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THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIALS/LETTERS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22,2012

THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22,2012

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ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER JR., Publisher Founded in 1851 ADOLPH S. OCHS Publisher 1896-1935 ARTHUR HAYS SULZERGER Publisher 1935-1961 ORVIL E. DRYFOOS Publisher 1961-1963 ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER Publisher 1963-1992 The News Sections JILL ABRAMSON, Executive Editor DEAN BAQUET, Managing Editor JOHN M. GEDDES, Managing Editor TOM BODKIN, Deputy Managing Editor WILLIAM E. SCHMIDT, Deputy Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editors MICHELE McNALLY RICHARD L. BERKE JIM ROBERTS SUSAN CHIRA GLENN KRAMON The Opinion Pages ANDREW ROSENTHAL, Editorial Page Editor TRISH HALL, Deputy Editorial Page Editor TERRY TANG, Deputy Editorial Page Editor The Buisness Management SCOTT H. HEEKIN-CANEDY, President, General Manager DENISE F. WARREN, V.P. Chief Advertising Officer, General Manager, NYTimes.com YASMIN NAMINI, Senior V.P., Marketing and Circulation, General Manager, Reader Applications ALEXIS BURYK, Senior V.P., Advertising ROLAND A. CAPUTO, Senior V.P. Chief Financial Officer THOMAS K. CARLEY, Senior V.P. Planning TERRY L. HAYES, Senior V.P., Operations and Labor

The New York Times Company

ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER JR., Chairman Chief Executive Officer MICHAEL GOLDEN, Vice Chairman JAMES M. FOLLO, Senior V.P. R. ANTHONY BENTEN, Senior V.P. ROBERT H. CHRISTIE, Senior V.P., Cheif Information Officer MARC FRONS, Senior V.P., General Counsel KENNETH A. EMHOFF, V.P., Treasurer DIANE BRAYTON, Secretary

BY: Cortnie Schultz

AN APPLE A DAY MAY ONLY MAKE YOU BROKE

To the Editor,

Editor, I recently read Shanice Demorins article on teenage pregnancy, and while I totally agree with her points, I feel that perhaps it could have been structured to better help her case. She had several very good points, and I completely support her ideas that we as a society must do something to curb the staggering trend of teenage pregnancy. I like how she used several examples from pop culture and current televisions shows. The only criticism that I have with the article is at times it seemed a little disjointed. I felt like there were a lot of ideas, facts, and figures being thrown around without a concise flow form one to the next. However, this does not discredit or devalue the article, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Caleb Thomas

The Barnes Foundation

Impressionism and post-impressionism originated in France. Czanne, Manet, Degas, and Renior: all impressionist, all artistic geniuses, and all French. So it may come as a surprise that the largest impressionist and post-impressionist art collection is located not in France, or even in Europe for that mater, but in Pennsylvania. It is one of the United States most valuable and most overlooked treasures. When asked to estimate the value of the entire collection Richard Feigen, a world renowned art dealer, replied Look there are some things in the collection that one cant even begin to calculate... Its worth billions. I have no idea what its worth. I mean were talking about billions and billions. So then, how did multi-billion dollar collection of French and European paintings end up just outside of Philadelphia? In 1901 a young doctor named Albert C. Barnes invented a cure for infant venereal disease of the eye, and by the time he was thirtyfive, he had all the money he could ever spend, so he devoted himself the collection and study of art. He began traveling to France, and over the remainder of his life he slowly converted his fortune into the most valuable collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art ever to exist. Barnes was a genius art critic decades before his time At the start of Barnes life in art, the Philadelphia Museum critics scoffed at the beginnings of his collection, unable to see the arts true beauty, meaning, and value. Eventually the critics realized the magnitude of his collection but Barnes never forgot their ignorance. He refused to let them ever see his collection. Barnes drafted a will designed to prevent any paintings from his collection from ever falling into the hands of the Philadelphia Museum or any other for that matter. The will does not allow the collection to ever be loaned or sold. It specially spells out that the board of trusties is to consist of five members: four appointed by Lincoln University and one appointed by the bank in charge of his investments, and the board is to elect the president of the Barnes Foundation. Today each of these provisions has been violated. In the nineties, outside interests invaded the board of trusties and began changing the provisions of the will. Since, the paintings have been on a world tour, Lincoln University was cut from controlling the board of trusties, and the paintings have been permanently moved to the Philadelphia Museum. I can not think of a single sane person, art fan or not, who would think this is not manipulative and wrong. Greedy members of the board of trustees were allowed to twist Barnes will and hand it over to the Philadelphia Museum on a silver platter. The injustice of this is infuriating. How can we life in a world where this is allowed to happen? Where will it stop?

I recently read the article you published about why Obamacare should be repealed. As someone who agrees with the spirit of this article, I feel as though I am the only one that agrees with its view, and it is refreshing to hear that I am not alone. The argument was presented in an easy-to-follow manner and made some valid points. One thing that the author touched on that I really appreciated is even though she is not a fan of Obamacare, she does recognize that there is room for change with the current health care system. When it comes to politics, it seems like everyone believes it to be black and white, when in reality there are a lot of grey areas. Just because a person doesnt support Obamacare, it doesnt mean he or she doesnt support healthcare reforjust not this health care reform. Thank you for publishing this article and letting a different perspective be heard, Joseph Lesho

Did the iPhone 5 have as much of an impact on people as everyone thought it would? The critics reviews all say the iPhone 5 is where its at. I am the proud owner of an iPhone 4S, which happens to work fine and has worked perfectly fine since the day I got it. The operating system that the iPhone 5 comes with, iOS 6, has been available for consumers to download since September 19th, the cameras megapixel count isnt that much better, and if you choose to fork out two hundred dollars or more, youll have to buy converters for all of your devices since the iPhone 5 is the only device with the Lightning connection. Yeah, its cool and all, but is it worth all the extra baggage that comes along with it? With its release and over 2 million iPhones ordered within the first 24 hours of its release, most would say yes, but my answer is probably not. When the iPhone first came out in 2007, before it was released many people in the technology business said it was just a fad, and that the iPhone was going to sell many within the first month and then sales would diminish. Boy, were they wrong. The iPhone 5s sales statistics from the day of its release alone was seven hundred and forty percent more than

the original iPhones first day sales. Taking a look at the differences between the performances of each model is interesting too. The performance jump from the iPhone 3 to the iPhone 4 was so great that when compared to the jump from the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 5 the advancements seem minimal. I expected a greater increase in the camera quality. Im not saying the iPhone 4 takes a horrid picture, but I expected a little more with the iPhone 5. The camera megapixel count is the same. The dif-

then a 6G, and the cycle will continue. The one big thing I see backfiring on Apple is definitely the changes to the iPhone 5s connection ports. The whole thing is different, so youre going to have to buy an adapter to change all of the ports you may have or just buy all new cords. It works for Apple because theyll make more money in cord sales, but not so convenient for those of us who want the new iPhone but dont want to pay hundreds of dollars to replace all of our

ferences that may make a difference though, include the hybrid IR filter, a five-element sapphire crystal lens, and a false f/2.4 aperture. Theres also a low-light mode, which the iPhone 4S didnt have, and also takes photos about 40% faster. (what was laking to you?) The 4G capabilities of the iPhone 5 will increase the download and upload speeds and make internet browsing faster. 4G towers are only in a number of cities now, so why make the switch so soon? There are apps for everything and even playing games requires internet use, I expect 4G to be required someday within the next couple of years. But then what? Well to have a 5G plan to switch to and

other devices. The new port that the iPhone is converting to is said to be whats going to replace the USB port that all computers have now. The Lightning port is much faster, but how long do we have to wait for it to become more mainstream? Until then, purchasing the iPhone with this port doesnt seem like its very economical if I have to buy all new devices to hook them up to, not to mention the converters for the things (laptops, iHomes, etc.) that havent converted yet. Just looking at the cosmetic aspect, there were big differences in the iPhone 3 and iPhone 4. What are the differences between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5? Sure, its lighter,

but does that really matter? Ive never heard any one complaining about their iPhone 4 being considered heavy or inconvenient because the size was too large. The screen was changed from a 3.5 inch screen to now a 4.0 inch screen, which allows users to have another row of apps and is now compairable to android phones. I cant complain about a bigger screen, especially when iPhones are used many times for watching movies, but is it really necessary? (is it??) Many people have already preordered these phones, but why? There arent any significant changes. The bottom line is people always want to keep up with the trends. There are always people who want the newest device as soon as possible, no matter the reviews. iOS 6 that runs the iPhone 5 is available for download for free and is compatible with the iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4, as well as the newer iPods, and that is were the valuable changes occur. That means the costumer doesnt need to purchase the iPhone 5 or extend their contract or pay anything at all to get their hands on the cool stuff! The claims that this phone is so much better just seem to be a way for apple to make millions off the tiniest of changes to a phone that was already perfectly fine. All Im saying is that the hype surrounding the iPhone 5 should bee taken with a grain of salt. In all honesty, this how its always going to be with technologythey make something phenomenal, then they find a way to make it better.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

BY: Alek Pierce Do you own a gun? Thats a strange question to open with, but please, keep reading. It is imperative that you continue. In fact, it may ensure the survival of not only yourself but the ones you hold closest. I can tell, youre not prepared. You probably have no idea of how catastrophic it will be. You dont know when it will happen. You dont know where it will originate from. Hell, you wont be ready. Im sorry. You must think Im crazy; Missing a few screws. Let me introduce myself: I am Alek Pierce, and Im the twenty year old college student that will save your life. Im no super hero, I cant fight fires, and I surely cant stop criminals; but I possess both the knowledge and tools keep you safe, Im passing it on to you, my friend. The scene is 1961 suburban America. Millions of Americans left their homes and raced to local grocery stores. They purchased excessive amounts of non-perishable foods and liquids, they bought deadly weaponry and ammunition, and they constructed underground bunkers in backyards, basements, and government buildings. Images of missile silos and rocket propelled projectiles, plastered on televisions and news papers all over the country, were leaked by the Eisenhower administration and brought fear of a Soviet nuclear attack to Americans. Of course, we were never struck by nuclear armament in our own territory, but America was prepared. We cannot think that the preemptive preparation these folks took was not worthwhile and merely a waste of money. Because it wasnt; it taught us, the next generation, to treat threats seriously and prepare for the worst. Now, once again the scene is suburban America, but the year is 2012. There are children running about playing in streets, men and women going to work and raising their families. This is what we know, and to keep this a reality, we must face the reality of threat once again with preparation. A threat, the likes of which, the world has never seen. We must be ready for the Zombie Apocalypse. Zombies have been depicted in many ways in todays society and pop culture. They run rampant through our nightmares, tearing skin off our bodies like Velcro, crushing bones amongst their decaying teeth, and eating out brains. Their dark green skin becomes a mutated decaying hide. Their thinning hair recalls a small unreachable sliver of who they once were, and their violently aggressive sprint reminds us of the precious little time you have left to prepare. I know, at this point you must be pondering the importance of this text. Trust me, read on. While the fresh from the grave zombie of our nightmares might not be the zombie of reality, the threat is no less real. Stories of people getting high on bath salts (an illegal drug that really has nothing to do with relaxing in a bath), loosing their minds, and eating the face off the next person they see. In July earlier this year, Rudy Eugene was killed by police when he refused to stop eating the face of a homeless person. Toxicology reports didnt show evidence of bath salts, but toxicology reports never show evidence of bath salts. Other reports of people hallucinating and dismembering each other have surfaced and been placed under a microscope and examined for a connection to bath salts: Zombies are real, people, and they are coming! So when preparing for the inevitable Zday, many precautions must be taken to ensure both survival and preservation of life. You will need a safe haven or bunker; this can be a boarded-up house, a bomb shelter, or any easily-defendable structure. Lets talk about what goes in your bunker. You will need plenty of water, a large stock of non-perishable foods, a toolbox of basic manual tools, and sanitation products like bleach and soap. I recommend you have a solid supply of clean clothes, as the cloth can also be manipulated to fashion many useful things. You need to have your important documents (any photo ID, passport, birth certificates etc) on hand in a small and portable folder. Last, youll need medical supplies. Other tips include being sure to communicate with those around you now as to where you could meet up should your shelter be invaded by the flesh-hungry. Be sure to identify the people you will want to contact and have their information ready to pass on the warning. Be sure to map your multiple routes of escape, and be aware of possible chokepoints, or spots in which escape is more difficult. And get a gun.

ONLINE FRIENDS...OR FOES?

BY: Allison Beckley Nowadays, sitting in the back of a college class typically leads to major distraction. From this point of view you can see every laptop screen and its impossible to sit in any college class and not see at least one laptop being used for social media. Its not uncommon for people to have a Facebook or Twitter, especially in America. In fact, its quite uncommon for someone to not have them. These websites and apps, although sometimes distracting, are used to communicate with friends and followers with whom you share interests or simply want to keep in touch regardless of local. Its a new segment of culture that is still being felt out by most people and its impact is still not fully realized, but perhaps the greatest phenomenon that has occurred since the advent of social media is online friendships. Making friends online is becoming increasingly popular with teenagers and college students, and Ill be the first to admit Im a big supporter of online friendships. About 30% of the people I talk to on a daily basis, I met on a social networking site and have extended the relationship outside of social media to texting and Skyping each other. One of my closest friends lives in Texas. We became friends through Tumblr, and now, over a year

The Photographic Proliferation

With the invention of photography, humanity explored its every application imaginable and society itself was revolutionized. This new form of art could capture reality with more detail than any painter that had ever existed, and it was effortless. Well not at first of course, photographers had to carry around single use, large, glass negatives, more accurately measured in feet than inches. They were heavy, and they were fragile. Eventually though, with the invention of the Kodak, anyone and everyone could be an artist with the press of a button. Where then does this leave the academic painter? While the photographer is cranking out hundreds of photographs a year, the painter may produce one or two paintings in the same duration. The corollary: what happens to the magna opera that have for so long been the pinnacle of artistic creation? In the nineteen-twenties, the German philosopher, Walter Benjamin, asked those same questions. A stark communist, he viewed these great masterpieces as a part to the elitist bourgeoisie, and photography as the art of the proletariat. Photography gave a voice to those on the lower rungs of society who would not otherwise have had one. It allowed them to speak, but it also allowed them to see other worlds. Today we are surrounded by images. Anything and everything can be seen at the click of a button. We cannot imagine the world of the nineteen-twenty proletariats. The majority would have never seen the Mona Lisa, an image that has become engrained into all of our minds from early childhood. If you know nothing about art, if youve never been to the Louvre, for Gods sake if youve lived your whole life under a rock, youve still seen the Mona Lisa. Until photography the proletariat would have had to travel to the Louver to see the Mona Lisa. Photography gave them the world. By mass dissemination are the masterpieces of today then just depreciated shadows of what they were in the early nineteen-hundreds? Benjamin says yes, but he also says these objects should have never been placed in such high regard. After all, they are just objects.

Making friends online is becoming increasingly popular.

later, we visit each other on a regular basis. From a casual online conversation about common interests we have made our friendship into a relationship based on more than superficiality. Many teens and college students prefer this method of making friends, because common interests are usually the grounds for a great friendships. Whats not great for online friendships is the very real threat of sexual predators. Obviously online safety is why most adults view online friendships to be dangerous and completely unnecessary. According to guardchild.com, there are an estimated 50,000 sexual predators online at any given time, which is certainly support for parents raised eyebrows. Alarming numbers such as these cause so many in the older generation to question the validity of online friendships, but it is also a matter of the lack of understanding social media and its role in our generations lives. Todays parents didnt grow up with the internet, much less social media, so it may be difficult for them to embrace. Engaging in online friendships first hand would be the best way for them to gain a better understanding of this phe-

To the Editor: The the Op-ed on solar energy was especially enjoyable to read. It was very factual and the content flowed perfectly and was well supported. I liked the amount of facts used throughout the paper. It really gave the piece a logical appeal and added credibility to the writer. The writer brought up current data and the concerns most people have regarding solar power supporting her argument very well. I agree with the writers concern with current energy useage and the importance of solar power. I also think the writer was justified in his stance on an alternative source of energy since, like stated in the article, fossil fuels are slowly depleting. The words in the article seemed to almost jump off the page. The writer seemed very strong in their stance, and that spoke to me while reading it. Roxanne Ghezzi To the Editor, I feel that the article that ran last week in defense of the Kentucky basketball team was somewhat misguided in its intentions and failed to convince me of why John Caliparis trend of flipping players immediately into the NBA isnt essentially an illegitimate use of a universitys resources. Whether we are attending the games in real life or watching them televised, many people including myself love collegiate sports, and we derive lots of enjoyment from seeing teams compete. People who are granted scholarships to play sports in college are there for two reasons: to help the collegiate team they love compete and to pay for an education. Sports scholarships exist to help people attend schools and be rewarded for their high level of athletic effort in high school. 99.9% of student athletes do not go on to professional level competition. They graduate and face the real world. What of the Kentucky players who do not possess the abilities to move on the NBA?

To the Editor, I think that your article provides a very unique perspective of the labeling of genetically modified or conventionally grown foods. I completely agree with the idea that everyone should know what theyre buying. Though this might make the modified foods more expensive, (not necessarily a good thing in this economy) it would be worth it for the sole fact that our nation is suffering from an obesity pandemic. You made an excellent statement by saying that if we take care of our bodies, in return, our bodies will take care of us. A point you may want to consider is with the introduction of more specific labeling, heart disease and diabetes from eating unhealthily will lower significantly. Because there are numerous disabled individuals in the United States that have their medical needs covered by government programs such as Medicare, billions of dollars must be accounted for to maintain these types of programs. This could save our county from some debt incurred by rising medical costs that our government ends up paying for. George Tapia

nomenon. Most teens do understand social media, however, and they are becoming more adapted to it both as they grow up and as technology progresses. Most teenagers realize that the Internet can be a dangerous thing if used without common sense and discretion. When it comes to our generation, making friends online isnt a matter of IF it will happen, its a matter of WHEN it will happen. (add a personal story) Parents should still be checking up on their younger teens internet activity and reminding them how dangerous it can be to give out personal information. With children and young teens it is important to take an active role in monitoring their internet activity. However, an over bearing, intrusive approach should be avoided, as it encourages the child to act more secretively in attempts to gain the privacy they are being denied. Until children can be responsible enough to stay safe on their own, their patents need to protect them from dangers. Older teens and college students are more likely to be aware of the consequences for being too personal on the Internet, and dont need constant supervision from Mom and Dad. Trust their judgment but remind them to be responsible. Teens being abused through the internet can often exhibit indicating

behaviors. Parents should keep an eye out for any behavior that appears unhealthy and investigate the cause. Its best to keep an open mind any time your child talks to you and you shouldnt become angry or upset if they tell you they have made a friend online. Keep the lines of communication open and talk to them calmly about it. They will be more likely to be open about the friendship if they feel like they are supportive. One of the best ways to minimize the stress of social media on relationships between parents and their children is education. Just because parents dont understand social media and the online friendships that come about from it, does not mean that they are bad. If parents engaged in more online friendships they would increase their understanding of this new phenomenon. Social media is the fastest way to stay in touch with large groups of people, but the social aspect of it comes into play when people from around the world begin forming relationships that otherwise never would have happened. Social networking is an incredible thing, and should be embraced and accepted by everyone, even for those who are apprehensive about making friends online.

M A N G A , PI R AT E S , AND THE ECONOMY

BY: Roxanne Ghezzi Internet piracy is a growing issue today, both legally and morally. The starving manga industry in America is having trouble facing that problem just as the music industry has in the past. However, unlike music, manga is a very specialized industry with a small fan base and is simply succumbing to internet piracy. The illegal scanning, translating, and editing of manga, or scanlating as it is known in the industry, has taken a huge toll on the companies that deliver manga to its American fans legally, and this is in turn hurting our own economy. With the growing popularity of internet file sharing, manga fans have been able to share their favorite titles over the internet quickly and for free. By retrieving them from Japan and scanning them to the web, they give birth to what are commonly known as scanlations. Scanlations have been a part of the internet for over seven years. Their goal is not necessarily to profit from scanning and sharing popular manga titles but rather to help fans like themselves who want their favorite manga hot off the press, and have gained im-

What about the vast majority of players who make it to the NBA and only a few years or toil in obscurity in a European league? Yes, Davis is a talented athlete, but he could permanently damage part of his body and be ruined as an athlete. In that event, I would hope he had an education to fall back on. Most who drop out of the NBA do not possess a college degree and are quickly pushed into poverty, and this applies to all pro sports leagues. I think there should be a standard of academic achievement that all student athletes must achieve regardless of their skill. While pro sports are enticing, they are also often a pipe dream, even for those drafted. As long as Kentucky has decent grade standards there should be little to worry about. Joe Kalicki

mense popularity in the manga community. Today, the major scanlation website, MangaStream, has over 470,000 likes on Facebook and over 113,000 followers on Twitter. Despite their popularity, when scanlations from even the most popular websites are compared to legal companies like Viz Media and Dark Horse their quality pales in comparison. Often, mistranslations completely throw off the meaning of the chapter completely obscuring the writers original intent. Unfortunately, no matter how noble the scanlators reasons may be, reproducing intellectual property and mass sharing it via the web without consent is illegal. It harms the manga companies that introduced us to to manga in the first place, and it is ruining the quality of the manga for the reader. Much to MangaStream and their fans dismay, the big dogs at companies like Viz Media caught wind of their growing popularity both from fans posting comments on Viz Medias blogs that read: You can read manga free and on time at MangaStream.com and from the growing hole in their wallets. Needless to say, companies like Viz Media have taken action. On February 11th of this year, Viz Media sent a cease and desist letter to MangaStream regarding all of the Shonen Jump titles, a weekly manga anthology that Viz Media offers with a subscription. The anthology included:

One Piece, Bleach, and Naruto, and D. Greyman. This small notification caused uproar throughout the manga community. The news from MangaStream that they would no longer be able to legally continue scanlating Jump titles sent dedicated fans into frenzy. Panicked and emotional fans began bashing their head against their keyboards, according to Logan Zack, the blogger responsible for The Unofficial One Piece Podcast. Fans created Facebook pages like: Boycott Viz Media. Fans quickly turned against the corporation that went through all the legal hassle to bring them these titles in the first place. The petty and ill-informed comments that sprung up served no purpose. The internet is not free, and intellectual property laws are what allow works such as One Piece and Naruto to exist in the first place. Regrettably, fans dont always seem to understand ,and without Viz Media and the workers in the printing factory, manga would no longer be at anyones convenience. MangaStream and other scanlation sites are taking profits away from the already starving manga industry by stealing fans that would otherwise be supporting the legal distributors. This, in turn, takes jobs away from millions of people working to translate manga and print at the factory for Viz Media and Dark Horse. Viz Media has already fallen on

hard times since the closing of Borders, one of their major selling venues. Internet piracy is not helping our economic crisis in America at all. Companies like Viz Media need our support to continue bringing us manga legally, and without that support, theyll simply close up shop. It is because of companies like Viz Media that we have manga in the United States today and legal alternatives that create millions of jobs. Some individuals argue that manga creators are already striking it rich, but what many dont seem to realize is that by supporting the legal distribution of manga, you are also supporting everyday workers that make the printing and translations possible. By supporting the legal distribution, your monthly payment for Shonen Jump Alpha is not only going towards the creators and distribution company, but also the translators and workers in the printing factories who need money to support their families. When these people lose their jobs, it is more difficult for them to stimulate the economy, thus causing a cycle of loss. Contributing to legal alternatives goes a long way in supporting both the American and Japanese economy, because without the manga industry, not only would titles like One Piece cease to exist, but millions of jobs would be lost. You would think that if you love the manga One Piece, you would be happy to sup-

port it despite how much the creators profit. Manga writers fight hard to please their fans. The war continues between scanlation websites, legal distributers and the fans wages on. Viz Media is a huge contributor to the manga industry in America. Viz Media and other manga distributors are having a difficult time keeping their feet on the ground with scanlations taking away potential profits. The recent confrontation with MangaStream was the spark that ignited an inferno between Viz Media and many of their manga fans. Manga fans need to educate themselves and understand what scanlation websites do to companies like Viz Media and the average workers. They need to help support the legal alternatives, or the manga industry will cease to exist.