High School student Sean Harrington at Arlington HS in Massachusetts, upon entering his Freshman year, noticed that his new school did not have any American flags and did not recite the pledge of allegiance. Three years later, he and his friends have succeeded in putting flags in the classrooms. Yet, even after a petition signed by 700 people and letters of support from lawmakers like John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, the Arlington Massachusetts school committee denied the 17-year-old's request to allow students to voluntarily recite the pledge.
Some committee members voiced concerns...continue reading
This year was Lady Gaga's first on the Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List, but she still managed to snag the fourth spot, putting her behind Oprah (who regained the No. 1 spot after Angelina bumped her down on last year's list), Beyonce, and James Cameron.
The list of most powerful celebs was measured by a year's worth of entertainment-related earnings and media visibility in print, TV, on the radio and online. Additionally, social media presence was a new element that they factored in this year (think Facebook and Twitter).
The rest of the top ten included Tiger Woods, Britney Spears...continue reading
The southern states have some of the highest obesity rates in the U.S., according to a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Adult obesity rates rose in 28 states over the past year. 10 out of 11 states with the highest rates are located in the South. Mississippi has the highest obesity rate for the 6th year in a row.
Obesity rates are above 25% in 38 states, and above 30% in 8 states. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20%, and in 1980, the national average was 15%. Diabetes rates have also gone up; 19% in adults in the past...continue reading
Actress Mena Suvari, 31, married concert producer Simone Sestito, 25, on Saturday in a church in Vatican City, Italy. Sounds like a dream destination wedding!
The two met in at the Toronto Film Festival in 2007 and were engaged by 2008. Why Rome? They chose to have their wedding in Rome because Simone's family lives there.
The next time we will see Mena on the big screen is when her comedy flick comes out, "You May Not Kiss the Bride." Can't wait!
We wish them a happy marriage! continue reading
The couple married at the Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii early Tuesday. Megan, the 24-year-old "Transformers" star, and Brian, the 36-year-old actor best known for his role on the original "Beverly Hills 90210," met in 2004, became engaged in 2006, and then called it off in 2009. They secretly got engaged again this past month.
So, it only took two engagements, but they finally made it down the aisle. We hope they'll be starting a family soon because those kids are going to be so adorable! continue reading
A study done by professor Charlene Elliot at the University of Calgary in Canada revealed that 53% of food products specifically targeted to babies and toddlers in Canadian grocery stores have an excessive proportion (more than 20%) of calories coming from sugar. Elliot says, "people expect these foods to be held to a higher standard…yet this is not necessarily the case."
Products in the study included pureed dinners and desserts, toddler entrees and dinners, snacks (biscuits, cookies, fruit snacks, snack bars and yogurts) and some cereals. "While the American Heart Association...continue reading
Robert Byrd, the longest serving senator in U.S. history, passed Monday morning at the age of 92. The nine-term senator assumed the office in 1959, after 3 terms in the House of Representatives. Robert was an orphan child who married a coal miner's daughter and rose up from West Virginia's coal country.
He was a controversial figure and known as the best of the "old school" politicians, with a fierce reverence for institutional rules. He was also third in line to the presidency after VP Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. continue reading
The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Chicago handgun ban in a landmark ruling that makes it unconstitutional for states and local governments to restrict the right of Americans to own guns. This act has extended the reach of the 2nd Amendment as a nationwide protection against laws that infringe on the "right to keep and bear arms."
The 5-4 vote cancels the 1982 Chicago ordinance, one of the nation's strictest, which barred residents from having handguns, even in their own homes. This is a major victory for gun rights activists but a huge blow for those seeking...continue reading
