Why To Hate Twilight: Rebuttal

By Jo Oliver

"This weekend the weather was bad and there was nothing on television. Therefore, I decided to rent the only thing that I hadn’t already seen on PPV. I was astounded at how wonderful the movie was, and immediately wanted to see what my fellow Triond writers thought of Twilight. Of course, I found tons of pro Twilight articles. However, I found one article, “Why To Hate Twilight” that was written to bash the Twilight series. The author composed 95 reasons to hate Twilight, most of which I adamantly disagree with. Some of the reasons were just too nonsensical to even address. Reasons like- because it is “stupid”, “dumb , and Harry Potter could beat the main Twilight character with his magic powers, etc… wasn’t worth my time and effort. So, I just picked a few out of the article to rebut here. All of the quotes were taken from Sarah Rebeccas’ "Why To Hate Twilight" article here.

“Bella is a perfect character (“Mary Sue”) that Meyer hides by calling her clumsy.”

1. Bella is not a perfect character. She comes from a broken home, hasn’t seen her father in years, and she is shy and awkward. The idea that she is a perfect character is clearly negated by the mere fact that she attempts suicide. Perfect people would never feel so unworthy of life....."

Finish reading this article about Twilight here

President Obama Compares White House Bowling To Special Olympics

Image

By: Jo Oliver

"...Everyone can say something thoughtless, and then regret saying it. Again, I honestly do not think that President Obama intended anything derogatory. I applaud him for owning the fact that it was a thoughtless statement. However, it is very unnerving to know that he could be so careless with his words. Intended or not, it is also very insulting to compare his causal bowling effort and skill to that of Special Olympians giving it everything and all to bowl a 129."

Continue Reading: at Triond

Mega and Giga Coasters: World's Scariest, Highest, and Fastest Roller Coasters

"...Millennium force stands taller than 300 feet at it's highest point, reaches speeds of 93 mph, and is considered to be the tallest circuit roller coaster in the world. However, in 2000 it was beaten by Steel Dragon 2000.
"Millennium Force has been voted the number one steel roller coaster in the world in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket awards five times since the year 2001, and has never been ranked lower than number two since it opened in 2000....."

By: Lauren Axelrod

Read the entire story at Triond here

Glenn Beck and His 9/12 Project

"This past Friday Mr. Beck announced his 9/12 project. The point of the project begins by looking at 9/10, and then discovering how to get back to the way Americans felt on 9/12. On 9/10 life was normal and partisan politics was alive and kicking. On 9/11 Americans were hysterical, and no one knew what to do. But, by 9/12 no one had to tell Americans what to do. We sat aside our politics, religion, skin color, etc.. and “just did it.” Americans gave everything they could from their blood, money, and time. So, the main point of the project is to bring America out of divisiveness and back to working together for a common purpose….our freedom and prosperity. 9/10 can be compared to pre-economic crisis, 9/11 as today, and 9/12 as what we do in the future....."

By: Jo Oliver

Read the entire story and find out the 9 principles and 12 values at Triond here

“Totally Stylin Tattoos Barbie" Causing Uproar with Parents

By: Jo Oliver

"....For example, the 1965 “Slumber Party Barbie” had women’s organizations crying foul from the moment it was released. The doll was boxed with a book called “How to Lose Weight” and a set of bathroom scales with “110lb” printed on it. Critics argued that a real life 5 foot 9 inch tall woman would be at least 35 pounds underweight at 110 pounds. Then there was the 1997 “Share a Smile Becky.” Becky sported a pink wheelchair, the chair wouldn’t fit into the elevator or doors of the Barbie dream house. My favorite taboo Barbie was the pregnant midge doll. This Barbie had a bulging belly, and when opened, an infant would pop out.
In 1999, Mattel released their “Butterfly Art Barbie.” The butterfly tattoo covered the stomach of Barbie, and came boxed with tattoos for the child. It only took four months for parents to complain in droves. The Barbie doll was immediately pulled from the shelves......"

Read the full story: http://www.gomestic.com/Consumer-Information/Totally-Stylin-Tattoos-Barbie-Causing-Uproar-with-Parents.576921

Lenders Not There When Needed

image

BY: Chloe Oliver

"....One day, I accompanied my mother to the pharmacy where she did business. As she attempted to place the needed items on her usual charge account there, the clerk stated that she was not sure if my mother could charge any more items until the balance was paid.
The clerk turned to ask the owner who was a few feet away working at the pharmacy cubicle. I heard the owner in a loud voice state that my mother could have anything in the store that she wanted and in any quantities that she needed. He also told the clerk not to ask him about this again.
My mother used this pharmacy for over 50 years. I have used them for more than 30 years. Naturally, I recommend the pharmacy to others. In my mother's declining years, she often stressed to be certain to pay any bill at the pharmacy upon her death. During the last year of my mother's life, her pharmacy bill averaged about $600 per month. I paid the bill.
Now, many Americans are facing difficult times. How have lenders and big business responded? They are so afraid of losing money that they are denying credit to those who need it most....."

Read the full story: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090310/OPINION01/903100334&s=a&page=2#pluckcomments

Chloe Oliver is a monthly opinion page writer for the Hattiesburg American Newspaper

Wild Rice Hot Dish

By: Chris Stonecipher

Ingredients
1 cup of wild rice (uncooked)
½ cup of chopped onion
½ cup of butter
¼ cup of flour
1 (6 oz.) can of mushrooms drained but reserve the liquid
½ cup of slivered blanched almonds
3 cups of diced cooked chicken
Chicken broth
1 ½ cups of light cream
¼ cup of diced pimentos
2 tablespoons of snipped parsley
1 ½ teaspoons of salt
¼ teaspoons of pepper

Read how to complete Chris's Wild Rice Hot Dish here: http://www.notecook.com/Main-Course/Chicken/Wild-Rice-Hot-Dish.479355

The Ancient Digger: Macrophotography of Massive Cave Art

By: Lauren Axelrod

"...In a recent music class, my professor gave the class a glimpse in the first sandskrit, found over 6000 years ago. I sat puzzled, thinking that this piece of history couldn't possibly been the first evidence of a written language. In fact, many depictions of language was presented on the walls of caves over 16,000 years ago.
So I ask you. Why do many people try to accept writting on sanskrit, dated 6000 years ago referring to biblical verses, rather that the cave art that has been dated back several more thousands of years?
So what do you believe? Here are two prime examples of Paleolithic Art that occured several thousands of years before creation..."

Read more of Lauren Axelrod's article here: http://www.quazen.com/Arts/Art-History/The-Ancient-Digger-Macrophotography-of-Massive-Cave-Art.550761

Check out all of Lauren Axelrods articles here: http://www.triond.com/users/Lauren+Axelrod

Nadya Suleman: The Lies and Fraud of Octuplet Mom

"...Welfare Mom Or Not?
First of all, Nadya doesn’t have a job. She told Ann Curry that for the last ten years she has been living off of $168,000 dollars worth of disability payments totaling $168,000 and around $50,000 in student loans. She adamantly denied any welfare assistance. IShortly afterwards, the media reported that Nadya Suleman receives $490.00 a month in food stamps. Her publicist responded, "She (Nadya) doesn't regard that as welfare, but as payments available to people with needs." Ah….what does she think the definition of welfare is? Welfare, according to Encarta, is: “aid to people in need. Financial aid and other benefits for people who are unemployed, below a specific income level, or otherwise requiring assistance, especially when provided by a government agency or program.”
Secondly, Medi-Cal, California’s version of health care for the poor, paid for the prenatal care, the enormous cost of the birth, and will pay an estimated 1 million dollars for the eight infants neonatal intensive care unit stay. Of course, if there are any lasting medical conditions, diseases, or disorders Medi-Cal will also have to cover the treatment for those as well. Again, if this doesn’t classify as welfare, then what does?......"

Read more:http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/Nadya-Suleman-The-Lies-and-Fraud-of-Octuplet-Mom.547479

Mitt Romney Wins 2009 CPAC Straw Poll

The Republican party has finally realized, albeit a day late and a dollar short, that they strayed from their conservative base principles in 2008. It has also finally dawned on the party that the economy did, and will for several more years, overshadow all other issues.
I really do think the GOP is finally catching on. If the economy is the major issue….then you don’t nominate a candidate that 6 months prior to the nomination tells a newspaper “I am not an economy expert. I do not know anything about the economy; that is why I have advisors.” - like McCain did. Instead, you nominate a candidate that has spent his entire life engrossed in economics and has an actual working knowledge of economics.

In my opinion, the GOP had their perfect candidate in 2008, but was too worried whether or not he wore magic underwear.

Read more: http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/2012-Presidential-Election-Mitt-Romney-Wins-CPAC-Straw-Poll.564411