

This article includes quotes from experts, and graphs. One quote that stood out to me was "By 2042, minorities are on pace to collectively outnumber whites." This quote means that every year the population of minorities is increasing. Is this a good thing or bad thing?

The only reason why I think that minorities are outnumbering whites is because teens are having babies more from left to right. if young adults were still in school and not having children then whites will probably be still be outnumbering minorities.

I can conclude that by the year 2042 there high school graduates will decrease even more. I personally thought that whites will always outnumber minorities but studies have proved me wrong. It's like every time a minority dies another one is born.

In the article "Do we have the courage to stop this" Nicholas D. Kristof discovers that people aren't taking guns as seriously as they do cars. Throughout reading the article, most of the speakers in it agrees with Nicholas. They want something to be done about this.

This article includes quotes from the President Obama, the Harvard Injury Control Research Center and more. One quote that stood out to me was "We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years," said President Obama. This quote tells readers that even though some people have tried to stop this, it hasn't. It's still going on.

Nicholas states, "We should impose a universal background check for gun buyers, even with private sales." I think he's right. This way they can find out how many people are using guns without permission, well lisense.

I think regulating guns is a great idea. If people would only use guns for a reasonable reason then the gun rates would go down. There are too many gun kills than car accidents. Do i think they courage to stop it? No. Not at all. If this have been going on for years why didn't they been stop it?

In "Give Lance another Chance" CNN.com surveyed if Lance Armstrong should have another chance in running. Some people say he should and others say he shouldn't. People must have a lot to think about. Was it really that serious? Or should they make him suffer for what he did?

This article includes quotes from experts who have studied Lance's career. Frida Ghitis who is a world affairs columnist, Randy Cohen, who wrote the Ethicist column in New York, Roxanne Jones, an editor for ESPN Magazines, and many more. One quote that stood up to me was, "Do I think he should be allowed to race again? No. Lance Armstrong racing again is not truly an option anyway-- he's almost 42," said Jeff Pearlman. This quote stood out to me because I don't think it matters how old you are to race, as long as you keep your body and health up.

I don't think Lance was wrong for what he did. Lying about a race isn't that serious. People lie all over the world for things far more worse than that. Also just because he used performance-enhancing drugs doesn't mean anything. Boxers, wrestlers, football players and much more professional people use drugs to do better in what they do, and a lot of people aren't complaining.

When people are talking about Lance and what they did, they should also think about the horrible things that other famous people are doing. Maybe they should just give him another chance because everybody has flaws. As for what Kevin Powell said, "We all have our flaws".