peppermintfrost's blog

If you turn on the TV, you're sure to see a commercial or infomercial about some weight loss product.  There are so many things: the ab roller, pills like Hydroxycut, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, etc.  They even get to the absolutely ridiculous: remember that belt thing that you wear under your shirt that supposedly gives you six-pack abs.

Anyway, the other night there was a show exposing some of the secrets that go into these commercials.  They always have those before and after pictures.  In the 'before' picture, they person is usually looking depressed and looking fat, to put it bluntly.  Then, in the 'after' picture, they're happy, look gorgeous, and usually are completely toned and thin.  Read More »

Why doesn't the youth of America vote?  Well, isn't that the million dollar question.  We focused a lot on this topic in my American Government class this past semester.  There are so many plausible reasons.  I think the main reason falls down to this simple and sad truth: they just don't care.  But here's some of the other possible reasons we discussed:  Read More »

The U.S. military has finally succeeded in killing terrorist, Al Zarqawi, but now what?  How much does his death actually help matters?

Yes, he was a major threat, but he had so many followers who may now decide to fight back ten times harder, in Zarqawi's memory.  The government makes it sound like we accomplished so much by killing him, but have we really?  The war in Iraq is far from over and there are still tons of terrorists and Al Qaeda members, including Osama Bin Laden, still wandering around.  Read More »

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13154017/

"WASHINGTON - Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because it may contain harmful levels of mercury, Consumer Reports magazine says, a more cautious approach than recommended by the U.S. government."

"Government tests found instances when canned light tuna had as much of the potentially harmful heavy metal as white tuna, also known as albacore, the magazine’s newest issue said."  Read More »

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13274978/

"ROME - A girl born prematurely last week to a brain-dead woman in a Milan hospital was breathing well Monday, but doctors cautioned that it would be at least a month before the newborn could be considered out of danger."   Read More »

Many adults in their 40s and 50s decide to change jobs completely.  Many of them had high-paying, respectable jobs in the business field.  But they get burnt out and decide to instead look into a teaching career or something that satisfies them.

This was written about in a Newsweek article.  The article made it seem like anyone is able to switch jobs if they really want to.  Realistically, that just doesn't work.  My mom has been a bookkeeper/office manager for years and years.  She would love to switch career paths and go write a book, or be an editor, or do some job having to do with her writing skills.  This just isn't a viable option for her, though.  She can't just quit her job and start all over again because she can't afford to go without pay.   Read More »

Everyone is up in arms about the United States and its immigration reform.  President Vicente Fox of Mexico has spent 5 years urging Americans to legalize more Mexican immigrants.  But what is his policy on immigration into Mexico?

It's actually very strict.  (My information comes from a June 5th Newsweek article, "Stepping Over the Line.")  Mexicans cheered President Fox on sending soldiers down to their southern border to lessen immigration.  Since 1974, a person caught sneaking into Mexico can spend up to 2 years in prison.  The Mexican government has only given legal status to 15,000 foreigners without papers in the past 5 years.  Read More »

Now don't get me wrong...I realize that sometimes it's very difficult for some people to earn scholarships, just based on the sheer population and diversity of their high schools.  But I think that with hard work, dedication, and having God behind you, anything is possible.

Last night was my high school's senior awards night.  I won 3 awards and 4 scholarships.  I was absolutely amazed, but I know how hard I have worked throughout my schooling to get to the point at which I am at today.  Read More »