Interesting Facts About Birthdays

My birthday was yesterday April 17th, so I decided I would write a blog on interesting facts about birthdays. I ended up having a really good birthday. My Granny gave me this huge shopping spree and then $100, and my mom bought me a couch set for my apartment. I really had a great birthday. A lot of people remembered which I always think is a big deal because it’s easy to forget other people’s birthdays. One girl that I graduated with even texted me to say happy birthday, and I haven’t talked to her in about a year. Jay is giving me his gifts tonight I think. I’m not sure what his present will be, but I’m sure it will be good. Anyways, back to the topic of interesting facts. I hope you enjoy these. 1) Your actual birthday occurs only once every seven years. Not counting leaping years, the date you were born on moves each year to the following day of the week. For example, if you were born on Saturday March 15th, the following year, March 15th will fall on a Sunday, the year after on a Monday, and so on. This means your annual celebration is actually for your birth date- not your birthday- and in truth your birth day (the actual day you were born on) occurs only every 7 years! 2) In Ireland the birthday child is lifted by hands and feet, and “bumped” on the floor for good luck. The number of bumps given is the age of the child, plus one for luck. 3) No one is exactly sure why we have the birthday cake, but these are a few explanations. One possible reason is because the ancient Greeks used to take cakes (round to represent the full moon) to the temple of their goddess of the moon, Artemis. The Greeks are said to have placed candles on the cake to make it look as if it was glowing like the moon. Another explanation is the birthday cake started in Germany. Geburtstagorten was a type of cake that is said to have been used to celebrate birthdays. 4) Once again, no one is completely sure why candles are used when celebrating birthdays, but here are a few possible explanations. One reason is because (what I said earlier) when the Greeks took cakes to the goddess of the moon, Artemis. The Greeks are said to have placed candles on the cake to make it look as if it was glowing like the moon. The Germans also were known to have been skilled candlemakers and may have put small candles on their cakes, possibly for religious reasons. 5) The tradition of sending birthday cards started in England about 100 years ago. Originally cards were often sent as an “apology” when a person couldn’t visit somebody in person. Today we often sent birthday cards even if we can. 6) The earliest birthday parties in history were held because people thought that evil spirits would visit them on their birthdays. They stayed closed to their family and friends for protection. Later parties became social gatherings where friends and family would bring gifts or flowers to the person having their birthday. Today birthday parties are held just for fun. 7) In Japan, until quite recently, most Japanese children used to celebrate their birthdays on January 1st, regardless of which day of the year they were actually born on. Today however, most Japanese children celebrate on their actual birthdays. 8) In Russia, instead of a birthday cake, many Russian children are given a birthday pie. Instead of using icing to spell a message, Russian birthday pies have the message carved into the pie crust.

Pollen's In the Air

Well spring is finally here which means many people’s allergies are back in action. I have been blessed to not have allergies like most people. So many people suffer from allergies every year, and they spend tons of money and time trying to prevent their allergies. I decided to write a blog to help those of you with allergies. If you use these steps but still have problems, then you need to see a doctor. Hopefully some of these options will help ease your allergy problem. Good luck! First, you should use over-the-counter antihistamines for relief. For some people, these drugs are very effective at reducing the classic symptoms of seasonal allergies, including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat. Be aware that some older-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl, can cause sleepiness and the impairment of thinking and driving. More recent formulations tend to cause no drowsiness (Claritin, for example) or less drowsiness (Zyrtec). Second, you should keep your home's doors and windows closed. You can't completely seal off your home, but keeping doors and windows closed can help prevent pollens and outdoor molds from entering. As the weather turns nicer, use the air conditioner rather than opening a window to bring in "fresh" air. Third, limit outdoor activity, particularly in the morning. Avoid being outdoors, especially to exercise, when pollen counts are high, or on windy days when pollen and molds are being blown about. In general, pollen counts are highest from about 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. When traveling by car, keep the windows up. Again, this helps keep out pollens, dust and mold. Fourth, take a shower and change clothes. Pollen can collect on clothes and in your hair, so when you've been outside for any significant amount of time, shower and change into fresh clothes as soon as you get home.Most of these sound very simple, but you should all try these and hopefully they will help with your allergies.

My New New Job

Well as most of you know, I recently got a job at J. Alexander’s. I have been there somewhere around three months or so. I decided I wanted to start tanning again, so I will look halfway decent for the summer, so I decided to get a job at Elite Beach in Millington. I am really overwhelming myself here at the end of the semester. Right now it’s finals time, and I am working two jobs and coaching a softball team. I guess I should have thought this out a little more, but oh well. I am really excited about this job, mainly because I get free tanning. My plan is to join this 24 hour fitness in Millington and start working out again. I have really gained a lot of weight this year, so I am ready to go back to the way I looked about a year ago. This job is actually really hard though. I got this job one for the free tanning but two because it would be a little easy job to just make some extra money. Boy was I wrong. Man, I worked on Wednesday night, and I came home with every bone in my body hurting. I tore a few ligaments in my ankle a few years ago playing softball, and my ankle bothered me for a long time after it was healed. I haven’t had the ankle pain in probably almost a year (that I can remember). But Wednesday night, the pain came back. It hurt so bad, and all I kept thinking was I thought this was over. When I first hurt my ankle, everyone said you’re going to wish you had broken it because the pain goes away. If you tear something, you will always feel it. Man, were they right! I tore it when I was a sophomore, so I guess it has been three years. I am still having the pain though. That is so crazy! Anyways, I kind of got sidetracked there. I really respect the girls that work at the tanning salons now because it’s not just some easy job. Believe me, I thought it was too, but now that I’m experiencing it, I feel bad for thinking it was so easy. I guess that’s how everything is though before you experience it. Before I became a server, I knew that being a server was hard, but it was nothing compared to how bad it really is. I also didn’t tip anywhere near what I do now. You know I am really enjoying changing jobs a lot one because I learn many different trades, but two because I learn to respect other people and to not look down on them because I have no idea what all they may have to do.

Bye Bye Rose

So Rose is leaving Memphis to go to the draft. I can’t say I blame him. I mean if anyone offered me $1,000,000 I would do it, and he’s getting a lot more than that. I mean look at LeBron James. He was drafted right out of high school, and look at how much money he’s making. It makes me so jealous. I know I shouldn’t be jealous, but it would be really nice to have enough money that you would never have to worry. I mean I’m working two jobs just so I can make enough money to live. I’m going to school, so I will make enough money for my family to live. It’s a never ending circle. I think it’s pretty exciting though that someone from the University of Memphis will be playing in professional basketball next year. That really is impressive. I have to say I’m proud of Rose, and all of the players for this season. They all worked really hard, and I am proud of all of them. Also, on Tuesday I saw Joey Dorsey! It was so cool! I felt like I was meeting a celebrity. Is that not crazy? I felt like such a geek! We were walking across the street together from the parking lot. He is huge. I would say I probably come to the middle of his back. I told everyone that I saw him, and they thought it was as cool as I did. That made me feel a little less geeky. My softball team had a game on Tuesday, and I told one of the girls, and she said “He looks so scary. I would be afraid to be near him.” That made me laugh because I didn’t think he looked at all intimidating. He was wearing a blue adidas warm up and matching blue shoes. No offense but when you are matching that perfectly, you just don’t seem very intimidating. Back to Rose. I hope he does well and makes a ton of money. I can’t wait to see him in a few years on cribs with his three cars and gigantic house. One day, I will look back and say “I went to school with him!”

Mean Girls

I read an article from the Oprah Winfrey show that Dr. Smith said about mean girls in school. I’m sure most of you have dealt with some form of these “mean girls.” I know I sure did. My bad experience happened in eighth grade. I am still traumatized by it. I talk about it all the time, and I think that one year really messed me up. I’ll take you back in time to give you some background. In eighth grade, I finally lost most of my elementary kid (chubby weight), and I started to look a lot better. I got contacts, and I started dressing better and really caring about how I looked. Not long after, boys came into the picture. I had began my love affair with boys in seventh grade, but the actual dating and boyfriends stuff came in eighth grade. When the boys began to like me, the “popular girls” started to like me too. There was this group of about five girls. They were the it girls. The leaders were Maddie and Kelly. This group adopted me in around the beginning of the school year. I dropped all of my previous friends to be one of the “it” girls. I turned into them. I became one of those evil girls that picks on everyone and brings everyone down for the way they are. I have never been like that. I have always tried to be as nice as possible to people that are nice to me. I never felt I could be as mean as Maddie and Kelly though. They were just down right evil! I became really good friends with this one girl on my basketball team, and she asked me to go to her church camp. While we were there, I met a boy. ( I used to be a huge flirt, but I never did anything. I just liked to be a tease.) I knew nothing about him except the fact that he was adorable. He flirted with me like crazy, and he always wanted to hang out with me. Towards the end of the week, I found out he had a girlfriend. Ugh oh! We never kissed or anything, just harmless flirting. The big ugh oh was that this boy’s girlfriend was Kelly’s best friend. Big Big ugh oh! Needless to say, that was when the “mean girls” came together and forced me out. It was none of Kelly’s business, but she came into my life and just destroyed it. She turned the whole group against me. I swear I fought with them for a year about the dumbest stuff. I hated going to school because I was scared of what was going to happen. I would plan out arguments in my head to make sure I had good comebacks. It was horrible. After everything happened, I found a group of friends that were nice to me. They weren’t the most popular people, but they were good friends and people to talk to. Ever since eighth grade, I haven’t had very many close friends because I was so messed up from this whole experience. Those girls were so evil to me. They went out of their way to make my life HELL!! Over the years some of them left. The ones that stayed ended up hating each other and the whole group eventually broke up. They all turned out to be fat and ugly, and they were all huge sluts. Well except for Maddie because no one would date her. (Probably because she was so evil.) This article was talking about why these girls act so mean. It said they usually have problems at home that make them bring other people down so they will feel better. This is so true. Maddie, for example, had an older sister that got pregnant at seventeen. She had two younger brothers. He parents got a divorce. Her mom was an alcoholic. Her dad had an affair with a much younger woman. Etc., etc. She had a pretty tough life, and now that I look back I know that’s why she was so evil. Most of the other girls have somewhat of the same story as Maddie. It’s sad that people have to make other people feel bad to make themselves feel better.

How to Live Longer

I found a website that gave twelve quick tips to lengthen your life. I know everyone wants to live a long and healthy life, so here are some ways to do it. 1. oHoweTea off in the morning- Hot tea can slash your risk of kidney cancer by 15%. Try pu-erh tea, which is better than green or black tea at preventing DNA damage. 2. Sleep smarter- too much sleep, or not enough of it, can kill you. A British study found that getting more than 9 hours of sack time a night, or less than 6, doubles your risk of an early death from any cause. Aim for 7 to 8 hours a night. 3. Pop in your lenses post-shower- Soaping up while wearing your contacts can expose your eyes to infection-causing waterborne microbes, say University of Illinois at Chicago researchers. 4. Drink wine, stay lean- Polyphenols, the compounds found in red wine, help your body block fat absorption, an Israeli study found, Red-wine marinades work, too. 5. Lost the lint- Taking two seconds to empty the lint trap in your clothes dryer can prevent you from being one of the 315 dryer-fire victims each year in the U.S. 6. Check your neck- An American Journal of Medicine study found that a mildly underactive thyroid can boost your heart-disease risk by 65 percent. A quick blood test can assess your level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). 7. Lean Back- Parking your torso at a 90 degree angle strains your spine, say Scottish and Canadian researchers. Instead, give your chair the La-z-boy treatment and recline the seat back slightly. The ideal angle is 45 degrees off vertical. 8. Scent your air safetly- Some air fresheners contain phthalates, compounds that may disrupt hormone processes, Natural Resources Defense Council testing reveals. Stick with Febreze Air Effects and Renuzit Subtle Effects. 9. Boost your defenses- An Archives of Internal Medicine review reports that 400 IU of vitamin D a day reduces your risk of an early death by 7%. 10. Skip the spray- Using household spray cleaners just once a week increases your risk of an asthma attack by 76%, say Spanish researchers. Use wipes instead. 11. Steam your broccoli- Italian researchers discovered that steaming broccoli increases its concentration of glucosinolates (compounds found to fight cancer) by 30%. Boiling actually lowers the levels. 12. Stretch it out- Genes in your body linked to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity can be “turned on” if you sit for hours on end, reports a study in Diabetes. Hit the “off” button by taking hourly laps during TV, book, and Web sessions.

Ice Ice Baby

Well Vanilla Ice was arrested for a battery charge. This article on msn’s entertainment part talked about the arrest, but it finished with saying “He sold 15 million copies of the single “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990.” I cannot believe this. After all the talk about him being arrested, they still have to throw in the fact that he is a celebrity. I’m sorry but just because he sold 15 million records in 1990 does not make his crime disappear. Why do people like celebrities and politicians get away with things like this. What made them so much more special than the rest of us? I understand when you’re a celebrity you can do whatever you want, but I really think it’s stupid. So what if Vanilla Ice sold 15 million records, he’s still at fault. I hate that when celebrities or people in power do something wrong, they hardly have to pay for it. Think about Paris Hilton. When she went to jail, everyone was like “Oh My God!!!” I wanted say why are you saying that because she will be out in like two days. Just because Paris Hilton is a huge slut, and she maybe knows what 2+2 equals, she gets a get out of jail free card. There is something really wrong with this system here in our country. I wish I was in some kind of power, so I could change some of these stupid things. This blog also goes with my jail blog because our jail system is flat out screwed up. Not only are regular prisoners being rewarded for murdering people, but celebrities and people in power are made more popular by going to jail. Once again, another flaw in this horrible law system we have.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

I was reading an article about prisoners, and it got me thinking. It really upsets me that people are still complaining about the treatment of prisoners. I mean these people are murders, rapists, etc. They should not be treated fairly or with respect. They should not be given comfortable beds, cable, good food, etc. That is ridiculous to me. Some of these prisons are nicer than my own home. I mean I thought the point of prison was to be punished. Apparently, people want that to change because they want prisoners to have better good, comfortable beds, good food, respect, etc. I mean do these people just completely look past the fact that they, for instance, killed someone. I bet you if the person they killed was someone from their family, they would be acting completely different. I just don’t understand how people can rationalize what these people have done. I mean who wouldn’t want someone that killed your family member to suffer. No one would say “Please take good care of them, and give them good food and a comfortable bed.” I mean are you kidding me. All these people that think we should improve prison conditions make me so angry because it’s called prison for a reason. It’s not supposed to be a good thing. You are supposed to regret what you did while you are in prison. It is not supposed to be an enjoyable experience. This crap gets on my nerves, and I hope people will think about what they are doing. There are much bigger problems than fixing the living conditions for prisoners.

A City of Blue

Recently, I have been watching the news about this Memphis team. Unforunately, we lost the championship game against Kansas, but we did so much more than that. Not only did we have the most won games in a single season, but it was also the first time that all number one seeds were in the final four. Those are some pretty amazing statistics. They are definetely something to be proud of. The most important thing this team has done is unite our city with one color, BLUE. Everywhere you would go, there would be so many people wearing their blue and grey in support of such an influential team. This team brought a change in Memphis that no other person has ever done. They made people unify under one race of blue. There was no race when they played. They brought about a common love in that everyone wanted to see this team win the championship. They brought everyone together without even trying. All this team did was play the game they love, but look at how much of a change they made. You could see on tv all races cheering for the same thing. People have tried for years to unify the races, but nothing has ever worked. Now, a team from a so-called "bad" school plays their hearts out for the sport they love, and they bring about peace in a community for a little while. Honestly, it's sad that something like a sporting event can bring the races together. Why not everything else? I respect this team a lot for what they have done. I respect them for overcoming all of the people who said they would never make it. I have grown to love this school over the last year, and I thanks to this team a lot of other people have grown to love it too. I will forever bleed blue and grey!

Interesting Facts About Candles

Well of course I had to have at least one interesting facts blog, so I decided I would make one about candles. I was looking around my den, and I have seventeen candles in that one room! Can you believe that? I sure don't. I love candles, but apparently, I love them too much. I decided I would find interesting facts about them, and some of these really are interesting. Hope you enjoy! 1. The candle industry is growing mainly because of our society's stressful lives and everyone's quest for relief. 2. Candles are used in 7 out of 10 U.S. households. The majority of consumers also burn candles between 1-3 times per week, with half of these consumers burning 1-2 candles at a time. 3. Candle industry research findings indicate that the most important factor affecting candle sales is Fragrance, with color and shape taking a distant second, in the consumer selection of a candle for the home. 4. Overall candle sales are growing faster than the United States economy as a whole. 5. Consumers say they typically burn candles for just under 3 hours. 9 out of 10 candle users say they use candles to make a room feel comfortable and cozy. 6. Candle users say they most frequently burn candles in the living room (42%), by the kitchen (18%), and the bedroom (13%). 7. Candle purchasers view candles as an appropriate gift for the holidays (76%), house-warming gifts (74%), a hostess/dinner party gift (66%), a thank you gift (61%), adult birthday gift (58%). 8. U.S. retail sales of candles are estimated at approximately $2 billion annually, excluding the sale of candle accessories. 9. There are more than 350 commercial, religious and industrial manufacturers of candles in the U.S., as well as scores of small craft producers for local, non-commercial use. 10. Candle manufacturers' surveys show that 96% of all candles purchased are bought by women. Two thirds of candle purchasers say they use candles once a week or more often. Women are more frequent users than men, and younger people tend to use candles more often than older adults. I hope you enjoyed these. I thought they were very interesting. Oh and feel free to give me any candles! I love the smell of vanilla!

Interesting Facts

It has been a while since I did an interesting facts blog, so I decided I would write one on just some interesting facts about animals. If you can't tell by now, I love animals. I wanted to be a vet for years. They are all just so sweet and loving. If I could, I would have hundreds of animals. I hope you enjoy some of these. I thought they were really neat. 1) The five most common dog names for males are Jake, Buddy, Bailey, and Sam. For females, they are Maggie, Molly, Lady, Sadie, and Lucy. 2) The ten most popular dogs in order are Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle, Shih Tzu, and Bulldog. 3) A famou Beagle you might have heard about is Snoopy. He has been in the newspaper since 1950. 4) Dalmatian puppies are pure white when they are born, and they develop their spots as they mature. 5) A dog's temperature is between 100.2-102.8 degrees Fahreneheit. 6) The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different kinds of purebred dogs 7) Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest dogs amond all breeds. 8) Dogs were the first animals domesticated by people. 9) Dogs have been wearing collars ever since Egyptian times. 10) To keep themselves warm in the winter, dogs sometimes curl up with their tail covering their nose. 11) In many cities, there are close to 50,000 pets each year that have no homes and no one to take care of them. 12) Lassie was the first animal named to the Animal Hall of Fame in 1969. 13) Dogs have three eyelids. They have an upper and lower eyelid and a third one inside of the other two. It helps protect the eye from dirt and dust. It is also called a "haw".

Proud To Be A Tiger

In honor of our Tigers, I wanted to write a blog about them. I am so excited we are going to San Antonio. I hope we win the whole thing!! This team is really making me happy that I decided to go to Memphis instead of Mississippi State. I had decided in August to stay in Memphis, and I have never regreted it, but the basketball team is really making me proud to be at Memphis. Everyone always looks down on Memphis because they think it's a crappy college compared to Christian Brothers and Rhodes, but I don't care what other people think. I know I went to a college preparatory school, but I think Memphis' classes are hard. I mean I am making pretty good grades, but I am working a lot harder than I expected. I know a lot of people hate the people that are fans only when the team is winning, but I still appreciate all the support. A lot of people looked down on me when I moved out and went to Memphis instead of Mississippi State, but now I want to say screw all of you because my school is in the final four. Mississippi State isn't in the final four, and they are just some country school. If I had gone there, all I would of done is become an alcoholic because that's the only thing to do in Starkville, MS. I don't like to drink, and some of you may think I'm crazy, but I just don't get into it. It always makes my stomach hurt, and it takes me forever to get drunk because I can't keep drinking. It's too much work I guess. Anyway I just want to say that I am very proud to be a tiger, and I appreciate the team for making all of these people supporters. We showed all of those people that thought Memphis was some crappy school. Now look at us. We might be national champs in a few days.

3:10 to Yuma

I mentioned the other day in class the western movie 3:10 to Yuma. I know this is a horrible blog, but I really want to encourage all of you to see this movie. It's amazing. The guy from Batman and Russell Crow are the main characters. That should tell you something. Russell Crow plays an outlaw that can't figure out if he wants to be bad or good. The guy from Batman plays a poor farmer that is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for his family. Russell Crow gets arrested, and the movie is about the journey these men take to get Russell Crow on the 3:10 to Yuma (the prison train). Now that does not do the movie justice. I don't want to ruin the movie for you, but I am telling you that it is worth going to see. I really did not want to see this movie because my dad is in love with westerns, and I have been forced to watch them my whole life. He loves John Wayne. If he ever had a boy that would have been his name. So I really didn't want to see another western, but it is not like the usual westerns. This movie had a lot of good action, not the normal cheezy action. It had a good story line, and the acting is incredible. It's a great movie for anyone. I really want everyone to go see it because it is so good. I know this doesn't tell you a whole lot about the movie, but I don't want to ruin it for you. Just go see it!! I promise you'll love it!

Great Thursday Class

I just wanted to talk about how much I enjoyed class on Thursday. It was really a lot of fun! I was a little nervous when I got the email to come prepared to argue about race because it is such a touchy issue. I had sort of already argued my opinion on the issue in one of my previous blogs, but it was nice to hear someone else's opinion. It was interesting to hear what everyone said. Some people said things I was completely not expecting. I was also happy that everyone was very respectful, and it never got rude and mean. That's really what I was worried about. I had a lot of fun arguing and debating. It was like one person would say something and then someone else would have to put their opinion in, but it was never like fighting. It was really fun! It was like we had this huge intellectual argument about race without name calling and just being down right mean. If only the world could do what we did in class? The world really might be a different place if everyone could talk openly about their issues. Instead, everyone keeps their problems bottled up inside which causes ugly racism. The same thing happens with friends, wives, husbands, etc. When you keep all your problems inside, you can't help but grow hate. Problems are meant to be talked about, but they are not meant to be faught about. I think many people confuse this. I know I often fight out problems instead of talking them out, but it really does no good. I just go right back where I started. I really hope one day we can talk about race comfortably, but really it would be nice if we didn't have to talk about race. I mean who made it illegal for white people to talk about black people and vice versa. If we are all equal, why should we talk about race? Something to think about. Anyway, I just wanted to share how much I loved our class on Thursday. I hope some of you felt the same.

My Interview

Today, I interviewed Dr. Julia Heath. She is the Professor and Chair in the Department of Economics. I was not completely sure what to ask her, but I felt like what we did talk about was helpful. She didn't really tell me too much information I didn't know, but we did debate some things. I asked her some questions like whether or not a living wage would prevent a recession and whether or not a living wage would help increase the number of people that go to college. I also asked her if she thought a living wage would help with homelessness. We talked about some concerns I had with some of the research I did. She did help a lot at some of the things I had questions about. One question I had was that some research materials said the U.S. could not afford a living wage, but she had a really good comeback to this. She said when employees get paid more, they work harder, which causes more production. More production creates more money, which in turn goes to pay the employees. I really liked this because I knew there was no way the U.S. couldn't afford a living wage, but I could not come up with a good comeback to that statement. Another concern I had was that if a living wage is enforced, will that create less scholarships. My parents make good money, so it was very difficult for me to get scholarships. One of my friends had a single mom who made less than $30,000 a year. She got tons of scholarships. We talked about how this would greatly affect scholarships, but people will have more money so it might not make as big of a difference. In order for people to get scholarships, the requirements would have to change. I am still questioning how I feel about this whole living wage thing. For the most part, I think a living wage would be a great thing, but there are still bad things that make me question it. I think the interview was good as far as talking to someone who knows about the topic and asking them questions and debating everything. I enjoyed the interview. It was very laid back, but I felt like it helped a little bit.

Horrible Herenton

Herenton is getting on my nerves. Why in the world was he voted back into office? Can someone please tell me why? He is so stupid. I am reading on the same sight as the Millington article that he says he ran for re-election to protect Memphis from Chumney, Morris. Are you kidding me? He ran for re-election because he is a selfish jerk who wants all the glory for himself. I mean really what has Mayor Herenton done that makes him so great? I can't think of anything. Has anyone looked at Memphis lately? It's pathetic. Schools shootings every day, murders every day, stealing every day, rapes every day, etc. The list goes on and on. If he was such a "great" mayor, then why can't he find something to fix all of these problems. He's been in office long enough to have had some time to come up with something. I mean what has he been doing all these years? Also, I read he says he'll stay put in the mayor's office if he doesn't get city school's superintendent. Once again, are you freaking kidding me? What a jerk!! I mean it's like he thinks he owns Memphis, and he can just do whatever he wants. One day he wants to be mayor, then the next day he wants to be superintendent. Herenton, you suck at both jobs! Just give it a break already and retire. I am tired of seeing your face all over tv and listening to your stupid speeches that do nothing for Memphis. Listening to you is like listening to Bush. I would rather listen to fingernails on a chalkboard than listen to you and Bush talk. I hate people that think they own everybody. Just because Herenton is mayor means nothing to me. Anybody could do what he's doing. I mean who couldn't just walk around in a suit all day and read speeches that someone else wrote and act like you actually know what you're talking about. Sorry once again for the ranting. These comments really struck a nerve.

Millington Employees Expecting Pay Increase

I read today in the Commercial Appeal (I know you hate it Wendy) that the city of Millington is planning on comparing their employees wages with other cities. If Millington's wages are less than other cities, then there may be a pay raise. I think this is awesome. I am planning on getting another job pretty soon that is close to home. I am tired of J. Alexander's. I know I have not kept everyone updated with that job, but to make everything short, the people are evil (especially the workers) and I am not making a whole lot more money like I thought I would. I want to leave the restaurant business for good. It's nice to get some quick money, but I miss my steady money. I also have been forced to work on Sundays at my last two jobs, and I am tired of it. I miss going to church. I think Sunday should be everyone's day of rest, but Sunday is my day of chaos. I go to school everyday of the week at 8:00 in the morning, then I work on top of that. I also work all day long Saturday and Sunday. By the time Monday gets here, I am so tired I can't think straight. I never get my day of rest. I want just one day to get away from school and work. Anyway, back to the topic. This is very exciting to the 180 employees in Millington. Millington is still a small town, but it will not be small for long. Millington has undergone a lot of renovation just in the last year. We are movin' on up!! lol If Millington becomes a bigger city, then the employees should be paid more, so they might as well start increasing wages now. Also, this article also goes along with my living wage paper because I am arguing that we need a living wage. Employees are not paid enough to live, and the time has come to change that. For any of you who live in Millington or work in Millington, get ready because I hope this change is coming for our town.

Internet Is Stupid

Well I decided I would write about my hatred of the internet. This semester has been a tough one for me. Last semester, my whole family hated me, so I was stressed out all the time, but I had the internet. This semester, my family and I are ok, but my freakin' internet keeps messing up!!!! I'm getting so pissed! I'm tired of these stupid computers and internet. I hate them! Everyone has gone completely to emails and homework online, etc., etc. I am still catching up. I lost my internet for the second time this last week. Yesterday afternoon I was able to see the internet again on my own computer. Everytime this crap happens I have to find someone who has internet which usually means my parents house. I am over there for hours because I have to cram everything into one day. I completely missed the fact that we were suppose to read those articles because I didn't have the internet. (That's not counting the countless other things I've missed) All of my teachers assign work over the internet, and I don't always notice them until it's too late. I feel like I need to keep the internet on at all times. I'm so frustrated with internet and technology! I know it's a good thing, but good Lord it's frustrating. I'm sorry to keep putting all of you through these rant blogs, but sometimes you just have to let everything out. I seriously hate the internet. I mean it's a great thing, but I feel like I am always missing something that was on the internet. I usually check my emails once a day, but usually no one has sent me anything until after I do my daily check. Anyways, I apologize again for putting all of you through this. I just needed to share my hatred of the internet just for a moment. Thanks for listening! lol

Dr. George Lord

On March 27, 2008, Dr. George Lord from Partners of Public Education came to talk to us about our education system. He said he does research and policy analysis. Also, he does research on school assessment. The 10th Amendment says the government can spell out some things states cannot do, but the rest of the rule and regulations are left to the states. That's a little crazy to me. However, there is a way around this rule because the government has involvment in agricultural school. Another interesting fact is that the budget on K-12 education is a trillion dollars. That is amazing and ridiculous at the same time. We spend a trillion dollars on education, but it still sucks. There is something really wrong with that picture. Dr. Lord had lots of interesting information that I did not know. Another piece of informaton was in 1958 Russians launched the satelite Sputnik (sorry for incorrect spelling). Due to this satellite, people thought America was far behind in technology and knowledge, so Dwight Eisenhower decided to put money into science, engineering, and mathematics. He wanted to create NASA. He also said in the 1960s most of the urban riots about civil rights, anti-war, etc. were all blamed on education. We have over 200 public schools in Tennessee. (Something else I did not know) Lots of really information was that there are 41 failing schools in Tennessee. 17 failed last year. 17 schools have not met the standards for six years. 45 schools met the goal but not the benchmark. 103 schools did not meet state benchmarks. 34 met the benchmarks and inproved. Supposedly, White Station is one of the best public schools, and it did not make adequate yearly progress because of an increase in special needs students. He said there is a 15% dropout rate and a 70% graduation rate. Dr. Lord has so many interesting facts. I just cannot believe some of them because they are so ridiculous to me. I don't know really anything about public schools because I went to a public school for 12 years. My boyfriend went to Millington, and he has told me a lot about what it's like, but I could not imagine. One time I was in Millington Youth Leadership, and we had to do a presentation at Millington High School, and I have never felt so out of place in my life. I was also only in the freshman building. There were so many people, and it was so loud. I also had to walk so far to get to everything. I had no idea where anything was. It was so scary and weird. I was one of those sheltered private school kids, but I do appreciate some aspects of a private school. I really enjoyed Dr. Lord's presentation. He was very interesting, and he made the subject very interesting.

Will The Controversy Ever End?

Once again something else is being accused of being racist. Vogue magazine has LeBron James and Gizele on the front cover. LeBron James is screaming, dribbling a basketball, and holding Gizele. Somehow the argument came up that this picture "conjures up the idea of a dangerous black man." I'm so tired of this racist crap. Honestly, I was afraid to write this blog because I am scared someone will call me racist. I want to say to the "dangerous black man" comment that when I see a black, white, Mexican, etc. man walking towards me in baggy clothes and covering his face, I get a little freaked out. I don't care what color the person is. I understand that people think all black men are dangerous, but the truth is every other race has dangerous men and women for that matter. I'm tired of listening to people complain about how everything is only targeted at black people. Now, I understand I am white, and I have not experienced what it's like to be any other race. I just want the controversy to end. I'm tired of black people being made to look like poor idiots in white movies and white people being made to look like freakin' idiots!! in black movies! And why are "all" Mexicans perves? Why does it have to be this way? I know everyone says that people still somewhat segregate, but times have changed. Slavery is no longer around, so I think it is time to get over our stubborn selfs and find some kind of peace. I don't want anyone to think that I am racist, but after I read this article, I just got so frustrated. Why does everything have to be about color? Who made it that way? I mean it's like there is a rule that whites and blacks can't mix. I'm tired of living this way. I'm sorry for this blog, but I felt the need to let out my feelings on this topic. It's such a touchy subject, and I really was hesitant when I decided to write this, but I decided to write it because I feel this issue should be talked about. How can we ever fix a problem without addressing the problems? Feel free to leave your comments. This blog was not meant to offend anyone. I just want the controversy to end.

Stress

I seem to always be so stressed out. I feel like I am constantly behind, and that I will never catch up. Sometimes I feel like everyone hates me, and then sometimes I don’t. I go back and forth between being stressed and unstressed, so I decided to write a blog on ways to control stress. I’m sure many of you have lots of stress. School is the devil and causes too much stress!! I hope some of you benefit from this.
First it is very important to relax and unwind. Some ways include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. If you can’t find the time to do these things, try sitting for a few minutes, listening to soothing music, or read a book. Second, you should always make time for yourself. It is very important to care for yourself because if you can’t care for yourself, how can you expect to care for anyone else. Try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day to do something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or just calling a friend. Third, sleeping is a great way to help both your body and mind. Your stress could get worse if you don’t get enough sleep. With enough sleep, you can tackle your problems better and lower your risk for illness. Fourth, make sure you eat right. Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Eat whole-grains, such as wheat breads and wheat crackers. Don’t be fooled by the jolt you get from caffeine, energy drinks, or sugar. Your energy will wear off. Fifth, make sure to get moving. Getting physical activity not only helps relieve your tense muscles, but helps your mood too! Before and after you work out, your body makes endorphins which help relieve stress and improve your mood. Sixth, talking to your friends can help relieve stress. Friends are good listeners. Finding someone who will let you talk freely about your problems and feelings without judging you does a world of good. Seventh, make sure to compromise. Sometimes it is not always best to argue. Give in once in a while. Eighth, most importantly do not deal with stress in unhealthy ways such as drinking, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.
I hope some of you will use these to help manage your stress.

Why! Why! Why!

I recently wrote a blog about why cats hate water. One of the people who commented me asked why cats lick their fur. Well I decided I would answer this question and a few other questions about the weird things cats do. I hope you enjoy!

Q. Why do cats lick their fur?
A. Licking keeps a cat’s fur clean and smooth. It cools cats off in hot weather. It also helps their fur stay waterproof. Licking helps fluff a cat’s fur which keeps cats warm in cold weather. Also, if a cat hurts himself, licking the cut or scratch cleans it and helps it feel better.

Q. Why do cats purr?
A. Kittens purr to let their mother’s know that everything is ok. Adult cats purr when they feel safe and happy. Cats can purr for a long period of time without stopping.

Q. Why do cats meow?
A. Cats have four different meanings for “meow.” If you listen carefully, you can hear that each meow is different. The first meow says I’m hungry! The second says I want to go out! The third says help! The fourth meow says I want attention! I hear the I’m Hungry meow all the time.

Q. Why do cat’s tongues feel rough?
A. Their tongues feel like sandpaper because they must use their tongue to brush their fur and keep it smooth.

Q. Why do cats sometimes roll over on their backs when they see you?
A. This is probably the friendliest thing a cat can do because it is their way of saying I trust you.

Q. Why do cats sometimes knock things over?
A. When a cat knocks things over it can be two things, she is trying to get your attention or she is having fun. This is not an accident!! She wants you to play with her. My cat loves to knock things over. I started out with a 12 pack of class. Now I have four classes.

Q. Why do cats press against you with their paws?
A. Kittens get milk by nursing from their mother. They press against their mother with one paw and then the other. This is called “kneading.” Kneading helps the mother cat give milk to the kittens. When adult cats knead with their paws, it reminds her of her mother when she was a kitten.

Q. Can cats tell time?
A. Cats can’t tell time the way people can, but they learn the habits and routines of their family. They learn things such as when you get up in the morning and their feeding times. They may even know when a family member is coming home before you do.
I hope you all enjoyed these. I thought they were very interesting.

Floyd Skloot

On March 18, 2008 I had a chance to listen to Floyd Skloot’s interview. He was a very interesting man. He was so cute and little. It made me laugh. He was also very humorous. He said he is mainly going to focus on non-fiction stories now. He got sick in 1988, and he seemed to lose everything. He did not talk too much about his disease, but what I did hear sounded horrible. He had to teach himself a new way to write and how to walk again. It was fifteen years before he could walk without a cane. I mean can you imagine not being able to walk and write? Skloot’s writing process takes place only in his house. He said he keeps notebooks everywhere, and he will take a note anywhere, but his actual writing takes place in his house. Skloot’s feels the accident is part of his growth. He seemed to regret some of his writings from the past because he felt he published them too soon before they were technically finished. He had a great vocabulary, and I know that makes me sound so stupid, but I am so inspired by people with a large vocabulary because mine is so small. I know I should read more often, but it’s so hard for me! He also seemed to really love his wife Beverly. He was constantly looking at her and smiling, and it just made me so happy. I am such a hopeless romantic. He says some people can take life too seriously. There has to be a humorous way of life. I really appreciated this because my motto is “Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.” I firmly believe you have to laugh at everything because in the end none of this is going to matter. I really enjoyed his interview, and I would like to read some of his poetry. I really enjoy poetry. The only thing is that I can’t always understand it.

The Criminal

A criminal burrows deep in my heart
Breaking and entering into my soul
Steals my emotions and tears them apart
Removing my feeling of being whole
Murdering my last childhood innocence
Taking away what I enjoy the most
Killing my feeling of independence
Ignoring and treating me like a ghost
Slashing and cutting straight into my core
My feeling of safety is destroyed
Making me restless because we’re at war
Hopeless, defeated, and left with a void
But I cannot resist his temptation
Leading me onward to true salvation

Andrew Couch

On March 14, 2008, I listened to Andrew Couch talk about some environmental issues. Six years ago he had a company called Deep Fried Rides. He invented cars that ran on restaurant’s waste cooking oil. He is now a member of the Clean Water Coalition. Andrew Couch said the coalition does about six main things. I could not catch all of them, but here are a few. First, they track legislative activity, such as finding grant money. Second, they have grant assistance. Third, they help with market development. They help business leaders start businesses that help the environment. Fourth, they help develop infrastructure. Fifth, one of their main focuses is education and outreach for ages K-12. I did not catch the sixth thing, but he said one of them should be arguing. He said he spends most of his time arguing. His main focus seemed to be to inform us that there are many other alternative fuels. He also wanted to encourage all of us to conserve more energy. He continued to talk about how everyone thinks all of his ideas are stupid, but then he gave a great example. He said 30-40 years ago people thought the computer was a bad idea because it was huge, and they thought it was inefficient. Now, some people could not live without a computer. He had a great sense of humor, and I really enjoyed his talk. This is off the subject, but I wanted all of you to know what he calls his truck. . .The Terdlet! Sorry, I just thought that was so funny!

The Importance of Our Press Conference

I believe this press conference was important to our paper because it shows you that you need to have a lot of facts and information to back you up. Everyone who reads your paper will be asking questions like the questions asked today. Also, it shows you how to form your own opinion whether or not you believe in the topic. This press conference showed me that I should ask myself if I am answering all the questions formed from my paper. I need to be able to defend my opinion in the paper with a lot of facts and information because if not my opinion is pointless. Making an opinion without knowing all of the facts makes you look like an idiot. I still have not made up my opinion on whether or not a living wage is better than a minimum wage. I am still finding facts and information. Every time I think I have decided, some piece of information makes me change my mind. The press conference taught me to be prepared to back up my argument. I also really enjoyed the press conference because as shy as I am, I really enjoy faking an argument. Also, I love listening to Krystal talk. She cracks me up.

Why Cats Hate Water

I have always wondered why cats hate water. I have worked at a vet before and you should see some of the things those crazy cats will do to get away from water. They go insane. It’s like water will kill them or something. I found a website that shows why some cats love water and some cats hate water. They say that cat species native to hot areas seem to enjoy water, and cat species from cold areas do not like water. Tigers, lions, jaguars, ocelots, and jaguars are all from hot savannas, and they enjoy taking dips in cool streams and ponds. Snow leopards, lynx, bobcats, and cougars live in cold environments and have little interest in getting wet. One veterinary professor suggests that water damages the ability of a cat’s fur to insulate the animal against cold. This would explain why cold-weather cats don’t like cold water because it only makes them colder. Many domestic cats do not enjoy water. Domestic cats do not experience extreme heat, so they have no desire to take a dip. Also, no cats enjoy water used against them in an abusive manner or getting water in their eyes or ears. Cats only enjoy water when they want to enjoy water. Some housecats enjoy stepping into a shower or playing with a dripping faucet. Both of my cats love to play with the faucet. They say that cats can learn to like water based on their experiences. Show cats who have been bathed since they were kittens do not mind the water as much. So for future reference everyone bathe your cats from the start, and hopefully they will learn to calm down and not leave you with scratched up arms and a black eye.

Understanding a Love Affair

As most of you know, women have had a love affair with CHOCOLATE. I have to say I have a huge love affair with chocolate! It’s so creamy and soft and freaking awesome!! I was wondering why women love chocolate so much. I have a few reasons why it is so important to our lives. First, it melts in your mouth which chocolate lovers describe as a moment of ecstasy. Second, chocolate has just the right chemistry. According to a study done at the University of Michigan, chocolate contains chemicals called opioids which serve to dull pain and give a feeling of well-being to people who ingest them. People who eat chocolate produce natural opiates in their brains that soothe their nerves and make them feel good. Third, chocolate also naturally contains “uppers” like caffeine and sugars which make your heart pound a little harder, your breathing come a bit more quickly, and give you a feeling of alertness. It is mild enough to produce a pleasant “high,” which is often equated to the feeling of being in love. Fourth, chocolate equals love. Women crave chocolate more than men do. Women are habitually given chocolate as birthday and Valentine’s presents. Chocolate is associated with love and romance. This could be another reason women love chocolate because deep down, it makes us feel loved, cared for, and pampered. Fifth, believe it or not chocolate is good for you. Recent studies show that chocolate- especially dark chocolate- contains chemicals that lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. Flavanoids and antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to make a difference in cardiovascular health. Scientists recommend that you have a chocolate cookie or biscuit with your tea so your body gets more of the life-lengthening chemicals. Don’t have milk with your dark chocolate, however because the same studies show that milk can cancel out the healthful effects of eating chocolate by preventing those helpful chemicals from being fully absorbed in the body. Sixth, it is great for your sex life. People believe that chocolate has aphrodisiac properties. Recent studies have shown that women who eat a little bit of chocolate a day have significantly more sex than women who don’t. Chocolate just makes us feel good- which is a key ingredient for a healthy sex life. Now I hope everyone will go out there and eat tons of chocolate…well not tons but at least some! I am so happy to have an excuse to eating chocolate!

Boosting Your Brainpower

I know on Tuesday Tabitha had said her boyfriend’s grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I have had a family member with Alzheimer’s, and it is so scary and sad. I found a website that shows those of us who have not developed Alzheimer’s yet to prevent it. If someone in your family has had the disease, you should definitely read this blog. Genes determine 30% of your risk for developing Alzheimer’s. The other 70% comes from factors we control such as fitness, diet, and stress levels. One of the first factors in boosting your brainpower is to EAT MORE BRAIN FOOD. Blueberries are shown to contain compounds that improve short-term memory. Fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish (such as salmon) help protect and nourish brain cells. Stay away from saturated fat to keep your heart strong and pumping blood to your head. Make sure to replace refined grains with whole ones to keep brain fuel reserves full. The second important factor is MAKE A BRAIN BOOSTING VINAIGRETTE. Rosemary and turmeric stimulate the brain. You should add a pinch of each to your food each day. One woman on the website uses these by whisking them with olive oil (2 tablespoons), garlic powder (3 pinches), salt (a dash), and rice wine vinegar (to taste)- and uses the vinaigrette on salad and to marinate meat and drizzle over veggies. The third important factor is SLEEPING 8 HOURS EVERY NIGHT. Now for those of us college students this is a very difficult factor. You brain needs sleep to function properly. It uses the downtime to sort and store information. Also, new research has shown that sleep helps strengthen memory recall. Some sleeping tips are to cut down on fluids and keep your bedroom cool (around 63 degrees), quiet, and dark. I hope some of you will use these tips because I would hate for anyone to have to experience this horrible disease. And Tabitha I hope everything goes well with the grandmother! (w.c. 329)

Sex and STDs Are Taking Over The World

I read an article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23574940 that said 1 in 4 teen girls has sexually transmitted diseases or in other words, more than 3 million teens. Can you believe this? These girls were aged 14 to 19. I could not believe this. I mean has no one realized what causes STDs yet? Think girls, think! It seems now that everyone is focused on having sex, and it drives me crazy. I’m not judging anyone who loves having sex. I understand it is very enjoyable, and it feels great, but come one now let’s not be dumb about it. Be safe! As sad as it is that you have to be this safe, it’s the truth. There is no telling what your partner has, and there is no way to tell if they are telling you the truth about their past. This quote made me so upset because I just hate to see our world come to this. Later in the essay, it mentions ways of preventing STDs. One of the options is to get a three dose HPV vaccine for girls ages 11-12 and follow up shots from 13-26. Can you believe this? Eleven years old!! When I was eleven, I was just beginning to learn what sex was. I definitely did not want to have sex at that time. It really frustrates me that our world has come to this. I mean I can only imagine what it will be like when our kids are our age. I just wish all the girls and guys out there having sex with many different people would stop and think about what they’re doing to themselves and others. I mean does no one realize that when you give someone else an STD, you are contributing to their death. Come on people…use your noggin!

The Many Uses of Beer

Personally I do not like beer, but I know many people love beer. I found this, and I thought all of you beer lovers and even beer haters would enjoy this. Enjoy! Here are 32 new reasons to love beer. 1)BATHE IN IT: Try bathing with a bottle of German Badebeir. It will make you smell like fresh bread and your skin feeling smooth and luxurious. 2)PUT OUT A FIRE: It is not as effective as a real fire extinguisher, but if none are available, a can or bottle of beer will work. Simply shake and spritz. 3) MARINATE MEAT: Beer is slightly acidic which makes it an excellent meat tenderizer. Beer also does not alter the meat’s flavor as much as wine and vinegar based marinades do. Poke a few holes in the meat, put in a Tupperware container or a resealable bag, and add beer. Marinate in refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight. Beware: do not drink the marinade. 4)POLISH POTS: Beer works great for polishing copper. It works great because of its acidity. 5)MAKE BEER BARBEQUE SAUCE: 1 medium Spanish onion, diced, 1 medium banana pepper, diced, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 2 tbsp capers, 5 ripe tomatoes, diced, 1 small can tomato paste, 1/3 c each wine vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp fresh ground pepper, 1 tsp cumin, dash of ground clove, 12 ounces amber ale or porter. Combine all ingredients in large saucepan and boil for 10 minutes. Lower heat and simmer about 4 hours until thickened. Cool and refrigerate for 24 hours so the flavors can meld. Then baste everything. 6)SHAMPOO HAIR: Beer is the cure for dull hair. It will give your hair more shine and luster. 7)LOOSEN RUSTY BOLTS: Put some beer on them and wait a few minutes. The carbonation may help break up the rust. 8)CLEAR UP BROWN SPOTS IN YOUR LAWN: The fermented sugars in beer stimulate plant growth and kill fungi. Andrew Lopez, a professional gardener, recommends spraying either home brew or Roling Rock. 9)STEAM CLAMS OR MUSSELS 10)PASS A KIDNEY STONE: Beer is a diuretic. It helps flush the kidneys and bladder. It helps dilate the ureters ( the tubes connecting the kidneys and bladder) which may help you pass a stone quicker and easier. Also, the alcohol takes the edge off the pain. Now these are only the top ten, but if you enjoyed these, the rest are even better. There are uses such as curing insomnia, catching mice, soothe tired feet, massage yourself, and even build your next home. They are very interesting. If you would like to see the rest, go to http://men.msn.com/articlemh.aspx?cp-documentid=3872767&page=%20%20%20%20%20%201.

The Secrets Behind Victoria's Secret

It was started in San Francisco, California in 1977 by Roy Raymond who wanted to develop a store where men felt comfortable buying lingerie for their wives, girlfriends, etc. He opened his first store at Stanford Shopping Center, then to a mail order catalog, and then three other stores. Instead of having racks of bras and panties in every size, there were single styles mounted on the wall in frames, so men could choose a style, and the staff would help estimate the appropriate size. In 1982, after five years of operations, Roy Raymond sold the company to The Limited. This company was able to invent a widened range of products such as shoes, evening wear, perfumes, etc. among others with its mail catalog issued eight times annually. By the early 1990s, Victoria’s Secret had become the largest American lingerie retailer topping one billion dollars. Victoria’s Secret has sales exceeding $7 billion. It has about 1,000 lingerie stores and 100 independent Victoria’s Secret Beauty Stores. Victoria Secret mails more than 400 million of its catalogs per year. In July 2004, company executives launched PINK, a lineup of loungewear, sleepwear, and intimate apparel geared mainly towards university students. The brand has received world wide nomination for the best in the category performance year on year over the last two years. The Victoria of Victoria's Secret likely refers to the British queen. One can conclude the "secret" is merely part of a clever branding strategy, alluding to the possibility that the prudish monarch (who at one point during her reign went into seclusion for 25 years) liked to wear sexy lingerie like the stretch lace Miracle Bra.Like most girls, I love Victoria’s Secret. However, I do hate the prices. I still love what they have though, and I came across some Victoria’s Secret information, and I thought I would share. I hope you enjoyed.

It was started in San Francisco, California in 1977 by Roy Raymond who wanted to develop a store where men felt comfortable buying lingerie for their wives, girlfriends, etc. He opened his first store at Stanford Shopping Center, then to a mail order catalog, and then three other stores. Instead of having racks of bras and panties in every size, there were single styles mounted on the wall in frames, so men could choose a style, and the staff would help estimate the appropriate size. In 1982, after five years of operations, Roy Raymond sold the company to The Limited. This company was able to invent a widened range of products such as shoes, evening wear, perfumes, etc. among others with its mail catalog issued eight times annually. By the early 1990s, Victoria’s Secret had become the largest American lingerie retailer topping one billion dollars. Victoria’s Secret has sales exceeding $7 billion. It has about 1,000 lingerie stores and 100 independent Victoria’s Secret Beauty Stores. Victoria Secret mails more than 400 million of its catalogs per year. In July 2004, company executives launched PINK, a lineup of loungewear, sleepwear, and intimate apparel geared mainly towards university students. The brand has received world wide nomination for the best in the category performance year on year over the last two years. The Victoria of Victoria's Secret likely refers to the British queen. One can conclude the "secret" is merely part of a clever branding strategy, alluding to the possibility that the prudish monarch (who at one point during her reign went into seclusion for 25 years) liked to wear sexy lingerie like the stretch lace Miracle Bra.Like most girls, I love Victoria’s Secret. However, I do hate the prices. I still love what they have though, and I came across some Victoria’s Secret information, and I thought I would share. I hope you enjoyed.

Leaping Into A New Year

Well since many people seemed to enjoy my interesting facts on sex blog, I decided to find some more interesting facts. These facts are about frogs. Now this is not going to be as exciting as sex facts, but don’t worry these are pretty good too. “The world’s largest frog lives up to its name. The Goliath of West Africa grows almost a foot in length, weighs up to 7 pounds, and can easily clear 10 feet in a single hop.” “Frogs can kill us. The toxin in a single toxic poison dart frog could wipe out 90 humans.” “A female gray tree frog picks her mate from the pool of water with the fewest predators.” “The male gladiator frogs of Latin America use spikes on their forearms to mortally wound other competitors during courtship rituals.” “Toads use their eyeballs to help swallow their prey.” “Certain frogs in desserts “down under” store water in their bladder and pockets of skin. Their “pee” is an important source of hydration for aborigines crossing the arid outback.” “In California “toad licking” has gotten out of control. It’s now illegal to possess Colorado River Toads, which produce a powerful hallucinogen called bufotoxin.” “Thanks to chemicals that act as an internal “antifreeze,” wood frogs can freeze solid and hop away after thawing out.” “Call them superfrogs. Southeast Asia’s gliding frogs “hang glide” from tree to tree using extensive webbing between their toes.” “Talk about incredible births. The Gastric Brooding Frog from Australia, believed to be extinct, incubates tadpoles inside their tummies until they’re fully developed. Baby frogs then come hopping out of the mouth.”I hope you liked this. I really enjoyed them. Don’t worry I’ll be back with some more interesting facts.

Dead But Alive

Recently, I was reading some information on msnbc and came across and interesting story about many people being claimed dead on paper, but they are actually alive. I have never really thought about this until I read this article, but it seems so easy to be mistaken. As I was reading the article, I read that the social security office can claim someone else dead by using the wrong social security number. That is so easy to mistake. Social security numbers are so similar, and it is very easy to mix up numbers. MSN BC said thousands of people are experiencing this problem. In the article a woman named Laura Todd has been dealing with this problem for the last eight years. Her electronic tax return was rejected because of the mix up. She will not be able to receive her tax refund. Also Mrs. Todd’s healthcare was canceled, and her bank cancelled her credit card account. Her whole struggle began when someone in Florida died, and her social security number was typed in. Another example used was Toni Anderson who supposedly died when someone pressed the wrong button, making the records say it was she, not her husband John. The social security even sent a letter saying “Dear Mr. Anderson, our condolences on the loss of Mrs. Anderson.” This is really crazy that someone could be pronounced dead just because of someone typing in the wrong number or pressing the wrong button. It’s interesting to see who controls our deaths (on paper anyway). I thought I would share this story because it’s pathetic to see what can happen from a simple mistake.

Paradigm

Paradigm means (1) an outstanding clear or typical example or archetype (2) an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms (3) a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated; broadly: a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind. Well honestly that definition confuses me, but I will do the best I can. This seems to mean there are ideas that are formed by experiments, theories, laws, and generalizations. In relation to schools, this is very important. People seem to think they know the way to prevent school violence by using experiments, theories, laws and generalizations. Everyone has their own opinion on how to fix these many problems. The truth is that you must have experiments, theories, laws and generalizations to make any kind of decision. If you think about it, how many good decisions have you made based on your own knowledge? Everyone can make the best decision if they actually have some experience in the topic. Also, it is so much easier to make a decision if you have experience because you have had a chance to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Also in regards to school they are trying to put more metal detectors in the schools, but there is no way to tell if this will actually help because it has never been done before, but decisions like this must happen in order to determine what will actually help.

Why We Go To College

In regards to the Robert Frost quote “We come to college to get over our littlemindedness,” I definitely agree. The point of college is to gain more knowledge, so we will be able to have really good jobs. I feel going to college helps people from having to settle for jobs they really don’t want. As of right now, I am a waitress, and I hate it. There is no way I will do this job for the rest of my life, so I am going to college to better myself, so I can get a good paying job that I actually enjoy. Unfortunately, I am not completely sure what my dream job will be. I know what I don’t want to do, but there are still many jobs I would love to do. I believe college is a very important part of our lives. Now don’t get me wrong. I hate homework and getting up at 6:00 a.m., but I know I have to do this because even though things are annoying, frustrating, and hard now, they will be much more annoying, frustrating, and hard if I do not go to college. I do my fair share of complaining about school, but I know this is the best thing I can do for myself. And yes I have lots of “littlemindedness”, but going to college definitely helps us get over it.

Intersting Facts About Sex

While I was looking for interesting facts about Valentine's Day, I came upon this website that had interesting facts about sex. I never thought I would write a blog about this, but some of these things are so interesting. I hope you enjoy. Don't worry because none of this is very vulgar. I just could not believe some of these facts. Read them, and you will know what I mean.

-Sex is biochemically no different from eating large quantities of chocolate.
-Males, on average, think about sex every 7 seconds.
-Each day, there are over 120 million sexual intercourse taking place all over the world.
-Topless saleswomen are legal in Liverpool, England - but only in tropical fish stores. (But of course!)
-There are men in Guam whose job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the 1st time.
-Sex burns 360 calories per hour!
-Male and female rats may have sex twenty times a day.
-22% of American women aged 20 gave birth while in their teens. In Switzerland and Japan, only 2% did so.
-For every ‘normal’ webpage, there are five porn pages.
-The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.
-Turkeys can reproduce without having sex. It’s called parthenogenesis.
-In india it is cheaper to have sex with a prostitue than buy a condom!
-“Formicophilia” is the fetish for having small insects crawl on your genitals. Gross!!
-“Ithyphallophobia” is a morbid fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.
-When swans go on a date, they’ll put their heads together. Then they stick together for life.
-Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. It is 10 times more effective than valium!
-Male bats have the highest rate of homosexuality of any mammal.
-The average shelf-life of a latex condom is about two years.
-The word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek word gymnazein which means “to exercise naked.”
-Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
-In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but may only do so with her bare hands.
-85% of men who die of heartattacks during intercourse, are found to have been cheating on their wives.
-An adulterous Greek male was sometimes punished by the removal of his pubic hair and the insertion of a large radish into his rectum.
-The greatest recorded number of children one mother had was 69 children. Do the math!
-The world’s youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
-The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time television were: Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
-25% of women think money makes a man sexier.
-Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
-Snakes have two sex organs.
-Women who read romance novels have sex twice as often as those who don’t.
-The average person spends 2 weeks of its life kissing.
-The Ramses brand condom is named after the great phaoroh Ramses II who fathered over 160 children.
-A man’s beard grows fastest when he anticipates sex.
-A pig’s orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.
-Donald Duck comics were once banned from Finland because Donald doesn’t wear pants.

I hope you enjoyed these facts as much as I did.

Interesting Facts about Valentine's Day

-In the Middle Ages men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear their name on their sleeve for a week- hence the term "wear your heart on your sleeve."
- Conversation Hearts: In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first "conversation heart"- then called "Motto Hearts." Eight billion of these candies are sold between January 1 and February 14.
-Teachers will receive the most Valentine's cards followed by children, mothers, wives, and then sweethearts.
-The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.
-"Valentine’s Day originates from the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on 15 February in honour of the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. During the festival, young men would draw the names of women from a box, and each couple would be paired until next year’s celebration. Often they would fall in love and marry."
-Esther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial American valentines in the 1840s, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards her first year of business. Today, over 1 billion valentine cards are sent in the US - second in number only to Christmas cards.
-Women buy 85% of all Valentine's
-Worldwide over 50 million roses are given on Valentine's Day each year.
-15% of women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
-3% of pet owners buy valentine's for their pets
-The first box of chocolates was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868.
-You burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss.



Works Cited
www.windscafe.com/pdf/Jan_Feb2006.pdf
www.cityline.ca/healthandrelationships/relationships/index.asp?articleID=3018&categoryID=9...
ioframe.com/valentine_s_day_used_to_be_celebrated_on_february_15th_not_14th

Beagle Makes History

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/7787722?MSNHPHCP&GT1=10937

Check out this website to hear the whole story.

A Beagle named Uno made history Tuesday at the Westminster Kennel Club. Uno became the first beagle to become best in show at Westminster Kennel Club. He was such a fan favorite that he had a standing ovation when he was named best in show. A beagle had never won in the 100 years Westminster picked a winner. Uno beat out two poodles, a top Sealyham terrier, a Weimaraner, a Australian shepherd and a Akita. Judge Jones said "He's perfect, he was a ten, he does cuteness well." Uno had 32 best in show ribbons overall. He was definetely and underdog because no beagle had even won the hound group since 1939. "Exactly why beagles hadn't done better at shows was somewhat of a mystery. Some say that they're so common, they don't stand out in the ring. Others say they're hurt by being an "honest dog" - as in, they're not a masterpiece carved with a pair of clippers."

This made me very happy because I have a little Beagle, and I am just so proud of beagles right now. I never thought I would love a beagle, but I promise you if you ever get a beagle, you will not regret your decision. They have got these huge personalities, and they are so fun. They will love you no matter what. Everytime I come home, Memphis is so happy to see me. I can tell he really missed me. I just wanted to share this article with you, but you should read the whole article. Don't worry, it's not very long.

Let's Not Get Out The Vote

This article is very interesting because the majority of people do want more people to vote, but in reality the people that do not vote should not vote. More than likely they are not prepared enough to make a logical decision about the candidates. Their vote for the person with “the shortest name” or the person with the best hair will not help our country. We need to vote for people who will benefit our country. These people who have not prepared themselves with enough information about the candidates should not vote. Voting is a privilege, and it should not be taken for granted. This article’s main focus is do not vote if you are not prepared.
I believe the speaker is involved in politics somehow because most voters would not get this upset about who votes. If I was involved in politics, and I did not win because of six-sevenths of a vote, I would be very upset. The author feels the same way. If you lose because of the people who voted for the person with “the shortest name” or the best hair, anyone would be upset. It is ridiculous the way some people decide who to vote for.
The author intends for this article to be directed towards all voters. The author wants everyone to know that your vote does not help if you are only voting because of their name or any other feature that has nothing to do with their political intentions. While still establishing that voting is important, the author wants everyone to know that voting is only important if you have prepared yourself with enough information to make a logical decision on who would be the best candidate. The author seems to write this article to speak to all voters but to target the voters that vote based on features and not on the things that matter.
The phrase “Vote or Die” became popular recently thanks to P. Diddy. This phrase takes a different approach because it encourages everyone to vote. It is important to vote, but if you do not know anything about the candidates, your vote will not help. While emphasizing the “Vote of Die” phrase, celebrities decided to join in the campaign. Celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey backed up the campaign. However, Paris Hilton and Ludacris did not even register to vote. That sets a really good example. Their intentions were good, but you cannot encourage people to vote, when you are not voting either. This campaign intended to target everyone verses the “Get Out The Vote” campaign targets the voters who vote just to vote. “Vote or Die” intended to encourage everyone to vote no matter what you know about the candidates.
I agree with the “Get Out The Vote” campaign because there is no point in voting if you have no evidence to support your decision. You are just voting to vote, which does nothing for our candidates or our country. I think voting is a very important aspect of
being a citizen, but if you have not prepared yourself with enough information to make a logical decision on which candidate to vote for, then you are causing more harm than good.
Surprisingly, this article was written in 1955. This is shocking that the same problems we are experiencing today were happening fifty-three years ago. It is sad to think that over this many years, people have still not figured out the importance of voting. Voting is more than just picking whoever sounds good, but this will probably be a problem for many years to come. It is also shocking that in 1955 the right to vote for everyone, women and men, had not been in place for very long. It seems as if this problem started from the very beginning. I’m sure the people in history who suffered so much for the right to vote would be so angry to know that what they fought so hard for is being taken for granted. People died for the right to vote, and we get the right to vote because of what they did. Out of respect for those people, we should prepare ourselves with enough information to make a logical decision based on important issues.
This article encourages people to vote, but at the same time encourages people not to vote. The author wants people to realize that voting for the person with “the shortest name” is not right. You are doing no good if that is your basis for voting for that candidate. The author encourages everyone to take advantage of their right to vote but to do so in an educated fashion. The author sums the meaning of his article up in one line, “It is not your duty to vote, but if you choose to, then it should be your duty to be intelligent about it.”

Voices

I love this song called "Voices" by Saosin. Their whole cd is amazing. Every song gets better and better, but Voices makes a big impression on me. The chorus says "We speak in different voices when fighting with the ones we love, we speak in different voices why can't we say what we're thinking of." Isn't that so good? I love it because it is so true. If you think about all the times you have ever had an argument with someone, a lot of what you say is just said in anger. I know I have said "I hate you" to people when I'm arguing with them, even though I know that's not true. Why can't we say what we're thinking of? I know I like to keep most of my feelings inside because as hurt as I may be, I do not want to hurt that person by what I have to say. This is by far the worst way to handle any situation because all it does is hurt you, and it hurts the other person because your relationship with them will eventually end. However, sometimes the things people say in anger will end a relationship too. I know it is hard to not say hurtful things when you're angry. But why is that? Why is the point of an argument to put the other person down? Why is an argument always about who wins or loses because when you really think about it, who ever really wins? Fighting is so pointless. It never solves anything. It only makes matters worse. I have a temper and a smart mouth. Fighting has been a problem of mine for a long time. I've been so angry for a long time about my family, and I took it out on so many people. There is no telling how many people I have hurt in the past. I hate that because I want everyone to be happy. No one deserves to be treated that way. No problem should be solved by an argument, and actually no problem will ever be solved by an argument because arguments only make things worse. I encourage all of you to listen to this song. You should really buy the cd because every song is amazing.