20 Rims

20 Rims

I can't help but notice just about everyone on my college campus with an iPod or MP3 player dangling from their pockets and the headphones blasting in their ears. I can't count the number of times a Low rider with 20" rims drove past me bumping their system. Seeing these things began to make me wonder, how in the world will these people be able to hear in the next 10-20 years. Will most of the nation need hearing aids?

We live in a day and age where music is everything. People even identify themselves with the type of music they listen to. For example, there are the hip-hoppers, rockers, punk; country cowboys and many others that can fill the list. I remember when I used to consider myself a hip hopper, I listened to hip-hop music, dressed in clothes designed by rappers, and I bumped my music as loud as I could in my car. But, one day I had an epiphany. I was coming to the realization that I could go deaf if I kept listening to my music as loud as I was. I remember having to ask people several times what they said to me, and this became very scary. Since then I have given my ears a break and realized that I need to take care of them.

Honestly, I think that the people in this society think that they are invincible. I think that many of these Low ridin', music bumpin', homies, do not realize the value of their hearing. What will happen when they no longer hear the music bumping in their ears? What will happen when the only way that they can enjoy a song is by feeling the vibrations run through their body? What will happen when all of America goes deaf and we all have to learn sign language in order to keep up?

The more people that are listening to high volumes of music, the more they are turning it up in order to hear it. The realization of hearing loss hit home to many "Hip-Hoppers" when rapper Foxy Brown came out and told the world that she is almost totally deaf. The rapper, who was 26 years old at the time, reported that she was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss in May of 2005 while recording her upcoming album. The rapper also stated that she hadn't heard another person's voice in 6 months prior to her releasing this information.

Hearing loss is a serious problem. A national survey conducted in the UK, found that 14% of the people who have MP3 players listen to them for up to 28 hours per week. It was also reported that more than a third of people who have experienced ringing in their ears after listening to loud music also listen to their MP3 players daily. The ringing in the ears is called tinnitus, which is a sign that there is damage to the hearing.

Millions of people have MP3 players and Apple has sold more than 20 million iPods. The RNID considers 80 decibels as a threatening level for hearing loss, 20 less then a pneumatic drill. It is reported that some MP3 players can reach 105 decibels.

I fear for all of those kids who talked mom and dad into buying them an iPod and the guy whose ride got pimped by Xibit because they are probably going to be deaf sometime in the near future. People do not realize how fragile we as human's really are until we lose apart of us that is important. It may take one of the homies getting his first hearing aid to really open the eyes of the people around him. He may even play it off until everybody else goes deaf too.

I hope God Willing this article will give you some insight.

20 In Rims

20 In Rims

The 2011 Chevy Camaro looks mean. The Camaro has always been known to be a fast car, but it's been a lot of years since the car looked this good. The retro body style, infused with modern sharp edges strikes a look that harks back to the days of true muscle cars. With an optional 6.2L V8 pushing out 426 horse power on a stick-shift transmission according to Chevrolet, the 2011 Chevy Camaro is a true muscle car.

If you love the mean look, but prefer to have good gas mileage, Chevy's website says the optional 3.6L V6 gets an astonishing 18 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway, while still delivering 312 horse power. That's not bad for all that muscle, and with a starting price of $22,680, you can be styling without starving.

With hands-free Bluetooth wireless technology and turn-by-turn directions from OnStar, the Camaro has come a long way from its basic options beginnings, but the 2011 Camaro has stepped it up even more this year. No Camaro before has seen the likes of this year's HUD system. According to Chevrolet.com, the Head-Up Display (HUD) in the 2011 Camaro displays your speed, RPM, stereo station and more on the windshield right in front of you. With this technology there is no need to ever take your eyes off the road.

The 2011 Chevy Camaro has taken a queue from luxury cars as well. According to Chevrolet, six airbags now deploy for safety in a collision, as opposed to just two. Of course, there are a host of electronics built into the car to help you avoid having an accident.

A truly inspirational ride, the 2011 Camaro 2SS is unlike any previous Camaro. It will set you back over $34,000 according to Chevrolet.com, but with the HUD system, 20 inch rims, a nine speaker Boston Premium Acoustics stereo system with USB port for your MP3 player, built-in Bluetooth for wireless hands-free connection to your phone and leather seats, has a Camaro ever been this impressive? It's a dream car for any true Chevy Camaro fan.

The long-nosed Camaro body styles of the 1980's and 1990's were a strong look for the Camaro over the years, but going back to the iconic look of the late 1960's was a brilliant move for Chevrolet. The Chevy Camaro comes from a strong beginning in muscle car history and a step back to that look says, We haven't forgotten where we came from. That's a bold statement for any company to make.