Heavy Metal Music and Teen Suicide

In reference to the article concerning heavy metal and teen suicide: I, being a heavy metal fan, must admit that death is a recurring theme in some bands' lyrics. However, I also wanted to point out that nowadays, "thinking about suicide" has become popular because of the media. (Example: Kurt Cobain's suicide has been glorified and many teenagers followed such action) Why? We're suffering from what I would call "mindlesness"...I sadly see how many of my schoolmates, for example, will be quick to accept whatever MTV and the radio throw at them (ANYTHING).
These two mediums have played with political correctness and have turned it into a gimmick, therefore contributing to a general lack of objective and critical thought. Heavy metal is not the only part to blame...the media is too, and so are may irresponsible parents. I must sadly affirm that the United States is suffering from a breakdown in the institution of what is known as "the family", in which many parents would rather let the government take care of their children and dedicate themselves to other things. As I said before, heavy metal is not the only one to blame, but it is an easy scapegoat for those who insist on blaming youth's problems on someone.

Video game ban for prisoners

A new Prison Service directive states only convicts who have earned the highest level of privileges will be allowed access to games consoles such as PlayStations.
The document bans prisons from spending taxpayers' money on buying hardware or computer games for inmates with immediate effect.
Last year the Government admitted spending more than £10,000 on 80 PlayStations and 15 Xboxes for young offender institutions.
The directive states that all prisoners will be banned from playing 18-rated computer games from the end of September this year.
Only inmates on the highest level of Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) and those at risk of suicide will be allowed to play computer games.

The Magic Of The Rolling Stones: by Victor Epand

Unlike many other bands that had started out in the early sixties, the Rolling Stones is still going strong. In fact, because the band has been around for so long, many of the original band members are no longer with the Rolling Stones. When originally formed in the year of 1962, the band members consisted of Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman. Brian Jones would be fired from the band in 1968 and Mick Taylor, who left the band in 1974, would take his place.
Ronnie Wood later joined the band and Bill Wyman left the band in the early nineties. Today, the band currently consists of only four members: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts. Even with the many changes that occurred throughout the years, including the turn over in the members, the band continues to tour and be enjoyed for its music.
The Rolling Stones focused more in rhythm and blues and rock and roll when they first started out, but were more or less labeled a rock and roll band after a hit in the mid 1960s. From then, they went on to become one of the most successful rock and roll bands in the twentieth century. They would create thirty albums and many compilations through the years. In 1994, they made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Even though they continued to tour and play together, many of the band members also created solo albums on the side. It is obvious through their dedication to their music and their want to continue playing that music is what these people love. For over forty years they have been playing together as a band and continuing to share their unique style with the world. In fact, they are quite experimental in their playing and have been extremely successful in doing so. Even though they are a rock and roll band, they always include many different music genres in their music.
Perhaps the reason why the Rolling Stones have been a success for so long is because they have such a passion and love for what they do. This is why they have been able to create music that has been enjoyed for more than forty years. It is an extraordinary achievement that other bands and musicians strive to do, and while there have been a few that were successful in having a lifetime career in music, there are few bands that have managed to entertain so well for so long.
The ironic thing about the band's success is that in the beginning Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were not terribly impressed with their music and were surprised when their first few songs had such a good turn out. That success helped them to build their confidence and they kept on going after that. They may have underestimated their abilities at first, but after some hard work they began to see what they were really capable of.