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TITLE AND SUBJECT OF ARTICLE
Steroids: Could
Your Child Be Next?
"Players that are guilty of taking steroids
are not only cheaters, you are cowards. ...Show our kids
that you're man enough to face authority, tell the truth
and face the consequences.” — Donald Hooton of Plano,
Texas, who testified before Congress that his son,
Taylor, a high school baseball player, committed suicide
in 2003 after steroid use.
Does your child use
steroids?
Of course not.
That's what
concerned parents want to believe.
Yet scores of
young people ar...
steroid abuse, steroids,
steroids in teenagers, what is steroid abuse, athletes
using steroids, body
"Players that are guilty of
taking steroids are not only cheaters, you are cowards.
...Show our kids that you're man enough to face
authority, tell the truth and face the consequences.” —
Donald Hooton of Plano, Texas, who testified before
Congress that his son, Taylor, a high school baseball
player, committed suicide in 2003 after steroid use.
Does your child use steroids?
Of course not.
That's what concerned parents want to believe.
Yet scores of young people are consuming a toxic
stew, drugs they believe will enhance physical strength,
performance and stamina, and build confidence.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
shows steroid use among male high school students rose
65 percent from 3.7 to 6.1 percent between 1999 and
2003; among female students it jumped from 2.2 to 5.3
percent, or a whopping 140 percent.
Many of these
young people have as their unfortunate role models
certain high-profile athletes who have been implicated
in steroid use.
So, parents, be wary. Steroids
are stealthy predators. Watch for warning signs: rapidly
bulked-up muscles, preoccupation with “getting big,”
unusual acne, major mood swings, muscle magazines, pills
or powders promising muscle development, and vials and
syringes.
If you suspect a problem, get between
the drugs and your child, impressing upon him or her the
fact that what they're doing is illegal and very
dangerous.
You may be what saves your child from
devastating health problems or from death.
What
Are They:
So-called anabolic-androgenic steroids
are man-made substances related to male sex hormones.
“Anabolic” refers to muscle-building, and
“androgenic” refers to increased masculine
characteristics, as defined by the National Institute on
Drug Abuse.
“Steroids” refers to the class of
drugs, often legally prescribed for people with wasting
diseases such as AIDS.
But illegal use, which can
add body size, is just as likely to destroy or impair
the liver, heart and kidneys, emotional stability and
normal sexual development of kids.
I know all
this because I abused steroids for three and a half
years in the mid - 80's -- and they almost killed me.
They also ruined relationships and hurt my parents,
parents who had raised me lovingly.
As a user, I
learned to lie to my father and steal from my mother's
purse.
I had no conscience.
I had good
reasons for steroid use -- or so I thought.
Steroids primarily appeal to young people who are
looking for an athletic edge or those who want a quick
fix to a better body. All want to “supersize”
themselves, to create a new and improved version. I had
suffered in school due to my short stature and a
stutter, both of which attracted bullies and teasing.
Steroids looked like the perfect remedy. My heroes,
after all, included The Incredible Hulk and a giant of a
man named Arnold Schwarzenegger -- who eventually
admitted to using steroids.
Finally Broken:
Eventually steroid use broke me, literally. My body
and mind were in shambles. A long, long road back
included physical and mental evaluations, addiction
support group meetings, and exercise -- workouts not
meant to “bulk up” but to help my battered body and mind
reacquaint themselves.
I am now the father of two
boys.
My life has been resurrected from the
disaster known as steroids. That is why I am here to
caution other parents: It doesn't just happen to someone
else's kids.
When young people look at the hard,
muscles bodies presented by smiling, oversized human
beings, they see a tempting portrait.
Potential
users are seduced by this fake picture of health and
vitality and virility. The picture doesn't show the
strain on the arteries, the wear and tear on the heart
and the psyche.
It doesn't show the caskets.
Playmobil And
Childhood Stories
Why medieval castles seemed so familiar in
the history class for me and most of my classmates? Why
some of us have a déjà vu when we watch films like the
"Pirates of the Caribbean"? We have spent so much time
assembling the Playmobil version of the castle, or
making stories about pirates, knights, sheriffs and
Native Americans as children and playing with the
Playmobil spaceship, that sometimes we think that we
actually have lived in all those places. For everyone
who was a c...
Toys, Playmobil, toy manufacturer
Why medieval castles seemed so familiar in the
history class for me and most of my classmates? Why some
of us have a déjà vu when we watch films like the
"Pirates of the Caribbean"? We have spent so much time
assembling the Playmobil version of the castle, or
making stories about pirates, knights, sheriffs and
Native Americans as children and playing with the
Playmobil spaceship, that sometimes we think that we
actually have lived in all those places. For everyone
who was a child in the 1980s and later Playmobil is not
just the name of a toy, it is a legend.
This
legendary story of "Playmobil" started in the 1971, when
Horst Brandstätter the owner of toy manufacturer "geobra
Brandstätter", asked the -so called- "father of
Playmobil", Hans Beck, then a cabinetmaker to develop
figures for children. Beck spent three years developing
what became Playmobil. His aim was to create a simple
and flexible toy and as it turns out he could not be
more successful. Playmobil, a 7.5 cm toy, with hands,
which are capable of gripping and holding objects and a
facial design based on children's drawings (big smile,
no nose), was first presented at the International Toy
Fair in Nuremberg in 1974. The first figures were of
Native Americans, construction workers and knights,
while the 1973 oil crisis made it possible for Playmobil
to be considered a viable product. Rising oil prices
made plastics extremely expensive and larger plastic
toys virtually unaffordable. Playmobil began to be sold
worldwide in 1975 and had an unprecedented success.
Only a few years after the first introduction of the
product, "geobra Brandstätter" became the German toy
manufacturer with the highest turnover. In 2004 when
Playmobil celebrated its 30th Anniversary, 1.8 billion
figures had been produced. And these little figures have
been almost everywhere: in movies, video games, fast
food restaurants. Today, there are seven Playmobil fun
parks worldwide three of them in the United States
(Orlando, Florida -Palm Beach Gardens, Florida -
Woodbridge, New Jersey) and four in Europe: in Paris,
Athens, Malta and in Zirndorf, Germany where the
manufacturer's headquarters are located.
"Playmobil is a toy that doesn't impose specific play
patterns on children, but rather stimulates their
imagination," said once Hans Beck. And he is right. Some
months ago when I visited a friendly couple, I found out
that children still play with Playmobil, creating their
own scenarios and stories. The memory of the Playmobil
pirate ship, that I got as a present for my 6th birthday
brought tears in my eyes. As a representative of my
generation I owe a big thanks to Hans Beck, for all the
dreams that he helped me to create, all the stories,
most importantly, all those little friends, who may be
now kept in some attic, but they often come to my mind
and make me smile.
San Francisco is
not just Child's Play
Visiting San Francisco, California is great
to do with a family; it is even better to do as an adult
without children along. Frisco has a thriving nightlife
and plenty of entertainment that simply isn't meant for
children. From the slightly off color to the seriously
bawdy, San Francisco nightlife has entertainment of
almost every flavor. Of course there is still plenty to
do during the daylight hours too.
If you're
looking for a taste of nightlife that is 'belly busting'
funny, there's Comedy on the Square that offers comedic
variety shows. You can also check out Lila Theatre for
some of the best long-form improvisation. If you need a
good laugh these are great places to start. 50 Mason
Lounge is also a great place to go to get in on the
laughs. The problem with San Francisco is that there are
so many great comedy clubs they can't all be listed in
one place. My suggestion is that you ask around for
suggestions and find out who's playing. You never know
when someone you recognize might be popping in for the
evening.
In addition to the great comedy clubs
there is the general 'gentleman's' nightlife alive and
well in this fair city. I would be remiss if I failed to
mention some of the more unique adult entertainment that
San Francisco has to offer. In addition to the typical
gentlemen's clubs such as Broadway Showgirls Cabaret,
which boasts more luxurious surroundings than other
clubs, there is Crazy Horse, Inc., which has totally
nude live shows, The Gold Club, and Larry Flynt's
Hustler Club. There is one club that goes above and
beyond what any of these clubs offer though and is worth
checking out with a date if you and your partner are so
inclined. This club is called Power Exchange and while
there are a few places like this around the country,
they are extremely rare. If you aren't easily offended
and are the least bit curious, I would recommend
checking it out.
San Francisco is swimming with
active and awesome nightclubs and as such it is quite
difficult to single one out as superior to any other. I
recommend finding a nightclub that is within walking
distance of your hotel. This diminishes the odds of your
driving while intoxicated. As always it is important to
enjoy responsibly.
If you want to make the most
out of your trip to San Francisco, be sure to remember
that while there is plenty to do at night, you want to
be awake and aware for at least part of the day so don't
have too much fun at night. If you are very brave and
adventurous and looking for more adult only
entertainment you can try one of the nude beaches in the
area. While these beaches are not for everyone and they
aren't exactly nighttime activities, they do offer some
adult only entertainment that is worth considering if it
floats your boat.
You can also rent sailboat and
powerboat cruises in the bay, if you are with a loved
one, try one of the sunset cruises. These cruises are
romantic time away from the crowds of the city. Even if
these times aren't exclusively for adults, if you close
your eyes and imagine, you can whittle the world down to
just the two of you.
Whatever your pleasure in
this great city, I hope you have found some ideas for
great fun and entertainment that will get your trip off
to a great start. Remember to have fun and enjoy the
time you spend visiting San Francisco, California
whether that time be day or night. If none of the things
I've mentioned above have struck your fancy there are
always more cultural undertakings such as museums,
guided tours, or trips to Alcatraz. Just remember the
purpose of a vacation is fun, if you aren't having fun
where you are, go somewhere else!