Dangers of Our Planet (part I)

Mother Nature is facing serious threats. For this list a look at those all-too-real threats that are plaguing the Earth right now. And if left unchecked, could spell catastrophe for the world as we know it.

Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

WMDs are an addition to the global arsenal that could make wars and terrorism even more deadly, whether through nuclear, biological, chemical or another threat. The Non-Proliferation Treaty was created to stem the spread of such weapons; however, some countries with nuclear capabilities are not signatories. Should an atomic weapon ever be used, the ensuing nuclear winter would be as devastating and difficult to survive as the bomb itself.

Pollution/Landfills

We were raised to reduce, reuse, recycle; but pollution remains a threat. Chemicals enter the earth, air and water from garbage in landfills. Electronic waste is an intensifying issue, as discarded cell phones or computers leach lead, mercury or toxins. Meanwhile, excessive artificial light causes light pollution. And mismanaged disposal of radioactive waste by nuclear power plants or medical research facilities causes massive environmental problems, as well.

Pandemic

There already exist infectious diseases that spread through the global community; from cholera and H1N1 to HIV/AIDS – the 1918 flu pandemic alone killed 3-5% of the world’s population. While these highly contagious illnesses proved devastating, they are nothing compared to a pandemic that could wipe out humanity altogether. We invented ways to combat such ailments; but that same industriousness could also be our downfall: between drug-resistant bacteria and weaponized viruses, our safety is not guaranteed.

Global Economic Collapse

A nation’s economic problems affect more than just that country. The 20th century’s worst decline, the Great Depression, began in the U.S. but spread worldwide. The Eurozone crisis, which began in 2009, is an example of how it can happen today. In fact, many experts suggest we are on course for another economic breakdown. If that’s the case, we can expect anarchy and the failure of law and order.

Ocean System Collapse

Forces like overfishing, pollution, ocean acidification, a rise in sea temperature, and oil spills damage the world’s oceans. But if the world’s ocean systems were to collapse, more than the fishing and tourism industries would be devastated: coral reefs, marine life and several endangered species could face catastrophe in that scenario. Plus, since the oceans help balance the planet’s oxygen and carbon dioxide, they are vital to the Earth’s survival.

Dangers of Our Planet (part II)

Poverty/Hunger

Despite organizations that wish to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, these remain persistent problems facing humanity – especially in developing countries. Impeding access to healthy food, education, medicine, and more, poverty affects children most – and extreme hunger only perpetuates the cycle of poverty. With food costs increasing thanks to weather changes that make certain regions unfavorable for agriculture, malnutrition is another effect of these difficulties.

Energy Crisis

Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have consumed fossil fuel rapidly, and some experts suggest “peak oil” is right around the corner. The world has already lived through several energy crises, but what’s coming could be worse – the social and economic implications are far-reaching, and worldwide blackouts are not implausible. Renewable energy is a viable solution; but it must be clean to stem emissions that cause pollution and weather changes.

Water Degradation/Scarcity

Due to overpopulation, pollution, climate change and other obstacles, many people live in areas plagued with water scarcity, with droughts gradually becoming a common problem around the world. Potable water is vital to the survival of life on Earth, because without it we must consume unsafe sources, which spreads diseases like cholera and dysentery. Conservation of fresh water is just one step to solving this issue, though that’s easier said than done.

Extreme Weather

Whether or not you believe it’s a man-made problem caused by excessive emissions and greenhouse gasses; whether you call it global warming or climate change; it’s hard to deny the existence of the extreme and unpredictable weather patterns plaguing our planet. The repercussions of these changes are more far-reaching than a simple polar vortex: rising temperatures, droughts, diminishing air quality, human displacement and dwindling natural resources are just the tip of the melting iceberg.

Overpopulation

Many of the devastating dangers our planet faces can be traced to this one problem. In 1950, the world’s population was approximately 2.5-billion; today it’s over 7-billion. With the number of births and our lifespans increasing, some doubt the Earth can sustain as many people as we’re producing – and issues like pollution, diminishing resources, species extinction and climate change might be the result, not to mention homelessness, pandemics and deforestation. 

Was He Killed?

Investigative author Ian Halperin made waves in December 2008 when he announced that Michael Jackson would be dead within six months. His prediction unfortunately came to fruition on June 25, 2009 – and ever since, Halperin has been attempting to clarify the truth about The King of Pop. Originally out to vilify Jackson over his sexual abuse charges, Halperin went undercover as a hairdresser to gain access to the star. His research resulted in a reversal of opinion: Halperin swears Jackson was innocent.

Cut Short (part I)

These voices were silenced before their time. For this list, we’re taking a look at political and social leaders who had their lives cut short. These are the unexpected deaths that shocked the world, impacted lives, and changed the course of history.

Philip II of Macedon (382 - 336 BC)

The man credited with inventing the political ideology of “divide and conquer,” Philip II was a successful ruler of Macedon. In the autumn of 336BC, Philip was left unprotected while attending his daughter’s wedding, and was killed by one of his bodyguards, Pausanias of Orestis. Though the assassin’s motives are unclear – some historians believe his wife and son Alexander III were involved, while others theorize Pausanias was a wronged lover of Philip’s – the murder allowed for Philip’s son Alexander the Great to ascend to the throne and create one of the largest empires in history.

Malcolm X (1925 - 1965)

As a militant voice of the Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X had long been a target of violence and death threats. After Malcolm X’s very public break from the Nation of Islam religious movement, animosity between him and the organization grew. Tensions boiled over during an address in Manhattan on February 21st, 1965, when three men shot and killed the civil rights leader. The Nation took responsibility, and Talmadge Hayer admitted his guilt, but the other two maintained their innocence. And the Civil Rights Movement lost one of its most active leaders.

Benazir Bhutto (1953 - 2007)

Though no longer Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was still a prominent political figure in 2007 as the first female leader of a Muslim country. On December 27 that year, she was on the campaign trail for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Though she was equipped with a bulletproof vehicle, Bhutto was killed while standing through the sunroof to greet fans when shots rang out and explosives were detonated near the car. Al-Qaeda commander Mustafa Abu al-Yazid took responsibility for Bhutto’s death, which sparked riots and quashed any chance of stability in the region.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (1863 - 1914)

If not for the events that followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, his name might’ve been just a blip in history. The murder of Ferdinand and his wife on June 28th, 1914 set in motion a chain of events that resulted in the beginning of WWI just one month later. The motive of assassin Gavrilo Princip and his fellow Bosnian-Serb revolutionaries was to break away from Austria-Hungary and form their own republic. The result was a conflict involving all the world’s great economic powers, and one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

John Lennon (1940 - 1980)

The cultural impact of the Beatles is difficult to overstate. The group inspired obsessed fans, including the dangerously infatuated Mark David Chapman. Chapman, once a diehard Beatles fan, had become a born-again Christian and considered Lennon’s comment that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus” blasphemous. Inspired by the anti-phony sentiment in J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” and his perception that Lennon was the ultimate hypocrite, Chapman visited The Dakota apartment building where Lennon and Yoko Ono lived on December 8th, 1980 and – after getting his autograph earlier in the day – shot and killed him.

Cut Short (part II)

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968)

Martin Luther King served as a star spokesman for the Civil Rights Movement in America, pushing for the equality of African Americans through nonviolent means, but he was silenced before he had the opportunity to see his efforts succeed. On April 4th, 1968, the civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner was shot and killed by James Earl Ray as he stood on the balcony of his hotel room. King’s death widened the gap between whites and blacks, caused riots and spurred the expansion of radical African American movements like the Black Panthers.

John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)

Tragedy has befallen many members of the Kennedy family; for example, JFK’s brother Bobby was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan in 1968 while he campaigned for President. But, perhaps most famous was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22nd, 1963. Shot by a sniper’s bullet while riding through Dealey Plaza in Texas, JFK’s death is shrouded in conspiracy, with the official story placing the gun in the hands of former Marine Lee Harvey Oswald. But, since Oswald was shot just days later by Jack Ruby while in police custody, we may never know the truth for certain.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

After guiding America through the most tumultuous time in its young history, Lincoln had locked in his legacy by 1865. But any other accomplishments he might’ve achieved were thwarted during a play at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14th, 1865. With the Civil War drawing to a close, actor and Confederate John Wilkes Booth snuck into the President’s box and shot him in the head. Booth then jumped to the stage with a knife and apparently uttered in Latin “thus always to tyrants,” a phrase attributed to Brutus during Caesar’s assassination. Lincoln died the next day.

Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC)

Perhaps history’s most famous assassination thanks to its retelling by Shakespeare, the death of Julius Caesar is memorable as both drama and historical fact. After Caesar was named “Dictator for life” by the Senate, a plan to remove him was almost immediately devised by Senate members calling themselves Liberators, who feared Caesar threatened their power. Together, this group of roughly 60 of some of Caesar’s closest allies violently beat and stabbed him to death. Their later attempts to install a tyrannical government were met with protests from the lower-class Romans, and ultimately Caesar’s heir Octavian gained power.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

He spent his life as a symbol of peace, but died a victim of violence. In life, Mahatma Gandhi led India to independence from Great Britain using nonviolent tactics rather than revolution. Despite his success, some objected to his peaceful approach, including Nathuram Godse. The Hindu nationalist disagreed with Gandhi’s support of Pakistan and perceived preference toward Pakistani Muslims over Indian Hindus. This caused Godse to fire three fatal shots at Gandhi while he was in New Delhi on January 30th, 1948. Millions subsequently honored the fallen leader, and his policies of compassion are still praised today.

Funny 1st World Dilemmas (part I)

You haven’t experienced true pain until you’ve lived in a First World country. Welcome to Johnny's blog, today I am counting down the 10 First World problems that can be related to any one.
For this list, I would not be taking a look at real issues like disease, poverty, or genocide, but the little things privileged people in the First World tend to blow out of proportion.

#10: Cleaning Lady Didn’t Show Up

If you’re tired of rolling around in your own filth and are too lazy to sanitize the house yourself, hire a maid to do your dirty work. Since you’re unlikely to pay her above minimum wage, though, there’s a good chance your cleaning lady will occasionally be tardy or absent. Then who’s going to Windex the counter tops, scrub the toilets, and get the hair out of the shower drain? Ah well, maybe it’s for the best. Consuela always starts cleaning the bathroom just when you need to take a dump.

#9: Choosing Where to Eat Lunch

You’d think with so many restaurants to choose from, it wouldn’t be so hard for two people to come to a mutual agreement on where to eat. Alas, every time one person makes a recommendation, the other person immediately shoots it down. Either the suggested eatery is too fattening, too greasy, too expensive, too low-class, or they’re just sick of it. Then by the time you guys finally decide where to do lunch, break time’s over. Just go to a food court next time. There’s something there for everyone.

#8: Fridge Full of Food, But Not Hungry

There’s no shortage of First World problems pertaining to food, such as your dinner going cold, consuming too much sushi at that business brunch, or being totally out of sustenance. The most tragic food-relation crisis imaginable, however, is having no appetite to feast upon the wonderful treats in your fully stocked fridge. Although that leftover pizza, Mom’s homemade egg salad, and chocolate cake are calling out to your gut, you’re simply not hungry enough to take even one bite. At least all those starving children will never know this burden.

#7: Bed’s Too Comfortable to Get Up

After a long day at the office, there’s no better place to unwind than in a luxurious bed. The only dilemma is sometimes the bed will be so comfy that you’ll be reluctant to get up the next morning. It’s so tempting to hit the snooze button, call in sick to school or work, and spend all eternity wrapped up in your covers. Sadly, stupid life inevitably requires you to arise and contribute something to stupid society. Oh well, chances are you’d need to go to the bathroom eventually anyway.

#6: Updating Software

Although the digital age has given us countless innovative conveniences, there have also been some unforgivable drawbacks. For example, how many times are we expected to update the software on our laptops, tablets, and phones? There’s a new version of iTunes available?! We already downloaded the last version a month ago! The Xbox needs to undergo another system update?! You seriously expect us to wait five minutes to play “Dragon Age: Inquisition!” Ain’t nobody got time for that! You call this the digital age? More like the Stone Age!

Funny 1st World Dilemmas (part II)

Continuing with this hilarious but embarrassing situations that stress most of us these days, we continue our list of annoying things of these technology driven world. 

#5: Too Hot Outside, But Freezing Inside

This is a common problem people face on a scorching summer day. It’s so hot outside that you feel like the sun may literally set your body on fire. It’s so cold inside, though, that you feel like bundling up in a winter jacket. The world around you is like a hot pocket. It’s either burning or freezing, but never just right. No matter how articulately you adjust the thermostat you can’t seem to achieve a balanced temperature. So you just have to pick your poison: Hot or cold.

#4: Nothing to Watch on TV

Sitting around on the couch in the middle of the day isn’t complete without the television playing. But what if there’s nothing good currently on, the DVR is empty, and you’ve already streamed everything on Netflix? You could go outside…no, no that’s crazy talk. It’s best to just remain situated and keep channel surfing until something sparks your fancy. Staring at the screen and pressing the remote button sure is exhausting, though. Maybe there’ll be something worth watching after a quick catnap. If not, then may god help us all.

#3: Starbucks Problems

As much as we love to start off the day with a caffeinated beverage from Starbucks, this establishment serves up many of the same problems as other coffeehouses. To begin, will they ever perfect the ratio of ice to coffee in their ice coffees? At least a cup full of ice is better than waiting for scolding hot coffee to cool down to room temperature. Oh, and you wouldn’t believe the chaos that ensues when they get a customer’s name wrong. We don’t pay a premium price for such substandard service!

#2: Forgetting Phone Charger

Misplacing your phone is one thing, but forgetting your phone charger can make one feel like an even bigger bonehead. Now you’re going to have to ration the battery all day long. As hard as you try to conserve power, however, the phone will go from 100% charged to 10% in the blink of an eye. You can also count on the phone giving out at the worst possible time, be it before responding to a crucial text message or in the middle of a game of “Candy Crush.”

#1: Internet Is Out

While humankind might have survived without the Internet for almost two millennia, these days we refuse to live another day without tweeting, selling possessions on eBay, and bingeing on WatchMojo Top 10s. If your Internet goes out, you’ll be lucky if all you have to do is reboot the router. Worst-case scenario: You’ll spend several hours on the phone with customer service and several more hours waiting for a technician to come to the house. And you want to know what the most frustrating part is? You can’t pass the time by checking Facebook!