Discuss the developments in the area of world fashion design.
Contributed by Melody Chan

Introduction
Fashion, a hot topic that is never cease all around the world. It refers to styles of which if it is current in any given culture at any given time. Being fashionable or unfashionable is a way to describe whether someone or something fits in with the current popular mode of expression.

However, fashion changes constantly. These changes may proceed more rapidly than in most other fields of human activity. Yet, the styles of fashion are being seen as ‘recycled’ time and time again. In fact, statistics have shown that fashion repeats itself for every maximum, 25 years.

Henry David Thoreau said that, "Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new." So how does fashion maintain its popularity if it is being ‘recycled’? And how does the development of world fashion design works? I have found an article which gives us the explaination of how old fashion could make a comeback.

Resource used: Fashion Newspaper (2008). “Surprised at bubble skirts making a comeback?” Retrieved March 7, 2008 from World Wide Web: http://www.fashionnewspaper.com/articles/287/1/Surprised-at-bubble-skirts-making-a-comeback/Page1.html

Summary of the Resource
Our question was how does old trends make a comeback and what makes us from ‘ew’ to ‘wow’? Well, the answer is simple! A few amendments is needed to make the old trend new. Updated versions of a particular trend is an important factor in order to make an old fashion gain back its popularity again.

An example quoted in the article, “… the hot pants of the 70s were back for a brief period in the 90s, but they weren’t the wrinkly, cotton, knit, or spun variety. They were the new age, wrinkle free almost spandex but yet tencel kind. Closed shoes and Mary Janes adorn almost every girl’s pretty little feet this season, but no they’re not only in the plain black Miss Priss variety. They’re neons, hot pinks, bright blues, and don’t miss the embellishment; there are butterflies, bows, flowers, rings, medallions, sequins, and bling.”

A pattern that is often revolving around us but we do not give much thought to it is that old fashion trends make a comeback by improving and updating the versions of itself to make it brand new once again.

Now, we finally know now why vintage is back in fashion! So watch out! Do not throw away your old belongings, for who knows it could be the next ‘in-thing’!

Impact of Media Proliferation on Violence in Youths.
Contributed by Vanessa Ng

Introduction
Many blame the increase of youth violene in the recent years on the increase in producing violent games. Many think and feel strongly that the violent games like Grand Theft Auto or Doom are the few examples of games that corrupt the minds of the younger generation and thus, resulting in their violent behavious. Yes, i believe that violent video games do contribute to violence in the youths in some way. but definitely never in the major way.

But then again, why blame only on violent video games? We often state our judgements so quickly and without hesitation we forgot to look at the bigger picture of what ARE the actually root problems to the situation. Are violent video games the only course? of course not. We all know that there are other factors contributing to youth violence but we usually don't bother to even find out what they are and try to solve them much less raising awareness or even trying to understand.

Through this, i hope to educate, raise awareness and also give readers a new perspective of what is causing youth violence instead of the violent video games.

Resource used: Controversial Games, Games & Culture people, Video Game Research(2007)"Violent Games Don't Cause Youth Violence, Says USC Sociologist" Retrieved February 28, 2007 From World Wide Web:
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/02/28/violent-games-dont-cause-youth-violence-says-usc-sociologist/

Summary of Resource:
The general public or the politicians and other moral crusaders often come up with groups or individuals to be blamed for what is going wrong in the society and for this instance, youth violence due to violent video games. Thus, video games, now the victim of many accusers are now the "devils" that pose threat to children.

However, these games are now a representation of a variety of socal anxieties like technology advancing, violent behaviour from youths and also parents not being able to control what their children do and what their children know or get their knowledge from.

Through all the violent acts from youths, many blame pop culture, rock music, movies, even comic books etc. But we have largely ignored the root causes.

One of the biggest problems from a media-research is that it attempts to decontextualize violence. Racism may also be one of the causes that aid in youth violences. Some video games portray the killing "white people" as victims of the game, but not many considerd the "black people" being killed as the victim. Society portray the "blacks" as convicts rather then just being a normal person. thus, when a "white" holds and gun and shoots someone, people blame corruption, blame the violent video games rather then their social circumstances. but if it is a "black" that has a gun and shoots someone, people just blame them because of their skin colour, that the "black" is obviously violent and impulsive and stupid by nature. that it is a common thing to do for the "blacks".

So now that you know one perspective of the cause and impact on youth violence. Stop blaming violent games!

Discuss the impact of drug abuse on youth.
Contributed by TAY JIE MAN

Introduction
These days, kids are doing it all – sex, ciggies and the occasional drug abuse. Well as we all so know very well, drugs are harmful recreational substances which are high addictive and happen to be damaging to your health. Which brings us to the question why youth drug abuse is still so rampant in our society.

Various reasons like rebellion, peer pressure, boredom and misformation make up the basic list for teenage drug abuse. It is noted that blatant glorifying of drug use in the media (e.g. Kate Moss and her cocaine) encourage some to join the club. Of course peer pressure make to the top of the list with “hardcore parties” involving smoking pot and such. The exact effects these substances have are often blurred along the lines of “pretty harmless”, “not that risky” and “not addictive at all”.

So what are some of the risks and effects involved? I found a website with credible details which will give us an insight into teenage drug abuse.

Resource used: Focus Adolescent Services (2008) “Drugs That Teens Abuse” Retrieved April 7, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.focusas.com/SubstanceAbuse-Drugs.html

Resource Summary
The following are the various substances that teens abuse:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Inhalants
- Prescribe medicines
- Stimulants
- Heroin

Drugs can leave permanent brain damage and serious respiratory problems to your body. They attribute to many social issues like violence and suicide. Crimes are often committed under drug influence and vice versa. The uses of legal drugs often make way for abuse and illegal drugs.

Most drugs lead to severe addiction with crazy withdrawal symptons, and of course when addicted, there is increase risk of serious abuse of other drugs.

Evaluation of the Resource
The coverage of the resource is excellent, providing the information of the various drugs, the effects, warning signs and treatment with links to other similar sites.

The site is created and maintained by a reliable real organisation with over a decade of experience aiding families and youths in need.

The content is relevant and up to date with no broken links or images. Language used is simple and short. Important details are bold or underlined allowing the user to pick up the needed information easily. The pages load fast with broadband connection enabling the user to navigate with ease.

The site should dedicate more of the layout space to the content as advertisements at the sides can be distracting. The font size and type is legible and clear. There is also contrast between the colors of the font and background.

Overall, the site is in great shape but it could do better with more interactive features like images and animations to attract more users.

Discuss the latest trends in the music industry for teenagers
Contributed by Han Lin

Introduction
The ever changing music industry is one of the many things that teenager look out for nowadays. In my research, I have discovered that the music industry consist of many different subjects, including the music genere and the technology and digital side. To be honest, music trends is not something that can really be defined, its the state of an art, so trends of music is actually the styles and types of music that is popular in the society, not better, I must emphasize that.

The music industry covers many area:
Of course, music itself - lyrics, tunes, tones, patterns - its amazing what a simple sound wave can do~
Artists
Songs
Music videos
Instruments

My research topic is the latest trends in the music industry for teenagers, meaning what the type of music that teenager go for nowadays.

Summary of resources
The TOP 10 TRENDS to lookout for in 2008:

1. DRM IS DEAD. The final labels will drop all DRM within a month.
2. Mega-Stars are soooo 2007. Find the bands you love. Support them. Who cares if MTV doesn’t play their video? YouTube does..
3. The iPod is still cool but so is the Zune and other players.
4. Everything is going wireless: downloads and net radio on your cell, listen to your music collection anywhere.
5. NICHES RULE! Whether you like Scottish Bagpipe Metal or Mexican Punk there will be sites and communities for you.
6. Don’t pay for a subscription to Napster or Rhapsody. imeem and others give you almost the same thing for free.
7. Ringtones are over. Create your own and stick with it.
8. You’ll get more free stuff with your downloads: lyrics, videos, artwork and more.
9. More great music will become available for free thanks to ad supported sites like We7 and SprialFrog.
10. More bands will drop their record labels and go direct like Radiohead, The Eagles, Prince and others already have

TECHNOLOGY SIDE The latest trend is downloadable music, teenage are not as concerned with music quality as much as the price, trading songs over instant messanger is popular too, as well as free

Evaluation of resources
Nowadays, with technology advancing, teenagers now go more into the cyber space for music, there are many sources like youtube and imeem where you can have access to music easily, quality don't really matters as long as it is the music they like, teenagers also share music between each other over instant messengers and AOL.
Mobile music is getting more popular among teenagers, gadgets like iPod, zen players are commonly seen at people walking over the streets.
Regarding the types of music, nowadays among teenagers it is getting more morden and westernized, with the influences of MTVs, this is a expected scene, teenagers today go for modern rock music which is a more emotional type, which reflects on our society.

Resources Used: ourdigitalmusic(n.d.)."Top 10 trends to look out for in 2008" Retrieved 20 March, from World Wide Web:http://www.ourdigitalmusic.com/top-10-trends-in-music-for-2008/