According to a report in the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer; what’s more, a person's risk of the disease doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns.

What may be even more disconcerting for summer outdoors enthusiasts is that the occurrences of some of the more common and treatable skin cancers such as Basal and squamous cell carcinomas, have increased significantly among females under the age of 40.  Previously it was thought that people over 50 were most commonly diagnosed with the cancers.

It doesn’t end there however.  The increase in popularity of tanning salons has also put Americans at higher risk to develop melanoma.  In fact, the Mayo Clinic posited that tanning beds bring about a greater risk of melanoma than sitting in front of the sun for long periods of time could.  

The report provides suggestions for remaining healthy and reducing the risks, including:

-apply sunscreen at least half-an-hour before you go outside even if it's cloudy or hazy outside. 

-Avoid direct sun contact between the hours of 10 AM and 4PM or at the very least limit the time in which you are directly under the sun.

-Use about an ounce of sunscreen — roughly a shot glass full — and reapply it every two hours.  Also protect your eyes and face with sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat.

Though the exact numbers tend to vary, experts have warned for years the risks not only of tanning under the sun for long periods of time but also going to tanning beds.  So the question remains, what price are you willing to pay to be nicely tanned? 

Is it really worth putting your own health in jeopardy to look nice in a bathing suit for a few hours?  Often in society we see individuals more concerned with their outward apperance at the expense of their health. 

While many have speculated and reported as to the increasing hazards of being direct contact with the sun, it seems as though the warnings fell upon deaf ears. 

I can't say that we should completely disregard our personal appearance or that a nice tan is not attractive.  I am merely saying that as a society we need to set our health as a main priority, there is more to physical attributes than being tanned.  

After years of deliberation, Albany has finally decided to offer a journalism major (4 years too late for me) for students starting this year. 

While this has been good news for the journalism teachers and incoming students with aspirations of being journalists, apparently SUNY New Paltz has viewed this move as potentially disastrous for their school. 

The vast majority of students who go to New Paltz also apply to Albany more than any other school; with that in mind, New Paltz's officials felt that by Albany generating more majors that mirror the curriculum in New Paltz, there will be no diversity.  Therefore, if given the opportunity, students that would pick New Paltz simply because it has a program that Albany doesn't might not do so if Albany offered the same program. 

Whether or not you sympathize with New Paltz's plight, the fact remains that Albany is a far bigger and more popular school than New Paltz.  Nevertheless, this does not mean that Albany should limit what majors they offer their students simply to appease a smaller school that fears they won't be able to compete. 

Schools have become a business, but fundamentally they are a learning institution.  These schools should not be focusing on what programs are offered as much as they should be focused on improving the quality of the education they offer the students. 

Besides, New Paltz has offered the program longer than Albany as a major so they should have the advantage of having a more developed journalism program. 

I like this photo gallery especially for the lay out.  There is music on the page, the pictures are thumbnailed so that you can select the one you want.  There are graphics at the top of the page that provide selections for navigation of the page.  The theme of the page is very soothing, and the pictures are good quality. 

Anna Benson photo gallery

Very nice photo gallery of former met Kris Benson's wife.  Nice gallery with arrows going back and forth and captions.  The advertisements on the side and top of the page are a little annoying at times however.  On top of the page layout being nice, Anna Benson is extremely attractive which is always pleasant to look at.

Baseball Photo Galleries

Pictures previewing the baseball season, as well as pictures of last season.  The galleries display as pop up windows with captions and back/forward arrows.  They are fixed so you can't change the size of the window.  This is nice if you want to avoid having to deal with other pop ups and advertisements.

 Knicks photo gallery

Although the knicks are having an abysmal season, the gallery page for the team has several different galleries to choose from including (Courtside Celebs.) The page layout is very neat and the pictures are all relatively current.  In the team gallery, there is a player photo with statistics, as well as individual photo galleries within the page. 

The week before the championship, I pitched the idea about a March Madness section of our Ezine to professor Washburn; I never expected to get an opportunity to see our team up close and personal as they attempted to get to the NCAA tourney and win a conference tournament for the first time in school history.  As a part of the assignment we were to be assigned personal photographers from the photo-journalism class.  Though we were not supposed to meet the photographers for another week, the time-specific aspect of my assignment required fast action.  Through discussion with the other class I was assigned a photographer practically the same day. The only thing preventing us from getting access to the game was media credentials that I would need to get permission for.

Washburn suggested I email the Director of the America East Conference asking for media credentials and permission to get into the game.  He rejected me almost immediately suggesting I “try to do such class projects during the regular season.”  Discouraged, I contacted the professor again and told him what happened, he managed to get in contact with Brian Depasquale, the Assistant AD/Media Relations of SUNYA.  He asked me to be at his office on Saturday at 9:00 AM sharp.  There he offered me a media pass, the key to my first ever experience not only being part of the sport journalist fraternity for a day, but also to experience being on the floor for a once in a lifetime experience in school history.  I was present the first time
Albany ever won any significant game.

Aside from just being in the game I got experience what accomplished journalist see on a regular basis.  I sat in the media room examining press kits, studying statistics, making notes to ask players after the game.  I may not have had, the experience, but on that day, no one could have told me otherwise.

Hip-hop music and culture was once an unassuming but lyrically potent poetic form of rebellion.  A form of rage against the state of urban America. 

Almost thirty years later, hip-hop has become a staple of American pop culture.  Even suburban adolescents can recite rap lyrics, or identify Fifty Cent. 

It is fitting that the Smithsonian would provide an exhibit celebrating hip-hop especially because it has become a mainstay in American culture–a pop culture phenomenon if you will.

In part Smithsonian is giving credit where credit is due, but as an institution displaying American Culture, it would be remiss for the organization to disregard hip-hop as so many from the past have done. 

I was interested not only in hearing about the exhibit, but I found myself compelled to visit it once it was opened.  Not only to reminisce about the music I grew up with, but also to pay homage to what was once compared to a passing craze like the “Pet Rock,” or “Beanie Babies.”

The commercials have generated a great deal of buzz.  Chappelle has remained a popular figure since the success of his Chappelle Show, on Comedy Central.

 His depiction of famed R&B singer Rick James was arguably his biggest skit on the show, which he admits in his stand up comedy special, “For What It’s Worth”, follows him wherever he goes. 

Personally, I am anxious not only to see his movie, which debuts this Friday, but also to see the third season of his show.Check out season three preview 

Many people, including me, were disappointed to learn he and Comedy Central clashed and decided not to air the show last year.  I had become a big fan of the series and after all the bizarre reports about Chappelle going overseas to South Africa and checking himself into a mental institution, there were serious doubts as to whether he would return to TV at all.

Nonetheless, he has returned and all sins have been forgotten.  Based upon the hype about his movie, I sense it will be at least moderately successful and his return to television whenever it happens should be promising.       

This adds to the long and esteemed list of boneheaded moves by the beloved President George W. Bush and his cabinet of flunkies.  Though hunting accidents occur, it should be noted that Cheney at 65, has had a long history of health problems including cardiovascular disease, which has resulted in four myocardial infarctions (heart attacks.) Given this fact alone it would seem one might have a few qualms about hunting with such an individual; if not for one’s own health, at the very least for Cheney’s.  Who knows, the gunshot could have given him another heart attack.  

But I digress. Cheney’s folly has reminded me just how embarrassing the government has been for the past four plus years.  I would be remiss if I didn’t include a few quotes from Bush that really make us as Americans realize what a great job we did in electing such an articulate and intelligent man.  For instance: “This is Preservation Month. I appreciate preservation. It’s what you do when you run for president. You gotta preserve” (remarks during “Perseverance Month,” Los Angeles Times, Jan. 28, 2000).

Better yet, “The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case” (San Antonio Express-News, Jan. 30, 2000).

My, my, we have ourselves a certifiable genius for President. I’m quite certain the world envies us. 

Though there have been other incidents that have called the judgment of the President and Vice-President into question, this episode will definitely catch the attention of the world and further make a mockery of our executive branch.  

Not only is this a poor representation of our government, but it also demonstrates negligence on the Vice President’s part.  Sure accidents happen, but this could have been prevented with a little more attention to safety precautions that all hunters should be familiar with.  

Perhaps he should reconsider hunting at his age; perhaps this is a reflection upon his present mind state and his steady decline toward senility.  In any case, it makes us all look bad. 

Jordan lacked the dominant center Kobe had, but still managed to garner six NBA championships.  Jordan was a dominant scorer but still got his teammates involved.  Jordan could dominate a game in every facet of the game.  He could defensively stop his man and still score 40 points.  All the while gathering 5 plus assists and 6 plus rebounds. 

Kobe Bryant is incredibly gifted, a versatile athlete capable of doing anything he wants on the court.  However, it seems as though he only shows flashes of his other capabilities.  He always scores but doesn’t always get his teammates involved.  He plays defense but not always shut down defense.  He takes a tremendous amount of shots and his field goal percentage is a mere shadow of Jordan’s. 

 All things considered it is a difficult debate.  Bryant could emerge as a better player than Michael if he is able to put together an entire season in which he utilizes all of his assets and wins a title without Shaq to help shoulder the load. 

I guess the answer to the debate remains to be seen. 

You be the judge, tell me what you think!