A Shark, a Duck and a Lake Monster

Everything goes terribly wrong on an Australian morning newscast. Australia's version of the "Today" show is taking the meaning of lake monster to a whole new level. We have all seen the mishaps of Hoda and Kathie Lee on the Today Show, but now anchors on the Today show in Australia are embracing an awkward situation.

The story starts out as a report about a possible shark sighting in Evandale Lake, in the coastal city of Gold Coast. Anchor Karl Stefanovic undercuts the seriousness of the report by breaking into a laugh, which continues through the entire story as everything seemingly goes wrong. Paul Burt who is reporting live at Evandale Lake casts a fishing line into the lake to tempt the shark, but catches another lake resident, which happens to be a duck.

What started out as a serious story on a possible shark sighting turned into nothing but an awkward situation. It may not be broadcast journalism at its best, but with all of the negative things going on in the media, it's something to laugh at.

Reasons Why You Need A Vacation

Have you been feeling the strains from work, and the everyday demands of life? Chances are you've been thinking about that much needed vacation. Your brain probably needs a little rest of its own as well.

Stress among adults and teens has raised concerns for many health officials in last decade. Living in a technological world, where the media is constantly in our face on a 24/7 basis can increase our stress levels dramatically. According to a poll done on 1500 American adults in 2009, approximately half of them said they didn't use up all of their vacation days because of being a workaholic.

You may be wondering where am I going to get the money for a vacation, or how I am I going to find the time? Begin by saving up a little money at a time, and let your boss know early. Demand for a vacation don't ask.

A State University of New York survey found that men who took annual vacations reduced their risk of death by 20 percent, and men who didn't take any vacations in five years had the highest death rate, and risk of heart disease than any other men surveyed. A study done in the Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who took annual vacations were less stressed, tense or tired. Women who rarely took vacations were more likely to sleep less and have more stress.

Taking a vacation is good for the body, mind and the soul. It's a way to step back from your daily routines, and be able to relax, and look at life from a outsiders perspective. Also, detatching yourself from a regular environment can give you a new outlook on life, and boost your creative thinking. Have you ever heard the phrase "I just need to get away." Just getting away from where you live is really important, because detaching yourself from your home, and going to a different location creates excitement from discovering unknown territory. Not only is a vacation good for the body, mind and the soul but it is good to revamp relationships as well. It's a way to reconnect and revitalize relationships with your .

If this hasn't convinced you to take a vacation, I don't know what will. So start planning, and give yourself the vacation you deserve.

Taking the mind and body

Anyone who has had a loved one, relative or family friend diagnosed with Alzheimer knows that this disease is brutal, and requires support and patience. With or without warning it wipes you of your memory, and then leads to more health complications because of not remembering to eat and so on..

According to CNN, 5.4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's in the United States, and is the sixth leading cause of death. The Alzheimer's Association states that by the middle of the century 16 million people will be diagnosed with this condition.

When my grandma was detected with having Alzheimer's six years ago, she didn't want to believe that she had the disease. She was known throughout the family as having the best memory. As the years went on she began to forget more and more. She no longer recognized or remembered where she lived or who her own family was.

Anyone who is familiar with Alzheimer's knows that there are three different stages to the disease. The first stage is preclinical, and for research purposes only to find out if patients have Alzheimer's even when they don't have any cognitive or memory problems. The second stage is mild cognitive impairment where someone may show small signs in their behavior and memory. If you are diagnosed in this stage it is just prolonging the cycle the disease will take. The last stage known as dementia is when memory, thinking and behavioral problems have become so severe that the persons ability to function is hindered dramatically.

My grandmother was diagnosed at stage two, and she stayed at that same stage for about three years until it got worse. There is still not a cure for the disease, but there are many medications to prolong the cycle of this horrible disease. The main importance is to stay supportive, loving and understanding to whoever may have this illness.

Project Pregnancy

Around 820,000 teens get pregnant annually according to most recent government statistics. The struggles of a teen mom include a very long list of demands and sacrifices. Gaby Rodriguez, a senior at south -central Washington highschool made being pregnant her senior project. After six long months she finally revealed to nearly 700 of her fellow students that she was in fact not pregnant.

She faked her own pregnancy for six months, and wore a home-made prosthetic bulge made out of wire mesh and cotton quilt batting. Only a handful of people knew she was faking including her mother, boyfriend and her highschool principal.

The point of the experiment was to show everyone about the perception of a pregnant highschool student, and the stereotypes and rumors she had to face. The 16-year-old A student will share the results of her project in May.

This story sheds some light on the struggles young pregnant teens have to face when they are at school every day. If you were in the same situation would you want anyone judging you?

Student with no hands awarded for Penmanship

Fifth grader Nicholas Maxim was born without hands and limbs, but that didn't stop him from winning an award for his participation in Zaner-Bloser's 20th annual National Handwriting Contest.

With a can do attitude Nick walked up to the stage, and received a trophy during a school assembly in front of his family, friends and teachers for his excellent penmanship.

His story is inspirational to many, considering the tough odds he has overcome. To many of his friends he is no different than them. He can play football, soccer and write just like the rest of his friends.

He writes by clutching a pencil between his upper arms, and goes about every task the same way, tryinn hard at everything he does.

Zaner Bloser has now decided to create a new category in his honor, and the winner will receive the Nick Maxim trophy.

Many people all over the world with disabilities can look up to Nicholas Maxim, and not let their disability be a hindrance to them but rather a way to overcome and aspire the greatest obstacles in life.

Oprah OUT Rosie O'Donnell IN

Rosie O'Donnell will be moving into Harpo Studios this fall after Oprah's final farewell to her legendary show. This is good news for Chicago as yet another celebrity ambassador will be taking over day-time television.

O'Donnell released a taped message to Harpo staff saying "Thank you, Oprah. And thank all you people there. Some of you are going to be sticking around to make a kick-ass show for the Oprah Winfrey Network."

There is also good news for Oprah's current Harpo staff who will go on to work on Rosie's show. O'Donnell told O Magazine that her new show will be less celebrity driven and will focus on one topic for an hour including everyday topics and issues such as relationships, health and weight.

Having her own show is nothing new to O'Donnell. Lets go back 15 years ago to the Rosie O'Donnell show where she graced six consecutive daytime Emmys for her show, which lasted from 1996 to 2002. O'Donnell also had a short lived stint on the view, which lasted only a year.

There's no doubt that O'Donnell has won Oprah over not only with the privilege to work on her world-wide famous stage, but she has won Oprah's trust and respect. Let's keep the cameras rolling as Rosie moves in this fall.

DECLINED

Your debit card may soon be denied. One of the nations largest banks, JP Morgan Chase is considering capping debit card transactions at either 50 or 100 dollars.

The changes are being considered because of interchange fees. Currently every time you swipe your debit card, your bank charges the retailer 44 cents that it shares with its partners. Those fees add up to 16 billion dollars a year according to data from the Federal Reserve.

The Wall Street reform passed legislation last year that would lower the fees to 12 cents. The changes won't go into effect until July of 2011. Chase is already testing $3 dollar monthly fees on debit cards, and $15 fees on checking accounts in certain states. The bank has also announced that it has stopped issuing debit reward cards.

If a cap like this does make its way to consumer accounts then they would be forced to write checks, take money from ATM's or even to put money on their credit cards. The people who need the most help are the one's who will be hurt the most. People who have bad credit that commonly use their debit card will now have to abide by a $50 or $100 dollar cap limit. What do you think about the new changes?

Cell Phones and Brain Cell Activity

Three hundred Million Americans have them, and we rely on them for everything. I'm talking about cell phones. The age of cell phones has reached all time heights with the birth of I-phones and smart phone technology. Cell phones have been linked to even more remarkable uses.

A new government funded study has found that the radiation given off just after 50 minutes of being on your phone increases the activity of brain cells. According to the study, phones that were turned off didn't create the same activity. This is the first time in any study where they looked specifically at how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones affects glucose metabolism, which is a normal function in the brain.

Basically more brain activity means that your cells are creating more energy. A number of health risks have long time been associated with the use of cell phones from the radiation. The Interphone project, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer wants to put those rumors to rest after doing the largest study on cell phone use. It included subjects who used cell phones for ten years or longer. The project concluded that overall no increase risk was observed with the use of cell phones.

Although these studies conclude that cell phone use is in fact non hazardous to one's health, a person with brain damage who exposes his or her self to radiation could be triggering something dangerous says the lead study author, Nora Valkow.

Lonely Hearts

Valentines Day is a week away, and many will be celebrating it with their loved ones. But not everyone has that special someone to spend it with. A new study done my UCLA researchers have found that loneliness is in fact bad for your health. It isn't merely about surrounding yourself with people, but a state of mind in which you can't count on anyone in your waking life.

The study was comprised of 93 adults. They found that people who say they're chronically lonely have an overexpression of genes connected to cells that produce an inflammatory response to cells. Long term inflammation eventually leads to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

According to the research done by UCLA researchers, there have been many studies done on the health affects from loneliness, but it is important to learn more about the biological mechanisms of these affects.

You might be wondering how does one prevent loneliness from occurring? According to many studies, it says that one should be active, and surround themselves with positive influences, and people who care about them. Don't be afraid to meet new people, and build connections with others. Whether you are single or living alone, it is vital to socialize. Laughing and having a good time has always been helpful for people who are feeling down or who just didn't have a good day.

Loneliness is a serious problem that many people deal with on a daily basis. If you know someone who is dealing with this problem, take time out and listen to them. Let them know you care. A few words can go a long way to someone who is suffering from loneliness.

White Out

The blizzard of 2011 will definitely go down in history as one of the worst blizzards in Chicago history. People all around the city were rushing to get off work yesterday, but last night 600 to 900 people were stranded on Lake Shore drive after a series of car accidents. People began to leave their cars, and brace the blizzard, while the drivers who stayed in their cars were there for 12 hours. Chicago city officials made statements before and after the blizzard urging drivers to be cautious, to not leave their cars if they got stuck, and to avoid driving if possible.

The blizzard also brought with its wrath lighting, and thunder that knocked down power, leaving thousands of Chicagoans without electricity. According to CBS 2 in Chicago many roads were and still are closed due to the hazardous conditions. All public schools and city colleges were closed for the first time since 1999, when the city faced its last major blizzard. Chicago public schools will remain closed on Thursday as well.

Governor Pat Quinn issued more national guards to the state to help out with the snow clean up. There have been many reports of people helping eachother dig out their cars, and one lady provided food for the stranded motorists on Lake Shore drive last night.

Although there is no school in Chicago, that won't keep kids from going outside, where they were sledding and skiing on Lake Shore drive and at Grant Park. The side streets and alleys remain non drivable as city road crews focus on cleaning main roads.

Many people all over the country will remember where they were the day the horrendous blizzard hit. Time will tell how long it will take for streets and businesses to go back to normal.

"We do big things" President Obama

President Barack Obama spoke to America last night as he gave his annual State of the Union address. Obama talked about the economic changes we have overcome the past few years as well as making his case for future government actions.

The economy is on course for economic disaster if there is no serious action to gain control of the budget deficit. Many Americans have felt the financial burden for many years now due to the shaky economy. In response to President Obama's State of the Union address, House Budget Committee Chairman, Paul Ryan said spending cuts need to start immediately to increase the governments ability to borrow to pay its bills this upcoming spring.

President Obama addressed the necessary issues the country was waiting to hear such as emphasis on education and innovation to declaring the "era of big government" to be over. He also talked about security, and grounding the budget deficit through less spending.

Also, Republicans and Democrats were ordered in a different seating chart, where they sat together. The idea of the seating chart addresses the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together on the economy's problems.

According to online campaign tracking statistics, Obama has kept 124 of his campaign promises and has broken 38.

Obama closed the State of the Union address by stating "We do big things. The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. It is because of the people our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong."

Round 2 of The Bachelor

Last night brought a wave of relief when Brad eliminated the two drama queens of the house. Best decision by far! The season would not be as enjoyable to watch with catty girls Melissa and Raichel constantly bickering at each other. And for the record, I would say after carefully watching the arguments of who-said-what, 32-year-old Melissa is the instigator. End of story.

But wait, a third person was also eliminated. Keltie the Radio City Rockette from Hollywood, Calif. was sent home and her on-the-spot interview was quite shocking and sad to hear. She said that she is the worst dater ever. That in fact, she should receive an Oscar for worst dater. Oh honey, don't ever put yourself down like that on national television. Keltie went on explaining that she is very awkward during dates and has not had any success with regular dating, set-ups or on-line dating. Not even dating within the work place has worked out for her. Well, duh for that last one. When does it ever work out when you're dating a co-worker?

That was all news to me because she seemed like a strong, confident woman. When she stepped out of the limousine the first night and kicked up her better-looking-than-Tina Turner leg, I was taken back. And as a plus, she's a Radio City Rockette. I would have never taken her for an insecure person as she sounded after elimination, while looking so glamorous in her evening attire. I would have liked her to have gone further in the show.

Photos and story by Olivia N. Castaneda

A Critique about abc's The Bachelor

Smack! Ouch! I'm in love. It seems that's how it's happened for this season's The Bachelor Brad Womack. The first show aired Monday night on the abc network, in case you missed it.

Chantal O., executive assistant from Seattle, Wash., is the infamous woman who slapped Brad across the face in their first meeting. After the low blow- on the cheek- Brad said that 1) he deserved it and 2) he thinks he likes her already. Really?

First of, how dare the women on this show bad mouth Brad for what he did in season 11. I understand he broke two women's hearts, but hey, give the guy some credit for having been honest with his feelings about not being ready back then. Or would you rather have had him go through with the engagement, get married and then speak-up about his issues? Divorce is a lot messier and expensive, and I think he did the right thing about not proposing to anyone.

The women in this season's show should not be so hard on him. If he's back after three years of the therapy, I'm sure everything will work out. Open-up your ears ladies and listen to what the man is telling you. The past is history; no need to bring it up and cause drama. So what if he's broken a few hearts? Who hasn't been hurt or unintentionally hurt others?

This show is competitive so prepare for battle and know that love is a risk, in any relationship or situation. So grow up you girls and start acting like real women.

Photos and story by Olivia N. Castaneda

Knowing What Your Dreams Mean

Have you ever woke up from a dream, and thought why did I have a dream like that? Chances are, you're among the millions of Americans who have had the same dream. But the real question is what do they mean?

I often write down what my dreams were about, and try to decide for myself what they mean. But at times I can't contemplate their meanings. Dreams have been a mystery since the beginning of time. One can learn a lot from their dreams, if they let themselves do so.

Dreams are basically a way for the subconscious mind to warn or help you work through events in your life. So sometimes suppressed feelings that someone may have may come up in their dreams as a way to let them know that they need to express themselves or face a problem from their past or present.

One way to understand what your dreams mean is by remembering all of the dreams that you have. To do so, it's important to write them all down. According to a website called sleep.com dreams go through several stages such as a movie, and in the end you get to see the final product. Make sure you are relaxed before you go to sleep, and pay close attention to an issue that is bothering you, but don't worry yourself too much because you will most likely not be able to fall asleep. Also, tell yourself that you will remember your dreams, and mean it.

After you wake up begin to see if you remembered your dream, and focus on certain themes that are occurring throughout your dream or dreams. A typical dream that occurs frequently in people's dreams are that of them flying. This dream in most cases is a result of something going right in someone's life whether it be an accomplishment or through a relationship. If you're feeling joyful or confident in the dream, then you're feeling as if things are going quite well for you in your life. Now if you're feeling fearful, then that means you are most likely afraid of challenges.

Remember the key to understanding your dreams is to recall the themes associated with your dreams, and to stay in the habit of writing your dreams down.

Lunar Eclipse

Don't forget to look up in the sky tonight, and see the moon's color darken to the color of a dark orange. The moon's color during the lunar eclipse is caused by sunlight filtering through the Earth's atmosphere.

You will be able to see the lunar eclipse all across North America. For people living east of the Mississippi, you won't be able to see the eclipse until after midnight.

The lunar eclipse will last three and a half hours. The moon will fall into the depths of the Earth's shadow for about an hour and twelve minutes. When the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, it changes the tint of the lunar surface from white to orange, to tan and back. You will be seeing the effect Earth's atmosphere is having on the color of sunlight passing through it.

Unfortunately cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Boston, clouds will be in the way of the lunar eclipse. But if you're living around New York, Philadelphia, Miami and Dallas you will be able to enjoy the lunar eclipse without cloudy conditions.

So get your telescope and look up into the sky and see one of the wonders of science right before your eyes.

Gone by Extinction

I don't feel like a valued customer for the beauty company Lancome. Once again, it has happened; a product has been discontinued without fair warning.

I confess, I have oily skin. Unattractive I know. So I use the Pure Focus line of products for oily skin- to control my shine- by Lancome. I completely ran out of my face lotion, which is the Pure Focus Matifying Moisturizing Lotion. I go to the store to buy another one, and the sales lady tells me that there were no more behind the Lancome counter. So I go to another store, and same thing. Well, like a desperate, mad woman I call every single Lancome counter across the Chicagoland area and suburbs and find out that no one had my lotion in stock.

When I called Orland Park mall in Ill., a wonderful sales woman tells me she's going to investigate what happened. I guess she could hear the desperation in my voice. She calls me back and tells me that my lotion has in fact been discontinued in the Midwest area. It is only available in the East Coast. What makes them so lucky?

I believe that I can speak for every skin-sensitive woman out there when I say that I cannot just put on any lotion or cream on my face because I could get irritation. I need time to research a product and make sure that it is oil-free and non-comedogenic, before testing it on myself.

The people of Lancome should know better than to just cancel sales for a particular product. They should be aware of the suffrage skin-senstive women go through. And this is not the first time the company has done this.

I am such a Lancome devotee because I grew up in a household where only those products are used. My grandmother and mother have been using its products for as long as I can remember. That's why I trust this beauty company so much, and have been a customer since I was a pre-teen. I am now in my early 20s.

I am truly dissapointed in Lancome that it would take away a product- a necessity for some women- without posting a sign at least at its counters to warn customers. This has been a true devastation.

Photo and story by Olivia N. Castaneda

A Brazilian Angel

Victoria's Secret supermodel Adriana Lima was at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Ill. last night and yours truly received her autograph.

The line was a little over 300 people long. And the most ignorant, obnoxious group of teenagers were behind me for the two hours I patiently waited to see her. She was scheduled to be there 5 to 7 at night. I arrived at 4 p.m.

First of, it was a mission and a half to get to the mall. I had to take two trains. Then once there, those punks behind me were so rude and loud that even the people in front of me stepped in to my defense, when words were exchanged.

But the moment when I finally made it to Adriana, none of that mattered. Up until the point security tells me- No pictures allowed!- when they saw my camera.

No pictures? No pictures? Did they know what I went through to get there? Apparently not. No pictures? How will I remember this moment?

She signed and handed me an autographed catalogue page of herself. At that moment I thought- I at least have to shake her hand and say something meaningful. So I reached out my hand and said, "Thank you. And congratulations on becoming a mother."

Her gorgeous green eyes opened up so wide and she put her hand to her chest and said, "Aw. Thank you!"

And I smiled.

Photo and story by Olivia N. Castaneda

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2010

Oh la la. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2010 was on CBS last Tuesday, making it the sexiest night on television. Like any fashion show, the season's trends were quite noticeable in the skimpy lingerie outifts. The performing artists throughout the show were Katy Perry and Akon. And it was the beautiful Adriana Lima who opened the show and was the featured angel who wore this year's diamond bra.
The first walk through was called Tough Love. And a tough love theme it was. During this scene, there was a sense of Lady Gaga's fashion style. The models stomped to rock music while wearing large, bold shoulder jackets- one of leather and another of silk chiffon- and towering platform knee-high boots. The outfits also had a rebellious touch to them with studs and spikes embellished on everything- jewelery, shoes, the bras, panties, corsets and even some of the wings.

The second theme was country style, showing off the season's trends of plaid and laced-up boots. The third theme was called Game On. The models came out in sport themed outfits- boxing, soccer, a rhythmic gymnast with the ribbon, football, weight lifting and lacrosse. I absolutely loved this part of the show in particular because there were male gymnasts in the background working on the mushroom doing circles, straddle-ups and back tucks off of them. I did gymnastics for about 11 years, so seeing that be a part of another passion of mine- fashion- was pretty awesome.

In the fourth theme all the models looked so angelic in their wings, wearing nuetral tones made of silk shiffon and lace. As they walked through Akon sang his hit song Angel from his 2010 album Angel. During a television interview for the show, Monica Mitro, EVP Victoria Secret PR, said that this year's show had the biggest number of angel wings because all the models want them. The fifth theme was called Wild Things and the models came out in exotic animal prints, another trend for the season.

And where is the Pink section?- I wondered through out it all. But the producers left it as the grand finale and what a hit it made. PVC outifts were the first to come out in skirts, jackets and an umbrella. Perry sang some of her hit songs while these large ballons of all different colors floated and fell onto the runway. Then bubbles were added. It went perfect with the Pink theme, but did look a bit chaotic as the models walked through the balloons that were starting to overtake the catwalk. And the last model was Chanel Iman. She came out with a bubble gun, adding to the chaos, but it sure did look like fun chaos.




Photos and story by Olivia N. Castaneda

The cheating frenzy

What happened to couples staying committed? To love, honor and cherish has become only words, as the ever growing cycle of cheating has swarmed the media. The ideal couple where a man and a woman stay faithful to each other has seemingly become a fairytale.

It started out as a fantasy for Eva Longoria when she married current NBA player, Tony Parker. She never would of thought that three years later she would find hundreds of sexy text messages back and forth from another ex teammate's wife. Furious with the findings, she then found out about other women who have claimed to have had sexual relationships with Parker. Longoria is currently filing for divorce, and reports say that she doesn't want any of his money.

The current trend of cheating among celebrities has become more and more prevelant in the recent years. Jessee James and Sandra Bullock recently divorced after Bullock discovered a mistress who started coming out of the woodwork. I'm sure you remember when you heard that Tiger Woods cheated on his wife Elin when dozens of women claimed they had an ongoing sexual relationship with Tiger. With Tiger's private life in the media, he admitted himself into a sex rehab program. Along with Tiger, David Letterman has also got involved with several women on his show.

Infidelity is a serious issue in today's world. If you think your partner is cheating check it out, because most often enough you may be right. The statistics show that 70 percent of married women and 54 percent of married men did not know of their partner's cheating.

Although no relationship is perfect, there is no excuse for cheating. The society we live in today glamorizes sex, and makes it okay to cheat. Although forgiveness is a great quality in a person, don't let it get in the way of being true to yourself and your happiness. You've heard the phrase "once a cheater always a cheater," but is it actually true? Surprisingly the statistics say that only 15 to 20 percent of people who cheat do it again. But the cheating continues.

New and Improved?

It's back, it's back! The Aveeno line of shaving gels are back on store shelves!

In August, I posted a blog about Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Smooth Shave Gel being taken off the market with out a proper farewell. I had called their customer service line and was told that they were removed from stores due to a malfunction with the pump. The product was being dispersed as a cream, instead of a gel.

Oh, what difference does it make? Be it a cream or gel, I just need it to get the job done of protecting my legs from nicks and cuts.

Last week, as I was walking through the pampering products aisle at a Wal-Mart store, my jaw dropped when I saw the return of my favorite shaving product. It comes in a new rust-proof can, which is a nice improvement. But honestly, gel or cream, I do not see a difference when using it. I'm just glad it's back.

Photo and story by Olivia N. Castaneda