Looking back on the days of Corey Haim

Corey Haim was raised Jewish, and was born in Toronto, Ontario. While still a young child, his mother enrolled him in acting lessons in order for him to overcome his shyness. It was not until 1986 when Haim had his big break in acting. He played the role of Lucas Bly in the popular movie “Lucas”; the movie also starred Winona Ryder, Charlie Sheen, and Kerri Green. He also appeared in movies like “License to Drive”, “The Goonies” and “The Lost Boys”, to name a few.

Corey Haim had drug problems

Haim had struggled with drug addiction throughout his acting career. In the early 2000s, he made known to the public that he was struggling with an addiction with prescription medication. “I started on the downers which were a hell of a lot better than the uppers because I was a nervous wreck. But one led to two, two led to four, four led to eight, until at the end it was about 85 a day — the doctors could not believe I was taking that much. And that was just the Valium — I’m not talking about the other pills I went through.” Valium is a drug used to reduce tension and anxiety. Similar to recently deceased movie actress Brittany Murphy, Corey Haim was suffering from “flu-like symptoms,” and both were using over-the-counter and prescription medication.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/breebailey/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Related Post:

- The Lost Boys Corey Haim dies, will not return as a vampire

Related Video:

I just finished watching the “Cop Out” movie trailer and I must say I am definitely looking forward to seeing it. When I first heard that Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan were going to be in the same movie, I thought it was just a fib. I mean, the two are from totally different planets – one from what I like to call the “high life” and the other originates from an “I’m-too-sexy-for-my-gun” world afar. But it’s true; Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis are both starring in this new “Cop Out” comedy flick. And it looks like it’s going to be worth the $9 bucks I’d have to spend to see it in theaters, despite all the negative movie reviews I’ve been reading up on.

“Cop Out” Movie Trailer

To my surprise, there’s actually a very attractive connection between the two. Tracy Morgan is the kind of person that’s naturally funny; he almost doesn’t even need to try. Bruce Willis, on the other hand, is funny in his ever-stern ways. He can keep a straight face on and show no kinds emotions and he’ll still get a laugh out of you. I also love how they threw Seann William Scott in the movie; I think it changes the feel of the movie a bit. I love comedy, and this definitely looks like an 8 out of a 10.

Cop Out Movie Reviews

Critics from Rotten Tomatoes are not so thrilled about the new movie, Cop Out. Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times said, “Many of the gags possibly looked good on paper, but watching Willis and Morgan struggle with them is like watching third graders do Noel Coward, if Noel Coward had been rewritten by Kevin Smith.” Ouch! Top critic Bill Goodykoontz, on the other hand, gave Cop Out somewhat of a decent review: “A movie that makes little sense, is dumb when it’s not being stupid and yet is still at times laugh-out-loud funny.”

It really all comes down to what you view as funny. Some will like it, while others won’t. Nonetheless, I will still see the new “Cop Out” movie in theaters in spite of all the negative reviews from critics.

New credit card laws 2010 went into effect yesterday, February 22, 2010, and banks are not so thrilled. Many credit card issuers like JP Morgan Chase, the nation’s largest credit card issuer, are going to expect a drop in revenue because of the new legislation. According to CNN, JP Morgan is expecting to lose as much as $750 million this year in its credit card business. On the bright side, however, credit card users will benefit.

The new credit card laws 2010 mandate less billing confusing billing practices. For instance, credit card issuers must notify customers of an amount due 21 days prior to a due date. Furthermore, credit card payments can only be scheduled on one set day out of the month. Also, credit card issuers can no longer charge a rate increase during the first year of service, and customers must be notified 45 days before a rate increase.

New Credit Card Laws 2010 focuses on young consumers

New credit card laws also apply to young consumers. Credit card applicants aged between 18 and 21 must be able to prove they can pay credit card bills. If the credit card applicant cannot verify a stable form of income, he/she must have a co-signer before they can be issued a card. Credit card debt has become a major issue in today’s economy, so it’s good to know that the new credit card laws take also into account the financial hardships many young consumers face these days. College students struggling to make ends meet especially in this trying economy should not be given quick access to credit for their own financial protection.

Many college students are either still living at home and work part-time jobs. Credit cards are no doubt very attractive to young consumers, individuals who have yet to understand the benefit, as well as the downside of owning credit cards. It’s crucial that protective measures are in place in order to reduce the amount of credit card debt in the near future. And it looks like we are finding these measures now in the new credit card laws 2010.

Related Video: New Credit Card Laws 2010 in effect today

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is under a lot of heat regarding the comments he made recently during an interview with local South Carolina newspaper The State. He says that poor children are stray animals, referring to those who take public assistance.

“My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed!
“You’re facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that. And so what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to curtail that type of behavior. They don’t know any better.”

First off, I would like to point out how arrogant this man is. Shucks, I don’t even know if that’s the right word to use. All I know is he obviously has never experienced the hard life, firsthand. Of course, it can be argued that there may be those who take advantage of the system, but there are many more others, like me, who are in sincere need of financial help.

Taking Public Assistance

You see, I used to be on public assistance a few years ago. I was on foodstamps and welfare, and I bear no shame in it either. I became a mother at age 17, which made the struggle to finish school even harder to accomplish. I had no job and wanted desperately than ever to get my high school diploma, or at least get my GED. So I applied for public assistance. With the help I was able to receive, I was then able to go to school and work my way into the workforce. I am no longer on state benefits, but I will always remember, be forever thankful for the help I received a few years ago during one of the most critical times in my life. I am a hard-working independent woman who pays the taxes these political fools constantly craft and generate.

A Disgusting Mindset

So does that mean a person who receives public assistance while trying hard every single day to advance in this world an animal? Did I somehow evolve from an animal to a human, because now I’m considered “acceptable” for my ability to pay taxes? So I had a baby at a young age – so what!? Of course, I’m able to breed. Does that make every mother that walks the surface of the earth an animal because they can breed? Makes no damn sense. My kid is no stray animal because I used to be on public assistance. On top of that, I work pretty darn hard to take care of my own. Imperfection is amongst us all. We make good decisions as well as bad ones. Some of us have it hard, while others have it easy. Either way, poor children, or any child for that matter, are not stray animals in any shape or form. It’s the ones who suggest such things that are animals, such as the ruthless comments made by South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer. This type of mindset is the genuine reason why the rich are getting richer, while the poor, poorer.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryusuke/ / CC BY 2.0)

Related Video:

Okay, I haven’t seen “Avatar“, so I can’t place too much judgment on it. I’ve heard, however, from acquaintances that have seen the movie, that the new science-fiction flick is a must-see. I mean, what can get better than James Cameron and a sweet tough of 3-D? They say it brings a sense of excitement so intense it’s enough to kill… literally.

Avatar’ Death

A man in Taiwan reportedly died from a stroke that was likely caused by over-excitement after watching Avatar. Over-excitement! Can you believe that? I remember when “The Passion of the Christ” first hit the big screens in 2004 and a woman in the theater dropped down to her knees in the walkway, wailing and screaming on top of her lungs. But falling over dead after watching Avatar is a little bit more on the extreme side.

Then again, the Taiwanese man probably shouldn’t have seen the movie in the first place, especially in 3-D. According to the AFP, the man is said to have had a history of high blood pressure. He was taken to the hospital where a scan revealed that his brain was hemorrhaging. An emergency doctor said that “It’s likely that the over-excitement from watching the movie triggered his symptoms.” Poor guy.

Related Posts:

- ‘Avatar’ is racist? That’s a bit of a stretch

- ‘Avatar’ Dominates Box Office On Its Opening Weekend

- Has Everyone Gone ‘Avatar’ Crazy? Box Office Weekend

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45928872@N08/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Conan O'Brien (Image from Wikimedia.org)

NBC is paying a lot of money to get rid of Conan O’Brien. Why? Well, there is only one explanation: NBC has gone out of its mind. Conan has served well with NBC, let alone the world of comedy for that matter. He is the reason why I watch late night television shows. I’ve been watching him even before I understood what a joke is. Moving his show to 12:05 is basically the same thing as saying, “Your show sucks, Conan.” You wonder why he wants nothing further to do with it.

Reports are saying that NBC will pay Conan a whopping $32.5 million to walk away from the “Tonight Show”, and that any money Conan makes outside of NBC during the remaining NBC contract period, NBC will subtract from the payout deal. Harsh! I mean, $32.5 million is a lot of money, but going on for that long without a Conan-fix is a major downside, especially for big-time Conan fans like me. Whatever comes next for Conan O’Brien, we all know he’ll take it on with the same spunk and absurdity we all love. Good luck, Conan! – not like you need it or anything.

Some of my favorite “Conan O’Brien quotes”:

“Scientists announced that they have located the gene for alcoholism. Scientists say they found it at a party, talking way too loudly.”

–

“In a prime-time address, President Bush said he backed limited federal funding for stem cell research. That’s right, the President said, this is a quote, the research could help cure brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and whatever it is I have.”

–

“If life gives you lemons, make some kind of fruity juice.”

–

“The Canadian government continues to say they will not help us if we go to war with Iraq. However, the prime minister of Canada said he’d like to help, but he’s pretty sure that last time he checked, Canada had no army.”

We love you, Conan!

Related Posts:

- Conan O’Brien ready to sign payout deal with NBC

- Top 10 reasons to join Team Conan

- Conan O’Brien and “The Jay Leno Show,” a failed experiment

- 5 ideas for Conan O’Brien’s new job

Hello all and thank you for taking the time to read my post. The name is Franrose. As many of you know, I’m big on social networking. I’m on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and manage several blog sites. Also, I am a big-time advocate for Personal Money Store, one of the most reputable lending companies online. Anyway, a few days ago, something had crossed my mind, which is why I am taking this time to write and invite those who are interested to join me in this proposal: to exchange links.

We, as a company, manage several web properties, many of which have reached respectable rankings within Google. We have developed a system that is specifically designed to create backlinks and increase traffic flow. One of our sites, for instance, has over 250,000 unique visitors a month, over 62,000 a week – all in a just a short period of time using the system we’ve structured. So I hope that kind of gives you an idea of what I can be able to do for you. All I ask in return is a little of your time to promote me as well.

So here’s what I have in mind: If you run a company or a type of service online, I would like to help increase your web value and the traffic going to your site. I already have a network and a proven system in place for that. But I believe that by helping others achieve their online goals, far greater results will come. It’s definitely a win-win situation. I will help promote whatever it is you are trying to get out there, no matter the service or product. Oh, my apologies – I take that back. This link exchange offer will not be available to any service or product that is illegal, unethical, immoral, or gambling or alcohol in excess. Other than that, you should have no problem being considered for this link exchange proposal.

Unlike many link exchange services online, you will not have to pay for anything when going through us. I don’t think anyone should pay to exchange links (hence the term “link exchange”). Link exchange should be free, and pose no threats to your pockets. Furthermore, back to the link exchange offer, you are not limited to just one website. If you own other sites that may be in need of such help, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will be more than happy to help. Again, all I ask in return is a small amount of your time to promote me as well.

So that’s the end of my day’s tantrum. I hope to have the opportunity to exchange links with you and, hopefully, build strong relationships along the way. Thank you for taking the time to read this post – truly appreciated.

Franrose Smith

I used to hate the idea of borrowing money, especially from payday lenders and the ‘excessive’ interest rates they pose on consumers. Up to this point, I still do not own a single credit card because I refuse to leave any doors open to financial hardship. However, my thoughts on payday loans have changed over the past years.

Payday Loans to blame for the ‘cycle of debt’

I’ve heard many horror stories about payday lenders, which is one of the main reasons why I held resentment towards the industry. People blame payday loans, as well as other forms of lending, for the cycle of debt that many across the nation are witnessing firsthand. But are payday loans really to blame? Are they solely responsible for the “cycle of debt” that so many are struggling to get out of?

If you were to ask me today, a point-blank ‘NO’ would be my answer. I can say, however, that payday loans can definitely help amplify the unbearable experience of being stuck in the cycle of debt. The fact is irresponsible use of money is the main reason why people are stuck in debt – not the payday loan industry. If anything, they have done the opposite and have helped many people out of debt with the services they offer. There’s a reason they’ve been around for many years. Even now, more than ever, people are looking to payday lenders for help. Making ends meet in this economy is not a walk in the park. Emergency situations arise so often and unexpectedly these days it’s hard to keep afloat at times.

Everyone needs help from time to time. It’s just the way things are. So where do the hard-working individual go in terms of getting quick financial assistance? Do they head to the bank? Sadly, some have gone to that extent, but most likely have been turned away because of their credit, whether bad, poor, or no credit at all. What then can they do?

The payday loan industry – a blessing for all

While some harbor resentment towards payday loans, the payday loan industry has become a grand blessing to so many others. Many of us struggle with bad or poor credit, a problem that often keeps us from getting the help we need – when we need it. Fortunately, places like Personal Money Store understand the credit problem and the daily economic difficulties that we struggle with each day. Unlike banks and credit unions, they have lowered their bars and expectations for this very reason. They know that only a few people have stellar credit, and that figure calculates up to more than half of the population. Not only do they provide fast, reliable assistance, but many companies also work with their customers to find the right payment plan that fits well within their means.

Payday Loans vs. Saving Money

Although paying back the interest was not something I looked forward to, I felt great knowing that I had saved more money in the end because of the help of payday loans. One last thing I’d like to add before wrapping things up: Start a savings account, if you have not yet already. Saving money will help a great deal when those financial emergencies pop up, and will keep you from needing a payday loan.

I have a 3-year-old kid who is fully potty trained. All the credit, however, goes right to my baby.

You see, I’m a full-time worker. I don’t have the required amount of time to consistently potty train my kid, so I must rely on others who can. However, to my disappointment, they too were unable to provide the kind of training I had wished for. Fortunately, my bright 3-year-old decided one day to lose the training pants and start using the toilet on her own. Ever since then, she has been using the toilet no problem. I was even amazed to see her get out of bed – on her own – one night to use the toilet. She stumbled her way out of her bedroom, down the hallway, into the bathroom, and sat her little white tush on the toilet seat. After answering to nature’s call, she stumbled her way back to her bedroom, and dozed right back to sleep. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty damn amazing!

I’ve been very fortunate in this aspect. However, there are many parents who are struggling to potty train their kids. Many parents have asked me how I potty trained my kid, and what type of method works best.

The Best Potty Training Method

I don’t know which method works best, but I do know that it takes a lot of time and consistency to potty train children. Everything must be on a set schedule whether it’s feeding your child, having playtime, taking baths, or going to the potty. Not only is having a set routine comforting to children, but it is also quite beneficial in the development of economic and organizational skills. Having a set routine can also help with behavioral problems, in case you didn’t know.

As parents, we all know that sitting at the toilet for hours on end can be both tiring and frustrating at times. But when it comes to potty training your child, the required amount of time invested in training your child will pay off nicely in the end. If they see that you dread potty-time, they will do the same. Of course, you can take your baby to the bathroom, but you can’t make them go. As mentioned earlier, it takes a lot of time and consistency. Instead of getting aggravated, why not take the time to bond with your child and make potty training a fun game? Come up with a reward game where your child is given something each time he goes. For instance, you can put a sticker chart next to the toilet. Every time your baby goes, he receives a sticker, and a step closer to getting a prize. Remember not to push your child or expect too much out of him/her. Even if your child shows no signs of immediate progress, remember that your efforts will eventually pay off.

The Three Day Potty Method

“Professional Parenting Mentor and Coach” Lora Jensen also brings out a very good point. She says that “the way you potty train can actually distract your child from the learning process, ignite power-struggles and leave you frustrated. Your child may even be “stuck” in pull-ups or other training pants for weeks or months to come.” I’m sure every parent would agree that this is not something they want for their child. If you feel you need some help to potty train your baby, by all means get it! Check out Lora Jensen’s “3 Day Potty training” method for clear, specific advice on potty training.

Related Posts:

- 3 Day Potty Training May Not Require Payday Loans

- Royal Restrooms | Business is Booming in Bathroom Business

- Children and Unsecured Personal Loans, Saving and Money

- Just a Drop Eliminates Odors, Reduces Trash, Can Save Money

- GoGirl – Not Your Typical Porta Potty for Females

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abardwell/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Cost of healthcare insurance is rising. Most people these days are unable to afford even the lowest rates of healthcare insurance due to many of our daily challenges. The economy has played a huge part as well, leaving little to no financial stability one can fully depend on. Even with healthcare insurance, some people are not even able to afford the co-pay for the doctor’s visit, let alone the prescriptions they need to get better. So, what can a person do to alleviate some of that financial burden that comes with high healthcare costs? Is there a way? Of course there is!

One of the main things you can do is try to stay healthy. Fewer visits to your doctor can mean fewer hospital bills to worry about, which adds up to a large sum of savings. Kick your unhealthy eating habits to the curb and create a healthy tradition of eating the whole family (and your pockets!) will enjoy.

Healthcare costs vs. Price of Healthy Foods

Purchasing foods of all-organic products can indeed be pricey. With more people struggling through the economy and joining the ever-growing line of unemployment, we can’t always find the money to fund organic meals on a daily basis. Like many businesses across the nation, the organic-food market is also facing economic difficulties. Organic grocery shoppers who generally spend 20 percent more than the average food shopper are now cutting corners and opting for a cheaper way to put food on the table. However, with the rising cost of healthcare in mind, is the money used for healthy foods worth it?

H. Shenoy, a contributing writer at Personal Money Store, makes a very good point on this topic. “Contrary to what many people may think, staying healthy is less expensive than going to the doctor regularly,” said Shenoy. “You do not have to follow an extreme regimen to stay reasonably healthy.”

People are looking for ways to save money on food items, which is a good thing. Anything that can create an extra cash flow will help a great deal, especially when those unexpected financial emergencies take place. But like Shenoy stated, “staying healthy is less expensive” than frequent visits to the doctor. There’s quite a huge difference between the two, which will either save you more money in the end or send you deeper in debt.

Financial Stability

This is not to say, however, that you do not need healthcare because you make every effort to stay healthy. We are not immortal (unless, of course, you’re Edward Cullen). Sometimes, a doctor’s visit is required, not just for regular check-ups, but for those illnesses that often visit unexpectedly. But knowing how to balance out the rising cost of healthcare with your food budget will help not just your health, but your efforts to financial stability as well.

Related Posts:

- Avoid Personal Loans and Debt by Staying Healthy

- Hungry Girl Keeps it Simple, Helps Shoppers and Snackers

- Visit ‘French Women Don’t Get Fat’ FOR FREE

- Game On Diet Says Pairing Up is Key to Success

- Rachael Ray Show Introduces the ‘400 Calorie Fix’ Method

- How to Buy Groceries when Pay Day is Far Away

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missbossy/ / CC BY 2.0)

Wait a minute... that's not the real "Avatar" poster is it?

The new movie “Avatar” is getting raving reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, not that it really matters what they say. I’ve learned that critics are not always right. Critics will be critics. Nonetheless, a whopping 84 percent of critics on Rotten Tomatoes showered “Avatar” with great reviews. Top critic Colin Covert said, “The film vibrates with the excitement of discovery and awe. Not just for the sight of six-legged rhinos and butterfly-hued dragons, but for the thousands of hours of work that unite here in a creative epiphany.”

For those of you who love Star Wars, Lord of the Ring and other movies with Sci-Fi (or Syfy) effects, you’re going to love Avatar. Here is a partial summary about “Avatar”, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Zoe Saldana as Neytiri to name a few. From Rotten Tomatoes:

“Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.”

Not everyone, however, gave “Avatar” a good review. For instance, Moira MacDonald from the Seattle Times said, “Everyone recites their lines, awkwardly laying out exposition, speaking their clunky dialogue. None of this is supposed to matter, because we’re presumably busy marveling at all the money on display.”

Golden Globe Nominations

Beyond the “Avatar” movie reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has scored Golden Globe nominations in the best drama and best director categories, according to Yahoo News. With all the positive reviews and nominations for the 67th Golden Globe awards, “Avatar” could very much take over the box office as soon as the movie hits theaters. We’re just going to have to wait and see.

Related Video:

“Avatar” Movie Trailer

Related Posts:

- ‘Up in the Air’ Movie Reviews, This Weekend at the Box Office

- Movie Reviews: ‘Christmas Carol,’ ‘The Box,’ ‘Fourth Kind’

- ‘The Blind Side’ Movie Reviews Sing Its Praises

- Movie Reviews and Weekend at the Box Office

(Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Former New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer (Image from Wikimedia.org)

Do you remember that girl name Ashley Dupre? No? Well, do you remember the call-girl that was involved in the 2008 sex scandal that took down Gov. Eliot Spitzer? Well, that’s Ashley Dupre. If you were hanging out in Jupiter around the time this event went down, you can read more about it here.

Ashley Dupre Giving Advice on Love

Hopefully, Ashley Dupre will not have to resort to her old ways to earn some quick cash. I just found out that miss sassy Ashley Dupre has taken her own understanding of relationship and love to a whole ‘nother level. Apparently, she is now offering advice on love, sex and relationships through her new Sunday column, “Ask Ashley“, in the New York Post’s “Meet Market.”

“Sure, she’s made some mistakes,” admits the post. “But now Ashley Dupre, the former escort who brought down Gov. Eliot Spitzer, is sharing what she’s learned.”

In her first Sunday column, she gave advice on ways to handle rebellious teenagers, dot signs of unhappy married men, no-fail Christmas gifts for woman, and several others. After reading through her column, I found that Ashley Dupre actually knows a lot about relationships. I can’t say she has the best advice out there in terms of relationships, but she definitely has the right idea.

Why is Your Man Cheating? Ask Ashley.

The only problem with this is I can’t seem to forget the fact that she was once what some people would call a “home wrecker.” The fact she was linked to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer through a federal investigation looking into a prostitution ring keeps coming to mind. And seriously, who came up with the idea to have a call-girl provide love counsel, most particularly through the power of the New York Post?

Many props to the person responsible for this brilliant idea! I mean, this couldn’t come at a better time considering all the media attention focused on Tiger Woods sex scandal.

Related Posts:

- Ashley Dupre Has an Advice Column | Stay Classy, America

- Ashley Dupre Slams Haters, Exposes Hypocrites

What is your definition of marriage? (Photo via wtlphotos, Flickr.com)

I’ve been married for 4 years now. My husband and I married at a very young age. He had just turned 21 and I was only 17 at the time… and pregnant. I was the happiest girl the day my husband proposed to me. We had a blurry idea of what marriage is and what exactly we were getting ourselves into. At that particular moment, in that precise moment in time, all we knew and cared for was that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together.

What is Marriage?

“What is marriage?” asked my mother. “Surely, you must have idea of what marriage is.” What!? Of course I have an idea, I thought to myself. My parents have been married for 25 years. I’ve seen them work through all their ups and downs. I’ve seen the affection they shared, the secret whispers, and sneaked kisses. I have also seen the fight, the struggle, and disappointments. I’ve seen it all. Or have I?

I was still living at home with my parents at the time. I was a high school dropout with no job or a stable source of income. My husband worked part-time as a bagger-boy at a grocery store downtown. He worked minimum-waged hours and brought in little money. He, too, relied on others for financial support. And here we are, two young individuals in love proclaiming they’re prepared to make the next big step.

Not only was I going to be a bride, I was going to be a mother! A mother! Now that plan for a stable income just had to be in place – and quick. How were we going to support this baby? My parents did it 8 times. Surely, we can do it with one. I had no idea what the future was going to be like. I was not certain how I was going to support a little child or even afford to pay my own bills. I guess I could take on a waitressing job, I thought to myself. However, somehow, someway, I felt confident. I had no idea where to begin, but I was determined to marry the love of my life and give birth to the child that was slowly growing in me. Still, I had yet to find out firsthand what marriage was all about.

“What is marriage to you?” The question played like a broken record in my mind.

Wedding Day

I was unable to go to a salon to get a fancy hairdo so I did it myself. I had my hair in plastic curlers for hours before the wedding. About 2 hours before the wedding, I discovered my little idea of hairstyling was far from presentable. My hair fell flat and the curls I had vigorously worked hours on were nowhere to be seen. Nonetheless, I arrived at my wedding looking the best I can possible be.

I wore my wedding dress (or rather a cream-colored prom dress that I bought from the local mall) and I felt beautiful. I couldn’t believe it. I was getting married. We exchanged our vows that cold night in February, thus, marking the beginning of a new life.

After the ceremony, my husband and I looked at each other with smiles creeping up to the corners of our mouths. We were finally married.

My Definition of Marriage

It hasn’t been easy these past years. We have learned many things since we decided to step into the married life. We had so much to learn and we continue to learn new thing about marriage, as individuals, and our lives in general.

What is marriage? Well, I’ll be perfectly honest. I still don’t quite know what marriage is. I do know, however, that marriage is not just a legal contract made between two individuals in love. Have you ever tried to solve a long equation that requires an extensive amount of time and focus? Well, that’s exactly what marriage is like. This type of equation requires more than just one mind, however. Effort and cooperation is needed from both partners. You have to find what works and what doesn’t. You have to try different things to uncover the right solution. When one thing fails, you start the process all over again. You learn what works and what doesn’t. That’s my definition of marriage.

Personally, we are still trying to solve this equation so many others are also struggling with. Nonetheless, we are getting closer and closer to the answer. I do know, however, that when we do get to point, it’s going to be the best feeling of accomplishment; probably more than everything else we’ve worked hard for and accomplished.

Life itself is a never-ending equation. The equation that matters the most, however, is the ones you share with those who matter the most.

Related Posts

Thanks for reading! Here are a few of my favorite articles on Marriage from our Money Blog at Personal Money Store. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did:

- Marriage is a Contract, Not Just Love

- Marriage, Money Management, & Installment Loans

- First Gay Couple on “The Newlywed Game” | Warp Speed, Sulu!

According to CPSC, Zhu Zhu Pets are safe! (Photo via Wikimedia.org)

This week, the holiday must-have toy of the season, Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters, have been under scrutiny as concerns surfaced recently on whether or not the fun little critters are safe for the general public. According to consumer group ‘Good Guide’ earlier this week, Mr. Squiggles and the other Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters contain high levels of anatomy which has been linked to lung and heart problems.

Consumer Product Safety Commission on Zhu Zhu Pets

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a statement on Monday, Dec. 7, that the toys are safe and meet all federal standards for toys being sold in the United States, according to Nicole Franklin who writes for Examiner.com.

Furthermore, the makers of Zhu Zhu Pets, Cepia LLC, said that ‘Good Group’ used an “inferior” testing methodology that has “’not been determined to be a reliable test method’ by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in August of 2009,” says Zhu Zhu Pets CEO Russ Hornsby. He also adds that the products are tested internally and reviewed by an independent 3rd party.

Good Guide has released their own statement, apologizing for the claims that were made earlier this week:

“While we accurately reported the chemical levels in the toys that we measured using our testing method, we should not have compared our results to federal standards. We regret this error.”

Good Looking Out, Good Guide

Personally, I don’t bash the consumer group for raising concerns and questions on whether or not Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters are safe. As a matter of fact, I applaud them for taking the initiative to make sure we are not posing any health risks on our loved ones, especially our children. You can never be too sure these days.

In case you are still planning on getting Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters this Christmas, rest assured that all three major retailers – Walmart, Toys R Us, and Target – are standing behind the findings of the CPSC and will continue to sell all Zhu Zhu Pets and accessories.

Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters operate like real hamsters. (Photo via annia316, Flickr.com)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently investigating whether the Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters are unsafe. According to a consumer group called Good Guide, the Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters, which has become the holiday season’s must-have toys, may contain high levels of antimony. The group claims (information posted on their website) that Mister Squiggles, the light brown hamster in the Zhu Zhu Pets toy line, contains unsafe levels of antimony which can cause cancer, lung and heart problems.

The makers of Zhu Zhu Pets, however, are denying the claims and sustaining their grounds. “All our products are subjected to several levels of rigorous safety testing conducted by our own internal teams, as well as the world’s leading independent quality assurance testing organization, and also by independent labs engaged by our retail partners,” Russ Hornsby, CEO of Cepia, said in a written statement. “The results of every test prove that our products are in compliance with all government and industry safety standards.”

Zhu Zhu Pets, Love at first Sight

I was blown away ever since I first heard about the Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters. They’re just absolutely adorable! I know several kids in my family that want one, and I’ve been somewhat budgeting for these little critters for Christmas. I don’t bash ‘Good Guide’ for making a big stink about the Zhu Zhu Pets. As a matter of fact, I’m glad they voiced their concerns. Even if they are wrong about the product being unsafe, it never hurts to be safe.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is running examinations to find out the exact levels of antimony and whether Zhu Zhu pets have unsafe levels of the chemical. So if you are planning on getting Zhu Zhu Pets this Christmas, you might want to wait until the results are released before you spend your money.

Related Articles:

- Are Zhu Zhu Pets Unsafe? Feds Conduct Investigation

- Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters | The Hottest Toy for the Holidays 2009?

Tiger Woods (Photo via keithallison, Flickr.com)

I seriously am getting sick of seeing Tiger Woods all over the internet. But then again, all these new affair allegations are so hard to ignore. He is, in fact, the world’s number one professional golf player.

Holly Sampson is Tiger Woods’ seventh alleged mistress to surface following the initial affair rumor that made its round on the internet during Thanksgiving week. Everyone were shocked, some insulted over the Tiger Woods affairs allegations. How could anyone suggest Tiger as a dumb-scum dirt bag who cheats on his beautiful, loving wife who mothers his two beautiful children? Not Tiger. He is no way capable of doing such a thing. And just when we thought the world has gone nuts over Tiger Woods, he releases a statement apologizing – apologizing! – for the “transgressions”. So it’s true. Our Tiger Woods is a dumb-scum dirt bag who cheats on his beautiful wife.

Who’s the Lucky Number 7?

First it was a girl name Rachel Uchitel, then a bartender name Jaimee Grubbs; I mean the list goes on and on. Now porn star Holly Sampson – the lucky number 7 – has joined the list of Tiger Woods affairs. According to UK Daily Mail, Holly Sampson, through her Denver-based lawyer Andrew Contiguglia, has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation. The 36-year-old porn star has played in movies such as ‘My First Sex Teacher’, ‘Flying Solo 2′, and ‘Emmanuelle in Paradise’.

Why oh why did you do it, Tiger?

I don’t get why Tiger Woods would cheat on his wife – Elin Nordegren – with a nasty-looking porn star who probably has had just about everyone else in her mouth. What does Holly Sampson have that Elin doesn’t? I don’t get why he decided to marry in the first place if he knew right off the back he wasn’t ready for a committed relationship. I’m glad the truth is finally coming out. You can only hide something for so long before someone decides to spill the beans.

This whole time we thought Tiger Woods was a goody-two-shoed married father of two. He was a role model not just for his skills at golf, but as a loving father and husband. However, his game of choice has uncovered his true colors and earned the infamous golf player a new standing.

Click here to see Holly Sampson photos.

Edward "Eddie" Fatu a.k.a. Umaga (Photo from Wikimedia.org)

Eddie Fatu has been hospitalized and is in critical conditions. Former WWE star Umaga, whose real name is Edward Fatu, is receiving medical treatment in a Houston hospital. A close friend described his condition as “life threatening,” according to Wrestlingobserver.com.

According to the report, Fatu fell asleep while watching television last night. Several hours later, his wife found him not breathing and blood flowing from his nose and he was rushed to the hospital. His family was told that he may have suffered a heart attack.

Edward “Eddie” Fatu is a Samoan-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Umaga. Over the summer on June 8, 2009, Fatu was released from his WWE contract after failing a drug test and declining the company’s request to go to rehab.

Nonetheless, the “Umaga Dead” report is only a rumor. Let’s just hope it stays a rumor.

UPDATE:

Edward “Eddie” Fatu, the former WWE Star Umaga, has passed away, according to The Sun. His family has confirmed that the former WWE intercontinental champion died from a heart attack. He was only 36-years-old.

Related Articles:

- WWE CEO Linda McMahon to Run for Senate in 2010

"FacebookAgent allows users to view private Facebook profiles." (Photo via Flickr.com)

Facebookagent appeared on trends today and the first thing that came to mind was an employment opportunity with Facebook. Apparently, it’s something totally different. Facebookagent supposedly allows users to view private Facebook profiles after a simple tool download. One has to wonder if this type of “service” is actually legal. According to their website0, FacebookAgent.com, Facebook Agent is completely legit.

“Disclamer Facebook Agent is an automated help manual that guides you through the process of gaining a legal view of the desired profile. This process is completely legal and is achieved through the other party’s aproval and acknowledgement.”

Facebookagent Just Doesn’t Sound Right

You won’t need a cash advance to get the Facebookagent tool. The service is free and easy to download. However, after looking through their website, I have to say there is clearly something fishy about Facebook Agent. First off, I noticed there were broken html codes. Secondly, not that I’m a grammar expert or know everything about language rules, but I also noticed a few too many misspelled words and punctuation placement errors on the site. If the site is, in fact, so reputable, I would think the people behind the work would take the extra time to proofread their displayed content.

Facebook Agent claims to offer “fast start-up”, “fast using”, and a “special bonus” for those who use the tool at work. If you click on where it says “Learn about Facebook Agent”, ” Check out facebook Agent Artist Themes” or “Try the latest BETA version”, you will be redirected to the same page every time, and the Facebookagent tool is automatically downloaded to your computer.

A Letter from Facebook

An open letter from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was recently sent out to all Facebook users. The letter clearly outlines Facebook’s new plans to create a better, simpler model for privacy control. So why would Facebook, a global social networking website, allow something like Facebook Agent to spoil their plans for an improved privacy model for their users? Furthermore, the fact that no reputable blog or website has come forth to edify the merits of the program only adds more to the suspicion. The Facebookagent site seems very hazy and is likely worth avoidable.

Breastfeeding is a vital part of life. (Photo via maessive, Flickr.com)

A couple with their month-old baby visited a Target store in Harper Woods, Michigan on Sunday. The woman started breastfeeding the baby in the electronics aisle, which attracted security’s attention. According to them, the act was “illegal” and the couple was asked to leave the store.

No matter where you go in the world, breastfeeding is a vital part of life. That’s why the couple, Jose and Mary Martinez, was shocked to hear such a claim. “He said, ‘It’s against the law. You have to go,’” said Jose. But Jose, a Detroit police officer, knew very well it is not illegal to breastfeed in public, even in the electronics aisle at Target. It was not long before police arrived and joined Target security in questioning the couple until they walked out humiliated.

“I asked one of them if it was indeed illegal maybe in Harper Woods to breast-feed. He said, ‘No.’ And that was it. We got our stuff together and we left,” Jose Martinez said. “Forcing me out of the store. Two security guards, the manager or team leader, two officers, they just made a spectacle and a scene,” added Mary. “I feel like I can’t go to that specific Target anymore.”

According to the report, FOX 2 contacted Target’s corporate headquarters for more details on the “breastfeeding” incident. They spoke to the corporate manager who stated that they allow nursing mothers to breastfeed in their stores, but went on to say, “This specific situation escalated to a point where we were concerned for the safety of our guests, so law enforcement was called. We regret the incident in our store and will continue to provide a shopping environment that respects the needs of all guests, including nursing mothers.”

I can’t help but wonder how breastfeeding a baby can cause so much concern over the safety of shoppers. On top of that, why would you call the cops on a woman trying to feed her infant child, a typical baby that chooses his/her own time to eat, sleep, and poop? What were they really worried about? Were her boobs so voluptuous that worried female shoppers at Target (who were accompanied by their significant others) just had to make a stink about her breastfeeding in public? Come on now.

Related Video:

Related Articles:

- Barefoot Baby Ejected From Burger King

- Baby Einstein Recall Issued for Ineffective Videos

- Dead Baby Found Alive | ¿Milagro o Farca?

- Shannon Lee Dedrick | Seven month-old Baby Found Under Bed

Get a $50 gift card on a Nintendo Wii purchase at Wal-Mart. (Photo via el3enawe, Flickr.com)

If you’re looking to buy a new Nintendo Wii game system, you might want to wait until December 5 to get it. According to their website, the almighty Wal-Mart will be offering a $50 gift card immediately after a Wii purchase on that day. Currently, the Wii is going for $199, which is already a sweet deal considering it cost $250 + tax just last year.

With this Wal-Mart gift card offering, you would only need to pay $149 for a brand new Wii. Don’t rush over to their website, however, because this offering will only be available in stores, not online. Keep in mind that this deal will only last till December 12 while supplies last. Generally, I don’t encourage payday loans for things like this, but if it’s something that will actually save you money in the end, why not?

You don’t have to wait till the 5th of December, however, to start your holiday savings at Wal-Mart (as if we don’t know that already). You can save big bucks on Wii games and other games at Wal-Mart as the retailer is offering 15-20% savings on 25 top video game titles.

Get Past Your Pride and Start Saving!

I’m getting a new Wii system for the hubby (shhhh) so I’m definitely stoked about this deal. Like I’ve said before, saving money is my main goal this holiday season. I’m going to target anything and everything that can help put a little something back in my pockets.

For those of you that would turn your nose up at the idea of shopping at Wal-Mart, please tackle your pride with some logic. You’ll find some of the best deals on games, electronics, groceries, diapers, you name it. If you want to save some money this Christmas, don’t let your pride become an issue.

Related Video:

"I'll take the girl on the right." (Photo via tucia, Flickr.com)

I seriously think I lost a few too many brain cells after watching this video. A man in Tokyo, Japan who goes by the name Sal9000 married his video game girlfriend name Nene Anegasaki, a character in the Nintendo DS dating simulation game “Love Plus.”

The video showed a real-life wedding that took place between the man and his virtual girlfriend in Japan. Apparently, Sal9000 has had many ‘virtual’ girlfriends before, but has now found the perfect girl to spend the rest of his life with.

I severely feel sorry for this guy. I’m not sure whether or not his decision was made just to attract attention, but the whole wedding ceremony looks pretty, pretty serious. Oh well, I guess if it makes him happy, that’s really all that matters. Nonetheless, I still feel sorry for him.

Man Marries Video Game Girlfriend (Video)

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia.org)

Last week, rumors of Tiger Woods alleged affair surfaced and scattered throughout the internet. Now another woman name Jaimee Grubbs is coming forth, claiming she had a 31-month affair with the legendary professional golf player. I don’t know about you, but this ‘Tiger Woods Affair’ rumor is getting uglier by the second.

Rachel Uchitel – The Other Woman

Last week, Tiger was accused of carrying on a sexual relationship with a woman name Rachel Uchitel, the same woman Bones star David Boreanaz was accused of having an affair with. Both parties denied the allegation.

Just recently, on Friday Nov. 27, 2009, Tiger Woods was involved in a one-car accident when he lost control of his SUV right outside his home in Florida. According to reports, police found Tiger lying on the streets with his wife, Elin Nordegren, hovering over him. Many suggest that the injuries, particularly the scratches on his face, were a result of an angry Eli who discovered her husband’s alleged affair. Tiger Woods was taken to the hospital and was released the next day in good condition.

Jaimee Grubbs – The Other, Other Woman

According to the Hollywood Gossip, “Us Weekly is reportedly planning to release a bombshell cover story about Jaimee Grubbs” and her long-running affair with Tiger Woods. It’s not just her word she has to offer; she has all the spicy proof to show for it as well. Grubbs says she has voicemails and text messages to prove her story.

Jaimee Grubbs said she was 21 at the time she met Tiger in Las Vegas back in 2007. She claims to have had more than a dozen sexual encounters with Tiger. The Magazine, which is due out tomorrow, will showcase this allegation. It will include, “photos, racy texts from Tiger, as well as a voicemail from November 24, in which Tiger suggests his wife might be on to the alleged affair.”

(FMR) Tiger Woods Girlfriend Joanna Jagoda

As if the first and second rumors weren’t enough, now Tiger Woods’ former girlfriend, Joanna Jagoda, is speaking to the public which is only adding more to this controversy. “Elin is exactly what Tiger needs to get stability in his life,” said Joanna to Britain’s Daily Mail. “She is mature for her age, humble, and has both feet on the ground.” Rumor has it that Tiger Woods was still in a relationship with Joanna when he met his future wife Eli. You know what they say – “Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

How did they do it? (Photo via publicresourceorg, Flickr.com)

Tareq Salahi is a wealthy vintner based out of Virginia. He and his wife, Michaele Salahi, are capturing headlines, accused of crashing a White House State Dinner on Nov. 24, where Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was guest of honor. This shocking allegation has earned the duo a new nickname: The White House Party Crashers.

They not only crashed the President’s first State Dinner, but they actually got to shake hands with the President of the United States himself! Surely, there are those who are more than willing to secure installment loans to see the president, but to steal your way in the White House is definitely another story. The couple was even seen posing in photos with Vice President Joe Biden and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel to name a few.

Read the full article… “Tareq and Michaele Salahi – White House Party Crashers?“

Tiger Woods (Photo from Wikimedia.org)

Oh please say it ain’t true! Rumor has it that the world’s number one professional golf player, Tiger Woods, is having an affair. Media Take Out said they just got their “hands on this week’s National Enquirer and it is EXPLOSIVE!!! According to them, Tiger Woods is CHEATING with the below woman, named Rachel Uchitel.”

Tiger is married to model Elin Nordegren. They have been married for five years and have two beautiful children, two-year-old Sam Alexis and 10-month-old Charlie Axel. Tiger Woods cheating on his wife does not sound like something the 33-year-old golf champion would do. Just a quick look at his family portrait is enough to convince anyone that his marriage and family life in general is blissfully flawless. Then again, as many of us have witnessed firsthand, a beautiful family portrait never reveals the hidden scars, heartache and struggles that an average family goes through.

Rachel Uchitel – A Reputation of Dating Married Celebrities

The woman Tiger Woods is accused of having an affair with appears to be the same woman accused of having an affair with another celebrity, ‘Bones’ star David Boreanaz. According to Star Magazine, Boreanaz was having an affair with a woman name Rachel Uchitel, even while his wife was pregnant. Even worse, the tabloid also claimed that Boreanaz was texting Rachel while wife Jaime was giving birth! Double ouch! The women from both sex scandals share the same name, same facial features, and are both brunettes. Just take a look at the photos from Media Take Out and The Hollywood Gossip and you’ll see what I mean. Fellas, you better watch out for this one!

Paula Deen (Photo via Nightmare, Flickr.com)

Just so you’re on the same track, this “Paula Deen Hit With Ham” topic is not about a Thanksgiving recipe or anything like that. Paula Deen, one of America’s favorite cooks, apparently was hit in the face with an eight-pound ham yesterday during a charity event for Hosea Feed the Hungry in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the video below, Paula Deen and members of the Smithfield Foods’ staff are seen standing around, passing out packets of meat as a part of the company’s “Corporate Social Responsibility” program. All of a sudden, a “flying ham” flew out of nowhere and hits her in the face. Fortunately, Deen was not injured and was back with all smiles in no time. She laughed and cracked jokes about a swollen nose with an ice-pack in her hands. “It just got hit with a hog, so what can I expect,” she told WSB-TV. “Ran head on into a hog.”

Glad you’re okay, Paula!

Paula Deen Hit with Ham (Video):

EMBED-Paula Deen Hit With a Ham – Watch more free videos

Taylor Lautner: I'm too sexy for my shirt. (Photo via Twilight-foxdie, Flickr.com)

Negative reviews from critics did not affect the opening weekend sales for “Twilight Saga: New Moon.” As a matter of fact, the new movie has conquered the number 3 spot for the highest, all-time opening weekend sales. “The Dark Knight” and “Spider-Man 3″ are the only movies that made more opening weekend sales at the U.S. box office. Even better, “New Moon” broke the all-time record for most advance tickets sold.

Twilight Reviews

Many critics bashed “Twilight Saga: New Moon” for many reasons. Rotten Tomatoes, for instance, described the film as “toothless,” “the second bite was stale,” and “if the first installment… was a celebration of teen sulkiness, this film positively drowns in it.” Only 30% of Rotten Tomatoes’ critics actually enjoyed the film. Daily Mail, in the UK, says “New Moon” is “Tedious, long-winded and not so much undead as almost entirely devoid of life.” Film critic Roger Ebert said, “…sitting through this experience is like driving a pickup in low gear through a sullen sea of Brylcreem.” Ouch!

Personal ‘Twilight Saga: New Moon’ Review

Who really cares what critics have to say, right? I mean, they are critics after all. They will always find something negative to say, no matter how good it is. Then again, they do bring out a good point.

The hubby and I went to see the movie over the weekend and I must say I felt a bit antsy towards the end of movie. There was a lot of glaring (literally) and so little action. It almost felt like a never-ending story. Of course, the endless scene of exotic guys running the woods with no shirt on was definitely a treat, especially for the ladies. It was definitely a wise move on their part. I’m sure a lot of people went to see this movie just to catch a glimpse of a shirtless Taylor Lautner or the devilishly red lips of Robert Pattinson, best known as Edward Cullen on Twilight. Overall, I thought the movie was alright. ‘Twilight Saga: New Moon’ wasn’t the best vampire/werewolf movie, but it’s definitely another movie I’ll add to my home collection.

Related Posts:

- ‘New Moon’ Opening Weekend Sales Make the Record Books

- Bad Reviews Don’t Dampen ‘New Moon’ Box Office Sales

(Photo via Elizafairy, Flickr.com)

The sketch last night on Jimmy Fallon’s show about Sarah Palin’s new book, “Going Rogue,” was all-out hilarious. Apparently, “Going Rogue” has gone rogue. For months, the anticipated book made headlines and was seen everywhere as far as the media eyes can see. All of a sudden, it disappeared! It snuck off the set of “Late Night”, stole a gun, shot Rachel Maddow, and ran off to see its lover: the New Moon.

Late Night: ‘Going Rogue’ Gone Rogue Video:

(Photo via Pinksherbet, Flickr.com)

If you want longer, thicker lashes, you might want to check out a fairly new product called RapidLash. According to their website, RapidLash.com, Rapid Lash is an innovative high-performance formula that helps thicken and improve the condition of your lashes and brows in just weeks of using the product.

Having long lashes is something most women would die for. Women have gone through extensive measures just to get longer lashes. It’s something about long lashes that makes your facial features even more attractive than they already are. I naturally have long lashes so it’s not really a huge problem for me. But I do know many women who wish they had longer, thicker lashes.

RapidLash Reviews

I first heard about RapidLash over the summer and I was a bit skeptical. However, after reading up on several blogs and reviews from reputable websites, I think it’s the next big thing in terms of growing longer lashes. I’ve heard nothing but positive remarks about the product.

Sarah-Jean, the Fashionable Housewife Editor- in-Chief, said that after using the product for six weeks, she noticed her lashes were notably longer. She even noticed fewer eyelashes falling out. It was so good she bought 3 tubes of RapidLash just to give away to her readers. Another blogger said she no longer has to curl her lashes, which is something we can all do without. Those lash curlers are a pain in the rear end. She did mention a slight irritation around her eyes during the first couple days, but it was gone by the third day and hasn’t had any reactions since then.

Is RapidLash Safe?

Some question whether this lash/eyebrow growing product is safe. A while back, someone from the Alternative Health Journal claimed that while Rapid Lash can help grow longer lashes, the product contains harmful chemicals like prostaglandin and cloprosteno, which he reported can also produce conditions that you don’t want like eye irritation, loss of vision, and eye-color change.

Steve Tarlow, on the other hand, who writes for the Money Blog at Personal Money Store, provides a contradicting explanation:

“What Rapid Lash has done is make some changes to the original eye-irritating formula. What they use is Isopropyl Cloprostenate, and Rapid Lash asserts that it is different enough from its base components to avoid the problems those non cosmetic components are known to promote. Reportedly, Rapid Lash has in the past and is conducting independent trials to satisfy nay sayers like Sevigny of Alternative Health Journal in order to conclusively prove their product is not harmful.”

See for yourself!

No matter what anyone has to say about the product, there’s no doubt that many people are convinced Rapid Lash is the best product to improve the appearance and condition of lashes and brows. And the product doesn’t come cheap either. You can get a tube of Rapid Lash for $49.95 plus shipping and handling. The company is currently offering a 40-Day risk free trial on the product (includes S&H fee of $6.99). So if you want to save money, you might want to take advantage of their free trial offering and see for yourself whether the product actually works. I’m going to try the product myself and I’ll make sure to post my own review on RapidLash.

Related Video:

Dodge Journey (Image via Wikimedia.org)

Before you fill out a car loan application, you might want to check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual list of Top Safety Picks.

For many years, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit organization funded by auto insurance companies, has worked hard to reduce road accidents and injuries by conducting thorough research on popular passenger vehicles as well as consumer products like child booster seats. Every year the organization performs three tests to determine the Top Safety Picks: Frontal offset impact test, side impact test, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, and a roof strength test.

According to Elizabeth Fairchild who writes for the Money Blog on Personal Money Store, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named six vehicles made by Ford Top Safety Picks this year:

• Chrysler Sebring 4-door with electronic stability control
• Dodge Avenger with electronic stability control
• Dodge Journey
• Jeep Patriot with side torso air bags

Of course, as many of you probably know, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has come under scrutiny several times before, accused of seeking the best interests of Insurance companies rather than the public. They Institute has been criticized for being too hard on certain vehicle types, particularly motorcycles. But let’s be real. Everyone can agree that despite how cool or blazing they can be, motorcycles are definitely not the safest ride out there.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/omgee_gb/ / CC BY 2.0

Chris Brown is back with a new single. From what it looks like, Chris Brown’s new “I Can Transform Ya” video should have been the theme song for Transformers. Don’t get me wrong, the video is hella tight! It’s the same Chris Brown with his brilliant dance moves, but this time with his newfound sense of swagging on the roll.

The video features multi-platinum recording rapper Lil’ Wayne and rapper and producer Swizz Beatz. It has been confirmed that the new video, I Can Transform Ya, will be released Tuesday, October 27.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/roomiccube/ / CC BY 2.0

In Richmond, California, a 15-year-old girl was gang raped near Richmond High School after attending her homecoming dance Saturday night, according to ABC 7 News. Police are looking for eyewitnesses and four to seven actual rapists in this case. Police believe there were about a dozen spectators who stood by and did nothing. To top it all off, police say some of the witnesses may have recorded the entire rape on camera!

There have been two arrests made in this case so far. Authorities pulled a 15-year-old Richmond High School student out of class for questioning in connection with the Saturday night gang rape. He was later arrested Monday night and charged with rape. Another Richmond High School student was taken in for questioning, but was later released.

Manuel Ortega, 19, is in a county jail in Martinez on suspicion for rape and robbery. Ortega, who is not a Richmond High School Student, was caught fleeting the scene when police arrived at the brutal gang rape that lasted about two and half hours.

The 15-year-old victim was raped, beaten, and robbed. Her injuries were so bad she had to be transported from the scene to the hospital by helicopter.

The girl said she left the dance to “catch a ride from her dad.” It was about 9:30. She then joined a group of kids drinking in a dark alley right off of school campus. She must have known one of her assailants. According to school officials, there were plenty of chaperones at the Richmond High School homecoming dance. However, no one in the supervising staff inspected the surrounding campus.

The 15-year-old girl who was brutally beaten and raped is still hospitalized as of this writing. Richmond High School is part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), according to Wikipedia. It is also considered the second safest school in the WCCUSD by Richmond Police Department statistics.

Related Video:

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelkramerbusseldotcom/ / CC BY 2.0

Do you remember Jodie Sweetin? She’s the girl on “Full House” who played Stephanie Tanner. She was definitely one of my favorite characters on the ABC television show. She was always so sweet and cute, almost like a perfect angel sent from up above. However, what I’m hearing today does not sound like the Stephanie Tanner we know.

“Unsweetened” Jodie Sweetin: I was high on cocaine!

According to the New York Daily News, Jodie Sweetin has written a new autobiography called “Unsweetened,” a memoir about her life and past struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. Apparently, the 27 year-old actress is finally coming clean for real this time. She admits to being high on cocaine even while traveling to universities across the country to talk about drugs.

“I thought for sure that one of the professors would take one look at me and kick me out,” she writes. “But none did. They wanted to hear about the trials and tribulations of Jodie Sweetin, or at least the Jodie Sweetin I had created.”

Jodie Sweetin says she started taking drugs to prove she was not as innocent as the goody-two-shoes Stephanie Tanner everyone knew.

Alcohol, Drugs, and DUI – Nothing new with Jodie Sweetin

I, personally, was not aware Jodie had a problem with alcohol and drugs. I’m now just finding out. Apparently, she was getting drunk even before she set foot in high school.

According to other reports, in 1994, Jodie was so drunk at co-star Candace Cameron’s wedding she passed out in the bathroom. Even worse, her 8 month-old daughter was taken away from her last year when her estranged husband accused her of being an unfit parent, claiming she even drove under the influence of alcohol with the baby in the car! A California judge ruled against Jodie, forbidding her from seeing her daughter without supervision.

Jodie Sweetin should be applauded for her autobiography, Unsweetened. I give her credit for having the courage to come out in public and share her story. Let’s just hope this time it’s for real for real.

Related Article:

- Jodie Sweetin’s Memoir | Will She Make a Comeback?

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/twodolla/ / CC BY 2.0

The idea of a 6 year-old getting evicted is completely ridiculous. At that age, you could care less about getting a new car, a fancy home, or personal loans for emergency needs. So why would anyone insinuate such an idea? Well, in this story, that’s exactly what happens.

Kimberly was only six months old when she moved in with her grandparents. The state government discovered her mother was a chronic drug user, thus, little Kimberly was sent to live with her grandparents in their retirement condo in Florida. For the past years, 6 year-old Kimberly has been living there against strict regulation and is now facing eviction.

Struggling to Keep a Home

Jimmy and Judie Stottler live in a retirement community, a place where no one below the age of 55 is permitted to live in. However, that did not stop them from taking in their 6 year-old granddaughter. The Pinellas Park homeowners association is now demanding to remove the girl from the residence because of the estate’s strict rule against children living there. They want her out and have even taken the matter up to a judge to do it.

Jimmy and Judie are willing to relocate for their beautiful grandchild. However, since the initial housing market downfall, their plans to sell their home became hopeless. Apparently, the couple recently lowered the price of their home from $255,000 to $129,000. Even still, with the housing market still in dumps, the Stottler’s might just end up on the streets as well.

Where will she go?

Regardless of the situation, the elderly couple is refusing to throw out their granddaughter. “They will have to drag me out in handcuffs and tear her from my arms,” said Judie. “I’m not putting her out on the streets.”

If the homeowners association’s court claim is successful, young Kimberly would have to be sent somewhere else. She could end up in a foster home. A foster home! This is not to say foster homes do not serve their purpose, but I do know that many children in foster homes get lost in the system and are constantly moved from place to place. Besides that, I’ve never heard of a foster home taking in a 6 year-old who got evicted from a retirement home. This young child needs to be with her grandparents where she will receive proper care and most importantly, love.

Despite the retirement community regulation, I hope they resolve this matter with compassion at heart. The life of a 6 year-old is at stake. Young Kimberly deserves to be with the people who love her.

Related Video:

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32912172@N00/ / CC BY 2.0

There’s a price for everything. Just about everything in life comes with a price tag, whether it’s physically or financially. I’m sure Yovanna Guzman would agree.

In Love with the Baddest and Finer Things

Yovanna Guzman was a beauty queen and former model. At age 19, she met the infamous Wilber Varela who was the leader of North Valle Cartel, one of the most powerful drug cartels based out of Columbia. After eight long years, Yovanna Guzman is finally coming out to share her story about her dangerous love affair with one of the most wanted Columbian drug lords. Like many young women who fancied fancy cars and shiny jewels, Guzman was dazzled by all the fine things Varela constantly showered her with.

Everything Drug Money Can Buy

“There were the vacations, the cars and the luxury SUVs and, of course, jewelry. There was always jewelry. But there were small details too like flowers,” she said in a recent CNN interview.

Yovanna Guzman told CNN that she now understands that she was being bought and admits to selling herself. She was wooed with everything drug money can buy. But as time went by she began to ask herself, “Where is the love and my principles?” She had all the material luxuries in the world and still felt nothing but emptiness.

“I feel all of us have a price up to a point. Sometimes you feel luxuries like the designer clothes, shoes and handbags are important. But afterward you realize you’re empty inside,” she said.

A Bloody Price to Pay

It was not long before Yovanna Guzman’s love affair with Wilber Varela turned bitter and perilous.

“He was very jealous, and what’s his is his and belongs to nobody else and nobody can touch it, look at it or mess with it,” she said.

As police authorities fought harder to hunt down one of the most brutal cocaine traffickers, Guzman’s time with Varela grew slim. Despite how long or how often Varela was away, he always seemed to know exactly where Guzman was and what she was doing. He had eyes all over the place. Varela became very jealous towards Guzman. He was so jealous to the point he even ordered one of his lieutenants to shoot her in the leg.

“When I got shot, I was supposedly never going to walk properly again. The bullet could easily have hit me somewhere else and killed me. But I pulled myself together and I said I’m not going to be crippled,” she told CNN.

Yovanna Guzman is working on a new book detailing every horrific event that took place over the past eight years. I hope her story will help other young women on the quest for easy money.

Related Article:

- Yovanna Guzman: Love and Luxuries with Columbian Drug Lords

Adworkz Performance Marketing

A new company called “Adworkz – Performance Marketing” is exploding in the city of Spokane. Adworkz is an affiliate advertising network that connects advertisers with publishers through a massive affiliate advertising network. They have a highly skilled team of professional writers, website marketers, and lead generation specialists. Might I add, they do a darn good job increasing returns on investments and spotting different ventures and opportunities that will no doubt earn you a respectable position on the Web.

Adworkz – SEO, Lead Generation and more!

If you are a business owner, starting entrepreneur or just someone looking to create an extra cash flow, you should definitely look into the services provided by Adworkz. From video production to extensive SEO, you can review and choose from any of their services. They are so good that you don’t even have to sign up for anything to learn a few tips and tricks on how to promote whatever it is you are trying to get out there. There is a blog section on their website that covers a wide variety of ways to generate traffic and land better conversion pages. You can learn ways on how to produce and promote good content and create strong leads throughout the process.

The people at Adworkz are absolutely amazing. To be frank, I’m really not a computer whiz. I had no idea how certain websites were able to obtain respectable rankings within Google, or how to rank high for a specific targeted keyword. Adworkz provides a full suite of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that everyone can benefit from, doesn’t matter who you are or what type of business you’re running. Oh my goodness, I’ve been rambling on and on about this SEO stuff. I guess it’s one of the main reasons why I love the site so much. Moving on…

Providing Lead Generation in Spokane… and Nationwide!

As I mentioned earlier, Adworkz also provides other marketing services such as Web design, Web development, lead generation and so much more. The services are available not only for residents of Spokane, but for individuals worldwide who want to increase their production sales, generate traffic, and provide high quality leads.

Adworkz already has hundreds of affiliates, which is something of high regards when you consider the fact they are actually a fairly new company. I strongly recommend you visit the site today to get more information on what type of tools and techniques will benefit you the most. Don’t wait for shooting stars. Get on board and take advantage of the opportunity!

I have witnessed firsthand the frustration behind building blogs and websites, while making sure I have a continuous flow of new content to keep my sites afloat. Oh, and don’t forget about the petty, yet extensive and crucial work behind backlinking or link building in general. There’s a lot of work involved especially when you’re doing it on your own. If only there was a way to amplify my multi-tasking skills, I would be scuba diving in the Mariana Trench by now. Fortunately, there is!

Personal Money Store’s Free Content Exchange

You can get free content exchange with Personal Money Store. Write and submit original articles to Personal Money Store and once the content is edited, it will be posted on the site’s popular blog home page. As long as the content meets the editorial guideline, you are welcome to post one dofollow link pointing to any site of your choice. This will help you generate real traffic to your site, thus, allowing you to generate greater revenues through advertisement, or even sell your own products and services.

Free Marketing Service

The free content exchange program gets even better than that. Backlinking (as I mentioned earlier) is yet another very important factor if you’re looking to enhance your status on the web. Not only do you get a link on every article you submit, but you can also benefit from the site’s marketing services for free!

Every single article that is published on the site is distributed on many websites and blogs that have reached respectable rankings within Google, creating more backlinks for your article. The more promoted your article is, the more valuable your link will be. Every article posted on Personal Money Store’s blog site obtains approximately 20 dofollow links from separate domains.

Personal Money Store attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a month, and you have the ability to use their traffic to your advantage.

Free Content Syndication

Beyond that, you don’t have to write articles to take part of Personal Money Store’s web association. Personal Money Store also offers free content syndication. It’s a very beneficial program particularly for blog marketers in financial industries. I personally know how difficult it is to consistently produce new content in financial areas such as debt consolidation, credit repair, mortgages, short term loans, etc.

The Money Blog at Personal Money Store is continually updated with fresh content that cover a wide variety of different topics. From Google hot trends to financially related materials, Personal Money Store’s remarkable staff of writers can provide you with new written content to use on your blog or website.

I’m sure there are many other things I failed to mention about the program that will definitely help you increase your web value and generate more traffic to your site. You can get more information about the program here.

Best Female Video – Taylor Swift

When they announced Taylor Swift as the winner for Best Female Video, a heartwarming feeling crept in as I watched the beautiful nineteen-year-old country singer make her way up to the stage to accept her award. I could almost feel exactly what she was feeling. Taylor Swift has become an icon in the music industry, ranking at number 69 as the most powerful celebrity with over $18 million in earnings this year by Forbes. The girl can sing, play a guitar, write songs, and even act. She is absolutely phenomenal. Hard work and dedication has definitely paid off for the seven time Academy of Country Music Awards nominee. So to be presented with such an award at the VMA is truly a dream come true for the young singer. You can see it all over her face; the thrill, joy, and appreciation.

Taylor Swift’s Touching VMA Moment

It was her moment. Besides all the attention she’s already getting through her songs and music videos directly, this particular moment was dedicated to recognize Taylor Swift, her success and accomplishments. It was a special moment for Taylor Swift and Taylor Swift alone. So why the hell was Kanye West sharing the spotlight with her onstage? Did he play a major role in Taylor Swift’s life? Was he the person responsible for putting together her award winning video, or could he have possibly written the original lyrics for “You Belong With Me”? No. Kanye West was simply up there to steal the spotlight yet again.

Kanye West shocked the VMA crowd by abruptly cutting in as Taylor Swift began to deliver her acceptance speech, declaring to the world who he thought should have won the award. “Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you and I’mma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time,” he said, “The best video of all time!”

A Little Too Late for Apologies

At first I thought he was up there to congratulate Taylor Swift, maybe spit some rhymes or deliver some kind words. But no. He gave the I-don’t-know shoulder gesture and walked off the stage, leaving poor Taylor Swift speechlessly lost and humiliated. Beyonce, who won the Video of the Year Award, later invited Taylor Swift back on stage to give her the moment she so deserves. Kanye West later released an apology, but the damage was already done.

I absolutely love Kanye West’s style of music. He is also an incredible music artist. Gosh, he’s even one of my top friends on MySpace. However, upon showing his true colors, he obviously still has a lot to learn when it comes to real life issues. What he did to Taylor Swift at MTV’s Video Music Awards was low, selfish and beyond disrespectful. Even my little four-year-old sister knows better than to do something like that. Shame on you Mr. West!

Watch the videos here!

Whitney Houston Performing Live in Central Park

Whitney Houston is back in action! Houston, the most honored female artist of all time, performed live on Tuesday for “Good Morning America” before thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Whitney kicked off the show with her new single “Million Dollar Bill” from her new album, a song written by yet another phenomenal singer, Grammy award winner Alicia Keys. Keys describes Houston as her idol and inspiration. Earlier this year, Keys was quoted telling Good Morning America’s Dianne Sawyer that “[Houston] was just kind of chosen to have a voice that would speak to people.” So it’s definitely a dream come true for the beautiful R&B singer to have her favorite artist on stage singing a song she specifically wrote.

Not the Best Whitney Houston Performance

The crowd was filled with many devoted fans that had been waiting for hours in the scorching heat to see the 46-year old singer perform. Whitney performed four songs, “Million Dollar Bill” and “I Look to You” from her new album, as well as classics “My Love Is Your Love” and “I’m Every Woman.”

However, she seemed to have lost her voice while performing. On every song Whitney performed her voice cracked. She has a very strong distinctive voice that can be heard from a mile away. Little cut-off notes and vocal cracks are very noticeable, especially when we’re talking Whitney Houston. After singing her last song she apologized to the 5,000 fans, blaming Oprah for having her talk for so long in an interview, thus, causing her to lose her voice.

Good to Have You Back, Whitney!

Despite all the media scoffs, however, supportive and loving fans were thrilled to see Whitney Houston performance in Central Park for “Good Morning America”. She had energy on her side, which made a grand show for her audience. Although we can all agree it was definitely not her best performance, she was radiant and delivered with exhilaration.

Through all her ups and downs, Whitney Houston is still an incredible performer, a very respectable artist, the only artist ever to have seven consecutive multi-platinum albums, beating out even the Beatles!

Today’s question is why would a beautiful woman like Lark Voorhies get plastic surgery? I don’t understand why someone so beautiful would go and do something so ugly as to replace their natural assets with good ‘ol plastic. It doesn’t make sense. It’s absolutely insane!

A Grand Waste of Beauty – and Money!

You can probably remember Lark Voorhies as Lisa Turtle from the late 80’s and early 90’s popular television show, “Saved by the Bell.” Looking at the before and after photos, it’s quite obvious that the 35-year-old actress has gone under the knife. According to a doctor who Star Magazine interviewed, Lark Voorhies appears to have had an eyelift and “a lot of Botox.” Basically, Lark Voorhies spent a bunch of money to make her beautiful face look messed up. Why? Well, I’m still trying to figure that out.

A Bizarre True Story

Maybe there really is a reason behind all of this. Look at Jocelyn Wildenstein for instance. In 1978, Jocelyn Wildenstein married Alec Wildenstein, a successful business man with a love of exotic animals. Alec allegedly began an affair with a Russian fashion model and the couple broke up after many years of marriage. According to a Telegraph article, Jocelyn began to fear that he was losing interest in her, and, calling to mind that he liked exotic wild cats, decided that he might find her more attractive if she became “more feline”. She even went as far as to darken her pigment for a more desired effect.

Lark Voorhies probably has a story to tell behind her decision to get plastic surgery. Let’s just hope she doesn’t turn out to be the next Jackie Stallone.

Related Article: Lark Voorhies Plastic Surgery | Money Down the Drain

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

They don’t call him Tiger for nothing. The world’s number one Tiger Woods spoke out publically about a PGA rules official, after winning the 2009 Bridgestone Invitational. According to a PGA Tour official, he will likely be fined for his public criticism.

Apparently, the professional golfer made some remarks about PGA Rules Official John Paramour’s decision to put Woods and Padraig Harrington on the clock on the 16th tee of the final round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. Both players were affected by missing the fairway. Woods did manage to escape but Paddy could not.

So it was not the great victory Woods achieved that brought him in the News again, this time it’s something else. The pressure of being on the clock, Tiger says, made Harrington rush 3 difficult shots. Padraig Harrington, who is winner of three major championships and a pro on the European Tour for 12 years, told the Guardian that “There are rules, and the players make the rules and we’ve got to apply them. If you’re asking a player two or three groups ahead of the lead to play within a certain time frame, it’s unfair to give the leaders any leeway.”

Woods on the other hand said, “I don’t think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it. But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it.” He was also quoted telling Harrington on the 18th green that he was, “… sorry John got in the way of such a great battle.”

The fact of the matter is that Woods was actually taking a stance on an issue, and someone within the PGA Tour felt that the fine needed to be made public.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 – A Whole Lot of Drama

TLC’s hit show “Jon & Kate Plus 8” has become one of the most viewed reality television shows, attracting a massive 10.6 million viewers at one point and shattering TLC records. There has been a truck load of drama throughout the show, which probably has a lot to do with the number of viewers they’re attracting.

Disapproval soon flooded in from different corners of the country, accusing Jon and Kate for exploiting their children and causing them emotional distress. In April 2009, there were reports about Jon having an affair. Apparently, he was spotted enjoying a late night outing with various women and leaving with someone that wasn’t Kate. Sure enough, on June 22, 2009, divorce documents were filed in Pennsylvania.

Rumors Has It…

Kate appeared on the “Today Show” in an exclusive one-on-one interview with Meredith Vieira. Different rumors were brought up and Kate made a grand attempt to iron out every false crease that was twisted into the tabloids.

The first rumor she discusses is the supposed condo she purchased in Maryland. She says she was having lunch with the wife of her head of security at a restaurant, where she later found out was below a deck of condos. She denied having any affair with her head of security and says that they are “very good friends.”

When asked where she lives when she is not with the children, Kate responded with a hesitant answer. “To be very honest,” she says, “I’m in hiding.” However, the answer I found the most peculiar is when Vieira asked about regrets in connection with Jon “moving on.” “Those decisions don’t affect me,” she said. “It probably would have happened anyway,” she added, “camera on, camera off.”

Related Video:

Susan Atkins (AP Photo)

Susan Atkins, a member of the Charles Manson cult, was involved in one of the most infamous murders in the United States history. Still imprisoned, Atkins is terminally ill with brain cancer and is now asking for freedom after serving 38 years in prison, longer than any other female prisoner, officials say.

Atkins was only 18-years old when she met the notorious Charles Manson, becoming the fourth young girl to join his “family.” Atkins was involved in several killing sprees, including the murder of the beautiful pregnant actress, Sharon Tate. The actress, who was stabbed to death 16 times, had begged Atkins for her life. At a parole hearing 16 years ago, Atkins described the crime in blood streaking details. “She asked me to let her baby live,” Atkins said at the time. “I told her I didn’t have mercy for her.”

Atkins, along with Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten who were also involved in the 1960 killings, has received multiple parole hearings, but never received it. No matter how much she claims rehabilitation, the brutal crimes she committed were too severe for even the slightest ounce of sympathy or forgiveness. In 1972, all three women were sentenced to life by the Supreme Court, a time when the death penalty was temporarily declared unconstitutional.

Susan Atkins is currently married to her lawyer, James Whitehouse, who continues to proclaim Atkins is continually denied parole under unfair circumstances. In prison, Atkins has become somewhat of a model to other inmates, earned a couple of degrees, and participates in just about every program available. Now, at 61-years-old and gravely ill with cancer, Atkins may have one more shot for freedom before her life-long story of horror closes its final page.

How can these cute little feet get into so much trouble?

A six-month old baby in St. Louis, Missouri was basically booted out of a Burger King restaurant for not wearing shoes! Apparently, baby Kaylin Frederich’s unconscious decision to strut her cute bare little feet in mid air was enough to get herself, along with mother, Jennifer, and grandmother booted out of the restaurant.

According to Steven Tarlow who writes for Personal Money Store, the adorably barefoot six-month-old was a code violation that the store’s manager wouldn’t let go. According to some reports, he even threatened to call the police! The infant, Jennifer says, is too young to even crawl, and her feet are too small for shoes. “Everybody loves baby feet!” she said.

Jennifer says they were on their way to a concert with her church youth group when they stopped in at the establishment. As she was standing at the counter ordering, she said the manager called out to her saying, “You can order to-go but you’re going to have to leave if she doesn’t have shoes on.’ He said, ‘It’s against health code.’” To comply with the “No shoes, no shirt, no service” policy, Jennifer says she put socks on the baby’s feet. But even that was not good enough for the store manager.

Are you kidding me! The poor infant is physically incapable of walking, running and climbing trees, let alone put on a pair of shoes. Her feet are probably a lot more sanitary than the burgers Burger King dish out.

Tom Henderson of Parent Dish softens his stance with a bit of his own understanding. “I reserve judgment,” he says. “We have a court system to determine what was really happening in that store — and in Smith-Means’ head. I can well imagine a mother who ran out of options. Perhaps she told a difficult child that he would either come peacefully or she would drag him out.”

Some reasoning! Of course, I understand where Henderson is coming from, but there are parents out there who practice this kind of consistently hard discipline. I have even witnessed it close-up. Whether or not that was the reason behind the event, how she dealt with the child was clearly out of line.

Parents are human and we will make mistakes. However, it is our responsibly to make the necessary improvements. As a parent, it is extremely important that you make a commitment that you will never raise a hand to them in violence. By doing so, you rob them of their childhood, possibly more. Neither psychological torture nor brute forces are acceptable ways to discipline a child.
(DISCLAIMER: If you care about children, you may find this disturbing)

This guy… I don’t even know what else to say about him except the fact that he’s basically screwed.

According to this article from the Los Angeles Times, there are at least five physicians under investigation. However, a Superior Court spokesman has announced that information on what detectives were looking for and whether or not they found it is sealed from the public view.

It remains uncertain whether prescription drugs played any role in Jackson’s death; toxicology testing results are still anticipated.

On the day of Michael Jackson’s death, June 25, Police found prescription drugs from Jackson’s rented Holmby Hills home and returned four days later and retrieved two bags of medical evidence, according to the report.

A source told the LA Times that “numerous bottles” of the potent sedative Diprivan were found at Jackson’s home. Apparently, some bottles were full and others were empty. None of the bottles had prescription labels, and investigators are determined to find out how Jackson got the drugs, as well as who prescribed Jackson the drugs.

So if prescription drugs were, in fact, a factor in the death of Michael Jackson, some physician out will be facing a world army of trouble.

Some fans were so upset over the magazine cover they started a petition to stop publication of any more copies of OK’s upcoming issue. According to reports, OK Magazine paid $50,000 for the photos that will be featured in the magazine, as well as the very photo that has caused all this stir.

Money isn’t everything and it certainly doesn’t bring pure happiness. Too much time spent focusing on how to generate an overflowing supply of money could, in fact, make a turn and send you deeper than you were in the first place. That’s why it’s extremely important that you know how to leverage your time wisely. Why spend your life counting shooting stars?

Widen Out

Get up, brush your shoulders off, and widen out. Find something you’re interested in and go after it. You will reap greater success by doing what you enjoy doing. Furthermore, there are tons of simple and easy ways to lift a bit of that load off your back and at the same time, increase the flow of your pockets. There are many great ideas, so many formulas that have been tested and proven that are available for anyone to take advantage of. You just happen to be on a site that has a few too many of these up its sleeve. ;P

Other Lucrative Needs

Look, like I said earlier, money isn’t everything. There are many things your body and mind needs other than just money. But let’s face it. Today’s expectation and demands can sometime leave us with no choice but to endure and flow with the flow. You should never, however, allow that to be an excuse to hold you back from making the best of yourself in the most effective and efficient matter.

Find out how I’ve been able to do just that!